These Italian Lakes Are Just As Beautiful As Lake Como — Without All the Crowds

Italy’s lakes are known for their fantastic scenery and quaint villages. And while Lake Como often gets all the attention, there’s much more to see. Lake Orta in Piedmont, Lake Iseo in Lombardy, and Lake Trasimeno in Umbria all offer a quieter, less crowded respite where you can lose yourself in nature, swim in clean waters, and indulge in local delicacies.

A 10-day journey to these destinations will provide you with an array of experiences, landscapes, and culinary delights. Time-honored villages in the Italian countryside, islands with pristine waters surrounded by lush mountains and charming hamlets, nature trails and picnics at an abandoned abbey — these are off-the-beaten-path activities to experience at the lesser-known lakes of Italy.

Lake Orta

After an approximately one-hour drive from Milan’s Malpensa Airport, you’ll arrive in the charming town of Orta San Giulio, located on a tiny, picturesque peninsula jutting into Lake Orta. Nestled in the foothills of the Alps, in the northwestern corner of Piedmont, Orta is the little sibling to the larger lakes of the east, and it’s also one of the cleanest lakes in all of Europe.

While in this area, a visit to the island of San Giulio is a must to explore the Basilica of San Giulio, which dates back to the Roman era. For hotels, the Villa Crespi, a Relais & Châteaux propeerty, is the place to stay, with a three-Michelin-star restaurant helmed by world-renowned chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo. Be sure to stop in the various restaurants in the area for food and drinks made with ingredients grown and caught in the surrounding landscape. I recommend indulging in a meal of local freshwater fish, agnolotti in butter and sage, and a cheese platter of Murazzano and Robiola di Roccaverano, followed by a glass of Boca DOC red wine made from nebbiolo, a popular grape variety in Italy. 

Lake Iseo

Moving east, the next stop is Lake Iseo, made famous by Christo in 2016 with his floating piers that led to the islands of Monte Isola and San Paolo. Once on the lake, you can paddle across or hire a fisherman to take you around the surprisingly well-populated Monte Isola — the largest lake island in southern Europe. 

From Iseo, travel inland to explore the Franciacorta wine region. The deep reds here pair beautifully with the mouthwatering fresh fish delicacy of baked tench, as well as casoncelli, a ravioli-like pasta stuffed with meat, pumpkin, or cheese. Be sure to also try the Monte Isola salami, a distinct cured meat that embraces the island’s rich culinary heritage. All of these can be sampled at LeoneFelice Vista Lago located in L’Albereta, another Relais & Châteaux hotel on the shores of the lake.

Lake Trasimeno

Traveling south, you’ll pass through Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany to the commune of Passignano sul Trasimeno in Umbria. Here, the terrain changes dramatically — Lake Trasimeno has a more traditional setting among fishing villages and bungalows.

A combination of Umbrian charm and island sensibility awaits as you discover Isola Maggiore and the two other islands by sailboat that you can rent at one of the nearby yacht clubs. Family-owned Castello di Reschio is a great place to stay. Or, spend the night in nearby Perugia at Sina Brufani. Here, Lake Trasimeno surrounds the many concentrated hilltop towns that occupy a relatively small tract of land. There’s an amazing diversity of native fish native to try, including Regina carp, eel, tench, and pike. Finish off your meal with torciglione, a fried pastry dusted with powdered sugar and locally grown honey. And when it’s time for you to depart, your journey from Lake Trasimeno to Rome’s Fiumicino Airport is only about two hours away. 

Gary Portuesi is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List and specializes in Italy trips. You can create a tailor-made itinerary with Portuesi by contacting him at gary@authentic-explorations.com.