Top 10 Most Beautiful Lakes in Italy

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Maybe the word “lagos” already makes you daydream? It means “lakes” in Italian. And beautiful lakes are abundant in the Mediterranean country. Even the Romans already appreciated this natural beauty. And they are just as enchanting as they were then. Enjoy the 10 most beautiful lakes in Italy that we have listed for you.

10. Lake Bolsena

This lake can be found in the middle of the boot, an ideal stop on your way from Tuscany to Rome (or vice versa). It is a beautiful piece of water that was created after a volcanic eruption. This crater lake also has several idyllic islands, the largest of which is called Bisentia. There you can discover Etruscan ruins and some attractive churches. Since this is a crater lake, the beaches all around have soft black sand. Lake Bolsena is an ideal spot for swimming, fishing or simply watching the numerous birds.

9. Lake Ledro

This lake is located just west of its more famous brother Lake Garda. The place has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. You can go to the local museum to look up the evidence. The picturesque lake itself is a natural lake, but the water level has been artificially influenced by a hydroelectric dam. The beautiful blue / green water is warm enough in the summer and ideal for swimming and boating. The wooded mountainous landscape around it is also beautiful.

8. Lake Lugano

Lake Lugano is on the border of Italy and Switzerland. Actually right in between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como. The clear water comes straight from the Alps and also travels through several arms of the lake. It is widely used by pleasure craft. A good place to take pictures is the slope that you can reach with a cable car. Many anglers also find Lake Lugano the perfect place to go fishing.

7. Lake Trasimeno

This lake is located close to the city of Perugia in the Umbria region. The water gets it through various streams that flow into the lake itself. There is no connection from the water back to the sea. The water is slightly salty, not that deep and moderately muddy. There are also three islands where you can sail to. Hannibal defeated the Romans here in 217 BC, the various fortresses that can still be seen around the lake prove the strategic location of this place in the past. Today the people of the region live on fishing and agriculture, there are plenty of grapes and olive groves in this region.

6. Lake Bracciano

This lake is also a crater lake, just like Lake Bolsena. The water in the typical oval shape is discharged to the Tyrrhenian Sea. But there is also an aqueduct that transports water to the capital. Reportedly the gardens of the Vatican would be sprayed with it. Typical for Lake Bracciano is that there is always a breeze in the afternoon, which creates small waves in the water. This in turn attracts a lot of tourists who are crazy about water sports such as diving, fishing, canoeing and just swimming and sunbathing on the (narrow) beaches. The old town of Bracciano with its castle is also cozy and definitely worth a visit. This is a perfect day out if you are staying in the capital Rome by the way.

5. Lake Iseo

This lake, which is located in the provinces of Brescia and Bergamo, gets its water, mainly through the Oglio from a more northerly valley. The lake has three islands, the largest of which, Monte Isola, is by the way the largest island in a lake in Italy. It can be visited, but no cars are allowed. For example, you can rent a donkey to walk around. The lake does attract tourists in the summer, but a lot less than the other popular Italian lakes, although it is equally beautiful. To the south is an important wine region, the Franciacorta. A tip for enthusiasts.

4. Lake Orta

In Piemonte you can visit the incredibly beautiful Lake Orta. It is barely an hour’s drive from Milan. The surrounding landscape is beautiful and lends itself to romantic walks, over the cobbles of the small towns around the water. Lake Orta has a relatively large island in the middle, where you can visit old buildings, including a 9th century basilica. You take a ferry to get there.

3. Lake Maggiore

This lake is also located in both Italy and Switzerland, as it forms the border between the two countries. It is the second largest lake in Italy, on the south side of the Alps. It has a truly Mediterranean climate, which is reflected in the local fauna and flora. This is a beautiful sight, especially in spring, when everything is in bloom. Spring and summer are therefore popular times to visit this lake. To get a nice overview of the lake you can take the Mottarone cable car, or, closer to the water, book a boat trip.

2. Lake Garda

The only one of its kind in Northern Italy is Lake Garda. It is the largest lake in the country. The beautiful blue water, the fjord-like coasts, the magnificent high mountains all around, this is a place where you will take a lot of pictures. The lake has several islands, on one of them Francis of Assisi founded his monastery in 1220.

1. Lake Como

Our number one, and not only because you can spot so many celebrities here. This lake has been attracting tourists since the time of the Romans. They were the first to build villas on the water’s edge. Lake Como, with a depth of more than 400 meters, is one of the deepest natural lakes in Europe. Tourists come for the water of course, but also for the various cute villages in the area. Como itself is the perfect place to enjoy a real Italian ice cream, and who knows, you might even bump into George Clooney with his twins.

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