Lake Como in the northwestern Lombardy region and Lake Garda further east, spanning the Veneto, Lombardy, and Trentino-Alto Adige regions, are arguably Italy’s most famous bodies of water.
The two have attracted holidaymakers since Roman times, with organised tourism becoming a key business around both shorelines by the 19th century.
Both remain firm traveller favourites. In 2024, Lake Como saw 4.3 million tourist overnight stays, while Lake Garda recorded 14.7 million on its Veneto shore alone.
So if you’re looking to visit one of these iconic lakes, which is right for you?
Lake Como
A hotspot of high-end hotels, playground for celebrities and lavish film locations, Lake Como is the epitome of Italian glamour. Its shoreline is studded with aristocratic villas and scenic villages, while behind the inverted Y-shaped waters rise the jagged cliffs of the Prealps.
If you want to experience a stay in five-star luxury, Lake Como has you covered. On the western shore of the western ‘leg’ is Passalacqua, named best hotel in the world in 2023 and still in the top five. There are grand dames aplenty, like the 1850s Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni and Art Nouveau-style Grand Hotel Tremezzo.
Its upscale accommodation offerings continue to grow, with The Lake Como EDITION and Mama Shelter Lake Como opening this year.
For fine-dining gourmands, a constellation of Michelin-starred establishments awaits. There’s Al Lago inside the Patricia Urquiola-designed Il Sereno hotel, Kitchen with a tasting menu based on ingredients from its biodynamic garden, and Materia serving full-flavoured Italian-Asian fusion.
As for activities, the town of Bellagio is a hub of high-end boutiques and elegant lakeside cafes for aperitivos, while Varenna is a little quieter, with steep stepped lanes and a waterside promenade.
Horticultural enthusiasts should head to Villa Carlotta and its blooming botanical garden, or the landscaped estate of Villa del Balbianello, lying on a promontory near the village of Lenno and backdrop for the films “Casino Royale” and “Star Wars: Episode II”.
While luxury is Lake Como’s leading vibe, there are other sides to its character, too. Set back a little from the shore are plenty of guesthouses and agriturismi that keep accommodation costs down.
Instead of pricey private boat trips, just hop on the scenic ferry that chugs between towns. And you don’t need a fancy hotel for lake access – there are plenty of free municipal beaches.
Lake Garda
Though Lake Como shouldn’t be ruled out if you’re on a budget, Lake Garda offers much more choice when it comes to an affordable holiday. For accommodation, campsites abound with all kinds of facilities, such as pools, children’s entertainment, beaches, and bike rentals. There are also hostels, B&Bs and hotels for as little as €70 a night.
If you are looking for luxury, there are still options. Where many of Lake Como’s five-star hotels attract guests looking for the limelight, Lake Garda has an increasing number of hideaway resorts centred on wellness and tranquillity.
Lefay Resort & SPA has won multiple awards, including for sustainability, with eco-friendly suites, seven saunas, 21 treatment rooms and a 27-acre park. Cape of Senses, an adult-only resort hidden in the hillside on the eastern shore, has a 2,000m2 wellness centre with saunas, an infinity pool, a spa library and a tea corner.
Lake Garda tends to attract the active traveller, with windsurfing and kitesurfing hotspots in Torbole and Riva del Garda, dozens of sailing schools and rental centres, paragliding off Monte Baldo and hiking, mountain biking and canyoning in the peaks and valleys ringing the water.
Families might find more to do, too, with the vast amusement park Gardaland, several medieval castles such as in the town of Sirmione, and plenty of free beaches.