The Italian Lakes
Glacial lakes at the foot of the Alps in northern Italy, each with its own shape: long and narrow Como, open Garda, and Maggiore reaching into Switzerland.
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The Italian Lakes are a group of glacial lakes at the foot of the Alps in northern Italy. Como, Maggiore and Garda are the best known. Iseo and Orta are smaller and quieter. Each has its own shape. Como is long and narrow, with towns on steep shores. Maggiore runs north into Switzerland, and the Borromean islands lie off Stresa. Garda is the largest of the group and has the most open water.
Most trips here centre on lakeside villas, old towns and ferries linking the shores. Choose your lake first, then your base, since ferry links differ between shores. Milan is the usual gateway, with trains to the lake towns. Plan at least three or four days for one lake, and a week or more for two or three. Spring and early autumn suit walking and boat trips best. Summer is busy and hot, and in winter some boat services run less often.
The Italian Lakes in five
- Pick one lake per tripComo is dramatic and villa-lined, Maggiore has the islands, Garda is the largest and most varied, and Orta and Iseo are smaller and quieter. Moving between them eats a day of travel.Garda vs Como vs Maggiore
- Use ferries, not roadsLake roads are narrow and jammed in summer. Public ferries and hydrofoils link most villages, and they are the best way to see the shore; check each operator's timetable.Lake Como
- Visit in May, June or SeptemberJuly and August bring heat, crowds and the highest hotel rates. Gardens and boats are at their best in late spring, and early autumn keeps the lake warm and the lanes quieter.Best time to visit Italy
- Base by train for Milan day tripsComo, Stresa and Lecco have direct trains to Milan, while Garda and Iseo need bus or boat connections. Match the lake to your arrival airport and your luggage.Milan
- Book garden and villa visits in advanceVillas and gardens have timed tickets and seasonal opening, many from spring to autumn. Check the official pages and hours before you plan a day around one.
Neighborhoods
Where to stay in The Italian Lakes, the full guide
Lake Como
- Best for: Couples, villas, ferry hopping
- To airport: About 40 min by train from Milan to Como
- Price band: $$$
- Ferries between Como, Varenna and Bellagio
- Highest prices in peak season
- Narrow lakeside roads
Skip if you want an affordable, easy-to-drive lake.
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Lake Maggiore
- Best for: Gardens, day trips from Milan
- To airport: About 1 hour by train to Stresa
- Price band: $$
- Boats to Isola Bella and Isola Madre
- Mottarone cable car
- Quieter shore villages
Skip if you want a dramatic mountain shoreline.
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Lake Garda
- Best for: Families, sports, wine
- To airport: Verona airport about 30 min from Sirmione
- Price band: $$
- Sirmione's castle and spas
- Windsurfing and cycling at the north
- Trains to Peschiera and Desenzano
Skip if you want a small, intimate lake.
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Milan
Milan is Italy's second-largest city and a center of fashion, industrial design and opera. Go for the Duomo, Leonardo's The Last Supper and the shopping streets.
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Things to do in The Italian Lakes
See all attractions in The Italian Lakes
Need to know
- Airport
- Milan Malpensa (MXP), Linate (LIN), Bergamo (BGY) or Verona (VRN)
- Getting there
- Train from Milan: Como 40 min, Stresa about 1 hour; Garda via Peschiera
- Getting around
- Public ferries, local buses and trains
- Best base
- Como or Bellagio on Como; Stresa on Maggiore; Sirmione on Garda
- Time needed
- 3 to 4 days for one lake; a week for two
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low1°Cold, quietJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh10°Low3°Cold, quietFebruaryPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 78 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, quiet
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low5°Early springMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 123 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Early spring
- AprilRain12 rainy daysHigh16°Low8°Gardens openAprilRain
Good
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 8°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Gardens open
- MayRain18 rainy daysHigh20°Low12°Warm, greenMayRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 12°
- Precipitation
- 216 mm
- Rainy days
- 18
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, green
- JuneRain16 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low17°Warm, long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 190 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Warm, long days
- JulyRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low19°Hot, crowdedJulyRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 177 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, crowded
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh27°Low19°Hot, FerragostoAugustRain
Best
- High
- 27°
- Low
- 19°
- Precipitation
- 188 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Ferragosto
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh22°Low15°Warm, calmSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 22°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 156 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, calm
- OctoberRain11 rainy daysHigh17°Low11°Autumn colorOctoberRain
Good
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 208 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn color
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh11°Low6°Rain, closedNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 6°
- Precipitation
- 149 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Rain, closed
- DecemberClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low2°Cold, lightsDecemberClear
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, lights
Average daily high and low in Como, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in The Italian Lakes
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
7
- Feels like
- 6°
- Humidity
- 54%
- Wind
- 6 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 10%
The Italian Lakes
06:33 AM
Tuesday, November 3
- Today13°6°10%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Wed12°8°20%Wednesday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 20%.
- Thu12°8°13%Thursday: Cloudy. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 13%.
- Fri10°7°37%Friday: Rain. High 10°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 37%.
- Sat11°7°41%Saturday: Cloudy. High 11°, Low 7°. Chance of rain 41%.
- Sun12°8°31%Sunday: Rain. High 12°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 31%.
Updated 03:11 AM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Before you go to The Italian Lakes
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Rules for The Italian Lakes, checked
- Non-EU visitors can usually stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check the entry rules on the Italian visa site before you book.Source
- Dial 112 for police, fire or an ambulance anywhere in Italy.
- Cover shoulders and knees before entering churches, including the cathedral in Como.
- Some old town centres have limited traffic zones (ZTL). Entering without a permit brings a fine, so check each town's rules before you drive in.
Plan around The Italian Lakes
Villas, Bellagio and the Como ferries
Read the guideLake MaggioreThe Borromean Islands and Stresa
Read the guideTrentino & South TyrolAlpine provinces north of Lake Garda
Read the guideSirmioneA castle peninsula on Lake Garda
Read the guideStresaGateway to the Borromean Islands
Read the guideAll of ItalyRegions, rail, entry rules and money
Read the guideThe Italian Lakes FAQ
Which Italian lake is best?
Como for scenery and villas, Maggiore for the islands and an easy train from Milan, Garda for variety and families. Orta and Iseo are the quiet choices. Pick one lake and give it three or four days.
Can you visit the Italian Lakes without a car?
Yes. Trains reach Como and Stresa, and public ferries and buses link most villages. A car helps only for remote villages and mountain roads, and parking is tight.
How many days do you need at the Italian Lakes?
Three or four days for one lake, a week for two. Do not try to see Como, Maggiore and Garda in a long weekend.
What is the best month to visit the Italian Lakes?
May, June and September for mild weather, open gardens and fewer crowds. July and August are hot and busy, and many places close between November and March.
Is Lake Como or Lake Garda better?
Como is more dramatic and romantic, Garda is bigger with more variety and family beaches. If you want villas and ferries, choose Como; if you want activities, choose Garda.