Curiosity Escapes
Menu
  • Home
  • About me
    • Where I’ve been
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Hong-Kong
      • India
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • France
      • Italy
      • Portugal
      • Spain
  • Escapes
    • Cultural / City Breaks
    • Nature Escapes
    • Villages & Old buildings
    • Roadtrip
    • Adventure Escapes
  • Travel Thoughts
  • Contact
  • enEnglish
    • frFrançais
Curiosity Escapes
  • Home
  • About me
    • Where I’ve been
  • Destinations
    • Asia
      • Hong-Kong
      • India
    • Europe
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Denmark
      • Estonia
      • France
        • South-East
        • South-West
      • Italy
        • Liguria
        • Lombardy
        • Tuscany
      • Portugal
      • Spain
  • Escapes
    • Cultural / City Breaks
    • Nature Escapes
    • Villages & Old buildings
    • Roadtrip
    • Adventure Escapes
  • Travel Thoughts
  • Contact
  • enEnglish
    • frFrançais
Italy, Lombardy, Nature Escapes

How to run away from the crowds at the Italian Lakes

posted by Estelle
Apr 7, 2015 4001 0 0

This post is also available in: French

The Italian lakes, just above Milan, is a beautiful region. Six lakes surround the area: Lago d’Orta, Lago Maggiore, Lago di Lugano, Lago di Como, Lago d’Iseo and Lago di Garda.

When the warm days arrive in April, the main cities around the lakes can get pretty crowded. Milan residents  crash there during the weekends to flee the city and European tourists take advantage of the proximity for a quick and relaxing getaway. Only 4.5 hours’ drive from Lyon, France, we couldn’t resist to spend an extended weekend at the Italian Lakes.

Here are top tips to run away from the crowds at the Italian Lakes

1. Go camping

Camping at Lago Maggiore: waterfront spot
Camping at Lago Maggiore: waterfront spot

We stayed four days at the Italian Lakes and visited Lago di Como and Lago Maggiore. Both lakes offer beautiful cities and seaside resorts such as Como, Bellagio, Menaggio, Verbania. But they get easily crowded. There are lots of tourist buses and it’s pretty much impossible to find a parking spot. It is also difficult to find an authentic restaurant as it is filled with tourist traps.

One solution for this: take your car and drive around the lake. Do not stay in a hotel in seaside resorts. I haven’t found any room below 100€. Go camping instead. It’s so much fun. Check-out our waterfront campsite in Monvalle (Lago Maggiore) for less than 25€/night. You can’t get any closer to the water. Plus this least known town around the lake offers more authentic local businesses and restaurants. And guess what, the views are still completely stunning.lago-maggiore-camping-2

Another camping of choice while visiting Lago di Como was in Carlazzo, right on the banks of the small Lago di Piano. A lake entirely left in the wild. Only locals have small boats to go fishing. You can walk around ¾ of the lake and meet plenty of wildlife: ducks, fish, snakes…

lago-di-piano-camping
Camping at Lago di Piano: nature and wildlife

2. Go hiking

One of the best option to get away from the crowds is to hike. Bonus point: you will get the most spectacular vistas over the lake and its surroundings. You see the lake from a different point of view than from the shores and you can even see the Alps.

On the way to Rifugio Menaggio – Como Lake
On the way to Rifugio Menaggio – Como Lake

Here is a fantastic hike departing from Breglia (Lago di Como): depart altitude 752m – arrival 1732m.

Rifugio Menaggio
Rifugio Menaggio

Hike up to Rifugio Menaggio (1383m), beautiful chalet where you can have your picnic while facing the lake. At the refuge, you will be able to fill up your water bottles with pure mountain water. If you still have the energy, I recommend you continue hiking up to Monte Grona (1732m). The trail departs from behind the refuge. There, you will have the choice between the Via Direttissima and Via Ferrata or the Via Normale. Via Direttissima and Ferrata are shorter in km but they are only recommended to experienced hikers with specific equipments.

hike-rifugio-menaggio-3

hike-rifugio-menaggio-2

The full hike to Monte Grona takes around 5 hours, including the way back to Breglia. If you decide to stop at Rifugio Menaggio, the hike will take you around 3.5 hours, descent included.

For other hikes around Menaggio (Lago di Como), check-out this guide.

monte-grona

3. Gain altitude

If you are not into hiking, but still want to revel in the spectacular views over the lakes, take the cable cars.

At the Lago Maggiore, there is a cable car departing from Laveno: the funivie del Sasso del Ferro. I highly recommend to take it just for the ride. It is no ordinary cable cars. They are literally like buckets holding only two people. You have to remain standing during the whole ride, and it’s totally open.

Ready for the bucket ride !!
Ready for the bucket ride !!

Once up there, you observe a breathtaking view over Lago Maggiore and the Borromean islands. There are hiking trails but also mountain bike trails and paragliding departures. Take the time to enjoy a drink on the restaurant’s terrace before going back down.

A return ticket will cost you 10€. It’s a bit expensive I think but totally worth the bucket experience.

For more information about the cable cars (price, opening times, activities), go to their website.

lago-maggiore

So, are you ready to escape the crowds at the Italian Lakes ? Get away from the famous seaside resorts ? I hope these ideas have convinced you to leave the lakes’ shores and explore the region. The views will be just more sensational and you will make the most of your stay at the Italian Lakes.

Do you have any other nature escapes around the Italian Lakes you would like to share ? Would you dare riding the bucket cable cars at Lago maggiore ?

 

Tweet
Share
Pin
destinationshikeitalylakeoff the beaten pathtravel tips

Previous

The Pros & Cons of visiting India during Monsoon

Next

Top 5 reasons to visit a ski resort during summer

Qui suis-je ?

Travel Blogger

ESTELLE

Salut, je m'appelle Estelle et je suis la blogueuse aux commandes de Curiosity Escapes. Passionnée de voyages, je veux vous montrer qu'il est possible de voyager tout en ayant un travail à temps plein. Vous trouverez ici mes découvertes régionales et les récits de mes grands voyages.
Contactez moi

Hey, I'm Estelle, the girl behind Curiosity Escapes. I am passionate about travelling and I want to show you that you can travel while having a full-time job. I share here my local and global escapes for all curious travelers out there.

Ambassadrice Rhône-Alpes pour le webzine En France Aussi

Suivez-moi sur Facebook

Suivez-moi sur Facebook

Search

Top Posts

  • Best villages in the Chianti region
    :-), Italy, Tuscany, Villages & Old buildings
    Best villages in the Chianti region
    May 13, 2015
  • Tried and tested: India’s Sleeper Class
    India, Travel Thoughts
    Tried and tested: India’s Sleeper Class
    Apr 8, 2015
  • How to run away from the crowds at the Italian Lakes
    Italy, Lombardy, Nature Escapes
    How to run away from the crowds at the Italian Lakes
    Apr 7, 2015

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You Might Also Like

Expo Milano 2015: Top 10 Pavilions
Jun 4, 2015

Expo Milano 2015: Top 10 Pavilions

Top 5 reasons to visit a ski resort during summer
Apr 7, 2015

Top 5 reasons to visit a ski resort during summer

Personal feedback about the Cinque Terre
May 8, 2015

Personal feedback about the Cinque Terre

Chartreuse Natural Park from above
Apr 20, 2015

Chartreuse Natural Park from above

Copyrights © 2015-2020 Curiosity Escapes. All Rights Reserved
Back top