Best hotels in Northern Lakes & Lombardy

Lake Como's villas have always attracted the sort of people who make for interesting company, and this 18th-century Moltrasio beauty is no exception. Count Lucini-Passalacqua built the place, composer Vincenzo Bellini wrote two operas between its walls, and Napoleon and Churchill have both popped by. Today, the De Santis family have poured three years of love (and a lot of antique-market hauls) into transforming it into a 24-room hotel that somehow still feels like a private home. Seven acres of terraced gardens cascade to the shoreline, Murano chandeliers drip from the frescoed ceilings and the whole thing is gloriously, unapologetically over the top. It was winner of the World's Best Hotel in 2023, no less.

Sirmione is a curious thing: a long, narrow peninsula jutting into the southern end of Lake Garda, topped with a 13th-century moated castle, the ruins of a grand Roman villa and natural sulphur springs that have drawn visitors since antiquity. The Villa Cortine Palace Hotel sits at its highest point, neoclassical palazzo set behind wrought-iron gates in five hectares of private parkland. Built in 1898 by a lovestruck German count for his ailing wife, today it's a Relais & Châteaux outpost with stunning, frescoed salons and Murano chandeliers. The gardens, however, full of centuries-old conifers, marble statues and ornamental pools, remain the biggest triumph.

From the moment a personal lifestyle manager whisks you to your room, it's clear this isn't your typical luxury hotel. Housed in a 1930s architectural gem, this seventh-floor urban eyrie offers sweeping views across the city's terracotta rooftops through walls of glass. The aesthetic is pure minimalist chic – think illuminated white onyx, leather-clad walls, and an almost obsessive attention to detail that extends from the perfectly pressed linens to the precise angle of each cushion.

Lake Como has never been short of grand old dames draped in neoclassical finery, but Il Sereno flipped the script entirely when it opened in 2016. Built on the foundations of a centuries-old stone boathouse in the peaceful village of Torno, it's luxury through and through — but it looks nothing like its neighbours. The clean-lined design is all about walnut, stone, bronze and copper, letting the jaw-dropping lake views do the talking. With just 40 suites, a Michelin-starred restaurant and an infinity pool that practically floats on the water, it's intimate, effortlessly stylish and the epitome of modern Italian design.

On Lake Garda's western shore, olive groves and lemon terraces tumble down to the water, and high above is the flagship wellness resort of the Leali family, Lefay Resort & SPA. Opened in 2008, it's still the lake's headline act for serious spa-retreaters and the signature wellness method pairs Classical Chinese Medicine with Western methods that play out across a variety of programmes, longevity consultations and treatments from an in-house doctor. It's set in a stunning 11-hectare private park above Gargnano, and you'll also find two accomplished restaurants with a proper sommelier for when you're not ensconced in the 4,300 square-metre spa.

Behind austere façades, this intimate hideaway reveals one of the city's most remarkable secrets - a 4,000-square-metre private garden that whispers tales dating back to 1305. The interiors strike an exquisite note with Zimbabwe granite, Vicenza stone, and refined oak, while design aficionados will appreciate the thoughtfully curated Antonio Citterio furnishings and jewel-inspired artwork adorning each space.

Lake Como's western shore — the so-called Riviera delle Azalee — has long been the lake's most sought-after address. And gazing across the water towards Bellagio's sparkling promontory, sits the Grand Hotel Tremezzo, an Art Nouveau palace built in 1910 and still family-owned today. Greta Garbo summered here and Clooney's been spotted on the terrace, but for all the celebrity connections, it's the personal warmth of the De Santis family that lingers longest. Five restaurants (including one honouring Italy's first three-Michelin-star chef), three pools and a Santa Maria Novella spa in an 18th-century villa make it rather difficult to leave.

Perched on the water's edge in charming Menaggio, this remarkable retreat offers the perfect blend of old-world glamour and modern sophistication. The property comprises two distinct parts – a historic Palazzo and an elegant Villa – and is utterly enchanting at every turn. Inside, warm tones and extraordinary elegance create a dreamy setting where time seems to stand still. Many of the stylishly appointed rooms offer mesmerizing views across the water to picturesque Bellagio and Varenna, while others overlook the hotel's serene private garden. A short stroll takes you to the hotel's exclusive beach club, complete with two infinity pools that seem to melt into the azure waters beyond. Whether you're seeking romantic seclusion, family fun, or a base for exploring this storied region, this lakeside haven delivers on all fronts.

Welcome to the Lido Palace on Lake Garda, a historic structure in the Belle Époque style, which the famous architect Alberto Cecchetto has reinterpreted in a contemporary theme, both in terms of design and architecture. Located near imposing sheer rock cliffs that fall into the blue of Italy's largest freshwater lake and surrounded by a landscape that welcomes both Alpine influences and Mediterranean scents, this 5-star luxury hotel is in a location that redefines the concepts of beauty, well-being and la dolce vita.

With a prime location at the heart of Italy's most fashionable city, steps from the Duomo, the Teatro alla Scala and the Fashion District, Rosa Grand offers elegant interiors, composed of clean lines and minimal furnishings in a neutral colour scheme with pops of color. Besides the rooms and suites in the main building, guests may opt to stay in the Duomo Luxury Apartments by Rosa Grand, twenty-four spectacular luxury residences with balconies and terraces overlooking the postcard-perfect Milanese landmark.

Belvedere Bellagio presents the authentic Lake Como experience, going beyond the overly grand stereotypes. Arrive with a head full of noise, leave with eyes full of color. The mountain greens and the lake blues.