Malgrate is a picturesque pick on the shores of the southern edge of Lake Como, just across the bridge from busier Lecco. The charm of Malgrate lies in the fact that it’s less popular than its neighbour, but this also meand that it has less to offer in the way of accommodation. The best places to stay in Malgrate include an elegant, very contemporary villa hotel, along with some more traditionally converted villas, B&Bs and one larger, purpose built hotel.

Malgrate’s promenade has plenty of charm, and there are a good range of cafes and bars on the waterfront, and leading into the small town centre. The shoreline is lined with colourful houses, which makes it a photogenic proposition too.

What many visitors who overlook Malgrate miss out on is the pretty town centre, the local beach, and incredible views of the mighty mountains that loom above Lecco. Our Gurus’ picks for the best places to stay in Malgrate all take full advantage of these incredible views. We think that Malgrate is an ideal destination for families, and travellers planning a more active break — walkers and cyclists etc — who will benefit from avoiding the summer throngs, without missing out on any of the region’s charms.

The Best Places to Stay in Malgrate

For Waterside Style

• Casa Sull'Albero is a super contemporary boutique pick, and it’s perfect if you’re a fan of swathes of glass and sharp lines. All of the 12 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the property’s gardens and the lake, plus the sort of minimalist decor that the interiors magazines rave about. There’s a beautiful pool, and a gorgeous lounge and honesty bar and kitchen. Guests are invited to feel at home, and enjoy the games room, gardens and restaurant at their leisure. There’s even a little gym.

Prefer a Self-catering Apartment or villa?

• Sometimes a villa or apartment is the best option if you're travelling in a larger group, so if you decide that you'd prefer a self catering option, check out our online booking partner, booking.com for some inspiration.

Travel Information

• Malgrate has a few local international airports: Milan’s Linate, Malpensa and Bergamo Airport are about an hour away by road, or about an hour and a half by public transport. While Brescia-Montichiari and Verona-Villafranca are both about an hour and a half drive, or about three hours on the train via Milan.
• If you want to hire a car, which we strongly advise for stays in this region, we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Lake Como has a mild climate that allows for sub-tropical plants like grapevines and olive trees to grow throughout the year. Winter does get chilly, and in summer it can be humid, but broadly speaking it has some of the best weather conditions in Europe. April through to October are the busiest months for visitors. The water of the lake even heats up during summer, and can get to 20°C come July! So if you are visiting at this time it’s worth booking as much as you can in advance.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay on Lake Como
• Consider including other local towns in your search; maybe beautiful Bellagio, which is along the shore to the west, or Calolziocorte to the east
• You could also consider refining your search by the kind of accommodation you’re looking for, be it the best hotels with a view on Lake Como, the best luxury hotels on Lake Como, the best hotels for families on Lake Como or the best value hotels on Lake Como
• Or you could contact one of our friendly gurus for personalised advice.