Villa Del Balbianello
Villa Del Balbianello
5
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 6:00 PM
About
This magnificent villa is known for its beautiful architecture, picturesque gardens, mesmerizing views of Lake Como and the surrounding mountains, and for being the filming location of blockbusters like 'Star Wars: Attack of the Clones' and 'Casino Royale'. You can take a guided tour of the villa's lavish interiors, where you’ll also be able to view artworks and artifacts collected by explorer and former owner Guido Monzino. The villa is only open to the public from March through to November, so it can get pretty busy—book your tickets early to secure your slot and get there in the morning for fewer crowds. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 1-2 hours
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- places2seeplaces2goEngland, United Kingdom6,488 contributionsBellissimo BalbianelloWe visited Villa Balbianello on a cloudy drizzly day, however it was still beautiful & can only imagine the magnificentness of it on a beautiful sunny day. Sadly the day we went the ferry wasn’t operating, so we had to do the long walk there & back, with all the walking you do when at the village, I can imagine for some this would be quite a task. The Villa though once there is stunning (even on a cloudy October day) The tour was excellent & very interesting. Big advantage to going in October, was that it didn’t feel overcrowded. Thoroughly recommend & would love to revisit on a sunny day.Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 26 October 2023
- Emmi35Bangkok, Thailand693 contributionsStunningWe planned to take a short boat ride from Lenno to board at the villa’s pier as suggested in the online booking for guided tour inside the villa. Unfortunately , there were technical problems at Lenno’s pier. So we had to walked 20 minutes from the entrance. The path is steep but it is well worth a hike! If you book a guided tour make sure you allow time for such hike. Anyway, once there, you will forget about the hike. The villa has the most beautiful and romantic view in Lake Como. The villa both inside and outside is amazingly beautiful and elegant. I urge everyone to take a guided tour to see the inside and to hear the story of Guido Monzino, the last owner of this villa. All villas in Lake Como definitely have their own uniqueness of beauty. However, to me, Villa del Balbianello is the most beautiful villa in Lake Como.Visited October 2023Travelled with familyWritten 2 November 2023
- Aero3926364 contributionsBook ahead to see inside.Beautiful grounds, but was disappointed that villa tours were sold out. So, be sure to book in advance! Lot of up and down. Even the "shoreline" walk involves some elevation changes. I think the water taxi around the point would be worth it. Some unique plantings like "umbrella trees."Visited October 2023Travelled as a coupleWritten 4 November 2023
- The Rogue DiplomatLos Angeles, California62 contributionsA little underwhelming (Definitely go in the off-season)We took the guided tour (recommend) and saw inside all the rooms. They were ok, but more '70s-'80s-style than some of the grand palaces we're used to touring. The grounds are what is nice, but there are enough people that it turns into a photoshoot everywhere you turn. Honestly, we enjoyed seeing it more the following day from our boat tour. The big drawback is the parking here. There is a lot about a mile away from the entrance, but only about 20 spaces available. We had to park an extra .3 miles away. From that main lot, EVERYONE must walk the mile to the entrance, and if you are disabled at all, or elderly, it is not very convenient. Once inside, it would also be challenging. It's one of those places you feel that you must visit when in town, but ok. We enjoyed Villa Carlotta more.Visited April 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 10 April 2024
- Mintra M40 contributionsAn interesting piece of propertyWe took the English guided tour and it was very fun. Our guide was excellent. Highly recommend. The Villa and the garden are beautiful and very well maintained. Spring is one of the best visit time as the wisteria are blooming.Visited April 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 18 April 2024
- nina2121San Antonio, Texas16 contributionsGorgeous!! + wear comfortable shoes!Gorgeous Villa, outstanding gardens and interesting tour. A few important logistical notes: 1. Buy your ticket online in advance. This will save valuable time by not standing in line. Try to book a minimum of a week or two ahead of time. If you want to see the inside of the villa, book way in advance. You might get lucky and get a tour at the window when you arrive (we did!). 2. It is critical to wear comfortable shoes. The villa is a 20-25 minute walk from l where the ferry drops off in Lenno. Much of it is uphill. It is a nice stroll but wouldn’t be if not wearing the right shoes. 3. There is a pier at the back of the villa where private tours can drop you. Wish I’d done this! You can also get a ride on a water taxi back BUT the line may be long. I think they take about 12 people every 20 minutes. I believe it cost 6 Euro one way per person and you pay on board. We ended up walking back (again, wear good shoes!) just to make sure we caught the departing ferry on time. It is a gorgeous and special experience, especially if you are prepared with good shoes, water, and sun protection. And maybe a snack or two :)Visited May 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 28 May 2024
- Sean LBrisbane, Australia36 contributionsPicture PerfectWonderful wonderful wonderful. This place is magnificent and you simply must visit. Staff were also fantastic and very accommodating as we were a bit late, so they changed us to a later booking. Michaela was a wonderful guide around the house. You’ll get some amazing photos so dress up as you’ll want to frame them! 😀Visited June 2024Travelled with familyWritten 23 June 2024
- WitchyYorkStrensall, United Kingdom1,430 contributionsAmazing!Amazing villa with the most spectacular views everywhere you look. We booked online before our holiday and as members of the British National Trust, we got a discount of €6 each. Just make sure you take your card with you. Parking can be challenging in the summer, we parked at Via Armando Diaz across from the cemetery where it’s free parking. This is a 30-40 min walk from there, in total, to the Villa gates where you get your timed entry for your guide. Part of this walk is the 25 min uphill walk from the ticket entrance. We saw a queue of people waiting to be admitted at the ticket entrance, so book ahead and buy online to bypass this. When you’ve reached the Villa gates you are given an entry time to tour the house with your guide, where you meet on the gravel between the loggia and the main house. The house is left just how it was when it was given to the FAI (Italian National Trust) and is fantastic. Our guide Annalisa was brilliant, so interesting and informative. The grounds contain the movie locations of James Bond Casino Royale and Star Wars Attack of the Clones, which whilst fun to find are bustling with people trying to get the perfect photo.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 5 July 2024
- dapper777Monaco66,540 contributionsVery beautiful.We loved it. It is an absolute "must" for connoisseurs and garden lovers! Originally it was a monastery, then, after being partially abandoned for decades, this villa was restored and inhabited again at the end of the First World War. There is a museum in the buildings with objects and furnishings brought by one of the former owners. There is also an extraordinary collection of Arctic maps, some of which were used for 19th-century expeditions. The last owner died in 1988 and bequeathed the villa to a private Italian cultural and monumental association, which now takes over its management and maintenance. The easiest way to get here is by boat from Lenno. The short boat ride is also truly spectacular, not to be missed. The entire property can also be rented for events such as weddings, conferences and meetings. The villa is spectacular, the gardens are very well kept, and the internal spaces are really well preserved. You can't miss it if you are in the Lake Como area.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 9 July 2024
- Brown_SamanthaKennewick, Washington1,791 contributionsStunning views gorgeous terraces fascinating history - this is definitely a must do while at Lake ComoThe photos, the movies, the raving reviews. We knew we had to come when we planned our vacation to visit Lake Como. This review will focus a bit more on the logistics to help with some of the questions we had when we were planning. Be sure to book online to tour the inside of the villa itself. We booked months out, nonrefundable, for 2:15 pm. This allowed leisurely time to travel from Bellagio to Lenno. Visit Lenno town, have a nice lunch lake side. Then we took the water taxi to go across the lake. This offered us a magnificent view of the villa, and great photo opportunity. We arrived earlier than the 2:15 pm as they allow you to explore the gardens. At the gate, they check your names and told you the villa tour meeting spot. The grounds of the villa is simply beautiful. We especially enjoyed the terraces that looked out to the lake. If you have patience, you can actually wait and get photographs without crowds. People were very kind and courteous. The last owner, Guido Monzino, kept a lot of his exploration memorabilia in the villa. He was also an avid collector of many amazing artifacts. Some thousands of years old. We found the secret passage and trap doors fascinating. We feel it is definitely worth the cost and effort to get the interior tour. The umbrella trees were so unique, they were admired by many. We found the grounds to be very clean and well maintained. There were bathroom facilities for use and they were clean. There is a bit of "up and down" to walk this property. Be sure to wear good footwear. In the end, we chose to walk back to Lenno town, as it was mostly down hill. About 30 minutes or so, leisurely and mostly in the shade. Note the ferry back to Bellagio did not run too late, so plan accordingly.Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 12 July 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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5.0
3,557 reviews
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robs8
Philadelphia, PA USA28 contributions
Jul 2022
This is a wonderful garden that I've been to 3 times. It is very small and has become very popular over the years. I would not recommend it anymore because the grounds are too small for the hoards of crowds which descend on it each day. It's popularity also allowed the owners to raise the price, making the experience even less satisfying.
Written 29 July 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Corazon M
14 contributions
Oct 2021 • Couples
The gardens are truly breathtaking . A tour inside the house showcase the collections of the owner from his expeditions. Every corner is a post card view. By ferry upon arrival, turn left along the walkway . It’s about 10 min easy walk along the walkway. Upon reaching the most end , there is a gate leading up into the property but we opted not to use it since it was raining, the pathway is muddy and slippery and is an uphill climb . Instead , we avail of the water taxi from the villa itself for a fee of 6 euros. It opens up at 10 am and close every Monday and Wednesday.
Written 10 October 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chau-Minh P
Waterloo, Canada362 contributions
Aug 2022 • Couples
It’s a beautiful iconic place: beautiful Italian architecture surrounded by serene nature. Thanks to the movie Star Wars and instagram influencers, this villa has become a hot spot for tourists. So, if you want to come here and snap that gorgeous photo, here are a few tips. The villa only opens from 10-5 am, and closes on Monday and Wednesday, so you will need to plan ahead. It’s best if you buy the tickets online to the skip the line, which will be long! Alternatively, be sure to arrive before 10 am to be one of the first ones in. We made this trip from Milan, which was painfully long (45 min train ride to Como, and then a 1 hour ride on the local bus) - we came at 10. The best place for the photo op is the balcony overlooking the seas in the garden. If you’re lucky and the day is cloudy, then a DSLR is best to capture the the scene, but otherwise, when it’s super sunny, I think an iPhone is best to capture your photos here. You also only need a garden ticket if you want to take the outdoor photos, but if you want to learn more history, definitely buy the villa tour as well.
Written 11 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
girlmeetsworld9
London, UK28 contributions
Jul 2022 • Couples
Beautiful picturesque villa, straight from the movies!
Definitely recommend booking a guided tour, we really enjoyed ours and our host was full of interesting facts.
Gorgeous views from the ‘star wars’ terrace and fabulous vistas across the lake.
You can walk (c20 or so minutes) from Lenno, or do as we did, and alight from the ferry at Lenno and walk along the Lido Di Lenno until almost the very end, where you’ll spot an unassuming jetty with a small white taxi boat which will take you on a round trip to the villa (a 5 minute ride) for c€10 each, well worth it!
Definitely recommend booking a guided tour, we really enjoyed ours and our host was full of interesting facts.
Gorgeous views from the ‘star wars’ terrace and fabulous vistas across the lake.
You can walk (c20 or so minutes) from Lenno, or do as we did, and alight from the ferry at Lenno and walk along the Lido Di Lenno until almost the very end, where you’ll spot an unassuming jetty with a small white taxi boat which will take you on a round trip to the villa (a 5 minute ride) for c€10 each, well worth it!
Written 3 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
voyager81
Westport, CT333 contributions
Sept 2022
We were told that if you can visit only one villa on the lake, this is it. Correct! The gardens are truly spectacular and impeccably maintained. Just know that you need a separate ticket to view the inside rooms. If you don’t have that ticket, you can only peek through glass doors, which, for us, was enough. To get there, take a ferry to Lenno and then walk down the street until you see a boat to take you to the villa. It leaves on the half hour and a round trip is 8 Euros. Well worth it! Otherwise, it is a 20-30 minute walk and there are some hills.
Written 10 September 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jesse V
Middelburg, The Netherlands219 contributions
Sept 2020
I thought at first this was kind of a tourist trap, but I am so happy I visited this place. There's free parking, though limited (be early), a 20 minute uphill walk. From the villa / park - there are multiple opportunities for taking great panorama pictures of lake Como, there's toilets, and a small bar. If you have only a short time to experience lake Como, spend it here.
Written 12 September 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sg2808
Reading, UK342 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We had 12 pm slot but we were late by 2 hrs but there was no issue , the tickets were scanned and were let in. We used the car park nearby and then walked which is steep in couple of places and could take 10-20 mins depending on your age and fitness. Once inside, the place is beautiful, and taking pictures is challenging as everyone is trying to get a clear view and in some places people would queue up and wait for their turn. Inside too, you will have to go up and down, so take it easy. The toilet is near the bottom of the hill. No place to eat but there was an icecream van. So, it would take an hour or so to roam around and take pictures. There is a ferry option as well to visit the villa.
Written 16 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Musique4ever
Blotzheim, France78 contributions
Aug 2023
Not having a ticket, we wanted to arrive early, unfortunately due to the cancellation of the 11:45 a.m. ferry, we only arrived at 2:20 p.m. and had to wait 1h30 in the sun to be able to enter and go buy a 9€ ticket per person
The reception is disorganized, no logic on the number of people they let in without tickets (5 people enter while 30 people have already left...)
What a disappointment with all these positive reviews and having heard so much about this villa, almost nothing to visit apart from the arches which of course were full of people wanting a photo alone in front for the souvenir photo...
In short, a lot of waiting for a villa that is much less beautiful inside than seen from the lake, I recommend settling for a boat ride to see it, if you really want to visit it, order your tickets in advance
Big disappointment, we appreciated the villa Melzi in Como and the villa Monastera in Varenna much more
The reception is disorganized, no logic on the number of people they let in without tickets (5 people enter while 30 people have already left...)
What a disappointment with all these positive reviews and having heard so much about this villa, almost nothing to visit apart from the arches which of course were full of people wanting a photo alone in front for the souvenir photo...
In short, a lot of waiting for a villa that is much less beautiful inside than seen from the lake, I recommend settling for a boat ride to see it, if you really want to visit it, order your tickets in advance
Big disappointment, we appreciated the villa Melzi in Como and the villa Monastera in Varenna much more
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fegu
Stavanger, Norway337 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
A bit of a walk in the summer heat, but worth it. We came to photograph the couple of scenes in Star Wars (Naboo) shot here. While the opening hours say they close at 17, they don't actually seem to throw people out until even later. Note that parking can be hard to find.
Written 9 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Suzanne L
Washington DC, DC85 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
This was my favorite villa visit on Lake Como. Definitely reserve timed tickets in advance for the villa tour and gardens as they limit the number of walk-ins. Consider taking a water taxi if anyone in your group has mobility concerns as the walk up to the villa is very steep. Our English speaking tour guide was excellent. Catch the film about Guido Menzino in the first building you come to by foot to see clips of his North Pole and Everest expeditions. There is no food for sale at the villa, just cold drinks. We arrived early to spend some time walking around the gardens. It also looked like parking is very difficult so I would recommend arriving by boat or bus.
Written 4 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buongiorno.
È possibile pranzare al sacco presso l'esterno della villa?
Grazie
Written 17 August 2024
Hello. For online tickets to visit Villa del Balbaniello (only the garden). Is the ticket hour strictly to visit at that specific hour? If you buy ticket to visit at 10:30am, do you need to enter at 10:30am? or you can enter to the villa at any time on the Day of the ticket date? Sorry about my english. Thank you for your help.
Written 5 August 2024
Hello - I reached earlier than my time & they allowed.
Written 7 August 2024
Hello. For online tickets to visit Villa del Balbaniello (only the garden). Is the ticket hour strictly to visit at that specific hour? If you buy ticket to visit at 10:30am, do you need to enter at 10:30am? or you can enter to the villa at any time on the Day of the ticket date? Sorry about my english. Thank you for your help.
Written 5 August 2024
I am trying to buy tickets but can only find tickets for the gardens, can anyone advise where to buy tickets for both the villa and the gardens? Thank you
Written 24 June 2024
Hey, is there any locations in the area between Lenno and Tremezzo that you can safely store luggage.
Written 19 June 2024
Hey my partner and I will be visiting in June, arriving in Varenna. We want to take a water taxi over - can we book tickets for it in advance or is it a first in first served situation?
Written 24 May 2024
Hi, I have purchased an online ticket (villa + gardens) for Villa Balbianello at 14:15. Based on your experience, do you think I can visit earlier? Additionally, is there a time limit for visiting the gardens?
Thank you!
Written 5 April 2024
If the villa is closed, are we still able to tour the grounds? Or is the whole location off limits?
Written 2 December 2023
When we went the villa was closed for a private function, but we could still (pay) to walk the grounds. We visited during normal hours. If you arrive out of hours, then it will be closed because you need a get past the entrance to walk around the grounds.
Written 3 December 2023
Bonjour,
Y a-t-il des consignes pour laisser les bagages ? (nous aurons une valise de 20kg)
Merci à ceux qui nous répondront!
Nathalie
Written 19 August 2023
Bonjour, Je ne pense pas qu'ils aient des consignes. Je n'ai rien vu de semblable. Si vous venez de Lavedo il faut marcher pendant environ 1km (et cela monte!). avec 20kgs il vaudrait mieux arriver en bateau. Vous pouvez demander via leur site si vous pouvez laisser votre bagage en arrivant? Près de m'embarcadère il y a un petit magasin. En venant à pied il y a petit bureau..Ils accepteront peut-être de garder votre bagage.
Written 20 August 2023
Trying to buy tickets to Villas on Lake Como but all websites in Italian without English option. Anyone has a tip how to get tickets beside from Vivatickets site?
Written 1 August 2023
Tickets available at entrance
Written 9 October 2023
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