I always look forward to the debrief call after a trip. What clients expected to love and what actually becomes their favorite memory are rarely the same thing, and those gaps are where I learn the most about how to plan the next trip.
(Image courtesy of Villa d'Este)
I recently caught up with a family who spent five nights at Villa d'Este with their two young daughters. What stood out was that they never felt forced to choose between a vacation for the adults and a vacation for the kids. Instead of chasing everything Lake Como has to offer, they alternated boat days with pool days and long lunches with Kids Club afternoons, then ended most evenings with a walk into Cernobbio for gelato and the playground.
Here is how they spent their time, and why I'd plan it the same way for another family.
Day 1: Settle Into Villa d'Este
The family arrived early in the morning after an overnight flight, well before their room was ready. Fortunately, Villa d'Este was able to provide a courtesy room where they could shower and freshen up before settling in. This is something we'd always recommend asking about in advance, especially when arriving after a long overnight flight. It's subject to availability, but when it works out, it makes that first day so much more enjoyable.
After lunch at the hotel, the girls headed to the Kids Club while their mother unpacked. That evening the family strolled into Cernobbio, then the girls enjoyed room service while the parents ate dinner at the Grill. It's one of the hotel's best restaurants, with century-old trees shading the terrace and tables that look out over the lake. Splitting the first night this way, with the kids fed and happy and the parents out for a proper dinner, set the tone for the whole stay.
(Image courtesy of Villa d’Este)
(Image courtesy of Villa d’Este)Day 2: Pool Time, Passalacqua, and a Local Dinner
Breakfast overlooking the lake was followed by a spot on the floating pool. Loungers in good locations fill up, so claim yours early rather than hoping for something later. While the girls spent the morning finger painting and decorating cakes at the Kids Club, the parents slipped away for lunch at Passalacqua. Their advice was to book well in advance, and I'd echo it. Of everything they did, they called it one of the highlights of the trip.
Dinner was at Trattoria del Glicine, a five-minute drive away, and the family said they would go back in a heartbeat. If you're staying nearby, ask us about arranging a homemade pasta class in Cernobbio. It's a fun way to experience the region beyond sightseeing, especially for families who enjoy cooking together. Back at the hotel, live music was playing on the terrace, and the girls danced around with other children. Nobody planned that moment, and it became one of the family's favorites.
Day 3: A Lake Como Boat Day Done Right
No Lake Como itinerary feels complete without a boat.
A private captain is the easiest way to explore the lake with kids because you control the pace. The family cruised the lake and stopped at Grand Hotel Tremezzo for lunch at T Pizza, which is one of my favorite casual lunches on the lake. It's relaxed enough for children and still has the view. From there they wandered through Varenna, stopped for gelato, found a small wine bar, and jumped in the lake for a swim. Yes, it was chilly. They said it was completely worth it. A chilly swim feels a little easier to justify when you’re in Lake Como.
That evening the parents had a date night at the formal Villa d'Este's Veranda Restaurant. Jackets are required for gentlemen, though the hotel will lend one, so there's no need to pack a blazer you'll wear once.
(Images courtesy of Villa d’Este)
Day 4: The Slow Day
Some of the best mornings are the ones with nowhere to be. One thing I loved about this itinerary is that no one felt rushed to accomplish everything. This day was intentionally unhurried, giving this family time to settle down and enjoy where they were.
The family wandered the grounds, spent the morning by the pool, and had lunch at the Sun Deck, where the pesto pasta was so good that one of them ordered it twice during the stay. The girls went back to the Kids Club for a sandwich-making activity they'd been looking forward to all week.
(Image courtesy of Villa d’Este)
Dinner was casual in Cernobbio, followed by time at the local playground before heading back to the hotel. A day with no agenda matters more on a family trip than most people expect, because kids who are rushed all week tend to run out of patience by day four. Having a day without plans gives everyone a chance to recharge, which can make the rest of the trip so much more enjoyable. And sometimes those ordinary moments in a new place become just as memorable as the ones you planned.
Day 5: A Repeat Of What Worked
(Image courtesy of Villa d’Este)
Their last full day followed the rhythm the family had already settled into: breakfast, pool, and a relaxed lunch.
The girls spent a few hours at their favorite place, Kids Club, making new friends while their mother did some solo shopping in town. That evening they returned to Veranda, because, as they put it, it's hard to beat the view or the service. The lobster pasta made another appearance, and so did the Milanese.
I'd encourage families to repeat favorites rather than treat every meal as a new experience. Once children find a dish they love, a second night at the same restaurant can go more smoothly than a new one.
Day 6: One Last Morning
No one was quite ready to leave.
After breakfast, the girls burned off some energy on the balance beams in the grassy area overlooking the tennis courts while Dad played a match. Then it was time to pack up and say goodbye to one of Italy's most iconic hotels.
(Image courtesy of Villa d’Este)
Why Villa d'Este Works For Families
One thing that came up several times during my debrief with this family was that Villa d'Este made Lake Como surprisingly easy with young children.
The Kids Club is the biggest reason. It's one of the few dedicated, supervised kids' programs on the lake, which means parents get real time to themselves, whether that's a long lunch, a bit of shopping in town, or a round of tennis, while the girls look forward to plans of their own. That balance is hard to find at most Como hotels, where families are often left to entertain the kids all day.
The location is the second reason. Because Cernobbio is a short walk away, the family could eat out, wander, and let the girls play at the playground without feeling stuck on the property. That keeps the trip from feeling like a stay at a resort that happens to sit on a lake.
There are tradeoffs. Villa d'Este leans formal, particularly in the evening, so it's a better fit for families comfortable with dress codes than for those who want a casual, barefoot stay. And Cernobbio sits at the southern end of the lake, which means reaching places like Varenna or Tremezzo requires a boat rather than a quick walk. If you're comparing this to a hotel farther up the lake, you're trading easy access to the central villages for a stronger kids' program and a more convenient base for dinners in town.
The right choice depends on how your family travels. If your kids are older and you'd rather spend your days hopping between villages, a more central hotel may serve you better. But if your children are young enough to enjoy a supervised club and you want adult dinners without a babysitter hunt, this is one of the strongest setups on Lake Como.
Lake Como can be an incredible family destination, but choosing the right hotel and pacing the trip makes all the difference. Whether that means five nights at Villa d'Este or splitting your time between different parts of the lake, we love helping families plan trips that feel just as enjoyable for the parents as they do for the kids.
If you're thinking about taking your family to Lake Como, we'd love to help you plan it.
