Villa Carlotta
The complete travel guide — key features & tickets, experiences & more
Located in Tremezzo, part of the municipality of Tremezzina, Villa Carlotta is one of the most famous historic villas on Lake Como, renowned for its combination of art, architecture and spectacular botanical gardens.
The estate covers around 70,000 square meters and includes a historic residence, an important art collection and extensive gardens overlooking the lake.
Here’s everything you need to know to plan your visit to Villa Carlotta in Tremezzina.
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To make the most of your visit to Villa Carlotta, you can wander through its vast botanical gardens, admire spectacular lake views, and explore an impressive collection of neoclassical art and historic interiors 
The gardens are home to centuries-old trees, palms, camellias, ferns and many exotic species, but Villa Carlotta is especially famous for its extraordinary collections of azaleas and rhododendrons. In spring, thousands of flowers transform the garden into one of the most colorful landscapes on Lake Como.
As you explore the different sections of the garden, you’ll pass through terraces, wooded areas and panoramic viewpoints offering wide views across Lake Como and the surrounding mountains. The changing landscapes make the garden worth visiting at a relaxed pace, with spring being the most spectacular season for blooms.
The museum houses an important collection of paintings and sculptures, including works by Antonio Canova, Bertel Thorvaldsen and Francesco Hayez. Among the highlights are sculptures, paintings and original neoclassical furnishings displayed throughout the villa’s historic rooms.
Walking through the interiors also offers a glimpse into aristocratic life on Lake Como, with decorated halls, period furniture and rooms overlooking the gardens and lake. Villa Carlotta regularly hosts temporary exhibitions and cultural events, adding new reasons to visit alongside its permanent collection.
Explore Villa Carlotta step by step and plan your day
Key features
Tickets & opening times
Experiences & tours
Places to stay
Find the perfect accommodation on Lake Como.
Regular admission: From €15 (buy ticket here).
Reservations not required but recommended.
📅 Villa Carlotta is open from mid-March to early November (please check on Google or on the official website), with occasional winter openings.
🕒 Opening hours: 10am – 7pm from late March to late October (last entry at 6pm); 10am – 6pm from late October to late November (last entry at 5pm)
❌ During closing days you can visit the villa by reservation only.
Villa Carlotta Educational Services organize themed tours and workshops for individual users and groups.
More info on the official website.
Most of the park areas are accessible to people with disabilities, and entry is free. Two elevators in the garden and a gravel-saving system in the avenues allow you to enjoy the park even in case of difficult walking. The museum is also fully accessible to people with disabilities
Toilets specially equipped for the disabled are located along the itinerary and at the cafeteria.
More info on the official website.
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There are several ferry lines that stop right at the “Tremezzo – Villa Carlotta” pier, located 400 meters from the entrance.
At this link, you can purchase a combined ticket for the ferry + admission to three villas.
If travelling by car, follow the SS340 towards Tremezzina. There is a large parking lot nearby.
Reservations not required but recommended. Buy ticket here.
At Villa Carlotta’s Terrazza delle Camelie, you can celebrate a civil wedding or make your vows unforgettable with a suggestive symbolic ceremony.
The best time to visit Villa Carlotta is in the spring, during the blooming season, or in the fall, to admire the beautiful foliage.
Villa Carlotta was commissioned by Marquis Giorgio Clerici at the end of the 17th century, but it was only with the following owner that the villa reached its maximum splendor.
In 1801, Gian Battista Sommariva, a famous politician, businessman, and patron of arts, acquired Villa Carlotta, which over the decades became one of the most important stops of the Grand Tour. Intellectuals from all around Europe came to see the villa because of its fine art collection and its fascinating botanical gardens.
In the second half of the century, Princess Marianne of Orange-Nassau bought the villa and gave it to her daughter Charlotte, after whom the villa is named, as a gift to commemorate her marriage to Georg II, Duke of Saxe-Meiningen.
Georg was passionate about botany and made many improvements to the park, which became more and more famous for its botanical richness.
After the First World War, Villa Carlotta was acquired by an organization that was established for the specific purpose of taking care of the property.
Explore Villa Carlotta step by step
Key features
Tickets & opening times
Experiences & tours
Places to stay
