A Week in a Private Lake Como Villa: What It Really Feels Like
Let’s start here: there’s travel, and then there’s Lake Como.
Spending a week in a private Lake Como villa isn’t something you do casually. It’s not a “let’s wing it” kind of trip. It’s a decision — to slow down, to be present, to live a bit more beautifully than usual. This isn’t ticking sights off a list. It’s mornings that begin with soft lake light pouring through old shutters and end with wine you can’t pronounce, poured by someone who tells you where the grapes were grown and why this year’s bottle is different.
I’ve done it once. And I still think about it all the time. Here’s what a week looks like when you’re not staying in Lake Como, but belonging to it for a little while.
Day 1: Arrival — and That Moment You Know You’ve Made the Right Choice and stay a week in a private Lake Como Villa
The drive into Como always feels like a bit of a reveal. You don’t quite see the lake until you do — and when you do, it’s right there. Deep blue. Quiet. Framed by hills and villas with shuttered windows and flower boxes that belong in a film.
When we pulled up to Villa Camilla (a friend booked through Haute Retreats), it wasn’t a check-in. It felt like being let into a secret. Wide stone steps, jasmine in the air, and the kind of stillness you didn’t realize you were craving until everything else fell away.
A chef had already arrived. There was Franciacorta chilling. Bowls of fresh cherries. You don’t “settle in” to a place like this. You exhale.
Review:
(…)”At the same time she was contacting the owners of Villa Camilla to see if there was any possibility they would open, unaware to me. To my surprise, a couple days later she gave me the best news—that they would open for us! She went super above and beyond and helped me with so many other requests while transitioning to the house manager taking over. This started our journey in such good energy and it got even better and better as every single person working in the house is amazing. They house manager Lolanda was an angel, the house chef made the best lasagna I’ve ever had (and gluten free specific for me as I have an intolerance)! The staff working in the house always had a smile. Everything was really just perfect. My husband had the best birthday possible! All of the people in the house and the process of renting the house made a huge impact on making that possible. Thank you so much for making this milestone memory so special for us!! We can’t wait to come back to Villa Camilla one day :).” https://www.trustpilot.com/reviews/675ede9d9034845043dea997
Day 2: Bellagio by Boat
I woke up to espresso and birdsong. We skipped the car — the villa had a Riva boat, which I swear is the classiest way to arrive anywhere. The captain took us across the water to Bellagio — a place I expected to be overhyped and wasn’t.
We wandered. Had an espresso near the water. And then lunch: Mistral. Still one of the best meals I’ve had in Italy. The view competes with the food — and the risotto has a literal cloud of parmesan mist (dramatic, but worth it).
Afternoon was for doing nothing. I read on the terrace until the shadows grew long and the chef called us in for aperitivo.
Day 3: Gardens, Art, and a Tasting I Still Dream About
We had a guide — the good kind. Soft-spoken, local, and knew which doors to knock on. We toured Villa Carlotta, then ducked into a private garden I won’t name here, because it felt like a favor.
Back at the villa, there was a wine tasting waiting. Three reds, two whites, and stories for every bottle. We ate truffle risotto that night. I asked for the recipe. He smiled and said, “No.” Fair enough.
Day 4: A Spa Day Without Leaving
Massages by the pool. A yoga session at the edge of the garden. Facials in the shade. We didn’t leave the villa that day, and I didn’t open my laptop once. That says everything.
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Day 5: Local Life, Without the Performance
We went to Mercato di Lenno with the chef. Not for show — for dinner ingredients. He knew every vendor. We tasted cheeses, picked herbs, and he handed me tomatoes like it was a test. I passed, I think.
Later, we visited a tiny olive oil press. Just us and the family. They let us try the oil with salt and crusty bread. We bought a bottle. I haven’t opened it yet. It’s staying in the “special things” cabinet.
Day 6: One Big Table and No One Watching the Clock
We hosted a dinner. Just us, a few new friends, a guitarist who played through dinner and into dessert. Long table. String lights. Laughter that spilled out toward the water and didn’t stop. I took exactly one photo and then put my phone away. That was the point.
Day 7: The Quiet Leaving
I’ve never been good at leaving Italy. Lake Como makes it harder. We packed slowly. One last coffee on the balcony. One last walk through the garden.
The boat pulled away and I watched the villa disappear behind a curve of cypress trees. It felt like closing a very beautiful chapter — one I didn’t want to finish, but was glad to have read.
If you’re thinking about spending a week in a private Lake Como villa, do it. Not because it’s fancy. But because for one week, you get to live like the world isn’t rushing.
And when you come back, you’ll wonder why it ever had to.
Whether you’re planning your first visit or returning for a deeper stay, the right villa makes all the difference. Lake Como villas aren’t just places to sleep — they’re the kind of spaces that shape your entire experience. Historic estates with stories in the walls, gardens that feel like something out of a novel, private docks, dedicated staff — these homes invite you to slow down and stay awhile. And once you’ve stayed in one, you’ll understand why so many travelers return to this lake again and again.
Looking for a villa with its own boat, a private chef, and lakefront gardens?
Explore Haute Retreats’ handpicked collection of villas in Lake Como.
