10-day tour of the northern Italian lakes | Maggiore, Como & Garda

Day 1: Departure to Milan

Your holiday begins at the airport, where you will board your flight to Milan. You will pick up your hire car and start your journey (40 or 60 km) to Lake Maggiore, where you will stay in a stately “Grand Hotel” on the western shore or in a modern hotel on the eastern shore. Both hotels are located right on the lake.

Day 2: Pallanza and Stresa or Lake Orta

The historic centre of Pallanza is a maze of old streets with beautiful villas and “palazzi”, and along the beautiful promenade with views of the Borromeo Islands, it is wonderful to stroll past colourful houses and terraces. A little further on is Villa Taranto with its truly magnificent botanical gardens. Continue on to lively Stresa, beloved by bathers as well as artists and writers. Here you can take a cable car to the top of Monte Mottarone. On a clear day, you can see seven lakes from here! If you wish, you can also visit the small Lake Orta. In picturesque Orta San Giulio, take the boat to San Giulio Island with its Romanesque basilica and bishop's palace. Here you will find the largest Benedictine monastery in the world, where the sisters live in silence.

Day 3: The Borromeo Islands

Today you will discover the three islands of the Borromeo family, one of the richest and most famous Italian families of the past. Take the boat to Isola Bella, with the imposing Baroque palace of Carlo Borromeo and its magnificent terraced gardens, where graceful white peacocks stroll around in a fabulous setting. You will also discover the authentic Isola Madre, the mother island, which is almost entirely covered by gardens, and Isola Pescatori, with its fish restaurants.

Day 4: Lake Como

You are expected at Lake Como, the most varied of the great lakes. Here you will stay in one of our Caractère hotels. Be sure to stop in Como, with its lively centre and beautiful “Duomo”, or in the charming Cernobbio.

Day 5 and Day 6: Bellagio and the western shore

Here you can enjoy two days of fantastic scenery. The charming and lively Bellagio has a spectacular location. In the 19th century, Count Francesco Melzi had a villa built here with beautiful gardens, attracting the Milanese nobility to the town. One of the most beautiful places on the lake is Menaggio, with its panoramic walking trail. In Tremezzina (formerly Tremezzo), the 18th-century Villa Carlotta boasts terraced gardens full of rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias and exotic trees.

Day 7: Lake Garda

On the way to Lake Garda, you can visit Bergamo. Numerous monuments from the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the particularly beautiful “Piazza Vecchia” and the “Cappella Coleoni” colour the fascinating old upper town. If you want to discover one of the smaller lakes, you can stop at Lake Iseo, with Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Europe. Here you can stay in a small, romantic hotel, an elegant and historic hotel or a contemporary resort.

Day 8: Gardone Riviera and Monte Baldo

Don't miss Gabriele d'Annunzio's “Il Vittoriale” in Gardone Riviera. The famous poet and writer bought the estate in 1922 and, after his death, left it and all its treasures to the Italian people. The estate includes D'Annunzio's home, an amphitheatre, a museum and the mausoleum where the poet is buried. From Toscolano-Maderno, you can take a ferry to Torri del Benaco and continue by car to Malcesine: a cable car takes you to the top of Monte Baldo and treats you to breathtaking panoramic views. You can also visit Limone sul Garda, one of the most picturesque villages on the lake.

Day 9: Sirmione - Verona

The picturesque spa town of Sirmione is located on a peninsula and built around the “Rocca Scaligera”, a sturdy 13th-century castle. Not to be missed is Verona, one of the richest cities in the country and the romantic city of Romeo and Juliet. The imposing “Arena” stands proudly in the bustling Piazza Brà. This Roman amphitheatre, the best preserved in Italy, hosts the opera festival during the summer months. It is also a delight to stroll past elegant boutiques, small restaurants and charming squares, including the lively “Piazza delle Erbe”.

Day 10: Return home

Your holiday is over. You drive back (± 175 or 200 km) to Venice airport with fond memories, where you return your hire car.

Frequently asked questions about the lakes of Northern Italy

Do I need a hire car for this lake trip?

Yes. You will be driving from lake to lake, which will also take you to smaller lakeside towns such as Menaggio, Tremezzina and Gardone Riviera. Public transport is limited outside the larger cities. With your own car, you can decide where to stop: a viewpoint above Lake Como, a visit to a garden in Pallanza or an extra break in Bergamo.

When is the best time to visit the northern Italian lakes?

May, June and September are ideal. The gardens are in bloom, the temperatures are pleasant and the villages are lively without being overcrowded. July and August are warmer and busier, perfect if you are mainly looking for boat trips and long evenings by the water.

What makes the northern Italian lakes different from other Italian destinations?

Here, the Alps and the Mediterranean atmosphere come together. You can walk among rhododendrons and palm trees with snow-capped peaks in the background. The concentration of historic villas and terraced gardens is exceptional. And where else can you combine a boat trip on the lake with an evening of opera in Verona?