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Best Lake in Italy?

Greetings ~

My wife and I are planning to go to one of the Italian lakes in July 2019 for a three-week, stay-in-one-place trip, which we hope will consist largely of staring at water and mountains, and walking in the mountains and maybe a few small towns. Anything you can tell us about the pros and cons of the various lakes (and towns to stay in) would be much appreciated; recommendations for specific lake-view hotels (with pool), for less than €250, would be terrific. Thanks! ~ Jonathan

Posted by
248 posts

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Posted by
11247 posts

We have been to Lake Garda, Lake Como, and Lago Maggiore. By far our favorite was Lake Como. We stayed in Varenna and did not have a car. Here is why we liked it best:

  • Beautiful views
  • Lovely palazzi on the lake
  • Nice villages around the lake to visit by ferry
  • Good hiking

We thought Maggiore and Stresa, where we stayed, far less charming. It was overrun by German tourists and the Borromeo Islands were not nearly as interesting as I had hoped. Bright spot: Villa Pizzini on Monte Mottarone.

Lake Garda, it seems, is best by car. We had a very short stay there and it was HOT. Very hot! Not nearly the charming villages and limited hiking in the mountains above. You could not possibly hike, I don’t think, without a car. (I may be wrong as our time there was short.)

Three weeks is a long time in any of these places. Given what you like to do, have you considered the Dolomites? Not so much water, but cooler, terrific walking, cute villages. Our favorite is Ortisei. No car needed. We have been there multiple times including a one month stay in 2016 that we wished would not end.

Posted by
1626 posts

I might be partial, but I think Lago Maggiore has a lot to offer for three weeks. We've been to Lake Como, but only for two nights and one day ferry ride on Como, so my input is more about Maggiore.

Lago Maggiore is the 2nd largest lake in Italy. The top 20% of the lake is in Switzerland. July is a great month as the lake is warm, everything is open and busy, but not as crazy as August.

From April into October, there are ferries that go all over the lake. Are you planning on renting a car? Or public transportation? Over combination of the two? We've been here 3 1/2 months and are not bored yet.

There is a book I found last week on Amazon that gives Lake hikes accessible by public transportation, but haven't personally done any yet. Title: Walking the Italian Lakes (Cicerone Guides)

Here's list of our discoveries so far in the three months living here.

1) Verbania Pallanza and Intra are both centralized to visit towns by ferry up and down the lake. Pallanza feels more like a small village than Intra. There is a pedestrian walking path from Suna around the peninsula to Intra for morning, afternoon, or evening walks. We do not tire of the lake, mountain, and villa views on this walk. (We live in Pallanza two blocks from the lake)
2) High speed hydrofoil ferry allows you to get to Ascona or Locarno Switzerland in an hour. Ascona is more quaint and smaller town feeling, where Locarno feels more like a city.
3) Lago Maggiore Express pass (see link in our blog)
4) Ferry to Laveno- Take the bucket gondola to the top of the mountain (hike down is mentioned in above book) Link in blog
5) The best place to stay in Pallanza is a 4 star hotel called the Grand Hotel Majestic. They have a pool and great grounds on the property. Looks like it might be within your budget (you might email to negotiate better rate for 3 weeks). You are less than 1/2 km to Pallanza lakefront piazza and about 2 km to Intra.
6) Ferry to Stresa -there is a gondola there, but haven't done this yet. Stresa feels much more like an American tourist town than Verbania.

7) Day trip to Lake Garta- easy by car, but still accessible via bus and train.
8) Day trip to Milan to see main sites. Easy by train for a day trip
9) Villa Torranto - Walking distance from both Intra and Pallanza- or by Ferry
10) Ferrys to Isola Madre, Isola Superiore, and Isola Bella (all in Rick Steve's book)
11) Train station- While Stresa has a train station in town, it's a quick and easy bus ride to Verbania's train station (Verbania-Pallanza). But not be confused with Verbania Pallanza, the town.
12) Domodossola- Quick train ride or car if you have one. Surrounded by mountains (snow capped as of this week)
13 ) Toce Falls- Easiest if you have a car, but is accessible by train to Domodossola, then bus. Toce Falls Spectacular and hiking around there.
14) Lot's of restaurants, bars and pizza places. Most are inexpensive by American standards, but there are a few high end really good restaurants also.
15) Verbania seems to have a lot of special events activities. The night after we arrived, there were fireworks. As we speak they are putting together the Ice Rink down on the lakefront plaza.
16) In Verbania Suna there is a public swimming pool lakeside, as well as a a beach. Beach is free, unless you want to pay to rent lounge chairs or umbrellas.
17) There is an event enter on the river between Pallanza and Intra that has plays, musicals, etc, If you are lucky, maybe something goes on next July
18) Wandering the narrow streets of Verbania- lots of interesting villas, architecture, etc.

19) If you enjoy wine and have a car. Piedmonte wine region is an easy two hour drive.

Posted by
15043 posts

They are all beautiful.

But your personal favorite will likely be the one you will visit first. It’s like the first love. You will never forget it.

Lake Como is the most famous with Americans, therefore it is the one most Americans visit first. As such it is the one most Americans will tell you they like best, because it was their first love.

My favorite lake is lake Garda (the north side), exactly for that reason. It was my first when I was a kid. But I will admit that Lake Maggiore (and nearby Lake Orta) probably offers the most things to visit.

However if you are into wind surfing, parasailing, or paragliding down from mountain tops, the north side of Lake Garda is for you.

Posted by
15043 posts

Jonathan
You can remove your other duplicate post yourself.

Go to it after you sign in, and click on “delete” under the post.

Posted by
16028 posts

Laurel, you can't blame Lago di Garda for the heat. It was probably just as hot and stultifying at other lakes at the same time.

We enjoy Varenna on Lake Como, but for a long stay and an interest in hiking, I would highly recommend Garda, specifically the picturesque town of Malcescine near the north end.

https://www.visitmalcesine.com/en/malcesine

Lake boats connect the town with others on the lake. And Monte Baldo rises 5000 feet above the lake, providing nearly limitless hiking ( and mountain biking) with lift access if you like. The lake itself is a haven for windsurfers which are fun to watch even if you don't want to give it a try.

Take the boat down to Pescheria and you are only about 15 minutes from Verona by train for a nice daytrip.

There is a lovely beachfront hotel just below the castle I could recommend, but I do not know if they have a pool. I will go and check. I think the name is Hotel Castello. Or there are several above town that I know have pools, and nice views.

Posted by
11056 posts

Il Castello in Malcesine, Lake Garda is directly on a beach so no need for a pool.
We have spent time in all three of the lakes you mention and they are all lovely. However, Lake Como takes the prize!

Posted by
2281 posts

hey jonathan
what's up neighbor? went to lake garda few years back and loved it. stayed in bardolino for their annual wine festival at hotel nettuno. views of lake and mountains, small villages, had lunch at peschiera del garda, another pretty lake town. close to public transportation to explore other towns. book early if you find something, busy during summer at any lake you go to. sent you a message, check your inbox.
aloha