Italy may be best known for its wine, food, and cities (all of which are wonderful), but Italy’s nature has so much to offer as well–and that includes some stunning lakes!
While many of Italy’s lakes are famous for their resort atmosphere (looking at you, Lake Como and Lake Garda), they’re popular for very good reason.
Italy’s most beautiful lakes are easily among the most gorgeous spots in the country!
Want to plan a trip that includes a visit to one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy?
We teamed up with several other travel bloggers to curate this roundup of the best lakes to visit in Italy.
The lakes are concentrated in northern Italy, primarily near or in the Dolomites, making Alpine beauty one of the major driving factors to these gorgeous destinations.
Here are the most beautiful lakes in Italy to consider adding on to your next trip!
Lake Carezza
From Mike of 197 Travel Stamps
Lago di Carezza, or Karersee in German, is set in the mountains of South Tyrol and is easily one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy.
Thanks to rare algae in the lake, it has an incredible, turquoise-blue color.
Legend has it that a beautiful mermaid used to live inside the lake. A powerful king, who was desperately in love with the mermaid grabbed a rainbow and threw it into the lake once he realized that his love would not be returned.
As the story goes, since that day the lake has boasted its beautiful colors.
Lake Carezza is located around 6 km from the town of Nova Levante and is surrounded by the UNESCO-protected mountain ranges of Carezza and Latemar, both of which are part of the Dolomites Mountains.
The area is predominantly German-speaking since it was part of Austria until WWI.
There is a car park close to the lake and walking around it takes around 15 minutes.
If you feel like exploring more of the beautiful forests around the lake, just follow one of the numerous hiking trails that start from the lake.
Lake Como
Tucked into the Rhaetian Alps in Italy’s Lombardy region, Lake Como just may be the most famous lake in all of Italy (thanks in no small part to George Clooney and its status as a filming location in movies like Casino Royale).
Set only a short day trip away from Milan, Lake Como has long been the haunt of movie stars and royalty–and considering its epic setting and high-profile status as being widely regarded as one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, that’s hardly a surprise.
Come to Lake Como to tour stunning villas, explore the beautiful resort towns of Bellagio and Varenna, see the city of Como, go hiking and admire the lake from viewpoints high above the water, and of course hit the water.
From swimming to sailing to kite surfing to paddle boarding and beyond, there’s no shortage of water sports to enjoy on Lake Como!
Lake Ledro
From Margherita of The Crowded Planet
The Lake Garda region is easily one of the most beautiful in Italy, but it gets extremely crowded in the summer.
To enjoy the best of what the region offers but avoid the crowds, take a short trip to Lake Ledro, a smaller but no less beautiful lake located in the valley of the same name.
Lake Ledro is about a 30-minute drive from Riva del Garda. It is 650 meters above sea level, so it’s usually much cooler than down in the valley.
You can go walking around the lake, go fishing, rent pedal boats, or swim in the cool emerald waters of the lake.
There are some wonderful hikes to do in the vicinity, including the section of the GardaTrek Top Loop passing by Rifugio Pernici.
The trailhead is just a short drive from Lake Ledro and in just 40 minutes it will take you to some WW1 trenches with wonderful views over the lake.
You can stop at the Rifugio on the way back for a traditional lunch before making your way back down.
Lake Braies (Prag)
From Alex of Swedish Nomad
The deservedly famous Lago di Braies is known as the pearl among the Dolomites Lakes, and a lot of tourists and Italians consider it to be one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy–or even in Europe.
It’s a stunning place where you get magical reflections from the mountain Croda del Becco in the calm waters of Lago di Braies.
Lago di Braies is also the backdrop for the popular Italian TV show Un Passo dal Cielo.
Don’t forget to bring good walking shoes, water, and some snacks when visiting Lago di Braies. The hike around the lake takes about 2 hours, and offers several picturesque views!
It’s possible to visit on a day trip from Innsbruck, Venice, or Milan, but it’s ideal to stay somewhere in the Dolomites since the driving would otherwise be 3-4 hours.
While technically doable in a day trip from a popular city, the experience will be better if you overnight in let’s say Brunico, which is just 30 minutes away.
It’s best to arrive early since the lake can get extremely crowded later during the day. Also, the beautiful reflections are most common in the mornings, so you’ll get the best photos and views then.
Lake Caldonazzo
From Linda de Beer of Travel Tyrol
Lake Caldonazzo is the largest lake belonging that belongs entirely to Italy’s Trentino province.
That said, with a surface area of 5.38 km² and only 5 km long, it’s much smaller and less busy than more famous places in Italy like nearby Lake Garda.
Situated in the beautiful Valsugana valley, the water temperature in Lake Caldonazzo reaches up to 25 °C – perfect for swimming, windsurfing, sailing, rowing, or even renting a paddle boat with its own waterslide.
If you like fishing, you can even try to catch trout or perch for supper.
The beaches are family-friendly, guarded by lifesavers, and there is ample parking, along with plenty of restaurants and bars.
The town of Caldonazzo, which is about 2 kilometers away from the lake shore, is charming and quaint with cobbled streets and restaurants serving authentic, hearty Italian food.
Renting a bicycle and cycling around the lake is a great way to get to know the area and appreciate its beauty.
You can even ride almost 80 km down the Valsugana Valley on a dedicated cycling path! Getting back is no problem. Simply hop on a train with a dedicated bicycle wagon.
Lake Caldonazzo is easily reached by car or train via Trento and a perfect day trip from Verona in the south or Bolzano in the north. Even Venice is not that far away!
Lake Caldonazzo is a wonderful family holiday destination where you can combine relaxed days on the beach with more active ones spent cycling or even taking history tours to nearby World War I sites.
Ico74, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lake Iseo
From Isabella of Boundless Roads
Less than an hour from the beautiful historic city of Brescia and two hours from the popular ski area of Ponte di Legno sits the lovely Lake Iseo.
Though Lake Iseo is smaller and more offbeat than other lakes in Lombardy like the famous Lake Como, Lake Iseo is a lovely and quiet spot to visit (and still a great contender for being one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy).
When visiting Lake Iseo, consider exploring the nearby wine routes, going for a hike, taking a bike tour, or even simply enjoying the view of the lake with some delicious Italian food in the town of Iseo.
If you’d rather be on the lake itself, paddle boarding and windsurfing are both popular on Lake Iseo!
Daniel Reust, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Lake Garda
From Sanne of Vene Vidi
Lake Garda (or Lago di Garda in Italian) is a lake in northern Italy. It is the largest lake in Italy and has a lot of things to offer, such as stunning views and lovely villages.
On the south bank of the lake, you can find Sirmione, which is home to an impressive fortified castle, Roman ruins overlooking the lake, and lots of thermal spas.
On the east bank, you can find the village Malcesine. Here, a little further up north than Sirmione, you’ll discover that mountains have replaced the hills.
From the castle in Malcesine, there are stunning views over the lake and the village.
On the west bank, Salo deserves a quick mention, since this village was the seat of government of the Italian Social Republic from 1943 to 1945.
Lake Garda is located only 30 kilometers from Verona and 140 kilometers from Venice. This means that a day trip is completely doable.
If you decide to go to Lake Garda on a day trip, make sure to squeeze in a boat cruise like this.
However, I would recommend staying for 3 or 4 days and taking your time to explore this large lake. The town of Peschiera del Garda on the south bank of the lake is the perfect base for exploring the lake.
If you’re traveling with kids, you can also visit the large theme park Gardaland.
Lake Orta
From Katie of Untold Morsels
Lake Orta is a small lake in Italy’s Piedmont region where you can find not only one of the prettiest villages you will ever see but also a mysterious island that is home to a community of nuns.
Lake Orta is just over an hour from Milan by car, or you can enjoy a leisurely train ride to Lake Orta that takes about 2 hours each way. Lake Orta also makes a great day trip from Turin.
The town of Orta San Giulio on the southern shore of the lake has cobbled streets, draping wisteria each spring, and tiny laneways from where you catch glimpses of the lake.
Walk up the hill to Sacro Monte di Orta, a UNESCO world heritage site dedicated to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi, for panoramic views.
Then make your way to the town’s main piazza. Here you will find several cafes looking out towards Isola San Giulio with its Basilica rising high above the lake.
If you can tear yourself away from the cafe (honestly it’s very hard), it is a short boat ride to the island.
Here you can walk the “Way of Silence and Meditation” toward the Basilica, itself filled with beautiful frescoes and paintings.
I have no doubt this quiet contemplation will have you plotting your return to Lake Orta.
Lake Maggiore
Located in the Alps, Lake Maggiore is the only one of the Italian lakes profiled here that actually isn’t fully Italian… because it’s located on the border of Switzerland!
Featuring mountain views and lots to see, Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy.
Most famous among the lake’s attractions are the Borromean Islands, an archipelago of four memorable islands that all offer something unique to visit.
Head to Isola Madre for its gardens, Isola Bella for its palace, and Isola de Pescatori for its fishing village (and resulting seafood).
The lake is also lined with castles to explore and plenty of trails to enjoy, tempting lovers of history and the outdoors to combine their passions into one memorable trip to northern Italy (and possibly some of the best places to visit in Switzerland as well).
I always hear about Lake Como and have always wanted to go but Lake Caldonazzo looks stunning! Adding it to the list!
Right? Our list got a lot longer after putting together this post!
Dreamlife! Italian lakes really are stunning, and very diverse as well! Nice pictures