A Luxe Escape To Lake Como - International Traveller

Much more than a simple vacanza, a glamorous getaway on the shores of Lake Como is the ultimate diversion from the everyday and an immersion in the magic of true Italian hospitality.

Long before the concept of ‘slow travel’ became a modern trend, the Italians had the tradition of villeggiatura: a word that dates back to Renaissance Italy, when Venetians sought a change of scenery, escaping Venice in favour of a summer villa.

It’s more than a simple vacanza. It’s an extended stay in one place, a diversion from daily life. To rest and relax, embrace a slower pace, enrich the soul and deeply connect with a destination.

It’s intrinsically Italian, and there’s no finer locale than Lake Como to truly escape. So, I’m setting off for Italy’s most beguiling body of water, a little more than an hour’s drive north of Milan. The plan? Well, that’s precisely the point – there isn’t one. The next few days will unfold as I give in to the languid Lago di Como experience, ensconced in two of the lake’s most luxurious hotels: the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo and the brand-new sister property, Passalacqua.

Lake Como: Italy’s loveliest lake

There’s a mystique to Italy’s loveliest lake, located in the foothills of the Italian Alps, dotted with lavish palazzi and terracotta roof-topped towns. The province has attracted artists and aristocrats for centuries.

Lake Como’s fabled legacy of pleasure-seekers can be traced to the second century as a Roman holiday resort, and later a stop on the Grand Tour undertaken by the upper classes of the 18th and 19th centuries.

It was a favourite Hollywood haunt during the 1950s before a modern-day revival as the playground of the rich and famous – dubbed the ‘George Clooney effect’ after the lake’s most feted resident.

striped sun loungers facing Lake Como — Striped sun loungers in Aperol spritz hues are perched on the shores of shimmering Lake Como at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. (Image: Edwina Hart)

Passalacqua: Lake Como’s hidden 18th-century villa

It’s a stormy October afternoon when I arrive at Passalacqua on the shores of Lake Como. The grand iron gates creak open to reveal an 18th-century villa with sage-green shutters set among verdant tiered gardens that cascade to the waterfront.

an overhead shot of Passalacqua’s pool — Embrace the Italian art of dolce far niente or ‘doing nothing’ at Passalacqua’s pool, complete with custom-designed parasols and sun loungers. (Image: Edwina Hart)

I’m warmly greeted by the staff with a posy of freshly picked flowers and handed a heavy brass key to my room at the enchanting 24-suite hideaway. The historic estate has hosted notable guests from Napoleon and Winston Churchill to composer Vincenzo Bellini, who was inspired to write two operas during his stay.

an open-top Fiat 500 touring around Passalacqua — Guests are whisked around Passalacqua in an open-top Fiat 500. (Image: Edwina Hart)

For the first time in the property’s 236-year history, it’s been reimagined as a hotel. The transformation was dreamt up by the De Santis family, who are perfectly versed in the art of hospitality as owners of Grand Hotel Tremezzo, one of Europe’s legendary institutions.

Third-generation hotelier Valentina De Santis had a vision for Passalacqua. And after three years of masterfully making over the estate – enlisting a small legion of Italy’s finest craftsmen and handpicking decor across the continent – it’s one of the most sought-after stays for the chic elite.

Passalacqua is a celebration of Italian artisanship – a red-carpet staircase, original frescoes, mosaic floors, glass-blown chandeliers from Murano and slabs of Carrara marble. Despite the swoon-worthy antiques and priceless art, I’m invited to feel at home, even to wander into the old-fashioned open kitchen to help myself to a snack from the fridge or a piece of homemade torta (cake) on the counter.

The sweetness of doing nothing

My day begins with the clanging of church bells from the old hamlet of Moltrasio perched behind Passalacqua. I take breakfast in the garden: cloud-soft, cream-filled maritozzi (buns) and a cappuccino. A gentle, jasmine-scented breeze carries the sound of the trickling fountains and birdsong. It’s the Italian idyll. The sprawling grounds are brimming with lemon, pear and pomegranate trees, silvery olive groves, ancient Lebanese cedar and a rose garden. The storm has lifted, revealing something special about the light in Lake Como. The way it peeks through the clouds, streams between pine branches and sparkles on the surface of the glacial lake.

Embracing the Italian saying dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing), I meander down to the pool to take a dip. The floral-printed parasols and sun loungers have been custom-designed in collaboration with Milan-based fashion boutique La DoubleJ, as is the 200-year-old glasshouse, decked out with vibrant fabrics and tableware.

an outdoor pool with sun lounger and umbrella — Live la dolce vita at the hotel’s chic pool. (Image: Edwina Hart)

A fizzy Bellini makes for the perfect overture to a lingering poolside lunch. Chef di casa Mauro Verza worked as a private cook for prominent Milanese families for over two decades. The food is gorgeously garden-fresh and unfussy. I tuck into fried calamari and zucchini flowers, ribbons of culatello (salumi) with winter melon and twirled forkfuls of spaghetti pomodoro.

a vibrant and colourful lunch at Passalacqua — Lunch at Passalacqua is fresh and unfussy. (Image: Edwina Hart)

A day of sightseeing in Como

The best way to see Lake Como is on the water. I discover the underground passage that emerges at Passalacqua’s private dock and hop onto the vintage motor launch, decked out in lemony yellow Loro Piana fabric. The boat is skippered by Bepe, who’s been zipping along the lake for almost 40 years.

As we glide along the water – smooth like the famed Como silk – he points out George Clooney’s Villa Oleandra in the actor’s adopted hometown of Laglio. The lake is edged with autumnal burnt orange-tinged forests and storybook villages such as vine-clad Nesso, with swans swimming beneath the stone footbridge.

This evening I venture into the cosmopolitan town of Como for a piano recital at the neoclassical Teatro Sociale, an opera house with crimson interiors reminiscent of Milan’s La Scala.

I take a behind-the-scenes tour with a local guide who points to a gold-framed painting of a beautiful raven-haired woman in a velvet dress. “That’s a portrait of Giuditta Pasta, also known as Casta Diva", she says.

The celebrated 19th-century soprano also happened to be the muse of opera composer Bellini. “You are staying at Passalacqua? It was the villa of Bellini at that time. Across the lake, there is Villa Casta Diva. Legend says that he would play the piano from his villa, and she would sing from the other side of the lake. She inspired [the opera] Norma."

That night, as I drift off to sleep enveloped in the Beltrami bed linen – made from white birch fibres said to be softer than silk – I dream of hearing Bellini’s aria floating across the lake.

an elegant suite at Passalacqua — Stay in the opulent Suite Bellini at Passalacqua. (Image: Edwina Hart)

Grand Hotel Tremezzo: The place to be seen in Como

While Passalacqua is a hidden paradise, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the place to see and be seen. It’s a smooth ride to the town of Tremezzo in the back of a Maserati, taking a winding route along the shoreline before I finally set eyes on the hotel’s unmistakable facade.

front view of Grand Hotel Tremezzo facing Lake Como — Grand Hotel Tremezzo is the grand dame of Lake Como. (Image: Edwina Hart)

The 90-room Art Nouveau masterpiece has been charming holidaymakers since 1910. It still exudes the golden-age glamour of Greta Garbo’s ‘happy, sunny place’ from the 1932 film Grand Hotel.

On this blue-sky day, I’ve decided that it’s my happy, sunny place, too. A floating pool sits on the lake, fringed by retro Italian Riviera-esque striped sun loungers on a stretch of real sand. The colour palette is Aperol spritz, which also happens to be the cocktail du jour of the sunbathers wearing silk headscarves and Gucci sunglasses.

a floating pool with orange umbrellas at Grand Hotel Tremezzo — Plunge into Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s floating pool. (Image: Edwina Hart)

The architecture fits squarely in the genre of the grand-hotel style of the early 20th century (think: Wes Anderson’s film The Grand Budapest Hotel). I ride the glass-and-brass elevator – a portal into a playful, pastel-hued lobby – and check into my suite, which is lavishly appointed with a gilded bedframe and a bathroom dripping in marble. Sumptuous curtains open onto a Juliette balcony with postcard views.

a chic suite interior inside Grand Hotel Tremezzo — The pink and orange-hued suite is a charming abode in Lake Como. (Image: Edwina Hart)

I’d already heard enthusiastic whispers about the extravagant breakfast buffet at Grand Hotel Tremezzo – and it did not disappoint. It’s fig season, so I tear into the deliciously sweet fruit and pastries before skipping down to the pier, where a handsome Venetian-built boat awaits me.

a breakfast setup overlooking Lake Como at lake views at Grand Hotel Tremezzo — Savour your breakfast with lake views at Grand Hotel Tremezzo. (Image: Edwina Hart)

A vintage boat ride to Villa del Balbianello

It’s Lake Como’s version of a limousine. We speed towards one of the region’s most cinematic locations, Villa del Balbianello, where whimsically sculpted gardens festoon the promontory. The backdrop is recognisable from both Star Wars and James Bond’s Casino Royale. It’s exhilarating – with the wind in my hair and a glass of prosecco in hand.

an expansive gate facing Lake Como at Villa del Balbianello — Villa del Balbianello has been used as the setting for well-known movies, such as Casino Royale. (Image: Edwina Hart)

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A ferry trip to Bellagio

When I stand on my suite’s balcony, the town of Bellagio beckons from across the water. Conveniently, the ferry wharf is a moment’s walk away from the hotel, so I ride the 20-minute battello (boat) bound for the ‘Pearl of Lake Como’ where the wishbone-shaped lake forks.

It’s one of the prettiest towns in Europe, with narrow side streets awash in shades of limoncello, peach and apricot with shuttered windows adorned with geraniums, as well as fashion boutiques, cafes, pasticceria and wine bars to while away the afternoon.

pastel-hued houses lined along cobblestoned streets in Bellagio — Spend an afternoon winding around the steep, cobblestoned streets past pastel-hued houses and flowerpots in Bellagio. (Image: Edwina Hart)

Aperitivo on the terrace at Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T Bar

As the golden-hued afternoon slinks into a sultry evening, it would be unconscionable not to enjoy an aperitivo on the terrace at T Bar where a honey-voiced performer tinkers on the piano.

By the time the moonlight has cast a silvery lustre over the lake, the night progresses to the patio of La Terrazza Gualtiero Marchesi, where the tables are a sea of twinkling candle-lit Murano glassware.

The restaurant has the privilege of serving the signature dishes of the late chef Gualtiero Marchesi, known as the maestro of Italian cuisine. The pièce de résistance is the saffron risotto crowned with a sheet of 24-carat gold leaf from Florence – a dish worthy of the splendid backdrop.

a table top view of Italian antipasti and cocktails at Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T Bar — Delicious Italian antipasti and cocktails are served on the sunny terrace at Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s T Bar. (Image: Edwina Hart)

Return to Passalacqua

In the spirit of espousing my slow-paced villeggiatura, I extend my sojourn for another few days at Passalacqua. “You’re back. Welcome home!" one of the white-jacketed waitstaff smiles while swiftly delivering my coffee granita at breakfast.

It’s funny that one should feel so at home in what could quite possibly be the most beautiful villa in Lombardy, but somehow, I do. That’s the magic of true Italian hospitality.

Trip details

Getting to Lake Como

The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa, around an hour’s drive to Lake Como. The lake is also easily accessible by train; it’s a 40-minute journey from Milano Centrale station to Como San Giovanni station in Como’s town centre. The tourism season begins in March.

Passalacqua

This hotly anticipated boutique hotel opened in summer 2022. It’s now one of the lake’s most fashionable addresses. You can stay in the main Villa, the Palazz (fashioned from the former horse stables) or the four-bedroom Casa al Lago by the water’s edge.

Grand Hotel Tremezzo

The grand dame of Lake Como is more than a five-star hotel. The family-run property boasts five stylish restaurants and bars, three pools (including one that floats on the lake) and an award-winning spa for movie star treatment. The lakeside location in the town of Tremezzo makes this hotel a convenient base for those keen to explore.

T Bar

Located at Grand Hotel Tremezzo, this is the bar of your Lake Como dreams. Expect extraordinary views, a convivial atmosphere and expertly made cocktails. For a twist on an Aperol spritz, try the refreshing Spritz GHT with notes of pink grapefruit and rosemary.

Temperatures are soaring this summer, breaking records across Europe and the UK.

Euro summer is a feeling like no other. But when a heatwave hits? The dream trip quickly turns into a sweaty mess. Extreme heat is sweeping Europe and the UK this week, with record-high temperatures impacting travel plans across the continent.

And while Australian summers are typically hotter in absolute temperature, many European cities aren’t equipped for high temperatures, resulting in unbearable weather.

Why is it so hot in Europe?

Signs of a hot summer loomed in May, when the mercury hit unprecedented spring highs. Now, extreme high temperature warning alerts have been issued in countries such as Spain, Italy, France, England, the Netherlands and Germany.

France saw its hottest day on record on Wednesday, with an average temperature of 30°C across the day and night. This surpasses the average temperature for June, which is 15°C to 25°C. Dozens of people have died, including 40 from drowning.

In Spain, 212 deaths have been linked to the heatwave.

The UK recorded its hottest June day ever on Wednesday with temperatures soaring to 36.1°C. In an article published by the Met Office – the UK’s national meteorological service – Professor Stephen Belcher CBE, Met Office Chief Scientist, shared his concerns about June’s heat. “To see temperatures like this in the UK in June is sobering. Events like this bring home the implications of climate change, with very high temperatures and humidity bringing significant health implications from heat stress, as well as impacts to a range of sectors such as transport, energy and water supply,” he said.

Heatwaves are becoming increasingly common in Europe and the UK, neither of which is prepared for such extremes. The World Meteorological Organization reported that in 2025, at least 95% of Europe experienced above-average annual temperatures and that the continent was heating up twice as fast as the global average.

How travel is impacted

A pharmacy sign displaying 40 degrees Celcius — A pharmacy broadcasting local weather data. (Credit: Getty/Dragoncello)

During a heatwave, power grids, water systems and transport networks can be affected, resulting in disrupted itineraries for travellers. In France, power outages have left thousands without electricity and early closures have been implemented for two of Paris’s biggest attractions, the Eiffel Tower (early afternoon rather than late at night) and the Louvre (two hours early). Eurostar cancelled its London to Paris and Paris to London services from the 22nd to the 25th, and major UK rail companies have been advising travellers to avoid using trains where possible, or to travel during early hours.

If a heatwave is predicted, being flexible with your itinerary and having fully refundable/changeable tickets is key, as extreme heat can force the cancellation of outdoor activities, impact rail and flight services and change the opening hours of sites and eateries.

Why does summer in Europe often feel hotter than summer in Australia?

people swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris — People swimming in the Canal Saint-Martin in Paris to cool off. (Credit: Rachael Thompson)

With some of the highest UV levels in the world, Australians are no strangers to the heat, adapting well to intense weather. But our infrastructure is largely equipped to withstand soaring temperatures with climate-responsive passive design, refrigerated air conditioning or evaporative coolers, as well as swimming spots aplenty.

Buildings in Northern and Western Europe and the UK, however, are constructed to retain heat and handle frosty winters. The lack of universal air conditioning means it generally feels hotter even though the temperature on your app might not look it. During a heatwave, it can feel like you’re in a sauna as cities act like heat traps.

How to stay cool and prepare for another heatwave

Relief is expected across Europe and the UK later this week, but more heatwaves are still possible in the coming months. Summer heat typically peaks in July and August.

Public transport often doesn’t have air conditioning, and buses in particular can be swelteringly hot. If you’re heading outside or your accommodation has no air conditioning, it’s worth buying a spray bottle and a handheld fan from a pharmacy or tourist stand. Check ahead of time if restaurants and cafes have air conditioning and make a booking in advance. The highest temperatures typically hit between 3pm and 6pm, so aim to head outdoors outside of these hours.

Rising temperatures invite travellers to enter a more intentional era of seeing the world. Now more than ever is the time to embrace lower-impact “coolcations” and off-season getaways.

A luxe escape at two of Italy’s most glamorous stays in Lake Como