Lake towns
On a lake shore, and mostly not the two lakes you are thinking of.
21 lists
Alternatives to Bellagio: every lake town in Italy that is not on the Como ferry timetableAll the lake towns in our catalogue as an alternative to Bellagio and Varenna: Orta, Iseo, Trasimeno, Bolsena, Maggiore and the quiet ends of Como and Garda.
Every lake town in our catalogue, from Maggiore to BolsenaThe complete list of Italian lake towns in our catalogue: Como, Garda, Maggiore, Orta, Iseo, Trasimeno, Bolsena, Bracciano and the small ones, ordered by outside recognition.
The best lake towns within 75 minutes of TrentoTrentino and the northern reaches of Lake Garda put deep green water, lemon houses and Monte Baldo within an easy drive of Trento, from the Dolomite pool at Molveno to the olive terraces above Bardolino.
The best lake towns within two hours of BolzanoLake water within reach of Bolzano runs from small Dolomite basins ringed by spruce down to the olive terraces and lemon houses of northern Garda, with trout, lake sardines and Bardolino red on the tables. These are the towns on the water where fewer people go.
The best lake towns within 90 minutes of PaduaThe southern and eastern shores of Lake Garda lie within easy reach of Padua, a run of olive terraces, moraine hills and lakefront towns built from pale stone, where the wine is light and red and the water stays warm into September.
The best lake towns within two hours of ParmaNorth of Parma the Po plain gives out at the lakes, and Garda and Iseo begin: olive terraces, lakefront promenades under plane trees, lake trout and bigoli on the menu, and towns built from pale stone that hold their warmth into the evening.
The best small towns on Lake Garda's eastern shoreLake Garda's Veneto side runs from the Mincio outlet to the Trentino border, and most visitors see two towns on it. These are the smaller ones along the same shore, with the castles, the olive groves and the ferry stops.
The best lake towns in the province of BresciaBrescia holds shoreline on both Lake Garda and Lake Iseo, from lemon-house terraces and olive groves to a wooded island with no cars. A guide to the lake towns on the province's western and southern shores.
The best lake towns in the province of Verbano-Cusio-OssolaLake towns on the Piedmontese shore of Maggiore, plus Orta and Mergozzo, where granite quarries, camellia gardens and lake-fish kitchens sit within a short drive of the Ossola valleys.
The 7 best lake towns in LazioLazio's lakes fill old volcanic craters north and south of Rome, ringed by dark tuff villages, fish restaurants and chestnut woods. Anguillara Sabazia, Bolsena, Bracciano, Capodimonte, Castel Gandolfo, Nemi and Trevignano Romano all sit directly on the water.
The best hidden lake towns you can reach by train in LombardiaLombardia's lakes are stitched together by regional railways, so the shore is reachable on a ticket rather than a hire car. Along Como, Iseo, Maggiore and Ceresio, smaller stations open onto stone waterfronts, ferry piers, lake perch with rice, and hills of olive and chestnut behind.
The best small lake towns that eat well in LombardiaOn Como and Garda, small lakeside towns where the kitchens are taken seriously: lake perch with butter and sage, missoltini dried in the sun, olive oil pressed on the Brescian shore, and dining rooms a guide has bothered to name.
The best small lake towns you can reach by train in LombardiaLake towns in Lombardia where the railway runs along the shore, from the orrido at Bellano to the ferry pier at Monte Isola, with lake perch, olive oil from Sebino and stone waterfronts reachable without a car.
The best lake towns that eat well within 90 minutes of VeronaOn the Verona side of Lake Garda, olive groves run down to the water, the lake gives up perch and lavarello, and the wine lists are mostly local: Bardolino red, Lugana white, Custoza from the moraine hills. These shore towns all keep a table a dining guide has singled out.
The best lake towns that eat well within 90 minutes of NovaraWest of Milan, the lakes above Novara serve pike from Maggiore, whitefish from Orta and risotto made with rice grown on the plain below, at tables a dining guide has picked out along the shore.
The best lake towns within two hours of RomeVolcanic crater lakes ring Rome to the north and south, their shores lined with dark tufa houses, fish restaurants and swimming jetties. Lake Bracciano, Lake Bolsena, Lake Vico and the Alban lakes are all close enough for a day out of the city and better for a slow weekend.
The best lake towns within two hours of BolognaWithin a couple of hours of Bologna, the southern shore of Lake Garda opens out into olive groves, lemon-scented gardens and towns built from pale limestone, with Bardolino wine, lake perch and morning ferries across the water.
The best lake towns within two hours of VeniceLake Garda sits an easy drive west of Venice, with olive groves on the eastern shore, lemon-scented gardens, lake trout on the menu and pale Bardolino wine from the moraine hills behind the water. These are the towns on and above that shoreline, from harbour villages to the ridge of Monte Baldo.
The best lake towns within two hours of TurinNorth and east of Turin, the Piedmontese lakes sit under the first Alpine foothills: Maggiore, Orta and Mergozzo, with granite quays, camellia gardens, lake perch served with risotto and ferries running most of the year. These are the towns on the water, reachable in a morning's drive from the city.
10 lake towns near MilanTen lake comuni within 90 minutes of Milan, ranging across Como, Maggiore, Iseo and the smaller Lombard lakes. Drive times, what each town does well, and the quieter alternatives to the obvious choices.
10 Lake Garda towns near VeronaTen Lake Garda comuni within 90 minutes of Verona: Bardolino, Sirmione, Lazise, Garda, Malcesine, Riva del Garda, Salò. Drive times, what each town does best, and the lake fish and wines that anchor the local cooking.