The best Italian lakes for swimming, hiking and camping
JuliaUpdated at: 10/06/2026
Reading time: 7 minutes
Close your eyes and picture Italy and chances are the Mediterranean comes to mind first. But look a little further north and inland and you'll find another side of the country: clear mountain lakes, waterfront campsites and plenty of opportunities for swimming and hiking. For our Italian lakes holiday, we travelled by motorhome from the cool mountain lakes of northern Italy to warmer waters surrounded by green hills. Our route combines some of the best lakes in Italy with quieter alternatives to the country's most famous destinations – and shows just how easy it is to explore them by motorhome.
Map: our road trip to some of the best Italian lakes
Our route takes us through northern Italy and across the border into Switzerland, visiting Lake Resia and Lake Haider, Lake Maggiore, Lake Orta and the lake at the Great St Bernard Pass.
If you're planning a longer road trip combining the Italian lakes and Dolomites, you could easily add this route to a wider tour of northern Italy.
1. Lake Resia and Lake Haider: two mountain lakes worth the cold
Our journey begins at Lake Resia – or Reschensee – one of the most distinctive northern Italy lakes.
Its most famous landmark is impossible to miss: the church tower of the former village of Curon rising straight out of the water. The original village was submerged following the construction of a dam and the creation of the reservoir in 1950, leaving the 14th-century bell tower behind.
Today, Lake Resia is a popular place for kitesurfing, sailing and windsurfing. You can also go swimming, but don't expect Mediterranean temperatures: at around 1,500 metres above sea level, the water stays decidedly refreshing even in summer.
Nearby Lake Haider (Haidersee or Lago della Muta) is at least as beautiful but feels quieter. Surrounded by mountains, it's a lovely place for walking and hiking rather than spending the whole day in the water.
One of our favourite trips is up to the Haideralm mountain hut. You can walk up or use the cable car and stop at the restaurant for something to eat while enjoying the views over the valley.
2. Lake Maggiore: Mediterranean atmosphere beneath the Alps
After the cool mountain air around Lake Resia, we head towards one of the famous Italian lakes: Lake Maggiore.
The lake stretches across Italy and Switzerland, so technically this stop takes us across the border. We stay on the Swiss shore in Ticino, an Italian-speaking canton where the combination of mountains, palm trees and waterfront towns creates an almost Mediterranean atmosphere.
When we arrive in Locarno, temperatures are close to 38°C – so there's only one thing on our minds: getting into the water.
There are several beaches and swimming areas around the Swiss shore, while the Italian side offers plenty more places to swim. If you're looking specifically for swimming lakes in Italy, Lake Maggiore is a great choice for a summer road trip. The eastern shore generally feels quieter than some of the busier towns on the western side.
If it's too hot down by the lake, there's an easy solution: head into the mountains. From Locarno, cable cars take you up towards Cardada and Cimetta, where the temperatures are cooler and the views stretch out across Lake Maggiore and the surrounding Alps.
On a clear day, you can even see both the highest and lowest points in Switzerland: the Dufourspitze in the Monte Rosa massif and Lake Maggiore itself.
3. Lake Orta: a quieter alternative to Italy's famous lakes
Next up is Lake Orta, just west of the much larger Lake Maggiore.
Compared with famous lakes in Italy such as Garda, Como and Maggiore, Lake Orta still feels surprisingly peaceful. Gentle green hills surround the water, there are plenty of places to swim and the atmosphere encourages you to stay a little longer than planned.
It's exactly the kind of place that makes travelling by motorhome worthwhile.
During the height of summer, it can be too hot for longer hikes around the lake. Fortunately, the mountains aren't far away. Places such as Macugnaga, Valle Antigorio and Centovalli can all be reached on a day trip, giving you an easy escape to cooler temperatures.
Don't miss Orta San Giulio either. The historic village on the eastern shore is one of the prettiest places around the lake, with narrow streets leading down towards the waterfront and views across to tiny Isola San Giulio.
For us, that combination makes Lake Orta one of the best Italian lakes for a relaxed campervan stop: you can park up, leave the motorhome where it is and spend most of the day by the water.
4. Great St Bernard Lake: the most dramatic lake on our route?
Our final stop takes us high into the Alps to the Great St Bernard Pass, connecting Switzerland's Valais with Italy's Aosta Valley.
At roughly 2,470 metres above sea level, the landscape couldn't be more different from Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta. Here you'll find a small mountain lake surrounded by rugged peaks, hiking trails and the historic Great St Bernard Hospice.
There's an important distinction, though: Great St Bernard Lake isn't entirely an Italian lake. It sits directly on the border between Switzerland and Italy, so we'd describe it more accurately as one of the most memorable alpine stops on this road trip, rather than one of Italy's lakes in the strictest sense.
The winding mountain road up to the pass is open to motorhomes, but it's much more comfortable in a smaller campervan or panel van. If you'd rather avoid the mountain road, the Great St Bernard Tunnel provides an alternative route.
The next morning, visit the historic hospice before setting off on one of the area's hiking trails. There are options ranging from an easy walk around the lake to much more demanding alpine routes.
For the latter, you'll need suitable equipment, good fitness and experience in mountain terrain.
What about Lake Garda and Lake Como?
No list of the best lakes in Italy would feel complete without at least mentioning Lake Garda and Lake Como. They aren't part of this particular road trip, but both are easy to incorporate into a longer northern Italy itinerary.
Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake and one of its most popular holiday destinations, combining historic towns such as Sirmione with beaches, mountains and water sports.
Lake Como is perhaps the most internationally famous of the northern Italy lakes, known for its dramatic mountain scenery, elegant villas and waterfront towns. It's also a great destination for an active holiday, with sailing, kayaking, SUP, windsurfing and kitesurfing available around the lake.
If you have more time, Lake Garda and Lake Como can easily be combined with the quieter lakes on our route. And if mountains are your priority, continue east towards the Dolomites for an even bigger northern Italy road trip.
Are the Italian lakes good for swimming?
Absolutely – although it depends which lake you choose.
Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta are our favourites on this route if swimming is a priority. Both have plenty of places where you can cool off during the warmer months.
The high-altitude lakes are a different story. You can swim in Lake Resia, but the water can be very cold even during summer. Lake Haider is better suited to walking and enjoying the mountain scenery.
That's part of the appeal of touring several swimming lakes in Italy by motorhome: if one place is too cold, too hot or too busy, you can simply move on to the next.
Always check local signs before entering the water, particularly at alpine lakes, where temperatures, currents and water levels can vary.
Why the Italian lakes are perfect for a motorhome holiday
After plenty of swimming, hiking and mountain views, it's time for us to head home. And our verdict is pretty simple: Italian lakes holidays and motorhomes are a brilliant combination.
Many lakes have campsites or motorhome stops close to the water, so you can wake up in the mountains and be swimming before breakfast. Just as importantly, travelling by motorhome gives you flexibility.
When Lake Maggiore became too hot for us, we simply drove back towards the mountains. That's one of the things we loved most about this trip: rather than planning your entire holiday around the weather, you can follow the conditions that suit you.
You don't necessarily need to tick off all the famous Italian lakes, either. Lake Garda and Lake Como are beautiful, but smaller places such as Lake Orta show that some of the best Italian lakes are the ones you might not have considered before.
So whether you're planning a dedicated Italian lakes holiday, searching for the best swimming lakes in Italy, or combining the Italian lakes and Dolomites on a longer road trip, travelling by motorhome gives you the freedom to see northern Italy at your own pace.
Do you have any feedback on the article, questions about booking a motorhome, or are you looking for tips? Then feel free to write to us here. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
