Villa del Balbianello

Very romantic, Beautifully kept place, the gardens, the view, the building- it’s all mesmerizing! I would love to visit again:) Definitely book tickets in advance though because the line is rather long (parking can be busy too)

Beautiful Villa... Looked stunning in Casino Royale! In person so much more!!! Tour is a must do to understand the last owner.. ended up buying the book about him. A must visit if in the area.

Such an incredible place to visit if you are going to Lago di Como, I would suggest buying the tickets in advance so you can skip the wait, bring comfortable shoes, I wouldn’t recommend heels or anything like that if you do want to enjoy the most hidden places here. Very clean, it takes about 2-3 hours so see and enjoy most of the villa! Is a must!

One word – magnificent. I recommend buying tickets in advance to avoid waiting. We arrived at 10 a.m. and waited about 20 minutes in line. The villa opens at 10:00 a.m. They allow only a limited number of visitors inside, which is great because it’s not overcrowded. The ticket costs €14.

Very beautiful and pristine villa. Everything is very manicured and clean. It is about a 2km walk from the Leno ferry terminal. Definitely some gradients so wear comfortable shoes. This villa is home to famous scenes in Star Wars and also James Bond Casino Royale.

A beautiful estate with a fascinating walk to and from the site. Definitely touristy but absolutely worth the visit. Be aware: Google’s “mostly flat” description is misleading—you’ll need to tackle some uphill sections, so bring good shoes.

The experience was disturbing, as the two guards were refusing to let us in, especially the blond guard with glasses, who showed clear anger issues (he even turned away visitors who had come from Australia after reading on the official website that garden access was free without booking, yet he let in two young girls with tickets for the day after and didn’t let in others with the same tickets). I couldn’t believe there was no alternative way to enter, and I was right. After sitting on the cement floor for over 40 minutes, I saw an older Italian couple enter using FAI membership cards they had purchased one hour earlier. Despite my repeated questions, the guards never mentioned this option. One guard even insisted the membership could not be used if acquired on the same day, until I pointed out the date and time on the couple’s newly issued membership card. You can purchase FAI membership online, which grants access not only to Villa del Balbianello, but also to Villa Necchi and various villas and gardens from Milan to Varenna. If you arrive without tickets, especially since their official website states that you can enter the gardens without tickets or booking specific date and time, and they deny entry due to capacity, you can still access the property by obtaining FAI membership on the spot (€20 if you are under 30, €30 otherwise, valid for one year). Confirm with the staff that you will be admitted with the membership. If they refuse, you will know they are not being truthful, as they admitted others, including Italians, immediately after we shared this information with everyone behind us in the queue. The guard later claimed he “didn’t know,” yet I heard him tell the couple ahead of me, “You were smart to get it now,” unaware that I understood Italian. His increasingly hostile attitude toward me, simply for checking the website and pointing out inconsistencies, was unacceptable and clearly an abuse of his role. The villa and gardens were beautiful, but this experience overshadowed everything. For transportation, take a car or the boat from Como, it costs €12 and is highly recommended. And don’t let anyone ruin your day!

Famous from Hollywood-movies this gorgeous villa and surrounding gardens are a must visit when visiting Lake Como. We took the guides tour inside the Villa which was very fascinating. It was very hot and crowded in gardens however, so would recommend to visit off-season and make sure to buy your tickets in advance.

This place was incredible! I visited because it was a Star Wars filming location, and it absolutely lived up to the hype. The views are breathtaking, and if you go early, it's not crowded at all. I highly recommend taking the boat from the entrance since it goes straight to the villa, and it's a fun way to say you cruised across Lake Como like someone fancy.

This is hands down one of the most beautiful places I have ever been to in my life, and I highly recommend visiting if you're in the Lake Como area. As other reviewers mentioned, it is tucked away on the edge of a cliff and it's quite difficult to get to, so be prepared. My boyfriend and I did the long trek up the mountain to get there and we were quite sweaty upon arrival. If you can arrange it in advance, I'd recommend taking a boat to the villa for a much more relaxing experience. Despite our difficulties getting there, it was immensely worth it. The pictures just don't do the place justice. It's so tranquil and beautiful. One other tip - I would recommend coming on a week day if you can, because it gets quite busy on the weekends. You can take a guided tour inside the villa if you'd like, but we were more than satisfied with just exploring the expansive grounds outside for a couple hours. My boyfriend actually ended up proposing to me in the gardens, so this will always be a special place for us. I'm looking forward to returning in the future!

Amazing place to visit. We originally added this to our places to visit on Lake Como with the filming history of this spot being used in James Bond and Star War films. I recommend you take the water taxi near the marina to the main entrance. We spent a couple hours walking around the area and grabbing some cold drinks from the cafe onsite. We opted to walk back to the main marina in town and it was an easy walk. It's worth adding to your visit list and hope you enjoy.

Tips and Tricks on visiting Villa Balbianello. 1. Buy tickets in advance. It's easy to do and will allow you to skip the long line. 2. If you did not buy tickets in advance and arrive by ferry. The minute you get off the boat, make a sharp left towards the villa. Pretty much the majority of the ferry riders also know this as well. Once you arrive at the entrance, you will (in most cases) fine yourself in a long line. If you are at the bottom of the "zag" (as in zig zag), you should expect to wait about 45 minutes to an hour before being allowed in. By my count, every 15 minutes they let a limited amount of non-ticketed people in (approx 10 each time). 3. The last entrance is at 4:00 (1600). So if you arrive after 3:00, you may be pushing it. 4. Note that the villa is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays. 5. You can easily spend three or four hours here, but even an hour will allow you enough time to see (and appreciate) the outside gardens. 6. And just like everywhere around Lake Como, the views are beautiful in every direction. With this being said, the stroll from the entrance to the ticket booth is beautiful. I highly recommend taking your time up the hill and just enjoy the scenery.

This is an amazing villa to explore, and if you're staying anywhere near Como, make sure you reserve a few hours for this villa. Check out the tour as well (the staff at the entrance of the villa will mention it, I'm sure), which is available in both Italian and English. There are places to rest, have refreshing ice cream, or take solace underneath one of the many trees. There is history everywhere around here, soak it in. Also, if you need to park, make sure you come super early, as there aren't that many free spaces available. If you can't find a free space, there are a few parking areas 15-20 mins walk away.

This is a really gorgeous place, but it's a pain to get to. You'll need to take a boat to Lenno. Get off and walk along the water. After a 15-minute walk, you're faced with a choice: take a tiny shuttle boat to Villa del Balbianello (I think it was €5/person), or go for a bit of a hike. Only you can gauge your stamina. If you're crunched for time or you don't want to get sweaty, take the shuttle boat. Just wait by the sign and it'll come around. If you don't mind an uphill walk, the trail awaits. It's not super strenuous, but you're not really rewarded with beautiful views or anything. It's mostly green, mostly uphill, though there are some downhill sections. It's more of a utility road than a trail. When you arrive at the Villa, you can either pay to enter the garden only or take a tour of the home. If you are a "Star Wars" nut, nothing was filmed inside the house. You can see all the locations in the garden. (Anthony U. is wrong.) Bring your camera because this place is gorgeous. Lots of greenery and killer views everywhere. The number of tourists makes it hard to get a photo without someone else lurking in the background, but it's a hazard worth enduring. If you do take the (overpriced) tour of the home, there are a few treats. My favorite was the sheer number of secret passageways. Lots of hidden doors and stairways. The tour guide was less than enthusiastic. Basically, the house belonged to a rich kid who sold his parents' business and traveled the world exploring. Inside are all the trinkets he collected from various places. As for the "Star Wars" stuff, it's pretty easy to recognize the site of Padme & Anakin's first kiss and wedding - it's the same spot, shot from different angles. If you go around sunset, you'll get a shot that very closely mirrors the end of "Attack of the Clones." There's also the beautiful spot with the archways where Anakin stood after his nightmare. As near as I can tell, those two locations are the only ones used in the film. When you're done visiting, you can either make the mostly downhill hike back or pay a few euro to speed back on the boat. It's pretty easy to find where the little shuttle docks and you'll pay the guys on the boat in cash.

We had the chance to view the Villa by lake yesterday and today we toured the grounds . The grounds were outstanding and I suggest a guided tour.

We went on this tour as part of our boat tour and it was great! The villa and grounds are gorgeous. This property was in a couple popular movies and if interested I recommend you take photos early on to avoid walking back up to the top. Star Wars 4 the wedding scene between Anakin and Padme was filmed at the very upper balcony at the start of the tour. James Bond Casino Royale scene where Daniel Craig is recovering in from being tortured is filmed various places on the grounds. If you want to "Stand where they stood" or get a photo, good idea to google ahead or ask the guide.

I could have spent an entire day here. But due to the travel times to get their and back from our resort and having previous dinner plans we were limited to a few hours. To sit where they filmed numerous scenes from Star Wars Episode II, Attack of the Clones and to see the bedroom (not really a bedroom) where Luke and Leia were conceived is a true high point in my geeky world. The big green grassy space below is also where Daniel Craig recovers from being shot near the end of a James Bond film. The movie studios pick these places based on the beauty here and what a great choice. There are lower levels that allow close access to the lake and the grand main building near the boat dock. This is also where you'll get maps and a history of the place. I suggest you take the the boat option from Lenno and skip trying to walk the steep and uneven rocky path also provided. Save your energy. As you wander the grounds you see such beautiful gardens and place to sit and read a book or play with your phone. It's easy to get lost in thought while being in such a beautiful place. Your boat and entry ticket are not timed and you may arrive and depart on your schedule so long as you follow the posted open hours for the villa that day. My most enjoyable area is the top most building that was used as Anakin and Padmes bedroom in the movie Star Wars Episode II. This is where "Luke and Leia were conceived. The views from here out over the lake are nothing less than magnificent. The boat ride and entry fee can be a bit high but is well worth an afternoon of happiness. There is nothing in the Lake Como area I recommend more. Do it!!

Stunning gardens with breathtaking views of Lake Como. The inside tour of the villa was informational, but the gardens stood out. Take the bus to Lenno from Como. You can then take a 1 km panoramic walk and get to the villa! The last bus when we went departed for Como at 7:20 pm. Make sure you check the bus schedule, so you can plan accordingly!

Closed Mondays and Wednesdays. Cost of admission: 7€ for the garden, 13€ for the garden and tour of the villa. If there is anywhere you should go in the Lake Como area, it is here. The garden has absolutely breathtaking views. This is one of the most beautiful, well-kept gardens I have ever been to. To get here can be somewhat of a trek, but trust me, it's worth it. From Como S. Giovanni train station you will need to purchase a bus ticket at the Tabacchi store inside. Cost will be around 5 euro (?). You will want the C10 bus going to Lenno. You will then wait directly outside the train station (schedule is posted at the bus stop). Bus stops are not announced as the driver goes so you must pay attention! Lenno will take around 50 minutes from Como S. Giovanni train station. Once you get off at Lenno head towards the lake (you should see the lake but if you don't follow the direction of the "Ufficio turistico" sign. As you walk to the lake you will see a gelateria to your left and to your right should be signs guiding you to Villa del Balbianello. You can either take a ferry nearby or you can opt to walk there (20 min walk with panoramic views). The woman at the Villa del Balbianello ticket office is super friendly and fluent in multiple languages. She can help give directions on how to get back if need be. Enjoy!