This stunning property in Lake Como is iconic for many reasons. Besides being featured in Hollywood movies, Villa del Balbianello is located on the end of a small peninsula that juts into the center of Lake Como, making it visible from many of the central villages. It’s even on the label of all of the bottles of water in Lake Como and hosts weddings almost every single day.
We tried our best to get photos in the same locations as the movies, like in the shaded area by the trees as featured in Star Wars: Attack of the Clones…
…and the garden where James Bond recovers from injuries at the end of Casino Royale. The scene was actually filmed on the opposite side of this portico, but since the sun was coming in the other way, this side was completely in the shade so we couldn’t get a good photo of the exact place that Bond and Vesper reunite.
We bought tickets just for the gardens directly from the website, as the villa itself requires a guided tour that sells out. Since this is the most popular tourist attraction in Lake Como, you can expect crowds at the popular photo spots, though you’ll still be able to get some gorgeous photos as long as you’re patient.
If you want a totally clear view though, make sure to go early (we arrived around 945AM from the ferry), be in the front of the line to enter the garden and head straight for the portico with those beautiful ivy-covered arches.
It’s important to note that it’s a 10-15 minute walk from the Lenno ferry to the Villa del Balbianello gate, plus another 10-20 minute walk with some uphill sections from the gate to the actual entrance of the main gardens, so be sure to take this into account. I highly recommend bringing a portable fan if you go in the summer, as it gets incredibly hot with the short hike. If you don’t want to walk, you can try to book a private boat tour that will drop off/pick up directly from a dock at the villa, or you can pay 6 euros for a water taxi that takes you back to the Lenno ferry pier directly from the booth at the villa’s dock.
Check out my full Lake Como Guide for other things to do around Villa del Balbianello.
