What Are The 12 Best Italian Lakes To Add To Your Italy Itinerary? No doubt this is something like the 7th blog you’ve looked at planning your itinerary in Italy and you’ll notice that most blogs feature Lake Como, Garda and Orta but we’re going to feature some authentic and slightly lesser-known Italian lakes. Don’t forget to Pin this so you can add them to your bucket list Italian Itinerary.
To Get There
To reach all of these locations, it’s best to hire a car and travel at your own leisure. Click here for a quote to see how much this might cost.
You can drive to all of these lakes except one! This one you’ll have to hike to but don’t worry, it’s worth it and it’s not a long or difficult hike.
12 Best Italian Lakes Map
There are over 1500 lakes in Italy but what are the best? This is obviously very subjective but here are our choices.
Best Italian Lakes:
Lake Misurina
Location: Directly north of Venice in the Veneto region, northern Italy. The largest natural lake of the Cadore it is 1,754 m above sea level.
Best For: Fairytale scenery and mountain views. Looks more Swiss than traditional Italian.
Activities To Do: Hiking, paddle boating, SUP boarding, canoeing, cycling, skiing and ice skating in the winter.
Where to Stay: Cortina d’Ampezzo
Lake Ledro
Location: A natural lake, east of Milan in the Veneto region, northern Italy. The lake is at an elevation of 655 metres, and its surface area is 2.187 km².
Best For: Mountain views and crystal clear, clean waters (reputed to be one of the cleanest lakes in Trentino). Not far from Lake Garda, you could do both in one day.
Activities To Do: Wakeboarding, climbing, running, cycling, hiking, Neolithic history, Stilt House Museum.
Where To Stay: Cremona
Lake Bracciano
Location: A volcanic lake, north of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy.
Best For: Volcanic lake less than an hour from Rome. It is the second-largest lake in the region and one of the major lakes in Italy. It has a circular perimeter of approximately 32 km.
Activities: Truffle hunting, sailing, canoeing, scuba dive, SUP boarding, swimming and Luzzio castle.
Where to Stay: Bracciano
Lake Lugano
Location: A glacial lake on the border between Italy and Switzerland (the Lombardy region and the Swiss canton of Ticino)
Best For: Mountain viewpoints and lake scenery. The lake is situated between Lake Como and Lago Maggiore.
Activities: Walk the promenade, hiking, cycling, windsurfing, parks, churches, culture and eating.
Where to Stay: Porto Ceresio
Lake Trasimeno
Location: A natural lake, south of Florence and north of Rome in the Perugia region.
Best For: Boating, windsurfing, fishing, castles, churches, and monasteries. It has a shore length of 57km.
Activities: Truffle hunting, walking and hiking, music, culture, swimming, eating, visiting castles and wineries
Where to Stay: Passignano sul Trasimeno
Lake Albano
Location: A small volcanic crater lake 20km south of Rome in the Alban Hills of Lazio.
Best For: Its moderate temperature, lush flowers, and spectacular views. It hosted the canoeing and rowing events of the 1960 Summer Olympic Games that were held in Rome.
Activities: Canoeing, rowing, walking trails, Volcano Lazio, churches and culture.
Where to stay: Castel Gandolfo
Lake Nambino
Location: An alpine lake, northeast of Milan and southwest of Venice in the province of Trento.
Best For: Tranquil, a fir-lined lake backed by the rugged Brenta Dolomites. Park in the Patascoss car park.
Activities: Hiking (Monte Pancugolo – 2276m), woodland walks, cycling, nature, peace and serenity.
Where to Stay: Rifugio Lago Nambino
Lake Nemi
Location: A volcanic lake south of Albano near Rome in the Lazio Region.
Best For: Panoramic views and Roman history.
Activities: Walking and hiking trails, plenty of museums, Roman castles, wine tasting, SUP boarding.
Where to stay: il Lago di Nemi
Lake Varese
Location: A glacial lake, northwest of Milan in the Lombardy Region.
Best For: Flat calm lake with picturesque views.
Activities: Architecture, churches, birdwatching), Palace gardens, cycle trails, museums.
Where to stay: Gavirate
Lake Braies / Pragser Wildsee
Location: A natural lake, close to the Austrian border in the Dolomites in the south Tyrol valley.
Best For: Nature and spectacular landscape with huge mountains ringed by enormous pine trees.
Activities: Walking, hiking (Seekofel hut), cycling, boat rental, restaurants, pebble beaches and photography.
Where to Stay: Monguelfo-Tesido
Lake Bolsena
Location: A volcanic lake, north of Rome in the Lazio region of central Italy.
Best For: Scenic lake with two islands, churches & walking trails, plus campsites & restaurants.
Activities: Swimming, sailing, boat rides, sports fishing and kite surfing.
Where to Stay: Capodimonte
Lake Massaciùccoli
Location: A natural lake, north of Pisa in the Province of Lucca, Tuscany.
Best For: Wildlife. 10 minute walk to the sea
Activities: Sailing, sports fishing, swimming, boat rides, kite surfing, sandy beach, grand theatre, churches and cathedrals, beach and museums.
Where to stay: Viareggio
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