Villa Carlotta is the grand house of the Tremezzo shore, a late seventeenth-century villa set above terraced gardens that run down to the lake. It is named after Princess Carlotta of Prussia, who received it as a wedding gift from her mother in the nineteenth century, and its collection includes neoclassical sculpture and paintings in rooms that are laid out much as they were when the family lived there. The botanical garden is the greater draw: rhododendrons and azaleas that explode in spring, a rock garden, a valley of ferns, tropical glasshouses and shaded avenues of cedars and plane trees. In November the colours are autumn rather than spring, and the crowds that fill the villa in April and May are gone. Boats stop at a landing a few minutes away, which makes it one of the easiest villas to reach without a car.
Is it open now
Yes, with reduced hours. The villa’s own visiting page lists the period from 19 October to 8 November 2026 as open 10:00 to 18:00, with the last ticket at 17:00 and the museum closing at 17:30. After that comes an Autumn Winter Special: 14 and 15, 21 and 22 and 28 and 29 November, and 5 to 8 December 2026, from 10:00 to 16:00 with the last ticket at 15:30.
The page gives no 2027 reopening date, so check the villa’s website before planning a winter or early spring trip. On closing days the villa can be visited only by written reservation.
Tickets
The adult ticket is 17.50 euros, with reduced prices for over-65s, students and families, and free entry for children up to five. Tickets can be bought online or at the ticket office. Because this villa sells tickets on its own site, our link goes straight to the visiting page, where you can see dates and buy.
Getting there
The boat is the best way. Navigazione Lago di Como lines stop at Tremezzo - Villa Carlotta, about 400 metres from the entrance, and the trip from Como takes around 45 minutes. The C110 bus between Como, Menaggio and Colico stops at the villa, and there is a multi-storey car park on Via Peduzzi in busy periods. Tremezzina has no train station, so use Como or Varenna-Esino and continue by boat or bus.
What to expect
The experience
A self-paced visit through the villa museum and the terraced botanical garden, with plenty of benches and viewpoints above the water.
Best time
Before 8 November for the full 10:00 to 18:00 day, or on one of the selected Autumn Winter Special days when hours are shorter.
How long
Two to three hours covers the museum, the main terraces and the walk through the lower garden.
Tips
Check the dates, because after 8 November the villa opens only on listed weekends and days, and arrive by boat if you can to avoid the parking hunt in Tremezzo.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden lovers, art fans and visitors who want a villa that is easy to reach by public boat.
- Families
- A good family stop with space to run, shaded paths and a short walk from the boat landing.
- Couples
- Quiet terraces and lake views make it a calm, romantic morning in the off season.
- Pair with
- Pair it with Villa del Balbianello on the same stretch of shore, or lunch in Tremezzo and a boat to Bellagio.
- Time needed
- Allow half a day if you add the boat ride and a lakefront lunch.
Good questions
Is Villa Carlotta open in winter?+
The page gives no 2027 reopening date, so check the villa’s website.
How much does Villa Carlotta cost?+
The adult ticket is 17.50 euros in 2026, with reduced prices for over-65s, students and families. Children up to five go in free.
How do you get to Villa Carlotta?+
By boat to the Tremezzo - Villa Carlotta stop, about 400 metres from the gate, or by C110 bus. There is no train station at Tremezzo.
Is it worth visiting in November?+
Yes, if you like autumn colour and quiet terraces. The famous rhododendron and azalea bloom is in spring, so expect leaves rather than flowers.
Can I visit on a closing day?+
Only by written reservation to the villa’s secretariat. Otherwise plan around the listed opening days.
