Italy
Lake Como has been Europe's retreat of choice since Roman senators built villas on its shores, and the formula remains unimproved: deep alpine water, cypress-studded headlands, and gardens that cascade to private jetties. Arrival by boat is not an indulgence here; it is simply how the lake is meant to be met.
The hotels are the point. Grand villa properties with frescoed salons and terraced gardens set a standard of romantic grandeur few places can echo, while the villages between them — Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo — offer passeggiata evenings of unhurried perfection. Como is luxury as landscape.
The 'pearl of the lake' sits at the junction of Como's two branches, all steep cobbled lanes, silk boutiques and grand waterfront hotels.
The western shore's golden mile, home to legendary villa hotels and the gardens of Villa Carlotta, with the best afternoon sun on the lake.
Quieter and impossibly picturesque, this eastern-shore village charms couples with its lakefront walkway and pastel harbour.
Dining on Como means lake fish, northern Italian classics and long lunches on wisteria-shaded terraces. Evenings are gentle rather than raucous: aperitivi at the water's edge, Michelin-starred villa dining rooms, a last limoncello as the ferries go quiet. This is a destination for lingering, not late nights.
Families enjoy the lake's gentler pleasures: ferry-hopping between villages, lido swimming, gelato on harbour walls and gardens with room to roam. Several grand hotels run children's programmes in season, and Milan's attractions are barely an hour away.
Como is arguably Europe's most romantic address: private boat cruises at golden hour, candlelit terraces above the water and villa gardens made for slow afternoons. A suite with a lake-view balcony is worth every additional euro.
Inspiration
A new wave of resorts is redefining what ultra-luxury means — trading gilded excess for privacy, place and barefoot polish. Here is what the shift looks like on the ground.
7 min read
Rankings
From rooftop infinity edges to lakeside terraces, these are the hotel pools consistently celebrated as the world's most beautiful — and the properties behind them.
6 min read
The Browntravels Edit
Exceptional hotels, new openings and destination inspiration, delivered beautifully. Once a week, never more.