Hotel Excelsior Splendide stands on Lungo Lario Manzoni, the Bellagio lakefront, with 55 individually furnished rooms and the ferry port about a minute's walk away. It is a practical and well-placed base for anyone who wants to travel around the lake by boat: you can step off the ferry, walk to the front door and be in the old town within minutes. The hotel has a restaurant, Splendide, with al fresco dining, a free breakfast buffet and a seasonal outdoor pool with sun loungers. It lists a property class of three and a guest rating in the very good range from nearly a thousand reviews, which suggests consistent service. It suits couples, small families and first-time visitors who value location over luxury.
Location and getting around
The hotel is at Via Lungo Lario Manzoni 28, about one minute on foot from the Bellagio port and about three minutes from the San Giacomo Basilica. Villa Serbelloni is about five minutes away and the Villa Melzi gardens about six. Ferries from the port reach Varenna, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Cadenabbia, and Villa Monastero and Villa del Balbianello are within easy reach by boat.
Lugano airport is about an hour by car. The hotel does not offer parking, so plan to arrive by ferry, bus or taxi, or use a public car park nearby.
The rooms
55 rooms, each furnished individually, so sizes and views vary. A lakeside room costs more than one facing the street, and lake views are the main reason to pay extra here. There is air conditioning, a lift and a safe, and the front desk is staffed around the clock, which is helpful if your ferry arrives late. After-hours check-in is not available, so tell the hotel if you expect to arrive after midnight.
Food and pool
The Splendide restaurant serves meals with outdoor dining beside the water, and a free breakfast buffet is shown. The outdoor pool has sun loungers and umbrellas and is open during the day in season, but it is closed through the winter months, so do not choose the hotel for a swim between late autumn and the end of winter. There is no spa, though a hair salon and laundry service are available.
Good to know
Check-in begins at 2 p.m. and check-out is at 11 a.m. Pets are allowed with a limit of one per room and a fee, and service animals are exempt. Free Wi-Fi and luggage storage are provided, which helps if you arrive early or leave late. Lakefront rooms can be livelier than quieter ones, particularly in summer when boats and bars are busy, so ask for a higher floor or an inner room if you are a light sleeper.
Why stay here
- ✓Lakefront location by the ferry port
- ✓Splendide restaurant with outdoor dining
- ✓Free breakfast buffet
- ✓Seasonal outdoor pool
- ✓Air conditioning
- ✓24-hour front desk
- ✓Free Wi-Fi
- ✓Pet-friendly rooms
Good questions
How far is the hotel from the ferry port?+
About one minute on foot.
Does the hotel have parking?+
No, the property page says it does not offer parking, so plan to arrive by ferry, bus or taxi.
Is the pool open in winter?+
No, the outdoor pool is seasonal and closed through the winter months.
