Italian Lakes Region- Idyllic, Non-Touristy Towns Recommendations

There are only a few lakes, so to find an “undiscovered” one will be impossible. The Italian lakes have been attracting tourists for hundreds (if not thousands) of years. Any place that has amenities (shops, restaurants, hotels) will have them because they cater to tourists, either local or foreign. If you go off season, you will have less company. We spent a few days in Varenna in December many years ago and the place was deserted. Cold and windy, too. Or if you avoid the big name Instagram famous spots, you’ll have better luck.

I’ll give you one choice in each Lake.

LAKE MAGGIORE
Cannobio

LAKE ORTA
Orta San Giulio

LAKE COMO
Varenna

LAKE GARDA
Tremosine

LAKE ISEO
Monte Isola

They are on the lakes, they are idyllic, they are beautiful, they have some amenities…and you will see very few tourists walking in the streets in July (provided it is between 3am and 5am).

Thank you Roberto, We will be sure only to go out between 3-5am! Joking aside, which of the locations you listed is likely to be less busy?

We spent five nights in Bellano which is just north of Varenna in Lake Como in 2021. We ended up here because we made a last minute decision to go to Italy once it reopened and this was the best location (on train line) we found for our group of seven. It is far less touristy than Varenna. We ended up really liking it here. There are three grocery stores and we visited them all. There is a waterfront with the usual tourist stuff but there is a local beach and play ground. There is even a hospital. We had the best meal of our trip in a restaurant where the menu was handwritten in Italian (making goggle translate useless).

That said, there are some disadvantages. It is not as well connected with ferries and you had to be very careful to not miss one as it would be a long time until the next one. One night we did take a ferry from Bellagio to Varenna and then the train back to Bellano so you can be creative.

Beth,
Thank you for the helpful info! Sometimes booking late can be an advantage!

I'm telling you that it is nearly impossible to find a beautiful place in Italy with zero tourists in July, especially on the lakes. Having said that, you are not going to see the crowds of Venice or Florence in any of those locations, not even in Bellagio, which is the most visited town on Lake Como. Both Bellano and Menaggio have fewer tourists than Varenna or Bellagio, but they are not going to be empty in July. I actually like Menaggio because it has frequent ferry service like Varenna and Bellagio, and also offers the possibility of visiting nearby Lugano in Switzerland, a beautiful albeit expensive city.

If you want to venture to Lake Garda, Tremosine is less touristy primarily because is on top of the cliff, so not exactly on the lake. The views are outstanding. Lake Garda is also very touristy. Maybe not as popular as Lake Como with Americans (maybe thanks to Rick Steves and George Clooney), but Lake Garda is the most visited lake in Italy, particularly by Germans and Austrians.

Lake Maggiore is also nice, and very close to the Milan Malpensa airport. It is probably not as crowded, but in July is not without tourists. Stresa is a beautiful town very convenient to visit the islands. Cannobio is probably the quaintest village on the lake, but most people visit it during the day (from Stresa or from Switzerland), so if you stay there there will be fewer tourists in the evenings and in the morning.

Lake Orta is very close to lake Maggiore. Orta San Giulio is the prettiest and quaintest village. Like Cannobio most people visit it during the day (from Stresa or elsewhere) so in the evening it becomes idyllic and totally quiet.

Lake Iseo is not as crowded. Monte Isola is an island.

As I said, any town on the lakes will do as the tourists are many in July but not so many to smother you like Florence or Venice. The only exceptions might be Bellagio on Lake Como and especially Sirmione on Lake Garda which is a zoo in July.

Roberto, Thank you for the very informed post!

It is unrealistic to expect a “non-touristy” town anywhere in the lakes district. These places exist on tourism, and no place worth seeing is undiscovered. You might as well ask for a un-touristy place near Yosemite. But some places in the lakes are full of American tourists, while others are favored by Italians, or Germans, or Brits, or . . .Europeans enjoy these places too.

But if by “touristy” you mean cheesy souvenir shops, I think you can avoid that. Stay away from Sirmione on Lago di Garda, in spite of the wonderful Roman ruins there.

Thank you for the helpful replies.
Do any of the towns next to (or near to) the lakes have medeival aged buildings and streets? We would like to explore such towns

Malcescine on Lago di Garda has a medieval castle surrounded by a nice oldtown area. It will be busy in July, though.

https://lakegardatravel.net/scaliger-castle-malcesine-lake-garda/

https://lakegardatravel.net/malcesine-italy/

Hello
We are considering Santa Maria Rezzonico on the western shore of Como, but also considering Varenna. If anybody can share some of the differences between these two towns, and any reasons that Santa Maria may not be a good choice it would be much appreciated.
Thank you

Syn,
Roberto's list absolutely nails the answer to your query.
For us, Varenna hit the sweet spot on several levels.
Good luck.
I am done. The end.