Villa del Balbianello Guide: Tickets, Hours and How to Get There from Lenno

Villa del Balbianello is the most famous villa on Lake Como, and the one most people get wrong. It closes on Mondays and Wednesdays, it needs a booking, the villa interiors are seen only on a guided tour, and you cannot drive to it. People cross the lake specially and find a locked gate. This guide gives the tickets, the hours, and the route, so that does not happen to you.

The villa sits on a small peninsula next to the village of Lenno, on the western shore of the lake. It belongs to FAI, the Italian National Trust. The gardens are terraced, with a loggia and viewpoints over the water, and the villa itself is known from the films Casino Royale and Star Wars Episode II. Note the spelling: it is Balbianello, with two l's. The keyword in the search data drops one, and the villa is often misspelled.

Figure 1: Villa del Balbianello from the lake, on its peninsula at Lenno. The cover photo shows the villa, the loggia, and the gardens from the water.

Tickets and booking

Book online in advance on the FAI website. There is no extra fee for buying online, and booking is required. In 2026 the gardens cost 15 euros and the gardens with a guided villa tour cost 25 euros. Children up to 5 and FAI members go in free. One published source lists 13 euros for the gardens, which shows why you should check the FAI site for the price on your date rather than trusting a guide. Prices change between seasons.

The guided tour takes about 45 minutes, in groups of 15 to 20 people, and the slots fill weeks ahead in July and August. Most people visit the gardens only and do not feel they missed much. The gardens hold the loggia, the terraces, and the viewpoints, and they are the part of the villa you will photograph.

Opening days and hours

In 2026 the villa opens from mid-March to early January, every day except Mondays and Wednesdays, unless a public holiday falls on those days. Hours are 10:00 to 18:00, and 10:00 to 17:00 from November, with last garden entry an hour before closing and the last villa tour earlier still. December and January open on selected days only. The villa also closes for private events and weddings, so check your date on the FAI site before you travel.

How to get there

Take the public ferry to Lenno. From Bellagio the ferry takes about 25 minutes. From Como, the C10 bus along the western shore stops in Lenno, and the ferry takes about 90 minutes. From the ferry pier, walk along the lakefront to the Lido di Lenno for the taxi boat, or to the start of the path.

From Lenno, walk about 1 km uphill through the woods, about 25 minutes on a partly gravel path. Or take the small taxi boat from the Lido di Lenno to the villa's own landing, a ride of about 5 to 7 minutes. The boat costs about 7 to 10 euros, and in 2026 it must be booked and paid online in advance. Cash is not accepted. The boat is the better arrival, and it costs little. You cannot drive to the villa.

A half day from Bellagio, with the costs added up

Take the morning ferry from Bellagio to Lenno, about 25 minutes. Walk the 1 km path to the villa, or take the taxi boat from the Lido. Spend two hours in the gardens and on the loggia, then take the boat or walk back to Lenno and the ferry to Bellagio. The whole trip takes about 4 hours.

Cost: the gardens are 15 euros, or 25 euros with the guided villa tour. The taxi boat is about 7 to 10 euros. The ferry from Bellagio to Lenno is part of the lake ferry fares, and a day pass on the mid-lake stretch is 17.50 euros. Como to Bellagio is 12 euros one way, and Bellagio to Varenna is 5.50 euros. Check the Navigazione Laghi timetable, as sailings change with the season and the winter timetable runs from 2 November 2026 to 14 March 2027.

Figure 2: The villa and gardens from the Lenno shore, with the lake in front.

Best time to visit

Late April and May are the best months for the gardens, when the planting is at its fullest. June to September is the busiest season, and the guided tour slots sell out weeks ahead. October is quieter, with good light on the lake. The villa is closed on Mondays and Wednesdays all season, so plan around those days first and the weather second.

Practical tips

• Book the tour early: interior tour slots in July and August sell out weeks ahead. Gardens-only tickets are easier to get.
• Check the closing days: Mondays and Wednesdays are closed unless a public holiday. Check your date on the FAI site.
• Wear walking shoes: the path from Lenno is uphill and partly gravel.
• Take the boat in: the taxi boat from the Lido di Lenno is the best arrival, and it costs about 7 to 10 euros.
• Allow two hours: the gardens, the loggia, and the viewpoints take about two hours at a slow pace.

Sources: Lake Como Diary, updated 29 October 2026, for the 15 and 25 euro tickets, the Monday and Wednesday closing, the 10:00 to 18:00 hours, and the 1 km walk; Tickets.co.it, checked 28 October 2026, for the ferry fares and the November hours; Milan Tourism for the 13 euro garden price, which conflicts with the 15 euro figure and shows why the FAI site is the price to trust. Check the official FAI site before you travel.

Frequently asked questions