Which Italian Lake Should I Visit?

[Folkranger]

Been to Lake Garda a while ago and liked it. Which one would you recommend?

 

[Figaro]

My favourite was Lake Orta, but I also like Iseo, Maggorie and Como

 

[Roby2008]

Caldanazzo

 

[Skez]

Orta !

 

[seasideBill]

Another vote for Orta.

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[PaulOH]

I think Como is brilliant - it's got the two legs - the normal side is at Lecco, where they call it il Lario, and get all strunty about the 'Comancinos' claiming their lake. So clearly the glamourous side is Como, where the town is rather glam.

I thoroughly recomment la funicular to the top of the hill - walk included. It is spectacular.

The wee towns up the lake are v.pretty and you get that lakeside drive thing, arched tunnels the lot. It is narrow in parts and I can't tell you anywhere to park as I was in a car and staying in a house when I did it. I wouldn't venture far off the main road on either side of the lake as the roads get continentally impossible and nigh vertical in places.

There is an island called la Comancina which is a great little visit. plus you can go to Bellagio and get a boat over to the other side (no MHs - it's not a car ferry). There are a myriad of walking trails around the place high up into the mountains and it's inches away from Switzerland for a bit of cheap diesel (and other cheap stuff), and when you're there, go to Lugano, another lake... it just keeps on coming!

Someone once told me that Lago de Pusiano was also v. nice in a small scale way, and it loses out to Como because it's so
close - don't know as I haven't been there yet.

Good lake hunting!

 

[Parrot Face]

Lake Iseo and caldonazzo lake..

 

[clanjones]

Lago Di Iseo

 

[dunnah01]

Varese was our favourite.

 

[the darkside]

off to lake Garda next week,be arriving in brenzone sul Garda Saturday afternoon all being well

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[bladerunner]

Maggiore!

 

[the darkside]

off to lake Garda, brenzone sul garda

 

[royandsharont]

We arrived at Lake Garda for the first time and loved it so much we stayed 6 weeks! Planning to visit again, different part, and also some more lakes.

 

[the darkside]

We’ve booked 6 nights in brenzone sul Garda then off down to croatia

 

[Fdhadi]

Maggiore, 1/3rd in Swiss 2/3rds in Italy, was there 2wks ago.

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[Holly's mum]

off to lake Garda next week,be arriving in brenzone sul Garda Saturday afternoon all being well

Saturday tomorrow or Saturday the 15?

 

[TheMachMan]

Iseo & Orta are lovely Our favourites. Maggiore which is bigger but has a nice feel. Como & Garda are more developed. Depends what you prefer.

 

[the darkside]

Saturday tomorrow or Saturday the 15?

Saturday 15th, sail from hull on Thursday, eguishiem aire on Friday, then lake Garda Saturday for 6 nights then down to croatia

 

[daveclare]

I think you need to visit all of them. Easy enough in a motorhome. Avoid Como town centre though. Hundreds of homeless there now.

 

[Holly's mum]

Saturday 15th, sail from hull on Thursday, eguishiem aire on Friday, then lake Garda Saturday for 6 nights then down to croatia

We will be in the lakes beginning of next week. Not done them before so following this thread with interest.

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[TheMachMan]

I think you need to visit all of them. Easy enough in a motorhome. Avoid Como town centre though. Hundreds of homeless there now.

We found trying to stay around Como in a campsite difficult, but we did visit for a day and stay in a Sosta/ Car Park for €5 within 20 min of town centre. Worth a day trip.

 

[critch]

Lake Iseo, and the top end of Lake Maggiore we have enjoyed both a couple of times, not keen on Lake Garda, as getting around it can be a nightmare.

 

[Folkranger]

Looks like any or all as the recommendations are so varied.

Should have said, we mainly stay around lakes, canals and rivers as they usually provide flat cycling. So long since we were last at Garda. Are there similar cycle tracks round the Italian lakes? or do the mountains encroach too much?

 

[Diabalo]

Lake Ledro is an nice small lake North west of Lake Garda

 

[TheMachMan]

Looks like any or all as the recommendations are so varied.

Should have said, we mainly stay around lakes, canals and rivers as they usually provide flat cycling. So long since we were last at Garda. Are there similar cycle tracks round the Italian lakes? or do the mountains encroach too much?

We stayed near Iseo town and there were cycle routes around the lake, not all of it but a decent amount. Baveno, on Maggiore had some cycle paths though we didn’t use them. Worth getting Mapy.cz app which shows most of them.

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[Lazyboy]

We stayed at a sosta in San Bartolomeo and caught a boat into Como which we found interesting.
If you can stay somewhere around Lake Como as already said, Belagio is well worth a visit
Lake Orta as well is a lovely place to visit.
Lake Garda is nice with good cycling around. Sirmione is a tourist trap. Lovely place but packed and expensive.
We have stayed at a Sosta at Monzambano and cycled to Peschiera del Garda which is a lovely cycle ride along the river and the town is not quite as rammed. Nice ice cream stop halfway back!!
While you are visiting that end of Italy, the old town at Bergamo is another place worth a visit. There is a good sosta on the "edge of the new town" and a good walk up to the old town.

 

[Stevil74]

My favourite was Lake Orta, but I also like Iseo, Maggorie and Como

I've got to add my vote for Orta, I got married there 15 years ago and love going back. Orta is a beautiful, small.town and very friendly. Stay at Camping Cusio if you can, it's a lovely, family (Dutch and Italian) run site on the hill above the lake.

 

[dunnah01]

Looks like any or all as the recommendations are so varied.

Should have said, we mainly stay around lakes, canals and rivers as they usually provide flat cycling. So long since we were last at Garda. Are there similar cycle tracks round the Italian lakes? or do the mountains encroach too much?

Great level and quiet cycle path around Varese, a supermarket, outdoor gym thingy, signed things, old lido, and the MV Augusta factory. The Aire is on the cycle track and it is also only 10 cents return on the bus to Varese town which is worth a visit.

 

[Waterford Mike]

Been to Lake Garda a while ago and liked it. Which one would you recommend?

Just returned from Lake Maggiore. Superb area and stayed on a wonderful site, Camping Conca d'oro. Very hot at all times, minimum 30c ,and a bit of a problem with the mozzies . Only been home a week and we're already planning our trip back for next year. Wow , how we love Italy !

 

[Itsmcb]

I'm off to Italy for a week at the end of next week . Only 8 days so flying . 4 days at Desenzano del Garda and 4 on the little island in Lake Iseo. I can't wait.
Did similar last year, Orta then Maggiore. It's a lovely part of the world.

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