Villa del Balbianello Gardens Ticket with Lake Ferry Pass Lake Como

Villa del Balbianello on the Lavedo point

Villa del Balbianello stands at the tip of the Lavedo point, a wooded promontory that juts into Lake Como near the village of Lenno. It was built in the late 18th century for a cardinal on the site of an old Franciscan monastery, whose church façade and two slender bell towers still rise among the trees. Thanks to its position, the villa looks out over the lake in three directions, with the green foothills of the Alps all around.

Today the property is cared for by Italy's national heritage trust, and it is famous worldwide as a film location thanks to its romantic setting. If you are wondering whether Villa del Balbianello is worth visiting, its gardens are often described as the most photogenic on the whole lake. This ticket includes the gardens and park only; the rooms inside the villa need a separate guided visit.

The gardens, terraces and loggia

The gardens of Villa del Balbianello climb in terraces around the promontory, with lawns sloping down to the water, flower beds of azaleas and rhododendrons in spring, and plane trees pruned into the shape of candelabra. Ancient creeping fig covers the walls, and at the highest point the loggia, an open gallery with arches, frames views over both the Tremezzina shore and the Bellagio side of the lake.

You have about two hours to explore, which is enough to walk all the paths, sit on a bench by the lake and take photos from the best viewpoints. The garden paths include some slopes and steps, so comfortable shoes are useful. Spring, when the flowers are in bloom, and early autumn, with soft light and fewer visitors, are the best time to visit Villa del Balbianello.

The ferry ride across Lake Como

Lake Como is shaped like an upside-down Y, more than 40 kilometres long and one of the deepest lakes in Europe. The public ferries that link its towns are the classic way to see it, and your round-trip ticket turns the journey into a sightseeing cruise. From Como, the boat zigzags up the western branch past Cernobbio, Moltrasio and the grand villas of the shore, reaching Lenno in about two hours.

From Bellagio, at the point where the lake's three branches meet, the crossing to Lenno takes about half an hour; from Varenna, on the eastern shore, about an hour; and from Tremezzo just ten minutes. The ticket includes suggested times for the outward and return ferries, and you receive phone assistance if timetables change. It is the easiest answer to how to get to Villa del Balbianello by public boat.

Lenno and the lakeside walk

Lenno is a peaceful village in the Tremezzina area, with a lakefront promenade, a small beach and the Romanesque baptistery next to its church. From the ferry pier you follow a lane along the shore and then a path through the woods to the villa, about 30 minutes on foot each way, with lovely glimpses of the water.

Optional water taxis also run between Lenno and the villa's landing for those who prefer not to walk; they are not included in the ticket. After your visit, you can have lunch by the lake in Lenno or take a stroll on the promenade before your return ferry. Plan your time so that you are back at the pier a few minutes before the scheduled departure.