Where Luxury Meets La Dolce Vita: Grand Hotel Tremezzo in Bloom

You know when someone says “Lake Como,” and your brain instantly conjures up George Clooney in linen, a sparkling lake breeze, Aperol in hand, and some fantastical palace of a hotel you assume can’t possibly exist in real life? Well, spoiler: it does. And it’s called Grand Hotel Tremezzo.

I had the absolute audacity to visit this icon in the spring of 2025 — just after they reopened for the season — and let me tell you, the timing was chef’s kiss. Fewer people. Lower prices. Fresh tulips everywhere. Honestly, if fall is my forever fave (and it is), spring is a very seductive second.

Arrival: Like a Movie, But With Better Lighting

The scene begins as you’re gracefully ferried across the street from the hotel’s private beach club. Because of course it has one. A beach club. On the lake. Where you wait under striped umbrellas for someone to assist you across like you’re royalty and/or someone on the Clooney guest list.

Once across, you step into a glass elevator and ascend through the grand façade like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, except instead of candy, you’re headed toward marble floors, million-dollar lake views, and chandeliers so pristine they’d make Versailles sweat. (Sorry Gen Z, Google the elevator reference. It’s worth it.)

Inside? A floral explosion of timeless elegance.

Every window is an invitation to stare dramatically into the distance. Every hallway is bathed in Lake Como light. And the staff greets you like you’re returning from exile and not just from Milan.

The Rooms: Actual Palace, Zero Pretension

Let’s talk about the rooms. If you’re lucky enough to snag one with a lake view, do not trust yourself. You will start Googling “how to cash out my 401K” within ten minutes of waking up to that golden morning shimmer. Honestly, have your return transfer pre-booked. It’s for your own safety.

The rooms aren’t trying to be “old world” with fake antiques or dusty brocade. No. You’ll unlock the door with an actual metal key, which already feels fancy, and step into a room that’s more curated Italian nobility’s guest suite than anything else. Fresh flowers, plush everything, and lake views that practically demand you throw on a silk robe and dramatically sip espresso.

Pools, Pools Everywhere (and None of Them Basic)

Grand Hotel Tremezzo doesn’t do things halfway. There are three pools because clearly one is for peasants:

• The iconic floating pool on the lake? Pure Como fantasy.

• The garden courtyard pool? More secluded, more serene, more “let’s not ruin my blowout.”

• And the spa pool? Elegant. Indoor. Glass walls with mountain views. Honestly, I’m still not over it.

Pro tip: don’t mix up your pool plans. Each one deserves its own style moment and an Aperol Spritz.

Dining: Multiple Options, All Gorgeous

There are several dining spots scattered throughout the hotel, each more photogenic than the last. Whether you want formal elegance or lakeside pasta with your sunglasses on, you’ve got options. And yes, the food lives up to the setting. You didn’t come to Italy for sad salads.

You can also rent a boat from the hotel and either explore on your own (you daring little captain, you) or hire a skipper to chauffeur you around while you sip champagne like you were born to live La Dolce Vita.

If you’re not already planning your boat outfit… you will be.

The Location: Dreamy and Dead-Center

Tremezzo is brilliantly located — you’re steps from charming restaurants, and the ferry to Bellagio is literally across the street. That means you can hop over to that perfectly pastel town, grab a gelato, and be back in time for your sunset spritz.

The hotel’s location is what every other Lake Como property wishes it had: central, scenic, and close to the action — without ever feeling crowded or commercial.

The Spa: A Whole Lifestyle

Now, let’s talk about the T Spa, because this deserves its own chapter.

It’s luxe without being cold. Elegant without being intimidating. And that pool-within-a-spa situation? A quiet, marble-wrapped slice of heaven. There’s a reason people book treatments here just to gain access. And you better believe I scheduled mine before I even arrived.

A Hotel With a Heart — and a Matriarch

One of the most beautiful things about Grand Hotel Tremezzo is that it’s not run by some faceless luxury conglomerate. It’s family-owned, with the elegant Valentina de Santis at the helm — a third-generation hotelier whose own home is tucked just behind the hotel. That means the attention to detail? Personal. The service? Flawless. And the vibe? Impeccably curated with soul.

She’s made this place her legacy — and it shows in every single corner.

Bonus Tip for the Ultra-Luxe Dreamers…

If you’ve got the budget (or are casually married to a tech billionaire), and you book early enough, you may be able to score a few nights at Passalacqua — Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s ultra-private sister property closer to Como. You can’t just waltz in off the street. You need a reservation or invitation just to get through the gates.

If you’re lucky enough to make it inside, don’t be surprised if a celeb or oligarch casually strolls past you on their way to the spa. But let’s save that level of gossip for another review, shall we?

In short, Grand Hotel Tremezzo is what Lake Como dreams are made of.

From the floating pool to the flower-filled hallways, every inch of this property feels like it was designed for your own personal Italian romance novel. The rooms are refined and regal without being fussy. The dining is indulgent. The spa? An escape within an escape. And the location makes it the perfect base for exploring the lake — or for simply doing nothing at all, in the most glamorous way possible.

Spring brings lighter crowds and friendlier rates, while still delivering the full fantasy. Go when you can, book what you’re able, and bring something fabulous — every pool and terrace deserves its own style moment and a perfectly chilled spritz.

Because if you’re going to do Lake Como, this is how you do it. And once you do, you may never settle for ordinary again.