The glamorous Italian Lakes, long a favoured destination of the famous and fabulous throughout the centuries, doesn’t immediately conjure up images of affordability. That said, there is a way to stay in the region without blowing your budget. Sprinkled along the shorelines and tucked away inland are a number of reasonably priced hotels, b&bs and hostels.
They might be family-run establishments in traditional lakeside buildings, or set in towns away from the shore but with excellent panoramic views of the water. Others might have private beaches, pools and boats. Some even have stairs with direct lake access; others share a vista with some of the area’s most luxurious (and pricey) hotels. You can bet on a warm welcome at all. Our expert, Kiki Deere, selects the best affordable places on the Italian Lakes, including Lakes Como, Garda, Maggiore, Iseo and Orta.
LAKE COMO
Albergo Milano
Varenna, Lake Como, Italy
Albergo Milano is right in the historic centre of Varenna, a gorgeous little town that is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the lake. It’s set in a typical lakeside building (the oldest part dates back to the 17th century), and interiors mirror the furnishings and decorations of houses in the area. The main building houses eight fan-cooled rooms spread out over two floors; four look out over the lake, while the other four are located to the side of the building. It’s possible to swim in the lake a short walk from the hotel; beach towels are provided. The terrace is a lovely spot to sit back with a book or drink in hand and soak in the lake views.
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From
£
114
per night
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Hotel La Darsena
Tremezzo, Italy
This is a family-run hotel where the owners personally greet guests, giving the place an authentic family feel. Apart from a private dock, the hotel doesn’t have any facilities although staff can advise on plenty of activities in the area and guests staying for three days or more enjoy a complimentary one-hour tour of Lake Como. Hotel La Darsena has a lovely location right on the water in the town of Tremezzo, ideally situated to explore the lake’s main attractions. It’s a 10-minute walk north to the 17th-century Villa Carlotta, home to spectacular botanical gardens. Rooms are simple, but you’re really here for the wonderful lake views.
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From
£
83
per night
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Hotel Bellagio
Bellagio, Lake Como, Italy
The Hotel Bellagio is run by a friendly mother-and-son team, who offer congenial and laid-back service. Its excellent location right in the heart of Bellagio, one of Lake Como’s most beautiful towns, means everything is at your doorstep, from the upmarket boutiques that line the pretty streets to the town’s many restaurants and cafés. This also means facilities are limited to a pleasant terrace where breakfast is enjoyed. Staff can help organise charter boats or taxi boat transfers, as well as private airport transfers. As this is one of Bellagio’s tallest buildings, top floor rooms command lovely lake views; corner rooms have large windows ensuring plenty of light and gorgeous panoramic views.
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From
£
106
per night
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Bellavista Boutique Hotel
Brunate, Italy
Bellavista Boutique Hotel is a friendly family-run place that oozes character. It’s not on the water but located just above Como in the hilltop town of Brunate which is dotted with pretty Art Nouveau villas. From Como, a funicular (opened in 1894) climbs up the hillside from where there are spectacular views of the lake below. It’s the starting point for hikes, from short two-hour walks to two-day treks to Bellagio. The panoramic terrace is undoubtedly one of the main draws – it’s a lovely place to enjoy a coffee and soak in the views. There is a third-floor whirlpool tub and sauna that can be rented out. In the restaurant recipes have been passed down for generations. Live jazz and blues sessions set the mood on Fridays.
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From
£
79
per night
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Nest On the Lake
Lezzeno, Lake Como, Italy
Set in an 18th-century building, Nest on the Lake is tranquil and peaceful, with only three rooms and an apartment sleeping up to four people. The outdoor areas are very pleasant thanks to the lovely lakeside location and a handful of tables on a wisteria-shaded patio overlook the water. Five steps lead down to a pebbly beach, which is a lovely spot to sit back and relax, or to go for a swim. The owners can organise boat and bike rental, and can provide maps of hikes in the area. There are a handful of canoes that guests are encouraged to use. All rooms have small balconies with tables and a couple of chairs.
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From
£
96
per night
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Ostello Bello Lake Como
Lake Como, Italy
The hostel is situated on Como’s lakefront road, a five-minute walk from the jetty from where there are regular services to towns around the lake. The historical centre of Como is less than a five-minute walk away. Industrial-like interiors are brightened up with splashes of yellow paint with original features restored where possible. There’s a piano that guests are encouraged to use, books, board games, table tennis and a mini football table. Every evening a member of staff rustles up a delicious meal for guests and the kitchen is fully stocked with ingredients. Breakfast is served all day long. Double rooms can sleep up to four people. Free city bikes are available.
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From
£
25
per night
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LAKE GARDA
Hotel du Lac
Lake Garda, Italy
The hotel is a small, family-run, 19th-century building right on the water. Once a week the affable owner organises tours to the town of nearby Gargnano and the family’s limonaia (lemon grove) nearby. Six rooms have balconies facing the waterfront, and there’s a lovely terrace shaded by kiwi trees that overlooks the lake. You’ll find sun loungers to while away the afternoons, while stairs provide direct access to the lake for a swim. Guests have complimentary access to a nearby beach (a five-minute walk away), equipped with sun loungers and home to a café serving drinks and snacks.
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From
£
96
per night
Due di Moro
Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda, Italy
Nestled on a hillside overlooking Lake Garda, this laid-back eco-friendly b&b follows the principles of sustainable architecture. Walls have natural clay plaster finishes, while cotto tiles give the place a rustic touch. The vegetable and herb garden provide the veggie restaurant with fresh organic greens. There’s a little garden area with lovely views of the lake, while tucked away at the back of the building is a small swimming pool and attractive wellness area with glass-fronted sauna, steam room and whirlpool tub offering panoramic lake views. Bikes can be rented and cooking classes can be organised. Four rooms share a terrace looking out towards the lake, while one has its own private garden.
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£
91
per night
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Meet Garda Lake Hostel
Peschiera del Garda, Lake Garda, Italy
The hostel is tucked away in a residential area a 10-minute walk from the historical centre of Peschiera del Garda. Interiors are fun and unconventional, decorated with eclectic, mismatched furniture. Its major draw is the stylish third-floor panoramic terrace dotted with sofas and sun loungers that sees plenty of parties, live music gigs and open-air film screenings. There are plenty of facilities too: a laundry room, table tennis, billiards, table football, board games, playing cards, a book exchange, garden with barbecue set. During the summer months, a complimentary shuttle service connects the hostel to local nightclubs. Most rooms have private terraces, and three private rooms have direct access to the garden.
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From
£
16
per night
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Locanda Agli Angeli
Lake Garda, Italy
A tranquil little hotel in the heart of Gardone Riviera, steps away from the popular Vittoriale degli Italiani. It’s decorated in Indonesian colonial style, with chunky terracotta lamps, solid teak chests and wooden wardrobes. There’s a small swimming pool with sunbeds. Staff can organise bike rental along with speedboat trips to Sirmione, a busy town to the south of the lake. The hotel has complimentary parking for guests nearby. Dogs are welcome, and stay for free. There’s an honesty bar with beer, wine, Prosecco and soft drinks, while hot drinks are available around the clock. In the annexe across the road is the hotel restaurant, which serves lake fish such as lavaret and pike.
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From
£
106
per night
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LAKE ORTA
Hotel Aracoeli
Lake Orta, Italy
The hotel has an excellent location right in the heart of Orta San Giulio on Piazza Motta, the town’s main square, although it can get rather noisy in the evenings when the bars and restaurants on the square attract a buzzy crowd. It doesn’t have any facilities – this is a small, centrally located establishment offering rooms and breakfast only. The seven rooms – all different – have a contemporary feel with a touch of the industrial, and have plenty more character than the entrance lobby and communal area. Guests are entitled to 10 per cent off at Ristoro Olina, an attractive restaurant a three-minute walk away that is run by the same owner.
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£
70
per night
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Hotel Ristorante Giardinetto
Pettenasco, Lake Orta, Italy
Hotel Ristorante Giardinetto’s large white building wraps around the lakefront. The gaudily coloured corridors can be a bit of an eyesore but once you look beyond the décor you’ll soon realise this is one of the best three-star hotels in the area, not least because of its excellent facilities. The outdoor areas are attractive, in particular the rooftop terrace and the vine-shaded terrace restaurant. Facilities at a three-star don’t get much better than this: there’s a sizable swimming pool, private beach with sun loungers and an attractive rooftop terrace with bar. The hotel rents out SUP boards and canoes and there are free weekly yoga lessons that take place on the rooftop.
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£
82
per night
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LAKE ISEO
Casa Visnenza B&B
Lake Iseo, Italy
Though not on the water, this welcoming b&b, in a 19th-century silk mill, has a peaceful location a 30-minute drive north of Lake Iseo in Val Camonica – a valley dotted with prehistoric rock carvings dating back 13,000 years. You’re away from the tourist crowds but in a good position to explore the Parco Nazionale delle Incisioni Rupestri, as well as being near some great local restaurants serving traditional Italian Lakes fare. Throughout the year a range of cultural activities, including art and photography exhibitions. Breakfast is served in the open-fronted courtyard area (during the colder months it’s enjoyed in the dining room-cum-library or in the living room with fireplace), and consists of a range of local specialities: delicious spongada (a spongy local cake coated with powdered sugar), chestnut biscuits made by a cooperative in the area, and cheeses and cold cuts from the valley.
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From
£
49
per night
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Castello Oldofredi
Cure, Italy
This four-star property is one of the very few hotels on Monte Isola and has a wonderful location on a hillside offering panoramic lake vistas. The restored mansion has a number of original details and features including oak-wood beams and stone floors, and there’s a swimming pool cocooned among the olive trees. A number of original features have been preserved, including a 14th-century fresco embellishing a small courtyard. Tucked away at the back of the property is a tranquil garden dotted with hammocks. The property has both rooms and apartments. The restaurant has a lovely setting on a panoramic terrace shaded by parasols. Cultural activities include cooking classes, trips to a local olive oil press, and guided tours of the Museo della Rete, which draws on the island’s history of producing fishing nets.
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From
£
87
per night
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Le Quattro Terre
Lake Iseo, Italy
The hotel is surrounded by vineyards in Franciacorta, the hilly region to the south of Lake Iseo that is famous for its excellent sparkling wines. Original details of this 18th-century farmhouse have been lovingly restored: think wooden ceiling beams, cotto floors and bare stone walls. There’s a large garden that’s home to Le Quattro Terre winery, where tours and wine tasting sessions take place. Staff can organise walks through vineyards in the area – oenophiles and foodies shouldn’t miss the Strada del Vino, a wine route that winds through the area’s vineyards and passes a number of excellent traditional trattorias and restaurants. The food at the restaurant is very good, with dishes following age-old recipes from the area that are prepared using local ingredients.
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£
70
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• Budget hotels in amazing locations
LAKE MAGGIORE
La Camelia d’Oro
Lake Maggiore, Italy
This renovated 19th-century stone bungalow was once the gardener’s quarters that serviced the romantic Villa Anelli. It is nestled in a wonderland of flowers and hundred-year-old trees, overlooking Lake Maggiore. The cottage has two separate apartments. The ground-floor one sleeps up to three people and has a bedroom, bathroom, kitchen and a sunroom dining area with 180-degree views of the gardens. The upstairs apartment sleeps two and has one room, a bathroom and a cooking corner along with a dining area on the terrace with a spectacular views of the lake. Botanical gardening and egg decorating workshops are available. There is also a public beach down the street and numerous walking paths in the area.
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From
£
50
per night
Villa Pizzini Mottarone
Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy
An intimate and cosy boutique with only five rooms, offering complete tranquility along with sweeping views of Lake Maggiore. The hotel sits atop Mount Mottarone and is about a 40 minute drive from Stresa. It was originally built in 1880 has been lovingly restored. Seated bay windows, wood floors and simple furnishings make guests feel right at home. Villa Pizzini is surrounded by a forest with views of the lake, providing visitors with absolute and total silence along with comfort food – the perfect combination for a complete recharge. The restaurant is the main focus. Everything is homemade and dishes are inspired by the surroundings. The pasta is made from farm-fresh eggs and stone-ground organic flour.
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Belvedere
Isola Pescatori, Lake Maggiore, Italy
Belvedere is located on Isola Superiore which is also known as Isola dei Pescatori. The island itself only has 50 inhabitants, but there are many shops, cafés and restaurants given its small size. The 19th-century building has been owned by the same family for generations. At the main entrance, there’s a large terrace garden that leads to the small lobby which faces the restaurant, which has glass walls that are open during warmer months. A soft colour scheme of beige and white gives the hotel a relaxed yet elegant feel, and most rooms have balconies and views vary from lake view to city view.
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£
82
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Relais Casali della Cisterna
Belgirate, Lake Maggiore, Italy
The relais is set within two 19th-century buildings that once served as quarters for both sailors and the gardeners at a stately home nearby. Interiors are classic in style, with wooden furnishings, botanical prints and polished parquet floors. Deckchairs and hammocks are sprinkled about the leafy grounds, and there’s a trampoline, a play area for children, table tennis and table football. Tucked away on the first floor balcony of the main building is an open-air whirlpool tub with lake views (you’ll have to book ahead). There’s also an electric car charge point, and complimentary bikes at guests’ disposal. Note that all rooms in the Casa dei Marinai buidling have a balcony or terrace.
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£
87
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Hotel Pironi
Cannobio, Italy
The hotel is set in an attractive 15th-century Franciscan monastery with vaulted ceilings and 17th-century frescoes. It’s in the heart of the medieval town of Cannobio on Lake Maggiore’s northwestern shore. Interiors have been pleasantly restored and painted in warm tones of yellow and red, and furnished with attractive walnut fittings including reclaimed wood doors. With only 12 rooms, it’s small and intimate. There’s a cosy living area with sofas and a fireplace, with walls brightened up with pop art. During summer months guests are entitled to use the outdoor swimming pool at the sister Park Hotel Villa Belvedere, a 10-minute walk away. There is also free bike rental.
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£
134
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All prices cited are starting rates for double rooms, based on two people sharing, in low season. These prices are subject to change in high season and during popular holidays and events.
This article was originally published by Telegraph.co.uk. Read the original article here.
