Villa Monastero

Beautiful and hilly walk along the water. Bring water. It's humid in the garden. There is plenty of shade and places to stop and rest. The gardens are pretty. The views of the lake are magestic. There is a small cafe to stop and grab a drink or snack at shaded tables. The museum is small and in our opinion, was not worth the extra money. There are lots of uphill paths that lead to dead ends. Stay along the water if you want the easiest walk. You can turn back at any point on this path. The exit is at the same place as the entrance. It's beautiful and worth the entrance fee. Enjoy!

Beautiful villa with awesome picture opportunities along the lakeside. The garden is very beautiful. Staff is great. We had tickets and were standing in the line, upon showing them to staff they let us through the side. The staff at the museum was also great, showing us what the best route was etc. parking on the other side of the street is good (for Lake Como standards :))

A Peaceful Gem on Lake Como – Villa Monastero is a Must-See Our visit to Villa Monastero in Lake Como was absolutely enchanting. The setting is breathtaking – right on the lake, surrounded by lush gardens, with stunning views in every direction. It’s the kind of place that makes you slow down, breathe deeply, and just take it all in. The villa itself is elegant and full of charm, with beautifully preserved rooms and fascinating history. But the real highlight for us was the botanical garden – perfectly maintained, peaceful, and full of colourful flowers and unique plants. Walking through it felt like stepping into a dream. It’s a lovely, quiet escape from the busier towns around the lake. Whether you’re into history, nature, or simply beautiful places, Villa Monastero is well worth a visit. One of the highlights of our Lake Como trip!

Great views over the lake and beautiful gardens! I booked timed entry tickets in advance over the website, which reduced the need to queue to pay for tickets at the entrance. My family enjoyed the walk through the gardens although it could get very hot in the summer! A little crowded on the Sunday we were there.

This beautiful villa, perched right on the shores of Lake Como, is a masterpiece of thoughtful design. Every tree, pathway, and piece of furniture is placed with purpose, creating a harmonious and inviting atmosphere. It’s one of the iconic landmarks of Varenna — a must-see for anyone visiting the town. Take the time to explore it; you won’t regret it.

Very pleasant experience combining nature, culture and history. In addition to the permanent exhibition of the villa, a great exhibition of Ken Scott enriches the atmosphere. Definitely recommend buying tickets in advance to skip the whole line waiting for tickets.

Awesome, but i recommend visiting very early to avoid the crowds but the museum isn't really worth it just buy the tickets to the villa only - there are few paintings and some dresses but there's also a toilet

Charming Garden, but Best Enjoyed on a Quiet Day The garden is lovely and well maintained, with a nice atmosphere and charming little café. However, the floral displays were a bit less impressive than expected. It’s a pleasant place to visit, but I wouldn’t recommend going on an extremely busy day — in my opinion, it’s not quite worth the hassle when it’s overcrowded.

If you want the BEST pictures and views then come here on the early train from Milan and globe there at 0930 when they open. The early morning light of the grande and lake make superb lighting for all your personal photos. Quiet and serene this is the place to pray, relax or just walk around and enjoy the fantastic views. A MUST SEE when you travel here.

Absolutely loved this garden! Pros: - If you have a student ID, it's only 2 euros to get in, if not only 5 euros - The place is fairly large, we spent 2 hours here just relaxing and taking tons of photos - Bring food, wine and games for a picnic - they have benches scattered around the garden - Lots of shade so don't worry about getting stuck under the sun all day - The amount of work they put into the garden is reflected by the stunning visuals you'll see Cons: None!

Great place to take a romantic walk in the gardens. There are old statues, various plants and flowers as well as healthy orange trees. The walk runs right along the lake side with gorgeous views of the towns across the lake and distance mountain peaks. The path wraps around into the hotel next door. There was a gathering the weekend we were there, a farmers market kind of thing. So the entry to the garden was free but would cost 3 euro other days as told from front desk attendant.

Villa, nice garden with great views, a cafe and a small museum. Friendly staff (gardener). Sit by the lake and sip a cappuccino in the morning.

Stunningly beautiful garden with amazingly friendly and helpful staff! Our host recommended this garden for relaxation and beauty and boy was he correct. There is a small admission price of 5 Euro but that is nothing for what you get. The peace and tranquility we felt while visiting was exactly what a couple weary travelers needed. We ate a ham panini and enjoyed some nice wine by the water just enjoying the views. Note: This place is also handicap friendly! I have to walk with a cane so the staff took us down to the garden via golf cart and when we were done, they came and picked us up! Simply amazing!

Probably one of the best villas in the Lago di Como region. Beautiful gardens and a nice cafe to rest. Views are all breathtaking. Don't know if they rent out the place for parties, but if we ever hold a destination party, this place has the charm.

Compare to the Cipressi's garden next door, I like Cipressi's better. The width of the garden was not as wide Cipressi's, which limited the walkway design. Some view of Monastro were actually better from Cipressi point. It does have pretty good view of Fiumelatte, but not early in the morning (the sun is behind the hill and makes everything look gray/shaded).