Combine Como's silk-city heritage with one of Italy's most theatrical lakeside villas. Villa del Balbianello clings to a wooded promontory above Lake Como, its loggia-topped terraces plunging to the water â a location so cinematic it has doubled as a Bond villain's lair and a Jedi refuge on Naboo.
After arriving in Como City, you'll have the freedom to explore its cathedral, shops, and cable car to Brunate before continuing on to Villa del Balbianello, where you can admire the terraced gardens and lake views, all at your leisure. Meanwhile, your driver will wait for you nearby, ensuring a stress-free return trip.
The 18th-century villa perches on a forested promontory with layered terraced gardens descending to the lake
Loggia rooms display the Guido Monzino collection â Himalayan expedition equipment, pre-Columbian art and Arctic maps
Filming location for Casino Royale (2006) and Star Wars Episode II
Take note
The villa is managed by FAI (Italian National Trust) â book entry tickets in advance, especially on weekends; the gardens and villa interior are ticketed separately
Yes, advance booking is strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during peak season. The villa is managed by FAI (Italian National Trust), and tickets for the gardens and villa interior are sold separately. Note that Villa del Balbianello is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays, so plan your day trip carefully to align with opening days.
The villa sits on a wooded promontory and is accessed either by boat from Lenno or via a scenic 20-minute walk along a forested path. The walk involves moderate uphill effort. Your driver can drop you at the trailhead or boat dock. Visitors with mobility limitations should choose the boat option for easier access.
Villa del Balbianello is about 47 miles (75 km) north of Malpensa Airport, situated near Lenno on Lake Como's western shore. The combined drive to Como City and then on to the villa takes around one hour 30 minutes to two hours each way. A private driver removes the challenge of navigating narrow lakeside roads.
Access requires either a forested walking path with some uphill sections or a short boat ride, which is the easier option. The villa terraces include steps and uneven surfaces. Visitors with limited mobility should plan for the boat access and pace themselves on garden paths. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for everyone.
The 18th-century villa features terraced gardens cascading to the lake, an iconic loggia with stone arches framing the water views, and an exquisitely landscaped promontory. Inside, the Guido Monzino museum displays artifacts from Himalayan expeditions, pre-Columbian art, and Arctic exploration maps. The gardens alone are worth the visit.
Como City offers the Gothic-Renaissance Duomo with centuries of accumulated civic art, the Silk Museum chronicling the city's textile heritage, and a lakeside promenade past neoclassical villas. Grab a coffee or lunch at a lungolago restaurant featuring lake perch risotto before continuing your journey to the villa.
Villa del Balbianello is a famous filming location for Casino Royale (2006), where it appeared as the villa where James Bond recovers, and Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, where it doubled as Padme Amidala's lake retreat on Naboo. Its cinematic terraces and forested promontory make it one of Italy's most recognizable villas.
Late April through October offers the warmest weather and gardens in bloom. May and June are particularly stunning when wisteria, roses, and lavender flower. Avoid Mondays and Wednesdays year-round, as the villa is closed. Mornings tend to be quieter than afternoons, especially during weekends and summer holidays.
Day trips offer travelers private round-trip transportation to popular sightseeing locations. One of our professional drivers will pick you up in a luxurious, climate-controlled car, take you to the site of interest, and wait for you while you explore before driving you back to your hotel.
Yes! Youâre free to choose the pickup and drop-off times that work best for you. However, the time spent at the destination is fixed and cannot be changed.
Each sightseeing stop has a recommended duration that includes plenty of time to explore. However, it is possible to customize the time spent at each sightseeing stop at a later stage in the booking process to best fit your unique schedule.
Your Daytrip driver will wait for you nearby for the duration of your exploration, meaning youâll never have to wait for your return trip transportation to arrive. Your comfort and convenience are our top priorities, and we aim to close out your day trip with a return on your schedule.
The price of a day trip does not include any entrance tickets, guided tours, or meals you may partake in at your destination. The price covers round-trip transportation in a luxury vehicle with a professional driver who can provide local insights en route.
Day trip bookings can be canceled up to 24 hours before your trip for a full refund, no strings attached. While the destination and stops are predetermined, it is possible to change your pick-up point, whether it is at your hotel or some other location within the city.