5 Best Italian Lake Holidays (2025)

These Italian lake holidays covers the best, most popular lake destinations in Italy, making for picturesque, perfect Italian vacations.

Lake holidays are no longer just an alternative to the sea; more and more people now prefer lakefront destinations to coastal ones. Moreover, Italy boasts several lakeside towns that have captured the attention not only of Italians, but also of foreigners and even members of the jet set and Hollywood.

In this guide, we explore five destinations that have been winning over Italians and international travelers for years, all in search of a truly memorable vacation.

Italian lake holidays

Lake Como

Lake Como, with its silent, composed, almost aristocratic beauty. The mountains overlooking the lake, the charming towns lined up along the shores, the stately villas and those with swimming pools (highly appreciated by tourists). Among the most loved spots on Lake Como are undoubtedly: Bellagio, Varenna, Tremezzo and Menaggio, some of the most romantic places in Italy.

In recent years, this corner of Lombardy has become not just a popular holiday destination, but also a favourite for those arriving from afar looking not only to stay, but to settle down permanently.

This growing interest in Lake Como is evident in the countless ads for renting or purchasing homes in the area.

In fact, when looking at the Italian real estate sector, one of the most sought-after and appreciated cities by foreign buyers is Como, the splendid town overlooking the lake of the same name. International buyers—especially Americans, Brits and Germans—search here for a second home, either for retirement or vacation and some even plan to move here permanently.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is ideal for families with young children, water sports enthusiasts, wine lovers and travelers looking for both relaxation and liveliness; it needs to be on your Italy bucket list. Each shore has its own personality, as the lake spans three different regions: Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino, giving the entire area a remarkably diverse identity.

On the Veneto side, towns like Peschiera del Garda, Bardolino and Garda welcome visitors with long promenades, buzzing piazzas and an efficient tourism infrastructure that makes it easy to explore both the lake and nearby Verona, famous for its Roman arena and Shakespearean associations. Wine lovers can indulge in tastings of Bardolino and Lugana wines, often paired with fresh lake fish or traditional risottos.

The Lombardy shore, stretching from Desenzano to Limone sul Garda, offers a striking mix of landscapes. Here, gentle beaches blend into dramatic cliffs, and you can enjoy both lazy swims and panoramic walks.

Desenzano, the largest town on the lake, is known for its lively nightlife, while Sirmione stands out for its thermal baths, medieval castle and the Roman villa known as the “Grotte di Catullo.” Moving north, Limone preserves its history of lemon groves, still cultivated on terraced gardens that overlook the water.

The Trentino stretch of Garda feels entirely different, with Riva del Garda and Torbole attracting adventure seekers. This area is a paradise for windsurfers, sailors and mountain bikers. Trekking paths climb into the surrounding Dolomites, where hikers find spectacular viewpoints and alpine huts.

Families enjoy the combination of outdoor activities and peaceful green areas, while history buffs can discover fortresses and World War I remnants scattered across the mountains. Lake Garda manages to combine Mediterranean warmth with alpine freshness, making it one of Italy’s most versatile destinations.

Lake Maggiore

Perhaps one of the most elegant and luxurious destinations for lake lovers is Lake Maggiore, not far from some of the best cities in Italy to visit. What draws attention here are the beautiful Borromean Islands, each with its own distinctive character.

Isola Bella is renowned for its ornate Baroque palace and terraced gardens that seem to float on the water; Isola Madre, the largest, is a peaceful oasis of botanical wonders with exotic plants and free-roaming peacocks; Isola dei Pescatori, the only permanently inhabited one, keeps its authentic fishing-village soul with narrow alleys, family-run trattorias and traditional festivals.

The shores of Lake Maggiore, divided between Piedmont and Lombardy, are lined with historic villas, parks and hotels that once welcomed aristocrats and writers during the Belle Époque. Towns such as Stresa, with its elegant promenade and luxury hotels, or Arona, with its vibrant weekly markets, retain a timeless atmosphere.

Further north, Cannobio charms visitors with pastel-colored houses, a lively lakefront and a Sunday market that draws crowds from both Italy and Switzerland. The lake also provides a gateway into Ticino, making cross-border excursions part of its appeal.

Thanks to its mild climate, the area has long been famous for gardens filled with camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons. Visitors can also explore cultural landmarks such as the Rocca Borromea of Angera, perched dramatically above the lake.

Outdoor enthusiasts find plenty of hiking and cycling trails, from gentle lakeside paths to more demanding alpine routes. Whether sipping an aperitivo at sunset or taking a ferry between the islands, Lake Maggiore offers a refined but approachable experience, where elegance is woven naturally into daily life.

Lake Braies

A gem nestled among the Dolomites in South Tyrol, Lake Braies has become a symbol of alpine beauty. Though relatively small, its fame exploded with social media, films and television series, making its emerald-green waters and wooden rowboats instantly recognizable worldwide.

This sudden popularity has brought an influx of visitors, so much so that access regulations were introduced during peak summer to protect its fragile ecosystem. Despite the crowds, the atmosphere remains strikingly serene at dawn and dusk, when the still water mirrors the surrounding peaks in perfect symmetry.

The lake lies at an altitude of 1,496 meters, surrounded by forests of spruce and larch, and overlooked by the towering Croda del Becco mountain. Hiking paths circle the lake and extend into the Fanes-Sennes-Braies Nature Park, inviting walkers to explore alpine meadows, wildlife habitats and hidden valleys.

In summer, the wooden boats available for hire create a postcard scene, while in winter the frozen lake transforms into a silent wonderland where snowshoes replace sneakers.

Cultural traditions also enrich the visit. The small chapel on the northern shore, built in 1904, is a reminder of the region’s history and spirituality.

Local cuisine offers hearty dishes such as speck, dumplings and strudel, reflecting the mix of Italian and Austrian influences typical of South Tyrol. Travelers often combine a trip to Lake Braies with visits to nearby valleys, where traditional villages preserve a slower rhythm of life.

Its ability to feel both accessible and remote, touristy yet intimate, makes Braies one of the most intriguing lakes in Italy, where nature seems to constantly rewrite the scenery.

Lake Trasimeno

Heading towards central Italy, Lake Trasimeno in Umbria offers a quieter but deeply rewarding experience.

As the fourth-largest lake in Italy, it stretches across gentle hills and farmlands, framed by olive groves and vineyards. Unlike the Alpine lakes, Trasimeno’s charm lies in its calm waters, soft light and the sense of authenticity that pervades the area.

The lake is dotted with three islands—Isola Maggiore, Isola Minore and Isola Polvese—each with a unique identity. Isola Maggiore is inhabited and maintains its fishing traditions, while Isola Polvese is a natural reserve where visitors can explore wetlands and medieval ruins.

The surrounding towns, such as Castiglione del Lago, with its fortress and panoramic views, or Passignano sul Trasimeno, known for summer festivals and lakeside strolls, offer a slower pace of life that appeals to those looking to disconnect. \

Tuoro sul Trasimeno carries historical weight, being the site of the Battle of Trasimeno in 217 BC, when Hannibal’s Carthaginian army famously defeated the Romans. Today, trails and monuments recall that ancient clash, merging history with landscape.

Culinary experiences are central here, with local specialties like “tegamaccio,” a traditional fish stew cooked with pike, perch and eel, or simple yet delicious bruschetta drizzled with Umbrian extra virgin olive oil.

Wine routes around Trasimeno invite travelers to taste Grechetto and other local varieties. The lake also offers opportunities for sailing, kayaking and cycling, with a well-marked path encircling much of the shoreline.

Lake Trasimeno may lack the grandeur of Como or Garda, but it rewards visitors with a sense of intimacy, being one of our favorite hidden gems in Italy.

The sunsets over its still waters, often tinged with pink and gold, are among the most evocative in central Italy. It is a place where nature, history and tradition come together to form a landscape that feels both familiar and timeless.