Lake Como is known to be a very expensive destination for the rich and wealthy. But can you visit Lake Como on a budget? I have visited this beautiful area of Italy twice, both times on a budget. In this article I want to tell you how you can too, based on my own experience at Lake Como. My last visit to Como was this year, so all the information in this article is up to date.
Is It Possible to Visit Lake Como on a Budget?
Yes, is it more than possible to visit Lake Como on a budget. Whilst this area of Italy is known as being one of the most expensive and exclusives in the country, you don’t have to be George Clooney to be able to afford to spend a few days around Lake Como.
On my last trip to Lake Como I spent 200 euros for a weekend which included two nights accommodation in an apartment with a view over the mountains in Como, two restaurant meals, two breakfasts in cafes, and ferry tickets. I even managed to do a day trip to Lugano on the third day, which I would highly recommend if you have extra time.
Fly To Milano
Milano is a very affordable destination in Europe. If you are travelling to Lake Como from anywhere else in Europe, check flights to Milano Malpensa. I paid £17 for a return flight to Milano and this destination is always included in the most affordable places to fly to in Europe on Skyscanner.
From Milano Airport you can take a train straight to Como, changing once in Saronno. The ticket from the airport to Como costs 10 euros and the trains are very frequent. Don’t forget to validate your ticket at the machine, before you descend onto the platform.
Make it a Day Trip
The most affordable way to visit Lake Como is through a day trip from Milano. You can take the train from Milano directly to Varenna, which is located in what is called the Golden Triangle of Lake Como, which includes Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio, but only the first one is accessible by train. A train ticket from Milano to Varenna costs 8 euros.
Varenna, Bellagio and Menaggio are some of the most beautiful towns on Lake Como. They are close to each other and well connected by ferry, so you can see all three of them in one day. Start with a trip to Bellagio, as this is the most popular town that gets extremely crowded by lunchtime. Then visit Menaggio, leaving Varenna til last, so it’s easy to get the train back to Milano in the afternoon.
Choose Where to Stay Wisely
I have visited Lake Como both as a day trip from Milano, and by staying overnight in Como. Accommodation around Lake Como tends to be expensive, but it’s the same in Milano, so make sure to check the prices thoroughly.
Sure, everyone wants to stay in the gorgeous Bellagio or in Varenna, but that comes at a much higher cost than setting your base in Como or in Lenno for example. If you choose a less touristy town you will be paying less but will still be in a beautiful place. I chose to stay in Como because it has a larger residential area and it gets quite vibrant in the evening with locals going to the bars and terraces in the historical town.
If you are travelling with friends, check out Apartamento alle Rampe in Como. This is where I stayed for two nights, and paid a total of £75. The apartment is typical Italian, with high ceilings and spacious rooms, wooden blinds in the windows, and can comfortably sleep four people. If you are travelling with three other friends, that’s less than £10 a night each. A bargain! The apartment also has a large kitchen with a dining table, as well as a separate space for cooking and washing clothes.
The apartment is located 10-15 minutes’ walk from the ferry terminal in Como, in a residential area next to the Como St Giovanni train station. You can check the latest rates directly on Booking.com by clicking here.
If you are travelling alone, check out the Ostello Bello, a hostel in the same area as the apartment where I stayed. I went here a couple of evenings for the sociable atmosphere and the cheap Aperol Spritz that always came with a side of chips. A bed in a shared room here costs around 20 euros and a spritz 4 euros. You can check the reviews on Tripadvisor by clicking here, or the latest rates directly on Booking.com by clicking here.
Visit Out of Season
A great tip to visit Lake Como on a budget is to come here during low season. I visited at the end of April and the prices were much lower than in the summer months. I would never have managed to stay in that apartment for so little money in summer.
The best time to visit Lake Como is in April and May, as well as from the end of September until October. During this time the weather is still good, and the crowds of tourists almost non existent. I don’t like crowds, which is why I always travel out of season.
Use the Public Transport
It is a given that if you want to explore Lake Como on a budget, you won’t consider taking a water taxi between the villages. The ferry is a very convenient way to navigate on the lake and it won’t cost you an arm and a leg. There are two types of services: the normal ferry and the hydrofoil.
A day pass for the ferry, which allows you unlimited trips between the towns along the first part of the lake, costs 25.80 euros. If you come by train directly to Varenna, then a ticket for this part of the lake only costs 15 euros a day. The supplement for the hydrofoil is 4.60 euros from Como, or 2.50 euros from Varenna, Menaggio or Bellagio – but it is not worth it on this side of the lake. The hydrofoil is a fast way to reach the centre of the lake from Como. Instead of over two hours on the normal ferry, the hydrofoil will get you here in 45 minutes. You can check the ferry schedule by clicking here.
If you are staying in Como, you can also reach the centre of the lake by taking the number C10 bus directly to Menaggio. The journey takes around one hour, and a one way ticket costs 2.40 euros. You can check the schedule of the bus by clicking here and choosing C10 from the list which will be displayed.
Don’t Eat in the Main Squares
As a rule of thumb, if a restaurant has a view, the price will be much higher. The prices in the restaurants which are situated in front of the Cathedral in Como were so much more expensive than the ones along the narrow streets, away from the main square. The quality of the food in these restaurants is also not great. If I see a waiter outside a restaurant inviting me in, I know it’s a tourist trap.
In general in Italy, you will see that most restaurants will have their menus displayed in a small box, on the outside of the door. This makes it easy to choose a place that fits your budget and not be surprised with high prices after you’re already seated at a table. I noticed that the restaurants along the water in Como were also quite expensive, and the quality of the food left much to be desired. I was happy that I checked their reviews before entering and sitting down. In the end I decided to just explore the alleys of the historical centre, and look for a restaurant that served traditional dishes.
I really loved my dinner at Rivenoteca, which was the most expensive meal of the trip. They specialize in local Lombardian cuisine, using fresh fish from the lake in their dishes. I ordered a two course menu accompanied by wine, and the bill was 35 euros. Although you can definitely find cheaper, I just wanted to treat myself to some really good food.
For the second day I chose a small pizzeria in Menaggio, which had a fixed two course menu with drinks included. I went for a rustic pizza and a lemon cake, alongside a glass of red wine and an espresso to finish. The price for this fixed menu was 14 euros and the food delicious. Don’t be afraid to look for these tiny places, as there are plenty around. From the outside, the pizzeria didn’t look like much, but the food was great.
Eating Out Versus Supermarkets
I always try to eat one meal a day at a local restaurant because I love trying out the local flavours and traditional cuisine. You can cut off this cost and make your trip to Lake Como even more affordable if you choose to buy food from the supermarket.
Como has a large Carrefour Market from where you can buy fresh cheese and charcuterie at low prices, which can make a delicious Italian lunch or dinner. They also have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as pasta or baked goods which you can buy for snacks.
Como is the only touristic town that has a large supermarket. The rest have small shops from where you may be able to buy some vegetables, fruits or sandwiches, but the selection is very small, so keep this in mind.
Free Sightseeing
The beauty of the towns along Lake Como is that they are all gorgeous, and it doesn’t cost anything to walk around and admire their architecture. You can even get a glimpse of the beautiful gardens from the outside, which usually costs a lot of money to see. An example is Villa Carlotta – you can spot its wonderful landscaped gardens from the ferry.
One of my favourite places around Lake Como, which I discovered by accident because my curiosity, led me to this alley bordered by piles of stones, was Pescallo. There were no tourists in this little village. The view of the lake from here was unspoiled.
Another great place that I saw for free was in Varenna, near Villa Monastero. A pair of stairs led down to this secluded stone beach with a pretty view of the lake. Again, there were no tourists around.
For more articles about Lake Como, check out my guide to Bellagio by clicking here.
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Such an inspiring post.. I always think of Lake Como as a famous people place..love these ideas..ESP about going to the supermarket for charcuterie for dinner… stealing that idea!
This is such a great guide!