The Best Pools on Lake Como
Lake Como is iconic. It’s a vibe. Nowhere else is the combination of natural beauty, manmade luxury and inimitable Italianità as thrilling as it is here. In every view, the sky conspires with the sparkling surface of the lake to spread a sense of calm and beauty. Adding a swimming pool to the mix only enriches the experience—pure blue-on-blue-on-blue bliss. There are, of course, countless hotels on Lake Como with a swimming pool and chic “Lido” beach clubs dotting the shore with still more Lake Como pools, but nothing quite compares to the poolside paradises (five in all!) of our sister properties, Passalacqua and Grand Hotel Tremezzo. For every type of pool afficionado, we have a pool that ticks your boxes. What’s your pleasure?
Making a stylish (and a playful!) splash
La piscina at Passalacqua
Elegantly set on its own terrace just below the main Villa, the La piscina at Passalacqua is no ordinary Lake Como hotel pool. This is the epitome of a poolside paradise: flanked by mature trees and decades-old rose vines, blessed with pleasing rounded corners and furnished with the world’s most comfortable sun-loungers, this spot would be ideal even without the floral surprise hiding within the lily-pad parasols… Did we mention the view? The sun exploding on the lake’s surface in gazillion diamonds as the mountains on the opposite shore reach for the heavens—a panorama worthy of the name! And if all that were not enough to satisfy even the most persnickety of pool-goers, Valentina De Santis asked JJ Martin of fabled fashion brand La DoubleJ to make the poolside Winter Garden “a joy for the eyes”. The brand’s vibrant Passalacqua-themed prints vie with custom tableware and whimsical pottery to delight the maximalist in all of us. Our very own Wunderkammer!
A WoW to end all wows!
Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s floating pool
Practically every hotel on Lake Como has a swimming pool, but only the Grand has one that is truly iconic. It goes by many names—the floating pool, Water on Water or simply “WoW”!—and is the very definition of lakeside glamour with its catwalk bridge, yacht-worthy decking and jaunty beanbags in our signature orange. No better spot to swim lengths in style, cool off after a sun-soaked lounge session or use (literally) as a jumping off point for a dip in the lake. And with the T Beach sunbeds and the seafood temptations of Da Giacomo al Lago within easy reach, why not make a day of it? You’ll be glad you did…
Subterranean surprise
Passalacaqua’s new indoor pool
Among the many treasures uncovered during the renovation of the centuries-old Passalacqua estate, none were so intriguing as the tunnels snaking underground from the villa to the lakeshore. Were they created for purely utilitarian purposes, as a strategic bulwark or for trysts between star-crossed lovers? Whatever the origin story, Valentina De Santis has always had a vision for their future, most recently with the opening of the new indoor pool. Probably the only hotel pool on Lake Como with such a dramatic entrance, nothing quite compares to emerging from the cool cave-like tunnel into the aquamarine cocoon of this 20-meter basin that boasts stylish mosaic tiles, panoramic greenhouse glazing and all-enveloping, almost amniotic 89°F water. With only the blue, blue sky and forested mountains to distract you, this is the spot for the ultimate chill, whether you are floating in the pool or lounging on the daybeds in the nearby relaxation room.
To infinity… And beyond!
The T Spa pool at the Grand
The T Spa at Grand Hotel Tremezzo is housed in Villa Emilia, the former library of neighboring Villa Carlotta and a handsome villa in its own right. Perhaps its most delightful feature—in addition to the handsome Lasa marble Hammam and the intoxicating Santa Maria Novella scents in the air—is the panoramic Infinity Pool, which has got to be one of the best pools on Lake Como. Situated along a sundeck with sliding glass doors, fully retractable to let in the summer breeze, the front basin of this indoor/outdoor gem culminates in a hot tub and lounge chairs open to the elements (and the stunning views!). A narrow passageway at the center leads to the rear basin, a dark and moody grotto that contrasts beautifully with the sun-kissed side. The low lights only enhance the sensory experience of the reclining jacuzzi, the standing jets and the torrential shower; rejuvenation guaranteed!
Stop and smell the flowers
Grand Hotel Tremezzo’s Flowers Pool
While the Grand’s floating pool on Lake Como is all about see-and-be-seen glamor, the Flowers Pool nestled in our gardens flaunts a more understated beauty. Sure, the undulating jasmine hedges, the speckled pool tiles and the fanciful orange ombrelloni are all eye-catchers in their own right, but it requires a bit more reconnaissance to discover this pool’s more covert charms. The triangular decks between the pool and the tennis court, for example, elevated to make the most of the views and pleasantly private. Or T Pizza, tucked away under the blissful shade of grandfatherly trees, the ideal spot for casual poolside lunches and dinners. And for something completely different, our “Dimmidisi” pavilion, a private dining spot for two up the stairs from the Flowers Pool, will have you saying “Yes, a thousand times yes!”, whatever the question is.
