Italian Lakes - the Lake District on Steroids

First Stop: Bergamo’s Secret Charms

We started our trip with a flight into Bergamo and spent two nights in this brilliant little city. It is so often overshadowed by Milan, but honestly, it completely won us over.

The real magic is up in the old town, the Città Alta. You rattle up on the funicular and suddenly you are in a different world: narrow cobbled streets, stone buildings full of character, little shops and cafes tucked into old archways. It has that proper Italian lived-in feel rather than a polished tourist veneer.

One evening we wandered into one of the squares and stumbled across an impromptu opera performance. No big stage, just a singer and a few musicians, the sound bouncing off the old stone buildings while everyone gathered quietly around. One of those pinch-me holiday moments that you could never have planned.

Lake Maggiore: Weddings, Waters and Aperol

From Bergamo we picked up our little Fiat 600, which felt like the perfect car for zipping around Italian roads, and drove to Maccagno on Lake Maggiore, our base for the next few days.

Our room overlooked the lake, and waking up to that view every morning was just gorgeous: still water, mountains rising in the distance, boats drifting past. The main reason for choosing Maccagno was its proximity to Villa Porta Colmegna, where we were celebrating our friends’ wedding.

What a location. The villa sits right on the lake, surrounded by gardens and dramatic scenery. Watching two friends get married with Lake Maggiore as the backdrop felt like something straight out of a film: glasses clinking, late-afternoon light on the water, and that warm Italian evening air that makes everything feel softer and slower.

While we were staying in Maccagno, we took the ferry over to Cannobio, which we absolutely loved. It is such a colourful town, with pastel facades lining the waterfront and a real buzz along the promenade. We spent a happy afternoon sitting in one of the restaurants by the water, drinking Aperol spritzes and working our way through the complimentary antipasti: olives, crisps, little bites that just keep appearing as you linger over your drinks. Simple, but honestly some of the best holiday moments.

Skipping the Long Way Round: A Taste of Lake Como

After Maggiore, we hit the road again and headed towards Lake Como. Rather than driving all the way around the lake, we took a car ferry across, which added a fun twist to the journey and saved a lot of time (and hairpin bends).

There is something very satisfying about driving your little Fiat straight onto a boat, hopping out, and watching the scenery slide by while your car gets a rest. We did not linger too long at Como on this trip, as we were making our way to our final base, but it gave us a lovely taste of the lake and those famous views.

Countryside Calm Near Lake Iseo

Our last three nights were spent near Lake Iseo, staying at Colletto Agribio Relais in the countryside. This part of the trip was all about peace and quiet.

Colletto felt wonderfully tucked away: rolling hills, greenery, and that gentle countryside stillness that forces you to slow down. From there we drove down to the lake during the day. Lake Iseo feels more low-key than some of the better-known lakes, but that was part of the charm.

Monte Isola: Island Life In The Middle Of The Lake

One of the highlights was taking the ferry over to Monte Isola, the island in the middle of Lake Iseo.

Monte Isola is fascinating. It is one of the largest lake islands in Europe and has a population of around 2,000 people. It is completely car free, which adds to the old-world feel, but definitely not scooter free, so you have to watch your step as locals whizz past.

We walked all the way around the island, which is a brilliant way to really get a feel for it: little villages with washing hanging out to dry, tiny chapels, lake views shifting around every corner. It feels both timeless and very lived-in, like people are quietly getting on with their everyday lives in the most beautiful setting.

Swimming in Lake Iseo to cool off afterwards was so tranquil. The water felt incredibly calm and cleansing after a hot day of exploring.

Lake Endine: A Hidden Gem With The Locals

We rounded off the trip with a day at Lake Endine, another little gem. It is smaller and more intimate, and on the day we visited it felt like a real locals’ spot: families sunbathing, kids splashing in the shallows, people chatting on the grass by the water.

We spent the day sunbathing and swimming, and I am fairly sure we did not spot another English person all day. It felt like we had stumbled onto a secret lake that the rest of the world had not quite discovered yet.

Spritzes, Simple Pleasures And Big Scenery

Looking back, the Italian Lakes really did feel like the Lake District on steroids: familiar in some ways, with mountains and water and great walks, but cranked up with Italian colour, food, and that easy, laidback lifestyle.

From opera in a Bergamo square to weddings on Lake Maggiore, colourful Cannobio, quiet island walks on Monte Isola and lake swims with the locals at Endine, it was one of those holidays that manages to be both exciting and deeply restful.

If the idea of lakes, mountains, spritzes and a good dose of Italian charm sounds like your sort of escape, the Italian Lakes might just be your next favourite corner of Europe.