Hidden Gems - Lake Nemi, Italy
Just a half hour from Rome, why don't more Americans know about this beautiful place?
About a 1/2 hour outside of Rome is a quaint and absolutely stunning lake town called Nemi.
Nemi lives on tourism, however, most of the tourists are other Italians or Europeans coming for a weekend. I don’t find many Americans know about this place. Occasionally there are Americans who book a day tour to Nemi and the nearby Castel Gandolfo, but that’s really it.
Remember, here at Digital Nomad Jess, I advocate for responsible tourism and “gate keeping when needed.” Lake Nemi is a town that lives on, needs and welcomes tourism. As such, most of my Nemi content will not be behind a paywall. Please feel free to share this gem with others.
Nemi is small but it is one of the most beautiful places in Italy that I have been and it’s worth a visit.
Some things to know about Nemi:
Nemi sits high in the mountains, around a lake, and for this reason, it stays a bit cooler than the surrounding area. I was there for two weeks mid to late June and never needed AC in my apartment. Although it can get quite hot midday.
The locals in Nemi really appreciate tourists and are some of the friendliest I have encountered in all of Europe.
Nemi is known for its little, wild strawberries (Fragoline). They grow in the volcanic ashes around the lake and are delicious. If you go to Nemi during the summer, strawberry season you will find drinks, desserts and even strawberry rice. The taste of these tiny berries is somehow a mix between a strawberry and a flower. They are delicious. They even have a festival to kick off this season the first or second weekend of June. Book in advance because B&B availability for festival weekends fills up quickly.
Getting to Nemi:
You don’t need a car if you only plan on staying in the town. But if you want an explore the surrounding area, you should rent a car. However, you can call a taxi (I use the app FreeNow.) Just weigh the cost of the car with the cost of the Taxi for whatever you want to see. If arriving to Rome via plane, you will need a Taxi or car from the airport to Nemi.
How long to stay:
You don’t need more than a day to see Nemi. However, it makes for a nice, slow, romantic weekend as well. It really depends on your travel style. I spend two weeks here and, without a car, I found myself getting a bit restless and bored. But always revitalized and inspired by the beauty and feel of this quaint, Italian town.
The food:
The food in Nemi is very good, it’s Italy after all. However I did find that the restaurants on the mains street with the outside seating and view of the lake to be a bit lacking compared to the slightly more hidden restaurants. I’ll give my own personal recommendations in another article.
I found the same with the sweets. The ones sitting in the case in the most prominent locations tended to be a bit lacking, but I found excellent sweets in the smaller shops.
The staff in every place I went, touristy or not, were incredibly friendly and kind. I truly felt so welcome in Nemi.
Mealtimes in Italy, particularly in small towns, follow a set schedule. If you try to eat outside of it, you will be met with closed kitchens. Even the markets close mid day.
Breakfast in Italy is usually a coffee and a sweet. Cappuccinos are normally not taken after 11am.
Lunch is typically between 1pm and 3pm.
Dinner is late. The earliest is usually 7pm, but a lot of places don’t even open until 8 or 8:30pm.
Apertif, a drink and snacks between lunch and dinner, is common. If you do like I did one day, and work through lunch, you can find meat and cheese plates at restaurants serving Apertif.
Where to stay:
There are many B&Bs and apartments for rent in Nemi. Here is the contact information for that:
The place I stayed prefers long term stays, as it is their summer home, not a B&B. I will post that information in its own article, behind a paywall, as they are not wanting a ton of people to rent from them. Just a few, longer term stays. If you are a digital nomad or slow traveler like me, this is the perfect place to stay. Absolutely probably my favorite place I have stayed in Italy. The view was breathtaking and the hosts were very kind and accommodating.
In June, I found the average cost per night I Nemi to be between $65 and $150. Absolutely very affordable for Italy in the summer.
An important note about visiting small towns in Italy (or anywhere in the Mediterranean):
Life moves slowly here. Restaurants do not rush you in and out. You may scarcely see your waiter and, if anyone is busy, you may wait for a bit. Please be polite. They do not move to the same time and customer services rules in the USA. Slow down, have a sense of humor and do as the Italians do: indulge in “dolce far ninete” (the sweetness of doing nothing).
Knowing all of this, would you take the time to visit Nemi? Or would you rather stick to the more known tourist locations like, Rome, Lake Como and the Amalfi Coast? Let me know in the comments.
Buon viaggio!