One of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy, the Italian Lakes offer visitors a wide selection of some of Italy’s best scenery. Gorgeous towns and villages on the shoreline, a stunning backdrop of snow-capped mountains, wonderful architecture, and excellent food and drink. But what does each Lake have to offer and when should you visit them?
Things to Remember Before Booking
The Lakes generally lie in a north-south direction and are surrounded by mountains. Think carefully about what sort of holiday you want and which shore of the Lake you should stay on. There’s nothing more annoying than seeing the sun disappear behind the mountains in the early evening whilst the opposite shore is still catching the last rays.
What do you want to see when you’re there? Do you want to visit Verona, Venice, or Milan? If so, think carefully about which Lake you stay at and again, on which side. Get it wrong and you can quite easily add an extra hour to your journey.
When to Go to the Italian Lakes
The season runs from Easter to October and the best months to visit are May, June and September. During these months, you’ll find the weather warm and sunny but not as hot as in July and August, and tourist numbers will be lower. April and May are the best months to see camellias, azaleas and tulips. July and August are the months to avoid if possible as the population of Milan escapes the city and descends upon the Lakes.
Which Lake Should You Go For?
There are 6 main Lakes which differ in character, atmosphere, and popularity. Como and Garda are perhaps the most famous but you also have Orta, Maggiore, Lugano, and Iseo to choose from.
Lake Garda
The largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda has many fascinating historical sites to explore such as Sirmione, with its ancient cobbled streets, 13th century castle, and ruined Roman villa. Nestled in the stunning Dolomite Mountains with no shortage of walking trails, Lake Garda also offers plenty of sports activities at its north end including windsurfing, kitesurfing, biking, and rock climbing.
The north of the lake resembles a fjord whilst the southern end opens up to rolling hills that stretch away towards Milan in the west and Venice in the east.
Best for: Castle and Roman ruins, the history of Garda outweighs the other Lakes and it really is a wonderful place to visit.
Recommended Resort: Bardolino lies at the foot of rolling hills covered in orchards, olive groves, and the vineyards for which the village is so famous. Thanks to its mild climate, cypresses, oleanders, and laurels grown in great numbers throughout the area. An easy resort to reach, Bardolino offers excellent accommodation, and a main square full of terrace cafés where you can relax with a glass of the fabulous local wine.
Bardolino also boasts medieval churches, 12th century city walls, and a stunning harbour and if you want to visit Garda, you can reach it via a scenic two mile walk along the lakeside promenade.
Lake Como
Surrounded by snow-capped peaks, Lake Como offers stunning vistas and really is one of the most romantic places in Italy. A boat trip on the lake to its lakeside villages is a wonderful way to spend the day and offers a great opportunity to explore some of the Lake’s lovely ports. The resorts of Menaggio, Cadenabbia, and Tremezzo sit on the sunny western shore and are great places to stay.
There are also many water sport activities on offer and plenty of opportunities to go hiking in the spectacular mountain countryside. If you’re a movie fan you may recognise the lake from certain scenes in Casino Royale and Star Wars II: Attack of the Clones which were both filmed here.
Best for: Walking and celebrity spotting. George Clooney, Richard Branson and Madonna all have residences here.
Recommended Resort: Bellagio, on the shores of Lake Como, is considered one of the most beautiful towns in Italy. It boasts a lovely promenade lined with lime trees and Oleanders offering panoramic views over the Lake. One of the must visit places is the stunning Villa Melzi. Dating from 1808, the Villa Melzi is home to a wonderful garden filled with azaleas and rhododendrons as well as a museum and chapel.
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is another incredible lake that is nestled in beautiful Alpine scenery. Famous for its jewel-like Borromean Islands and northern shores, there are many hiking trails throughout the region if you’re keen to work up an appetite for the evening. With palm trees and oleanders lining the shoreline and a peaceful atmosphere, Maggiore guarantees a relaxing holiday.
Best for: The wonderful Borremean Islands and relaxation.
Recommended Resort: Stresa is a lovely town with beautiful villas and gardens (some open to the public), a good climate, and wonderful views out over the Lake where palm trees line the shore. There isn’t much to do in Stresa but it’s in a wonderful position from which to explore the lake and surrounding area.
Be sure to take a trip on the Mottarone cable car (which departs from the Lido) for one of the most stunning views in Italy. At the midway stop take a stroll around the Alpine gardens and look out over the three beautiful Borromean Islands of Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori.
Isola Bella is home to a fabulous Baroque palace and elegant gardens baroque palazzo, built for the Borromeo family in the 17th century. The gardens are filled with wonderful fountains, orange and lemon trees, camellias, and magnolias. Isola dei Pescatori offers a step back through time with its beautiful village whilst Isola Madre is covered in exotic gardens.
Lake Lugano
Named after the vibrant city Lugano in Switzerland, Lake Lugano is part Swiss and part Italian. The city itself is a wonderful mixture of both countries with an Italian emphasis. Fantastic Italian cuisine is on offer and the sights include some stunning Italian architecture and art galleries.
Best for: Experiencing both Swiss & Italian history and culture.
Recommended Resort: The peaceful village of Morcote lies on the between the shore and the slopes of Mount Arbostora. Once a devoted fishing port, Morcote’s become one of the most visited and famous tourist centres in Ticino.
With its narrow streets, ancient porticoes, and wonderful gardens, Morcote really is a gorgeous place to stay. There’s plenty of architecture to marvel at, including the Church of Santa Maria del Sasso in Rennaissance Baroque style and The Captain’s Tower. If you visit Scherrer Park, you’ll discover a huge collection of subtropical flora that thrives in the unique climate around Lugano.
Lake Orta
The lesser known Lake Orta lies to the west and is noted for its excellent small hotels and beautiful island, Isola San Giulio which is home to a working monastery. A charming and serene Lake that is desperate to remain undiscovered by the big holiday firms.
Best for: Romantic getaway and pure Italian character.
Recommended Resort: The medieval village of Orta San Giulio is the main town on the Lake and probably the best place to base yourself. If you’re looking for a relaxed atmosphere and wonderful food, Orta San Giulio is definitely the place for you.
Cobbled lanes wind between tall, pastel-washed houses and fading, peeling grand buildings whilst small fishing boats lie pulled up onto the waterfront.
Lake Iseo
The region’s best-kept secret is perhaps Lake Iseo. Tranquil and captivating, the countryside surrounding the lake is dotted with vineyards, medieval castles, and monasteries. At the centre of the lake lies Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Europe. Only public services and priests are allowed to drive here so it’s a great place to escape to with a bike.
Best for: Peace and quiet. Still relatively unknown even in Italy, don’t tell your friends!
Recommended Resort: The town of Iseo is found on the southern shore and is rather charming. One of its main sights is an unfinished church that dates from the 12th century. The majority of attractions in the area are natural, such as the bizarre “pyramids” above the lakeside town of Marone.
Which Airport Should I Use?
There are a number of airports to choose from depending which lake you want to explore. If you’re visiting the western lakes, opt for Milan Malpensa. It’s less than 10 miles from Lake Maggiore and good for Orta and Como too.
Como is further served by Milan Linate and is probably your best bet. Although Bergamo’s Orio al Serio Airport is a good option depending on where in the UK you’re flying from and is also the best choice for Lake Iseo.
Airports within easy reach of Lake Garda include Bergamo, and Verona. If you’re travelling to Lake Lugano, you’ll be going via Zurich.
Made Your Decision?
If you now have a better idea of where you want to go then great! On the other hand, if you need a little more inspiration, why not check out our 7 reasons to visit Lake Como? It may just sway your mind. If you want to keep up to date with all our other posts, be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter and sign up to our Newsletter.
