Top 10 Lakes in Italy

The most beautiful Italian Lakes with clear blue, or turquoise waters still attract tourists from all over the world. The lakes not only offer beautiful views, but also many water sports facilities, family entertainment, and nearby villages and towns to visit. So, if you are planning to go on a camping holiday soon, keep these 10 top Italian lakes (and recommended campsites) in mind.

Lake Como is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy. It is one of Europe's deepest lakes (400 m). Travellers from all around the world come here to see the scenery, visit Villa Carlotta, and sample the gelato in the town of Como. The town of Como, located at the foot of the lake and connected by train to Milano, is a former Roman city with a splendid Romanesque church and a cable car that offers amazing vistas of the lake and the snowcapped Alps beyond. From Como, you can travel by boat either for a scenic lake tour or to reach its towns. Thus, ferries shuttle back and forth between Bellagio, Tremezzo, and other towns, so it is easy to get around without a car.

Stay at Camping Spiaggia.

Due to its relaxing atmosphere, beautiful beaches, plenty of family-friendly resorts and campsites, and popular theme parks, Garda is a popular destination for families. Gardaland, Gardaland Sea-Life, and Caneva World, with their movie-themed attractions, are the most well-known of these. Check out more about the top amusement parks in Italy: Top 10 best amusement parks in Italy.

Almost any water sport may be found here, and Torbole, at its northernmost point, offers some of the best windsurfing and kitesurfing in Europe. The lake's winds make sailing wonderful, but its calmer southern waters make kayaking ideal. Check out more about kitesurfing in Italy: Top 10 best kitesurfing destinations in Italy.

The lake's southern parts provide the best beaches, and the surrounding mountains offer hikers a variety of challenging paths. Tourists who want to observe the mountains without climbing can take the cable car to Monte Baldo's peak and stroll along the ridge's pathways, which include an alpine plant botanic garden. 

Stay at hu Altomincio Village.

The second largest of Italy's lakes, Lake Maggiore, is shared with Switzerland, and the Swiss Ticino region includes the northernmost towns of Ascona and Locarno. The towns along the lake's western bank have direct train connections to Milan, and the lake's lower part is only a few kilometres from Malpensa airport. The western side is home to the exquisite subtropical gardens and park of Villa Taranto and Villa Pallavicino, as well as the majority of the important attractions. The latter contains botanical and display gardens as well as an exotic animal zoo, making it one of the most popular family activities on Lake Maggiore. Stresa is a popular starting point for travellers who want to visit the three Borromean Islands. Although each of the islands has its own charms, Rocca Borromeo, the extravagant mansion on Isola Bella, is the main draw. The island's enormous galleries, with their sumptuous decorative flourishes studded with gold, cover most of the island, but the formal garden, which rises layer after tier above the lake, is the highlight of a trip. Although Maggiore does not have as many beaches as Lake Garda, some villages hire boats and kayaks. You can take advantage of a lake tour to visit Angera Castle, lakeside houses, and the mountains to the north for the greatest views.

Stay at Camping Rose.

Little Lake Orta, tucked into a valley behind the wooded western slopes of Monte Mottarone, has a single little island, Isola San Giulio, which can be accessed by boat from Orta San Guilio. The stone buildings of a monastery and the 12th-century Basilica di San Giulio, thought to have been erected by the saint himself, encompass almost the whole surface of the island. The church's finely carved marble pulpit and frescoes are the main highlights. Orta San Giulio is a lovely medieval town that sprawls along the shoreline and climbs the hillside. Its short main street and Piazza Motta, where you can take a boat to the island, are lined with small stores.

Stay at Camping Royal.

To get to Lake Lugano from Italy, drive the short distance from Menaggio to Porlezza on the Italian side of the lake, or follow the series of mountain routes from Argegno on Lake Como to Osteno on Lake Lugano for a true experience. You will not have to backtrack because a road follows the lakeshore all the way to Porlezza. The Grotte di Rescia caves are located along the beach. Porlezza is well-known for its swimming beach and several campsite options, making it a popular family destination. You can rent boats to explore the lake on your own in Cima, near Porlezza, or take a tour of the lake aboard one of the popular steamers from Lugano.

Stay at Camping Lugano (Muzzano) - Tcs.

Lake Iseo, like Lake Orta, is sometimes ignored and overshadowed by the larger, more well-known lakes of Garda and Como. Nevertheless, this lake is also amazing and has to be included in your Italian lakes tour. Sailing, canoeing, kayaking, wakeboarding, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and paragliding are all popular sports on Iseo, so if you enjoy water sports, you need to go here. The little port of Iseo, which has a modest castle and a 12th-century Romanesque church, is one of the lakeside towns with tourist amenities and attractions. The Alpine lake's only island, near the hamlet of Sulzano, rises abruptly amid the forested slopes of Monte Isola. The pilgrimage church of the Madonna Della Ceriola is located at the summit, at an elevation of over 600 metres. And, the beautiful tiny fishing village of Peschiera Maraglio can be reached by ferry from Sulzano. 

Stay at Camping del Sole.

The Pragser Wildsee, or Lago di Braies in Italian, is surrounded by Dolomite peaks in Italy's German-speaking South Tyrol. At any time of year, the bright blue and emerald waters, surrounded by deep green vegetation and rugged mountain peaks, provide an outstanding spectacle. This, combined with the small lakeside chapel on the coast, makes it one of the most photographed places in the Dolomites. The Pragser Wildsee, at the foot of the 2,800-meter Croda del Becco and the paths in the Fanes-Senes-Braies Nature Park, is a starting place for hikers, adding to its aesthetic value. The west side of the lakeside trail is mostly wide, whereas the east side is narrower and steeper. Alternatively, start at the beginning of the trail to the Seekofel, which is a lovely hike through the mountains. Or, if you prefer a more relaxed holiday, you can also rent a boat and admire the lake.

Stay at Camping Seiseralm.

Bolsena is a favourite haunt of bird-watchers, who come here to observe more than a dozen species that fish in the waters and nest in the reeds along the shore. The island of Bisentina, the largest, is accessible by ferry from Capodimonte, and is worth a visit to see the gardens, oak groves, and 5th-century frescoes in the Cappella del Crocifisso. Bolsena, Europe's largest volcanic lake, is located north of Rome and was formed by the fall of a volcano 370,000 years ago. The lake's two islands, Bisentina and Martana, were formed later by underwater eruptions, but the volcano has been dormant since the Romans reported activity in 104 BC. The silky black sand that makes up the lake's vast beaches has volcanic origins. Locals and visitors flock to the beaches and chances for kayaking, canoeing, windsurfing, fishing, water skiing, paragliding, and sailing, as well as campsites, and agritourism hotels. At several locations around the lake, you can rent canoes, and sailboats, or go on a sailing tour. Thus, it is a popular spot for birdwatchers. Here you can admire more than a dozen kinds of birds.

Stay at Blu International Camping.

The little Alpine Lake Ledro is located at the northern extremity of Lake Garda, in a natural setting of forests and mountain peaks. Swimming, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, and fishing are popular in the pristine, almost iridescent blue-green waters, and a 200-kilometre network of walking and hiking routes leads to Alpine heights and around the gorgeous lake. For history lovers, Lake Ledro also has a historical appeal. The pile buildings of a Bronze Age hamlet were uncovered as the water level of the lake fell during the construction of a hydroelectric station at Riva del Garda in 1929. The settlement has been rebuilt, and the dwellings have been furnished with Bronze Age items. The Museo delle Palafitte di Ledro (Ledro Pile Dwellings Museum), in Molina di Ledro, is the most important pile-dwelling site in Europe and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is a popular spot for families because of the many workshops and activities.

Stay at Camping Maroadi.

Lake Bracciano, situated only 32 kilometres from Rome, is a volcanic lake, one of two developed in craters of the same volcano. Many locals flock here to escape the heat on the beach and beneath the shaded patios of the area's many lakeside eateries. Lake Bracciano is also popular among watersports enthusiasts because of the variety of activities available: kayaking, canoeing, sailing, windsurfing, fishing, and scuba diving, as well as swimming in the clear, pure volcanic water. Bracciano village is also worth visiting. It offers charming, tiny streets and lovely views. In particular, the Belvedere della Sentinella offers magnificent views across the lake. Thus, if you are visiting Bracciano with children, keep in mind that there is a kid-friendly Castello Odescalchi.

Stay at Camping Roma Flash.