Italian Lakes map & highlights

Enjoy a handful of highlights from one of the loveliest regions in Europe. Our map of the Italian lakes showcases one of the most picturesque parts of Europe. The lakes are lined with beautiful villas and gardens, thermal baths and pretty beaches. Meanwhile, cycling and walking routes take you into the surrounding hills, where medieval villages, vineyards and viewpoints await.

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Italian Lakes map & highlights

Garda, Como, Maggiore, Iseo and Orta, the narrow, glacier-carved lakes stretching out from the feet of the southern Alps, have inspired writers and artists for centuries, from the Roman poet Virgil to Byron, Henry James and Gustav Klimt. Strung along the lakes’ dramatic shorelines are elegant villas, castles and medieval villages, while ferries and stylish speedboats criss-cross their waters. To the south, Milan and Verona are the twin gateways to one of the loveliest regions in Europe, though one of the busiest. Our map and highlights of the Italian lakes explore what gives them their grand appeal, as well as how to get away from the crowds.

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1. Bellagio
2. Borghetto sul Mincio
3. Gravedona
4. Peschiera del Garda
5. Sirmione
6. Stresa

Bellagio

1. Bellagio

Bellagio perches on the headland where Lake Como splits into two branches. The shore is lined with beautiful historic villas and gardens, some open to the public, while the cobbled streets and stairways of the historic centre are thronged with boutiques, cafes and restaurants. A 10-minute uphill walk brings you to the picturesque fishing village of Pescallo.

Bellagio

Borghetto sul Mincio

2. Borghetto sul Mincio

This scenic village, an hour’s cycling from Peschiera del Garda, sits on the River Mincio, which once powered the watermills you can still see here. The local speciality is tortellini di Valeggio sul Mincio – stuffed egg pasta cooked in a delicious meaty broth – on some of our tours you can visit a family-run factory to see it being made.

Gravedona

3. Gravedona

This small town at the northern end of Lake Como is an ideal base for our walking holidays that escape the crowds. Numerous trails start from Gravedone itself, while others are easily reached by ferry or bus. Gravedona is a pleasant spot for groups to spend a week, with delightful pastel-shaded houses and plenty of restaurants to enjoy fish from the lake.

Gravedona

Peschiera del Garda

4. Peschiera del Garda

Peschiera del Garda, at Lake Garda’s southern tip, is encircled by Venetian-era fortified walls, built to stop invaders getting in. But our cycling holidays, which often stay in this pretty village, are about getting out into the surrounding hilly countryside. Trails roam peaceful olive groves, ancient villages, vineyards and open fields for a more relaxed take on Garda.

Sirmione

5. Sirmione

Sirmione is a small village that attracts thousands of day-trippers during the summer months. Landmarks include a medieval fortress, reached by drawbridge, Roman grottoes and a thermal spa. Our tours will often visit early or late in the day, when the streets are not as busy as normal.

Sirmione

Stresa

6. Stresa

A picturesque town on Lake Maggiore, where the young Ernest Hemingway stayed at the magnificent Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees to recuperate from his war injuries. The islands, notable for their botanical gardens, are reached by ferry from Stresa. If you have time before your sailing, seek out the famous sugar-dusted pastry known as margheritine di Stresa.