B&B Villa le Ortensie

B&B Villa le Ortensie is a small bed and breakfast on the shores of Lake Como, Italy, rated 9.4 across nearly 250 guest reviews — a score that reflects something more personal than what a larger property can typically deliver. Set in a residential address along Via Mario Prada, it sits within reach of the lake's characteristic mix of water, hills, and alpine backdrop, with rooms that look out over both mountain and lake views depending on orientation. Without a star classification, it positions itself honestly: this is a place built around hospitality at a human scale rather than hotel infrastructure.

The property has a garden, a terrace with outdoor furniture, a sun deck, and beach loungers — a combination that makes slow mornings and long afternoons genuinely possible without leaving the grounds. A bar and happy hour round out the social rhythm of the day. For guests who arrive with bicycles or want to rent one on-site, the surrounding Lake Como terrain rewards both casual rides and more committed routes, and the property also organizes walking tours and hiking, which suits travelers who came specifically for the landscape rather than despite it.

Guests who drive to Lake Como — and many do, given how spread out the lake's villages are — will find on-site parking a practical relief rather than an afterthought, since street space in this part of Italy is rarely generous. Check-in from 16:00 gives arriving guests the afternoon to settle in before dinner, while an 11:00 check-out leaves a reasonable window to take one last coffee on the terrace before the road. Private and contactless check-in options mean the arrival and departure can be arranged without friction, which matters when you've planned a day around the water.