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A picturesque lake set against the backdrop of the Southern Alps, Lake Como is one of the most popular destinations in Italy.
Here you will find all those beautiful Baroque villas that keep popping up on your Instagram feed, the postcard-like pastel-colored towns and lush nature.
The downside is that it can be pricey and very busy, even in autumn.
Visitors will continue to flock into Varenna’s narrow streets, ruining the idyllic atmosphere, Villa del Balbianello won’t stop being Instagrammable just because summer is over, and you might as well stop looking for the perfect photo in Bellagio unless you there you are like: 6 AM.
However, not all hope is lost as there is an alternative if that is the case would like to experience Italian culture and life the dolce vita on the banks of Como undisturbed:
Authentic Italian culture in one of the country’s busiest destinations
This coming season, the idyllic lakeside town of Lecco is the place to go.
Despite being only half an hour’s drive from Varenna, it is a hidden gem that visitors often ignore, even though it is one of the largest and most important settlements on the lake, with a population of around 47,000 and a well-developed tourist industry.
It is located on the southeastern shore flanked by beautiful mountainsincluding Monte Resegone and Monte Barro, which offer beautiful views of the winding lake and can be reached on foot.
Piani d’Erna is accessible by cable car, with return tickets costing around $11.
The car-free center is known for its numerous art galleries gelaterie––Gelati Toldo serves the creamiest, lactose-intolerant-friendly ice cream in the city––charming squares and historic buildings, especially the Basilica di San Nicolò.
It was built as early as the 11th century, originally as a Romanesque church, and was given a Baroque makeover from the 19th century, including the addition of the now unmissable belfry, which rises dramatically above the maze of pedestrian streets that is the old town.
With so much beauty and historical value you’d think Lecco would have already succumbed to overtourism, but unlike many of its Como counterparts, it remains (largely) untouched.
Why Italians themselves Love Como
It feels much more authentic
It has a fair share of traditional family-owned restaurants and photogenic corners that would normally attract the hordes, but it is certainly an issue quieter ending of Como, with a visible absence of tacky souvenir stalls selling overpriced magnets.
We’re not saying Lecco is exactly crowd-free – be it Amalfi or an unusual island, nowhere in Italy is at the moment – but it is undoubtedly more unusual, and it has been Lombardy’s safe haven to beat for years. the seasonal crowds, which continue to increase well into the autumn period.
In essence, Lecco feels typically Italian without all the added fluff, tourist traps and unjustifiably high prices.
Granted, the nightlife is almost non-existent, and this isn’t the place you go for more expensive shopping – instead you’ll find the usual H&M’s and Calzedonias – but if you take it a bit easier, you can enjoy Lombardy wine and the serene lake admiring view is your thing, then you have come to the right place.
It’s just cheaper
For starters, sit down for an espresso and a croissant filled with pistachio cream in Piazza Garibaldi while you people watch and a busker plays (yet another) rendition of Bella Ciao close––the old Italian cliché, and a typical cliché at that––will cost you less than $5.
For cheap dinners and excellent service, make sure you reserve a table in the busy restaurant Restaurant Don Rodrigo.
A dish based on polenta or finely chopped pasta costs only $14.25.
We love too Pizzeria Da Rida for their large selection of pizzas, starting at a negligible $5.49, and Ristorante Nicolin for good food and special occasions: hun Agnello dei Pirenei lamb and an extensive wine list are available die for.
It’s undoubtedly more upscale than the odd, casual Lecco eatery, but you should still plan to spend a reasonable $45-50 on a three-course meal, accompanied by wine and a bottle of sparkling water for one – at Varenna or Bellagio, that would mean a doubling of the price.
When it comes to accommodation, Lecco is one of the least expensive towns on Lake Como, with privately run B&Bs such as SoloSonno offering rooms starting at $73 this coming fall and overnight stays in 3 stars rightly sotyres Hotel Alberi and Albergo Nicolin ranging between $90 and $96.
How to get there this fall
Besides being more affordable and just as beautiful as its Como sisters, Lecco is the perfect base to explore the lake, with 29 trains run to and from Varenna per day, and as many as 6 daily ferries connecting it to touristy Bellagio.
You can also get around easily by renting a car, as most of the towns on Lake Como are within a short drive of each other, and the drive along the southeastern shore, along which Lecco lies, is one of the most scenic in the entire region . .
To reach Lecco this fall, Americans will fly into Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP), the nearest airport. 54.5 miles from the lake yourself. (Discover the options at Google Flights here)
Upon arrival in Milan, a cultural jewel of northern Italy, with a historic cathedral and art museums worth a day exploring on a short transit, you can easily find a direct train to Lecco from Central Station:
The journey takes approximately 40 minutes and there are as many as 58 trains per day from €6 and these can be booked here.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author, and not those of any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline or other entity. This content has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of the entities included in the post.
