Lake Iseo
A quiet Lombard lake where you take a ferry to Monte Isola, then taste Franciacorta sparkling wine in the hills south of the shore.
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Lake Iseo lies in Lombardy, between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia. It is smaller than Lake Como and Lake Garda. The lake's best-known feature is Monte Isola, one of the largest lake islands in Europe. Ferries run from the shore to the island, where footpaths lead between its villages.
The other draw is wine and food. The Franciacorta hills lie south of the lake and produce sparkling wine under the Franciacorta name, and many cellars offer tastings. Iseo, the town at the lake's southern end, is the easiest base, with train links from Brescia. Its old town and lakeside piazza are a short walk from the ferry pier. Two nights give time for the island, the town and one day in the wine hills. Late spring and early autumn are a good time for walks and boat trips.
Lake Iseo in five
- Take the ferry to Monte Isola and leave the carFerries cross from Iseo and Sulzano to the island's villages. Visitor cars are restricted on the island, so check the island's official page, and plan to walk or use the local bus.
- Come by train from BresciaThe Brescia to Iseo line takes about 25–30 minutes, and Iseo has the main boat landing. From Bergamo, plan a bus or a drive.
- Book Franciacorta cellars aheadThe sparkling wine hills lie just south of the lake. Many wineries take visitors by appointment, so book tastings before you arrive and arrange a driver.
- Stay in Lovere or Sarnico for a quieter nightLovere on the north-east shore is a stone-built town with a harbor, and Sarnico sits at the southern outlet. Both are calmer than Iseo town in summer.
- Use Bergamo's airport, but expect a driveBergamo Orio al Serio is about an hour by car from the lake. Public transport takes longer, so a rental car or transfer saves time.Bergamo
Need to know
- Airport
- Bergamo (BGY), about 1 hour by car; Milan airports 1.5–2 hours
- Getting there
- Train Brescia–Iseo about 25–30 min; drive from Bergamo
- Getting around
- Ferries, local buses and a car; Monte Isola on foot or bus
- Best base
- Iseo town for trains, Monte Isola for a night, Lovere for quiet
- Time needed
- 1–3 days
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Snowy days
- Days with storms
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- JanuaryClear7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh7°Low0°Quiet, coldJanuaryClear
Mixed
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 0°
- Precipitation
- 54 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cold
- FebruaryPartly cloudy8 rainy daysHigh10°Low2°Quiet, coldFebruaryPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 2°
- Precipitation
- 70 mm
- Rainy days
- 8
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cold
- MarchPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low3°Spring startsMarchPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 3°
- Precipitation
- 95 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring starts
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh17°Low7°Spring, showersAprilPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 17°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 112 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, showers
- MayRain19 rainy daysHigh20°Low11°Hiking, warmMayRain
Good
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 194 mm
- Rainy days
- 19
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hiking, warm
- JuneRain15 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh26°Low16°Swim, busyJuneRain
Best
- High
- 26°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Swim, busy
- JulyRain14 rainy days1 day with stormsHigh28°Low17°Hot, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 17°
- Precipitation
- 176 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 1
Hot, busy
- AugustRain13 rainy daysHigh28°Low18°Hot, FerragostoAugustRain
Best
- High
- 28°
- Low
- 18°
- Precipitation
- 161 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Hot, Ferragosto
- SeptemberRain11 rainy daysHigh23°Low14°Warm, quietSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 23°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 163 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, quiet
- OctoberPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh18°Low10°Autumn, quietOctoberPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 18°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 145 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Autumn, quiet
- NovemberPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh12°Low5°Fog, closuresNovemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 12°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 121 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Fog, closures
- DecemberPartly cloudy7 rainy days1 snowy dayHigh8°Low1°Quiet, coldDecemberPartly cloudy
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 1°
- Precipitation
- 74 mm
- Rainy days
- 7
- Snowy days
- 1
- Days with storms
- 0
Quiet, cold
Average daily high and low in Iseo, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Lake Iseo
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
12
- Feels like
- 10°
- Humidity
- 75%
- Wind
- 5 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 0%
Lake Iseo
10:21 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today16°8°0%Monday: Partly cloudy. High 16°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Tue14°10°35%Tuesday: Cloudy. High 14°, Low 10°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Wed13°11°45%Wednesday: Rain. High 13°, Low 11°. Chance of rain 45%.
- Thu13°9°8%Thursday: Cloudy. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 8%.
- Fri12°9°34%Friday: Rain. High 12°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 34%.
- Sat11°9°35%Saturday: Rain. High 11°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 35%.
- Sun13°8°32%Sunday: Rain. High 13°, Low 8°. Chance of rain 32%.
Updated 06:40 PM local time · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Every year
- Jun–SepArena di Verona FestivalVerona, a day trip
- SepFestivaletteraturaMantua, a day trip
Before you go to Lake Iseo
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Lake Iseo, checked
- Non-EU visitors may stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period across the Schengen area. Check your 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 around the lake, including the parish churches in Iseo and on Monte Isola.
- Check the bill for a coperto (cover charge) or service charge before you tip. Rounding up or leaving a few euros is common.
Plan around Lake Iseo
Lombardy's lakes and cities in an Italy route
Read the guideBergamoUpper town and the airport city, an hour away
Read the guideBresciaRoman ruins and the train gateway to Iseo
Read the guideLake GardaThe bigger lake to the east, about 1 hour away
Read the guideLake ComoThe famous lake to the west
Read the guideItaly by train, off-peakFrecciarossa, Italo and regional trains compared
Read the guideLake Iseo FAQ
Is Lake Iseo worth visiting?
Yes, for a quiet lake with a car-light island and fewer crowds than Garda or Como. It has less glamour and fewer big sights, so it suits slow trips rather than a checklist.
How do you get to Monte Isola?
By ferry from Iseo or Sulzano to the island's villages, about 10–20 minutes. Check the operator's timetable, since sailings change by season.
Where should you stay at Lake Iseo?
Iseo town for trains and boats, Monte Isola for a quiet night, Lovere for old stone streets and Sarnico for the southern end. Without a car, choose Iseo or the island.
How many days do you need at Lake Iseo?
One day covers Monte Isola and Iseo town. Two or three days lets you add Lovere, Franciacorta tastings and a day in Bergamo or Brescia.
Is Lake Iseo better than Lake Garda?
It is calmer and cheaper, but it has fewer ferries, fewer beaches and no big attractions. Choose Iseo for quiet and Garda for variety, theme parks and a bigger choice of hotels.