TravelAge West
Intel and Insights for Today's Travel Advisor

Explore TravelAge West

Destinations

Back
  • Africa & Middle East
  • Asia & South Pacific
  • Caribbean
  • Central & South America
  • Europe
  • Hawaii
  • Mexico
  • USA & Canada

Travel Types

Back
  • Family
  • Adventure
  • Cruise
  • River Cruise
  • Tour Operators
  • Luxury
  • Hotels
  • Culinary
  • Romance
  • Wellness
  • Sustainability

Directories

Back
  • Hotels
  • Cruise

Interactive

Back
  • Click & Win
  • Geo Quiz
  • Slideshows & Video

Professional Development

Back

Industry Insight

  • Business Features
  • Interviews
  • Events
  • Opinion
  • Tech
  • Podcasts
  • Coronavirus and Travel
  • Need to Know Research

Education

  • Certifications
  • Digital Guides
  • Fams
  • Thought Leadership
  • Advertiser Spotlight
  • Webinars
  • Quick Q's

Events

  • Global Travel Marketplace
  • GTM West
  • WAVE Awards
  • Future Leaders in Travel Retreat

Sign Up for Our Monthly Europe Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Search TravelAge West

Clear Field
Scott HartbeckContributing Writer

Share

  1. Home
  2. Travel
  3. Europe

5 Excellent Lakes to Visit in Italy, Beyond Lake Como

May 17, 2024
Hotels and Resorts  Western Europe  
5 Excellent Lakes to Visit in Italy, Beyond Lake Como
Lake Garda is less than 2 hours away from Venice by car.
Credit: 2024 Solotu/stock.adobe.com

Lake Como is postcard-pretty, but it's also usually packed with people. It has become so crowded, in fact, that the mayor of one town on its shores has recently talked about implementing an entry fee for day trippers.

The good news is that Lake Como is not the only breathtaking body of water in northern Italy. Recommend that clients visit one of these other locations to score a lakeside slice of La Dolce Vita, without the crowds.

All the following lakes lie within a short drive or rail journey from Milan or Verona. 

Lake Orta

Best For: Clients seeking a spiritual escape in a lesser-known locale. 

The poster child for under-the-radar Italian lakes, Orta has an island with a still-functioning abbey and sits surrounded by forested hills with secluded, sacred sites. Clients can choose to lounge by the water or hike to the Sacro Monte di Orta, one of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nine Holy Mountains of Northern Italy. Boat trips to Isola San Giulio are also popular, where you can admire an ancient Romanesque basilica or embark on a contemplative walk in the shadow of the Mater Ecclesiae Abbey. 

At night, hunt down local culinary specialties such as bagna cauda (a delightful dip made of garlic and anchovies) in the back alleys of lakeside towns Orta San Gulio and Omegna.

Where to Stay: For luxury and lapping waters, check in to Laqua By the Lake, part of multi-Michelin-starred chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo's family of hotels and restaurants, which is home to 19 unique suites, a stylish restaurant and a swanky beach club. 

Lake Iseo

Best For: Clients who love wine.

Serpentine Lake Iseo is small but perfectly formed. This craggy, rock-crowned lake's star is dramatic Monte Isola, a lush lake island capped by a shrine home to a local population famed for their net-making and fishing skills. The ancient Valeriana Road offers exhilarating lakeside walking opportunities, while the undulating slopes of the lake's southeastern banks hold a prize for oenophiles: the vineyards of the Franciacorta wine region. These vines yield Franciacorta, Italy's most coveted sparkling wine, so full of flavor and character that you may never pour Prosecco again. 

RELATED: Where to Travel Now: Alternatives to Crowded, Pricey Hot Spots

Where to Stay: Set among vineyards and striking sculptures a short distance from Lake Iseo, the 57-room villa hotel L'Albereta is draped in ivy and renowned for its spa and culinary delights.

Lake Maggiore offers grand hotels, ferries that go to the Borromean Islands and more.
Lake Maggiore offers grand hotels, ferries that go to the Borromean Islands and more.
Credit: 2024 Scott Hartbeck

Lake Maggiore

Best For: Historic hotel lovers and modern-day outdoor enthusiasts.

Straddling the Italian-Swiss border, Lake Maggiore will charm clients with its grand hotels and bevy of outdoor pursuits. Stresa makes a great base, as it offers alleys full of atmosphere, a lakeside promenade and easy access to active pursuits, as well as the ferries that go to the Borromean Islands. Loved by Ernest Hemingway, these isles are home to grand palazzos, romantic gardens and traditional fishing culture. After an island hop, many visitors stop for a spritz at the humble Bar Clipper. 

Where to Stay: Dating back to the 1860s, the 172-room Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees offers a glimpse of the Belle Epoque era with modern amenities and social-media-ready scenes. 

Lake Garda

Best For: Visitors to Verona and Venice.

Garda is home to a dreamy microclimate, warm mineral springs and more than enough space for watersports or simply laying out on the beach. Multiple villages line its shores, with Sirmione being the star, as it sits perched on a picturesque peninsula that gracefully extends into the water, complete with a majestic castle and soothing thermal baths. Lake Garda boasts a sunny and mild climate (you will spot olive groves and citrus trees), and since it is the furthest east of the Italian lakes, it's the perfect fit for clients visiting Venice or Verona. 

RELATED: Review: Ca’ di Dio in Venice, Italy

Where to Stay: Tucked away amid verdant greenery with views of Lake Garda and dramatic rock cliffs, Lido Palace is a sleek, modern sanctuary home to 42 guestrooms in a historic Art Nouveau structure. 

Lake Idro

Best For: Clients who want bragging rights for going off the beaten path.

The magic of Idro begins when you spot the castle atop a rocky precipice above the lake, and everything takes its blissful cue from there. Hike up to the famous former fortification Castel San Giovanni for sweet views, or remain on the shore of Lake Idro, sunbathing on the Blue-Flag beach of Porto Camarelle. Alternatively, venture to Lago d'Idro Nature Reserve to admire panoramic views as you stroll on rustic wooden walkways that meander through verdant reeds.

Sign Up for Our Monthly Europe Newsletter

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.

Where to Stay: Garden View B&B offers comfortable, modern rooms; a restaurant; and sweeping views of Lake Idro. 

Tell Us What You Think! forum

Related Content

Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como, in Lake Como, Italy

Hotel Review: Mandarin Oriental, Lago di Como, in Lake Como, Italy

  • Most Read
  • Most Shared
  1. 3 Bangkok Day Trips You Don’t Want to Miss
  2. These Are the Top Summer Travel Trends for 2024
  3. Everything We Know About Universal Epic Universe, Universal's Newest Theme Park
  4. What Is the New Disney Lightning Lane Multi Pass? Here’s How it Will Affect Disney Vacations
  5. Review: Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Firenze

From Our Partners

More Stories Like This

Review: What It’s Like to Go on a Mallorca Cycling Tour — by E-Bike

Review: What It’s Like to Go on a Mallorca Cycling Tour — by E-Bike

How the Olympics Have Affected Travel Bookings in France

How the Olympics Have Affected Travel Bookings in France

anantaradublinthemarkerhotelreview

Hotel Review: Anantara The Marker Dublin Hotel

Hotel Review: JW Marriott Hotel Madrid

Hotel Review: JW Marriott Hotel Madrid

Palazzo Manfredi

6 Romantic Hotels in Rome

7 Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland, That Kids Will Love

7 Attractions in Edinburgh, Scotland, That Kids Will Love

Railbookers Unveils Italy Itineraries Featuring La Dolce Vita Orient Express Train

Railbookers Unveils Italy Itineraries Featuring La Dolce Vita Orient Express Train

Reykjavik Edition Room

Review: The Reykjavik Edition

New Taylor Swift-Themed Tours Arrive in London

New Taylor Swift-Themed Tours Arrive in London

SevenHangingValley_Algarve

A Traveler’s Guide to Portugal’s Algarve Region

TravelAge West

About TravelAge West

  • About Us
  • Contributors
  • Sales Team
  • Contact Us
  • My Profile

Advertise

  • Advertise With Us
  • Write For US
  • Media Kit
  • Upload Ad Material
  • Digital Ad Specifications
  • Reprints
  • Subscribe to Print

Stay Connected to TravelAge West

Get Us in Your Inbox

I accept the T&C and Privacy Policy.


Northstar Travel Group

Northstar Travel Group

  • Travel Weekly
  • Travel Weekly Asia
  • TravelPulse
  • TravelPulse Canada
  • TravelPulse Quebec
  • Meetings & Incentives
  • Travel Technology
  • Corporate Travel
  • Hotel Investment
  • Data Products
  • AGENTatHOME

Copyright © 2024 Northstar Travel Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 301 Route 17 N, Suite 1150, Rutherford, NJ 07070 USA | Telephone: (201) 902-2000

Load Carousel Here
Load Video Here