One of Italy’s most sought-after destinations in recent years, the Italian Lake District is vast and unevenly explored. Much of Lake Como feels either inaccessible for its eye-watering price tags or overrun with tourists, while some of the larger lakes (Lakes Garda and Maggiore) go overlooked, and smaller ones (Lakes Orta and Iseo) totally forgotten. So we dove in and did the research, scouring the coasts of the 5 primary lakes (and smaller counterparts) for hotels, B&Bs, and rentals worthy of a visit—all under our Costa Meno threshold of 300 euro/night in high season (mid-week July). The results blew even us away: from cool modernist bungalows tucked into the hills above Lago Maggiore, to massive Art Nouveau villas transformed into mom-and-pop B&Bs, and once-iconic grand palace hotels with incredible bones and private beaches on their doorstep. The lakes themselves offer such variety (glamorous Como, stately/aristocratic Maggiore, sporty and social Garda, romantic and introverted Orta, unpretentious Iseo…) there are so many options to consider. Read this list alongside our updated Costa Meno Italy, and get planning already!
LAKE COMO AREA
Como has a reputation as the most glamorous and expensive of the Italian lakes, known for its abundance of 5-star hotels and celebrity villas. It can be intimidating for travelers who don’t want to pay the high price tags, but we found quite a few that come in on budget.
Hotel Villa Marie, Tremezzo – While the junior suites are the stars here with tall, frescoed ceilings and windows overlooking the water, the basic rooms are sweet as well, with nice light and good bones.
La Foleia, La Foleia – A neoclassical pavilion and octagonal villa on a lily pond, straight out of a Rococo fever dream. Think pastels, trellised gardens, muraled walls, and florals. The houses are available for exclusive rental (2BR each)—a bit above our CM limit, but… come on!
La Pergola, Bellagio – Despite some uggo art in the rooms, there’s an old-world spirit in this former monastery, with an original stone staircase and a lakeside restaurant.
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