I have been to Italy many times and have a few extra days and thinking of going to the lake area. I have been to the big touristy one's and am looking for a 'off the grid' experience with less crowds, more intimate.
Any suggestions :)
I so appreciate your help. Will be traveling alone. and this is the first week in October.
Posted by
872 posts
Lake Orta. One-hour drive from MXP.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15462 posts
What is the rest of your itinerary and what lakes have you visited already in your past trips?
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11466 posts
Not a lake, but we had an out-of the-way Italian seaside stay the first week of October one year in Pesaro. Got a 5 star hotel on the beach for half the high season rate and enjoyed not only walking the waterfront and beach, but a day in Ravenna and another in Urbino. I found knowing Italian came in handy in Pesaro…
Posted by
North Italy
338 posts
Lake Iseo is ideal for a few days if you've already seen Como and Maggiore. Montisola the biggest lake island in Europe is special, you won't see many tourists but there are lots of places to explore and you're near to Brescia Bergamo Italian Cultural capitals 2023 if the weather is poor
https://slowtravelitalyspain.blogspot.com/2023/04/ten-best-free-activities-lake-iseo.html?m=1
Posted by
OP
Phoenix
53 posts
Thank you for your help. I have never been to Como/Bellagio and am contemplating it. I do think it will be busy? I haven't been to Orta and Stresa and the more I look the more confused I get. I am flying out of Bologna....is Como an unwise choice? I will not be driving a car so partial train access would be nice even though I can manuever to anywhere. Maybe somewhere that a few nights will be easy, hike a bit, enjoy views and continue eating lol. Thanks again everyone for your input.
Posted by
seattle
2063 posts
Laurel, Do you mind sharing the name of the hotel near Pesaro? We’re planning to stay near there this October.
Posted by
Forest Grove, OR
11466 posts
Hi Becky. It was the Excelsior https://www.excelsiorpesaro.it/. It’s been since 2017 that we were there, so hopefully still wonderful. Cannot beat the view and those gentle Adriatic waves. Sigh.
Posted by
OP
Phoenix
53 posts
That does sound heavenly....maybe no lake and seaside?