Italian Lakes Travel Guide

Italy’s Great Lakes consist of eight lakes, all glacial bodies of water formed at the conclusion of the last ice age, but we would love to focus on our favourite three: Lake Como, Lake Garda, and Lake Maggiore. If you are curious about where these lakes can be found, look to the south side of the Italian Alps. These beautiful bodies of water have put Northern Italy on the map as a must-visit travel destination. No matter where you go, know that all the lakes are a time-honoured spot for rest and recreation.

Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake, at 142 square miles. Maggiore is second in size, at 82 square miles, with part of it even lying in Switzerland. So head to Maggiore if you fancy visiting two countries in one! Lake Como might be the smallest of the trio, at 56 square miles, but it certainly packs a punch with its five-star accommodation offerings, waterfront villages, and neoclassical villas - plus it’s only 32 miles from Milan.

One of the main reasons to book an escape to one of Italy’s Great Lakes is because of the versatility of these destinations. Whether you book an alpine villa in Lake Como, or a waterfront hotel room in Maggiore, you will have the opportunity to combine vast, natural scenery - snow-capped peaks, twinkling lakes, and flourishing gardens - with all the modern delights of lakefront bars, fine dining, and winery tasting opportunities.

All three lakes can be easily accessed by the frequent train services travelling from Milan, Venice in Italy and Lugano and Zurich in Switzerland. It can take between 45 minutes to three hours depending on where you are travelling. The train is affordable, convenient, and offers surprisingly stunning views of the mountainous north of Italy.

Of course, you could decide to road trip the region, moving between all the lakes - but the roads can be curvy, plus their small size means they frequently face serious traffic jams between the villages. Your best bet, if you are not taking a guided tour, is to reach each lake by train and then to take scenic ferry rides to the villages you are hoping to visit. Patience is a virtue, in these areas.

Italy’s Great Lakes draws solo travellers from all around the world, looking for outdoor adventure in the surrounding mountains, lake swimming, and moments to read and reflect in the quiet gardens around the lakes. It’s an exceptionally scenic base for world travellers. Having said that, Italy’s Great Lakes are safe to travel alone - just be sure to inform people when you set out on an aquatic adventure or mountain hike.

Italy’s Great Lakes is a hugely popular holiday destination for over 60s travellers, because of the scenery, high-quality dining, and elegant accommodation. Because of the often luxurious nature of escapes in this region, retirees are some of the most common holidaymakers here - with people saving for years to make this dream destination a reality.