Why the
Italian Lake District
is special

The beautiful Italian Lake District lies on the fringe of the snow-capped Alps. Its mild-climate shores are dotted with charming villages and towns, romantic villages and palaces, and interesting gardens, belvederes, spas and resorts.

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Italian Lake District
tips & insights

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The two most
popular lakes

Lake Maggiore
The soothing Borromean Islands are the highlight - and the tiny Isola Bella ("beautiful island") is the jewel.

Lake Como
It's the home of picturesque Bellagio village, the favorite among tourists.

Top three runners-up:

Lake d'Orta
It's pleasant and relatively small

Lake Lugano
The lake lies partially in Switzerland and is more Swiss than Italian in character

Lake Garda
It is situated well to the east of the other four and is the largest in volume

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Why the lakes are
long and narrow

They were carved by glaciers. The longest is 65 kilometers or 40 miles.

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The Italian Lake District
is easy to reach

Lake Maggiore and Lake Como are less than an hour's train ride from Milan, making them popular day trips. However, I recommend a longer stay - there is much to see and experience.

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Getting around

Ferries can swiftly take you from one village to the next.

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Best months
for visiting

May and September are the two best months for visiting the Italian Lake District. The weather is lovely and the crowds are light.

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