They say Northern Italy is super industrialized, but let me tell you there are several picturesque lakes you can visit there. For example, there’s Como, there’s Garda and Lugano…And then, a little bit overlooked and more quiet – there’s this smaller, magical lake called Iseo. With crystal clear water lake Iseo is surrounded by mountains and offers beautiful scenery and opportunities for adventures and relaxing things to do when you visit.
That’s where we went last November, it was my second time there and it was just as amazing as I remembered it from a few years ago.
Since this lake is smaller and surrounded by mountain peaks – it makes for a more dramatic, more picturesque landscape pretty much everywhere you go. Even if all you do while you visit is sit on a bench and look over the water and the mountains, the trip would be worth it.
But in case you want to do more, I have some ideas of things to do when you visit Lake Iseo.
Lake Iseo Things to do and know
- You will find Europe’s biggest island within a lake there called Montisola. You can visit that island by ferry from Sulzano or Sale Marazino. I did this last time I was there and it was wonderful! However, this time I wanted to explore something new in the region, so we skipped the island.
- There are many opportunities for sports and exploring nature – whether watersports like paddleboarding or sailing or hiking and biking around the area.
- The area offers many ways to relax – with picnic spots, beaches, boat tours, adventure parks, coffee shops and even workshops.
- If you’re a fan of historic sites and architecture – you can explore the historic centers and the museums within the villages on the shores of the lake or take a day trip to more popular destinations like Verona or Milan (they’re very close).
- There are local markets pretty much every day traveling through the different villages along the lake where you can buy fresh food and clothes.
- If you love wine and are visiting during spring/ summer plan a stop at Franciacorta – a region with beautiful hilly landscapes and vineyards known for its sparkling wine.
- You can get there by car from Bergamo airport in around 30 minutes.
Since we visited in November, the wine region did not look as stunning as it was when I visited late spring years ago. But we still used the time wisely and checked off some of the things on my must-visit list, like Verona.
Lake Iseo Trip Day 1 – Sarnico Market, Sirmione & Verona
For this trip we stayed at a wonderful little hotel in Paratico which is a town at the southwest tip of the lake. So we started our first day there with a lovely breakfast and lot of fog, which clouded our lake view. But it was amazing either way.
We walked around the lake in Paratico and then headed to Sarnico. Lucky for us there’s bridge connecting the villages and a pedestrian path along the lake, so you can take in the views while making some steps.
Local Market
As we were taking photos of the beautiful scenery every step of the way, we were lucky enough to notice there’s a local market and decided to explore it. Fresh vegetables, cheese, home decor, clothes and ready-to-eat meals like grilled chicken, we got some fried fish and really enjoyed the atmosphere.
As I later found out most villages around the lake have these markets on certain days of the week – Monday through Saturday in different locations. If you’re interested in visiting the local market, you can check out the schedule here.
Trip To Sirmione
So after lunch, since it was still a bit foggy, we decided to get in the car and drive to Verona, which I had never been to before. Driving in Italy is quite the adventure and the highway is not for people who like peace and quiet.
We took the smaller roads in order to see more of the area and decided to stop at Sirmione – a town at south end of lake Garda. The trip took us around an hour, but it was worth it.
Because we got to see lake Garda as well as the old town and the caste of Sirmione, which was quite impressive.
Verona
After this little break, we headed to Verona. It is very important if you’re traveling with a car to search for a parking lot when navigating. So I put in a parking lot in the navigation system, we parked and went to finally see Verona.
It was almost sunset and the light was just amazing. We saw the Roman amphitheater – Arena di Verona, walked through the vibrant streets of the city and headed down to see the house of Giulietta (from Romeo and Giulietta). It was crazy. People were lining up to take a photo with the statue, just to grab the boobs of poor Giulietta. Maybe I’m too old for it, but I didn’t find it funny or necessary. It’s a statue and the girl wasn’t even 14 years old.
Anyway, we came, we saw the statue, the balcony, the walls covered with people’s signs…and we left. We stumbled upon a beautiful piazza (I belive it is Piazza delle Erbe) and since it was end of November, there was a Christmas market there.
After a bit more exploration, we got hungry and went to get some pizza and enjoyed the views over the river.
And that was pretty much it for the first day, the drive back home on the highway was quite the experience, but we made it, got some rest and got ready for day 2.
Lake Iseo Day 2: Big Bench, Drive around the lake, Lovere and Sarnico
The plan for the second day of our trip was to drive around the lake and enjoy the scenery, go for a hike, stop for a walk at Lovere and see a bit more of Sarnico.
Pilzone Big Bench Hike
After breakfast the next day, we decided to go on a hunt for the Big Benches. There’s a project of building these huge benches placed all over Italy and, as I now find out, in many European countries. You can read more about it here. But, the vision of the project is basically to feel like a child again, while sitting on a huge bench and enjoying a beautiful panorama in Italy. And as you will find out if you search for these benches on Google maps, there are many around lake Iseo.
We chose the one in Pilzone, because it was closest and honestly, because it looked the esiest to get to. We got to Pilzone and parked in an outdoors parking lot close right on the lake, since we couldn’t drive through the hilly streets of the town (or village). Then we started walking and following the signs to the Big Bench aka Panchina Gigante.
We walked through the town and then followed a steep road (at times a bit too steep) through the forest. I must admit I was going to quit about 14 times along the way, because the paranoia of bears and rain and snow got to me. But we kept going and following the signs and found the Big Bench. And the spectacular view that came along with it.
It was amazing and definitely worth it and I’m so glad we didn’t give up and quit like I wanted to.
On the way up we saw two older ladies coming down with walking sticks, so my dad found/or made some wooden sticks for us. Let me tell you, these were very helpful walking down. Walking down was the much harder part for me, especially with my knees.
Lovere
After the nature workout, we got in the car and took the road to Lovere. We stopped at a few places to take in the scenery, I think I especially liked it in Marone.
We made it to Lovere and stopped for a coffee in a cafe on the water. This town was among the 20 most beautiful Italian towns a few years ago, that’s why we wanted to check it out. So, after the coffee, we walked through the streets of the town, found a small bakery and tried their treats.
I honestly think most towns around lake Iseo are very pretty, so whichever one you choose to visit would be a good pick.
Drive along the lake Enjoying the scenery
We headed to Paratico driving on the other side of the lake (so the one we hadn’t seen before). Along the way we stopped in several spots, but I really loved one just outside of Lovere, I think the location is this. It’s a great place to stop and spend a little while, taking in the views. Truly magical.
Sarnico
The last thing we did before packing and getting ready for our early morning flight was visiting Sarnico, taking in the views of the lake at night and buying some small gifts to bring back home from the shops there.
Where To Stay
We stayed in Hotel Ulivi in Paratico. I chose this hotel mainly because we had an early flight from Bergam, it had a view of the lake, actually, it was almost right on the lake and there was a garage.
And that’s what I wanted. It was perfect when we were there.
I guess it was a bit out of season and there weren’t many other guests and we couldn’t use the outdoor pool. The rooms were comfortable and the breakfast was just lovely!
Renting a car Warning
The one thing to look out for when visiting is renting a car. We didn’t have any problems during the trip, but weeks after we came back home I found out the car rental company (Budget) charged us over 1500 EUR extra for the 2-3 days we had the car. We had full insurance but with a third party company.
I must say, you can only reach the car rental parking lot at the airport with a shuttle bus. So whatever car they give you at the desk, you’re basically stuck with (in case you don’t want to take the bus back and complain). If you discover new damages, there’s nobody to report them to. At least that was the case for us, when we came in the evening.
The car we got, was a good car, but it had scratches in many spots that weren’t registered in the protocol. And it was dark when we were getting it. The girl at the desk had told me to take pictures and we did that.
What To Do If They charge you too much
Long story short, after I saw that they charged the bank account for this much money (without permission!) I wrote to the email address mentioned in the poll I got a few weeks prior. And sent them the photos.
A few days after, I got an email back, saying sorry and that it was an administrative error and they sent me back the money later. So, my tips, if you’ve been wrongfully charged, are:
- Take photos of the car, of each little tiny scratch, and use the flashlight, make sure it focuses!
- Maybe get a full insurance when you’re booking (this is always good if something does happen)
- Check your bank account a week/ two weeks after you’ve returned the car
- If they charged you too much money – write to the email mentioned in the poll (or let me know, I’ll give you the address I wrote to).
It might have been an administrative error, but too many people in the reviews on Google had complained about the same thing as I found out later. So beware!
Overall
We LOVED the trip to lake Iseo, because, well, what’s not to like? It’s nature and it’s beautiful and it we had two super rejuvenating days. There are many things that I’d wish we had seen and done like Franciacorta or maybe a cooking class or a boat trip, but we also had to leave something for next time. So, these are definitely on my list!
