A first-time guide to the Italian Lakes

23.07.2024 - 16:48 / lonelyplanet.com / Lake Como / Lake Garda / Lake Maggiore

Jul 22, 2024 • 7 min read

The Italian Lakes are glimmering, glacier-made bodies of water in northern Italy. Maggiore, Como and Garda are the three largest, and each is ringed with picturesque villages and backed by steep mountains.

The biggest reason to visit is the spectacular scenery, but there's lots more to do besides admiring the views from a shoreline dining room. You can explore historic villas – and the grand gardens that surround them – visit castles and Roman ruins, and get your nature fix on kayaking tours, mountain biking excursions and hilltop hiking trails. 

Here's all you need to know for your first visit to this incredible region of Italy.

The summer has obvious appeal, with long warm days and a packed calendar of big events and festivals. On the downside, the lakes overflow with visitors between June and early September. You'll have to contend with higher accommodation prices, congested roads and sizable tour groups filtering through the prettiest villages.

You can beat the worst of the crowds and still enjoy pleasant weather by coming in May or October. Winter sees few visitors, and some restaurants, hotels and key attractions shut down for the season. Nevertheless, with careful planning, winter can be a magical time to visit if you don't mind the cold.

Some lake towns, like Cernobbio on Lake Como and Riva on Lake Garda, are quite festive in December with holiday lights, Christmas markets and special activities for kids.  

It's entirely possible to go green and do without a car. You can catch a train to gateway towns on each of the lakes. Once there, a handy ferry system links key destinations. Buses help fill in the gaps for shorter journeys. If, on the other hand, you have a more ambitious itinerary and want to explore the mountains above the lakes, a car will give you more freedom. Just keep in mind that the roads are narrow and parking can be difficult, especially on summer weekends.

You'd need more than a month just to see the highlights of this region, given the large size of these lakes and the wide range of attractions found along their shores. Rather than trying to pack everything into one whirlwind visit, plan a more manageable itinerary.

If you have just a weekend to spare, pick one lake and narrow your focus: outdoor activities in Riva del Garda, for instance; exploring lovely Bellagio and Varenna in Lake Como; or visiting the islands and villas of Lake Maggiore near Stresa and Verbania.

If you have a week, you can combine a couple of these itineraries, or focus on a more complete lake journey – perhaps even adding another country into the mix. Southern Switzerland contains the north end of Lake Maggiore, as well as yet another enchanting lake: Lugano.   

Lake Maggiore is best known