The best Italian Lakes and where to stay when there
An insider's guide to the top hotels on the Italian Lakes, including Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo and Lake Orta.
Lake Como
Hemmed in by mountains, stylish Lake Como attracts its share of celebrities and tourists although its lakefront villages still manage to retain a traditional feel. Its shores are lined with grand Neo-classical villas backed by impressive gardens, a number of which are open to the public. Bellagio, a wonderfully picturesque town fringed by cypresses, is one of the major draws, as is pretty Varenna, with its narrow winding streets nestled on a rock face. With smart hotels aplenty, Lake Como is the place to see and be seen.
Where to stay
Grand Hotel Tremezzo
Lake Como, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Elegant, stylish and fashionable, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo stands majestically on the western shore, offering sophisticated interiors combining strong colours and classical details. Sun yourself by the floating pool, sip cocktails on the terrace or zip along the lake in one of the hotel’s chic water limousines. Read expert review From ￡474 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Il Sereno
Lake Como, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
Il Sereno provides a breath of fresh air from Lake Como’s classically styled five-star hotels, with interiors made of wood, stone and plenty of glass, allowing for wonderful vistas. Sit back poolside with a cocktail in hand, unwind at the spa or tuck into creative dishes at the Michelin-starred restaurant. Read expert review From ￡696 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Lake Garda
Lake Garda’s sheer size – it is Italy’s largest lake – makes it exceptionally diverse. The southern shore is characterised by gentle hills, while to the north steep cliffs fringe the waters. It is a haven for outdoor enthusiasts, offering a plethora of sports including windsurfing, canyoning and mountain biking. There’s plenty of culture too – the Vittoriale degli Italiani provides a fascinating glimpse into the life of one of Italy’s greatest poets, while the 13th-century Castello Scaligero is where Goethe was briefly imprisoned in 1786.
Where to stay
Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli
Lake Garda, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
This exclusive villa is set in impeccably kept grounds and offers outstanding service and Michelin-starred cuisine to match. The rooms are elegant and cosy with the living areas seemingly melting into one, and meals are served anywhere on the property. A stay feels like a visit to a friend's elegant country home. Read expert review From ￡957 per night
Lefay Resort & Spa
Gargnano, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Lefay Resort has been carved into the mountainside in a spectacular location above Lake Garda. It has won scores of awards for its outstanding spa that offers a plethora of wellness experiences. Here, you'll find everything from traditional treatments to wellness programmes that focus on ameliorating sleep and posture. Read expert review From ￡249 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Lake Iseo
Pretty Lake Iseo is a quiet place offering excellent trekking and mountain biking opportunities. Its lake island, Monte Isola, is Europe’s largest, sprinkled with picturesque fishing villages and best explored on two wheels. The Via Valeriana, once an ancient trading route, is a popular hiking route that snakes through olive groves and vineyards, while the village of Zone is home to impressive rocky pyramids topped by granite boulders. Franciacorta, a hilly region to the southeast, produces the country’s finest sparkling wine.
Where to stay
Casa Visnenza B&B
Lake Iseo, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
This welcoming b&b is set in a former silk mill in a peaceful location north of Lake Iseo in Val Camonica. Interiors have rustic wooden fittings, stone walls and period furniture, and breakfast consists of local specialities including spongada, a spongy sugarcoated cake. Read expert review From ￡68 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
L'Albereta
Erbusco, Lake Iseo, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
Nestled in the vineyards of Franciacorta, this attractive hotel is housed in a 19th-century residence. The property’s main draw is the state-of-the-art health and medical spa offering detox and wellness programmes, and there are pretty views of the surrounding countryside from VistaLago Bistro. Read expert review From ￡265 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Lake Maggiore
Once a popular resort for European nobility, Lake Maggiore is today a peaceful spot with a smattering of sights, along with walking and mountain biking routes. Stresa and Pallanza look out onto the Golfo Borromeo, home to the beautiful Isole Borromee. Isola Bella is the highlight, with a Baroque palazzo and terraced gardens commanding impressive views. The northern part of the lake is more sedate, with tranquil lakeside villages such as Cannero and Cannobio.
Where to stay
Villa & Palazzo Aminta Hotel Beauty & Spa
Stresa, Lake Maggiore, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
This is one of Lake Maggiore’s most sumptuous hotels, with opulent interiors featuring marble columns, stuccos and glittering Murano chandeliers alongside a melange of objects d’art that the owning Zanetta family have collected over the years. Large windows provide wonderful panoramic views of the lake islands. Read expert review From ￡142 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Hotel Verbano
Lake Maggiore, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
This family-run hotel offers 12 rooms in a peaceful location on Isola Superiore. Its restaurant is one of the best on Lake Maggiore, with excellent Piedmontese dishes prepared with local ingredients served on a romantic lakefront terrace dripping with wisteria. Read expert review From ￡94 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Lake Orta
Lying entirely in Piedmont, small Lake Orta is little known although it is undoubtedly one of the most captivating of the lakes. The medieval village of Orta San Giulia is gorgeous, with narrow cobbled streets and a picturesque piazza overlooking the marina. Lying just offshore, Isola San Giulio is another draw, home to a monastery housing a community of nuns. Lake Orta’s small size and tranquil atmosphere make it ideal for a romantic weekend away.
Where to stay
Villa Crespi
Orta San Giulio, Lake Orta, Italy
9Telegraph expert rating
As you cross the threshold of this extraordinary Moorish palace you'll feel as if you've stepped into Aladdin's cave: glittering chandeliers, intricate arabesques, and marble columns are all around. It's renowned for its outstanding two-Michelin-starred restaurant run by celebrity chef Cannavacciuolo. Read expert review From ￡258 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com
Al Dom
Orta San Giulio, Lake Orta, Italy
8Telegraph expert rating
This lovely b&b located in an 18th-century building in the heart of Orta San Giulio has four breezy rooms, all with balconies offering lake views. There's a tranquil lakefront garden and terrace with sun loungers, and direct access to the water which is ideal for a refreshing swim in the lake. Read expert review From ￡139 per night Check availability Rates provided by Booking.com