Are you wondering what are the best Italian Lakes to visit on your trip to Italy? I have visited a few Italian lakes during my trips to Italy, and it was worth it to these destinations to your itinerary. I’ll share with you here the best Italian lakes that you need to visit in Italy.
Let’s be honest: the Italian Lakes are incredibly picturesque and picture-perfect in every way. These lakes have a lot to show off, including water that is perfectly clear and is surrounded by mountains and vineyards; climates that are mild; charming towns; delicious food; and fantastic shopping.
If you have a passion for flowers, April and May are the best months to visit the lakes because that is when the tulips, camellias, and azaleas will be in full bloom. Doesn’t that sound wonderful? But which one should you pick? Here are some of the best lakes to visit in Italy.
Read more: Beautiful Places To Visit In Italy For The First Time
List of beautiful Italian Lakes to Visit:
1. Lake Como
⛵️ Location: Provinces of Como and Lecco in Lombardy, Northern Italy
This Italian lake exudes a glamorous air. Anyone who enjoys movies will have witnessed Lake Como blatantly taking center stage. After that scene in Casino Royale, James Bond recovered here, Brangelina got married here, and, yes, Mr. Clooney himself owns a villa on its shores. If it works for Clooney, it must work for you!
What to do in Lake Como? Locally referred to as Lario, Lake Como displays its flair for drama in the landscape. The lake’s banks are dotted with sheer cliffs, and the Alps tower over it at its northern end. A boat ride is a wonderful way to take in the scenery from the water, and you’ll probably see some of the magnificent villas from the Belle Epoque right by the water. Being on the water also allows you to avoid Como’s surrounding roads, which can be very crowded during the summer.
With its breathtaking Baroque gardens, Bellagio, known as “the pearl of the lake,” is a lovely place to visit. Before a leisurely lunch at one of the top restaurants, a lovely afternoon of shopping can be had on the charming cobbled streets and stairways.
During our stay in Bellagio, My husband and I stayed in one of the luxury hotels in Lake Como, feel free to read our hotel review here — Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni: A Luxury Hotel Review in Lake Como (Italy).
If you are visiting in June, don’t forget to attend the San Giovanni festival. Mass is held in the atmospheric grounds of the demolished church while thousands of boats are illuminated by fireworks and candlelight.
2. Lake Garda
⛵️Location: Northern Italy, about halfway between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan
The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda, is 370 km2. It is surrounded by the mountains of Alpine Trentino Alto-Adige, the Lombard plains, and the rolling hills of the Veneto. Due to its distinctive microclimate, the lake has an idyllic Mediterranean atmosphere with olive groves, citrus groves, and vineyards. A few of the vineyards on the shores of Lake Garda are household names like Valpolicella, Soave, and Bardolino.
Thinking of what to do here? Both on and off the water, Lake Garda has plenty of sporting opportunities. While more mellow terrain has several lovely golf courses, the mountains and hillsides offer magnificent hang gliding, paragliding, and mountain biking opportunities. From windsurfing to pedal boats, the lake itself offers every kind of water sport you can imagine.
You can also Visit the natural thermal spas in Sirmione, a town on the southern end of the lake, to relieve any aches and pains. The waters are considered to have medicinal qualities because they are sulphurous and contain bromine, chloride, and iodine.
Now, you should avoid missing Verona. Shakespeare’s infamous Verona is not exactly on the lake’s shores, but it is close by. Enjoy open-air opera in this lovely and romantic city, surrounded by echoes of Romeo and Juliet, at the pink marble Roman arena.
If you fancy visiting this romantic city, I wrote another article about the best things to do in Verona.
3. Lake Orta
⛵️ Location: Piedmont
A tiny, little-known gem in the Italian Lakes’ crown is Lake Orta. It is hidden by dense forest and watched over by the snow-capped Alps.
Activities in Lake Orta The island of San Giulio is located in the middle of the lake. Fall in love with the picture-perfect peach houses with wrought-iron balconies that line the winding, cobbled streets of this tiny medieval town. It only has one restaurant and can be quickly explored, but it’s worth taking your time to take it all in.
The Orta square is the departure point for the small ferry that will take you to the island. A lovely market in Orta itself has been operating since 1228. If you want to unwind and travel back in time, the town square is the ideal location, and a stroll through the charming, winding streets will reward you with unrivaled lake views.
Sacro Monte Di Orta is a must-see. The saint Francis of Assisi is honored on this holy mountain. Its 20 chapels are located on a rocky outcrop with a lake view. It is only a short, picturesque train ride away from Orta.
4. Lake Maggiore
⛵️ Location: Lombardy and Piedmont regions, Italy and Ticino, Switzerland
The second-largest lake in Italy, Lake Maggiore, is renowned for its elegant promenades lined with palm trees and charming villages. We’d even venture to say that Maggiore is one of Italy’s most elegant and serene discoveries. Since Lake Maggiore is the only lake in Italy that straddles both Italy and Switzerland, you can freely explore either country to your heart’s content.
If you’re a sucker for stunning architecture, you’ll keep falling in love with this lake. Small, charming cities and towns also add character, and they are all so breathtaking you’ll gasp.
Choose Verbania if a little buzz is what you’re after. You can’t help but feel electrified in this area, which is frequently referred to as the garden on the lake. The best part is that there are plenty of restaurants and nightclubs. Cannobio is ideal for something a little quieter though. One thing is for certain: the original Swiss and Italian fusion is a hit.
The Borromean Islands are one thing you shouldn’t overlook. One of the selling points of the entire area is the three tiny islands and the two islets. All of them are very accessible, with the exception of San Giovanni.
5. Lake Lugano
⛵️Location: Ticino, Lombardy
The lake is surrounded by mountains, and Monte Generoso, which rises to a height of about 1700 meters, is the highest mountain by Lake Lugano. From the lakeside resort of Capolago, a rack railway takes you to the mountain’s summit, where you can enjoy the panoramic views.
Two funicular railways ascend the mountains surrounding Lugano: the Monte San Salvatore and the Monte Brè, from which a lovely alpine footpath leads to the hamlet of Carona and then to Morcote. Additionally, a cable car will transport you to Serpiano’s sunny plateau, which is ideally situated for visiting the Monte San Giorgio UNESCO World Heritage Site. One of the main places to find fossils from a prehistoric subtropical lake is the heavily forested mountain, which also has a variety of rare plants.
Take a boat ride to explore the region’s diversity, such as Morcote’s opulent homes and the Santa Maria del Sasso Church, a significant Renaissance structure with a late-Romanesque bell tower that offers breathtaking views, or Gandria, a prime example of a small fishing community by Lake Lugano.
The numerous parks located around the lake are inviting places to stroll. Consider the Parco Scherrer in Morcote, which combines sculpture and architecture from a vast array of nations and eras with cedar trees, Mexican pines, camphor trees, eucalyptus, azaleas, palms, bamboo, etc.
6. Lake Iseo
⛵️ Location: Lombardy, Italy
Lake Iseo is frequently disregarded since it is sandwiched between and overshadowed by the larger, more well-known lakes of Garda and Como. Iseo is surrounded by mountains and is known for its water sports, which include paragliding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, wakeboarding, canoeing, and kayaking.
Low-key lakeside villages provide tourist facilities and sights that include a modest castle and 12th-century Romanesque church in the little harbor of Iseo. The sole island in the Alpine lake rises sharply in Monte Isola’s forested slopes, not far from the town of Sulzano. The Madonna della Ceriola shrine is located at the peak, over 600 meters above sea level. You arrive at the tiny island fishing community of Peschiera Maraglio via ferry from Sulzano.
In 2016, The Floating Piers exhibit allowed visitors to walk on the water, and preparations are underway for a new installation called Your World, by modern artist Lorenzo Quinn, in Sulzano on the eastern side. It will portray two enormous hands emerging from the water and sustaining the Earth, with the five continents in green to represent forests. It will feature floating walkways, just like the 2016 project.
7. Lake Bolsena
⛵️ Location: Province of Viterbo, Central Italy
Bolsena, Europe’s largest volcanic lake and located to the north of Rome, was created in the caldera left behind by a volcano’s eruption 370,000 years ago. The two islands in the lake, Bisentina and Martana, were formed by later underwater eruptions, but the volcano hasn’t been active since the Romans first noticed it in 104 BC. The lake’s long beaches are made of soft black sand, which is a result of its volcanic origins.
Locals and visitors alike are drawn to the beaches and the kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, water skiing, paragliding, and sailing opportunities. Campgrounds, B&Bs, and agritourism lodgings are also available. At various locations around the lake, you can rent canoes and sailboats or go on a sailing cruise.
More than a dozen species of birds that nest in reeds along the shore and fish in the nearby waters make Bolsena a favorite destination for birdwatchers. The largest island, Bisentina, is reachable by ferry from Capodimonte and is well worth a visit to see the gardens, oak groves, and frescoes in the Cappella del Crocifisso from the fifth century.
8. Lake Bracciano
⛵️ Location: Northern part of the Province of Rome, Lazio
Lake Bracciano, one of two lakes created in the craters of the same volcano, is also volcanic in origin and is only 32 kilometers from Rome. The only motorized watercraft allowed in either lake are public ferries and licensed fishing boats.
The other lake, Lake Martignano, is smaller and nearly spherical. Together, they make up the Bracciano-Martignano Natural Park. This makes Lake Bracciano especially good for kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, and scuba diving, and for swimming in the clear, clean water.
The Renaissance Orsini-Odescalchi Castle in Bracciano, which is located on a hill overlooking the lake and has its own attractions in addition to its furnished rooms, houses a museum of medieval armor and weapons. Explore the castle’s maze of winding lanes and stairways that descend to the lake.
9. Lake Ledro
⛵️ Location: Trentino, Italy
The tiny Alpine Lake Ledro is located at the northernmost point of Lake Garda, not far west of Riva del Garda, in an unspoiled setting of forests and mountain peaks. Swimming, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, and fishing are all popular activities in crystal-clear, almost iridescent blue-green waters. A 200-kilometer network of walking and hiking trails also circles the picturesque lake and leads to Alpine heights.
Another attraction at Lake Ledro is for those who are interested in history. The pile dwellings of a Bronze Age village were exposed when the lake level dropped while a hydroelectric station was being built at Riva del Garda in 1929. In addition to the homes, a number of preserved daily objects were discovered.
The village has been reconstructed, and the houses are furnished with artifacts from the Bronze Age. The most significant pile-dwelling site in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Museo delle Palafitte di Ledro (Ledro Pile Dwellings Museum), located in Molina di Ledro. This location is well-liked by families thanks to its workshops and activities.
10. Lake Vico
⛵️ Location: Lazio, Italy
Lake Vico fills the caldera of a dormant volcano close to Viterbo and is accessible from Rome. A nature reserve guards its northern shore. The slopes of the close-by Cimini Hills, a range of mountains rising to a height of almost 1,000 meters, are home to some of Europe’s southernmost beech forests. At 510 meters, the lake is one of the highest in Italy.
The forests, where some of the trees grow to a height of 40 meters, are listed as a component of the Primeval Forests of Carpathian Beech UNESCO World Heritage List.
Despite being only a little more than an hour from Rome, its beaches and shoreline are tranquil. The lake is well-known for sailing and fishing in addition to swimming in the clear, deep waters; motorized boats are not permitted. Along the southern edge of the lake, there are benches, picnic tables, and a few restaurants. On the northern shore, La Bella Venere Hotel is a beach resort with lake views, family-sized rooms, and kid-friendly amenities.
11. Lake Braies
⛵️ Location: South Tyrol, Italy
You’re not in Switzerland, though it’s simple to be misled. Lake Braies is a tiny lake that is less than one-tenth of a square mile in size. It is also known as Lago di Braies in Italian and Pragser Wildsee in German, which is the other official language of the South Tyrol/Alto region.
The Dolomites, Italy’s tallest mountain range and the site of some of Europe’s best hiking, skiing, and adventure sports, surround the high-altitude lake. Depending on the time of day and the season, the lake’s water can be clear, milky turquoise blue, or frozen solid.
Here, the water temperature never rises above 14 degrees Celsius, or a very chilly 57 degrees Fahrenheit, so swimming is only possible for the very, very brave. There is a welcoming three-star hotel by the water, a short walking path that circles the lake, and rowboat rentals available during the warmer months.
12. Lake Levico
⛵️ Location: Trentino-South Tyrol, Italy
The Lake Levico vacations are jam-packed with things to do and see. It’s difficult to resist jumping right in for a swim as soon as you arrive at the lake because of its reputation for having stunningly clear water and Blue Flag accreditation.
The historic thermal spa town of Levico Terme is a short stroll from the lake and the surrounding mountains and lush woodland make it a popular destination for walking and cycling. You can unwind in the thermal spas, spend the day lounging by the lake, or go on an adventure in the Lagorai Mountains.
Despite being one of Italy’s smaller lakes, Lake Levico offers stunning scenery and a variety of things to do. It’s not on everyone’s radar and that’s one of the reasons why we love coming here. Making the most of your stay is simple, especially since the majority of our hotels provide a free Trentino card. You can use the free local public transportation as well as get discounts on a wide range of activities and outings, including wine tasting, mushroom hunting, and bike tours.
I hope that inspired you to visit one or more of these beautiful Italian lakes. As cliché as it might sound, they are so breathtaking views to enjoy. If you have been to any of these gorgeous lakes, let me know which one is your favorite.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Everything Zany
Travel Blog
Everything Zany Travel Blog exploring the UK and beyond. Sharing travel guides, tips, history, and culture. Our travel media brand is founded by travel and hotel industry expert – Ryazan Tristram, a Dual Citizen (British – Filipina) based in Birmingham, UK. Everything Zany is a reputable and award-winning travel blog. Our work and contributions have been featured in Huffington Post, CNBC, Discovery Channel, GMA, Readers Digest, and Lonely Planet. Our missions are to build a great travel community and resource of travel tips, visas, and travel guides for travelers. Join us as we travel around the UK and beyond with a mission to share the best of the world.
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