Thursday August 15, 2024
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Explore the stunning scenery and celebrity charm of Lake Como without breaking the bank. Discover affordable ways to experience this picturesque Italian destination.
The lake of northern Italy Como is a popular destination for stars like George Clooney, but you might be surprised at how affordable this gorgeous destination can be. Here's an insider's guide to enjoying this picturesque corner of Italy without breaking the bank.
Lake Como is famous for its sparkling blue waters, opulent villas and charming villages where celebrities like Taylor Swift, Travis Kelce and Amal and George Clooney try to escape the paparazzi. However, you don't have to be a Hollywood star or a billionaire to relish the beauty of this picturesque lake framed by mountains.
Over the past decade, my family has spent many summers at Lake Como, discovering many ways to enjoy its charm without breaking the bank. For example, staying farther from the lakeshore and taking advantage of free or inexpensive activities like hiking, museum visits, and biking can help you save money.
Avoid high-profile spots
Lake Como, located one to two hours' drive from Milan, has a characteristic inverted Y shape. The drive from Como, at the southern end of the western branch, to Colico, at the northern end, takes just over an hour.
The most popular lakeside destinations are Lecco, a small town at the southern end of the eastern branch, the town of Bellagio, located at the fork of the Y, and Varenna, a village on the eastern shore. These places tend to have the most expensive accommodations and restaurants. To stretch your budget, consider staying in lesser-known towns and villages instead.
Choose stays in guest houses and agritourism
Guesthouses, often more affordable than hotels, may not offer all the luxuries, but they do offer authentic experiences and welcoming hosts.
About an hour north of Como, Le Radici Agriturismo offers comfortable accommodation on a hillside farm, where much of the food served in its restaurant is grown. Rooms, available from April to October, start at €90 per night, including breakfast.
Near Menaggio, a farm that raises its own pigs and trout offers double rooms with breakfast from €60. It is ideally located near the Val Sanagra park, where you can enjoy an easy hike before returning for lunch of freshly caught fish.
In Colico, a charming double room with a lake view costs around €98, while rooms in a chic bed and breakfast start at €110. Both establishments are within walking distance of two public beaches.
Escape the crowd
To avoid the bustling crowds of Como, Lecco, Varenna and Bellagio, consider a scenic spot like Tremezzina. A ferry ride, with fares varying by distance, offers views of the lake, mountains and squares that are just as breathtaking as those from a yacht. Sometimes there is a bar on board.
Once there, take a stroll along the Greenway, a 10km trail that winds from the village of Colonno through farms, streams, ice cream parlors, cafes and cobbled streets, all the way to Griante. You can also rent a bike (normal or electric) from nearby shops and explore at your own pace.
You don't need a five-star hotel to enjoy a five-star beach. Many towns, including Bellagio, Lenno, and Lecco, have public beaches. Just ask the locals for directions to a “spiaggia libera,” or free beach.
Spiaggia di Lierna, one of the lake's most beautiful public beaches, is a 30-minute train ride from Lecco. Here you can cool off in the clear waters or rent a catamaran. Nearby, the Riva Bianca bar-pizzeria offers pizzas starting at just €6.
In Colico, Spiaggia di Piona is a quiet, verdant beach nestled in a secluded bay. Nearby hiking trails of varying difficulty offer stunning views of the lake, the ancient Piona Abbey, and the Del Risti winery, which offers tours and tastings accompanied by local cheeses and cured meats. Book online for €48 per person; the winery operates a minibus from the beach.
Although the lake is the main attraction, the surrounding mountains offer hikes for all levels of adventurers.
The Sentiero Spirito del Bosco, or Path of the Spirit of the Woods, in Canzo near Lecco, is an easy and fun trail that takes about an hour. It is lined with whimsical wooden sculptures of animals and mythical creatures like elves and gnomes.
Along the trail, two farms, Agriturismo in Valentina and Rifugio Terz'Alpe, invite hikers to enjoy rustic meals of homemade cheeses, salami, polenta and local buckwheat pasta called pizzoccheri. A meal for two at either farm, with two main courses and a cheese platter, costs between €25 and €30.
For those who prefer to skip the hike and enjoy the view directly, Lake Como offers several funiculars and cable cars. One of them climbs about 500 meters from Como to Brunate every 30 minutes until midnight, at a cost of €6.60 for a return trip.
In Lecco, the Piani d’Erna Funivia cable car takes you 800 metres up a grassy mountain with stunning views of the lake. Nearby, the Parco Avventura adventure park offers ropes courses, zip lines and more. Cable car tickets start at €12 return and park admission starts at €12, depending on how many routes you choose.
The Villa del Balbianello and its surrounding gardens in Tremezzina have a rich history that goes back hundreds of years. Originally built for a cardinal in the 18th century, the villa was later owned by Guido Monzino, a count who led the first Italian expedition to the summit of Mount Everest. The neoclassical villa, now managed by the National Trust of Italy, houses artworks and objects collected by Monzino, including
An 18th-century Venetian globe, Inuit ivory carvings and the sled he used to reach the North Pole in 1971. The villa, which has appeared in films such as “Casino Royale” and “Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones,” is one of Lake Como’s top attractions. Admission, which includes a 45-minute tour, is €24 for adults. Be sure to book your visit online well in advance.
