Lake Iseo or Lago d’Iseo is the little sister of Lake Como and Lake Garda, but also the less visited one! As the other 2 are very popular, this is a great alternative. It’s less than a two-hour drive away from Milan, so you can easily combine these to have the best of both worlds; breathtaking nature and a vibrant city!
How to reach Lake Iseo
You can take a flight to any of the airports near Milan and rent a car from there to drive towards Lake Iseo. I like Sunnycars because of their “all-inclusive” concept. It’s also possible to reach the lake by train, but if you’re only visiting for a long weekend, like us, I would recommend going by car. Besides that, it’s kind of a must to drive around the lake and visit different villages.
Take into consideration that prices of car rentals can increase quickly so don’t wait till a week before departure, like we did =) Trust me, it will save you a LOT of money. Instead, you’re better off saving that money to spend it on more food. You’re going to Italy after all..
Check flights from Amsterdam with Transavia or find the best prices with Kayak. I personally like the fact that Transavia has a regular cabin trolley included in the price.
Where to stay in Lake Iseo?
Okay, so you’ve booked your transport and need a place to sleep. There are lots of gorgeous and traditional hotels and apartments overlooking the lake, but make sure you check where it’s situated. Unless you don’t mind driving downhill with sharp turns and narrow roads, I would advise staying near the main road or not too far from a village.
Since this whole trip was kind of last minute, our options for accommodations were limited as well. We eventually booked this Airbnb apartment in Tavernola Bergamasca for 2 nights. It was spacious and had everything we needed. A bit of a drive upwards, but it was still doable and the view wasn’t too bad either.
Things to do at Lake Iseo
First of all, take in the incredible beauty of the lake and mountains from all perspectives. The lake is so blue and the mountains surrounding it make the whole picture just perfect. Even just driving around the lake is really enjoyable, except when your friend puts the wrong location in maps and you end up driving on small roads in pitch black for way too long.
1. Rent a SUP
Renting a SUP will allow you to see the mountains and the villages from the waterside, which is a nice change of perspective. We rented a SUP at Sportaction. We paddled for a while and then laid down on our boards to chill and enjoy the sun and views. Quite suddenly the wind became stronger and the calm lake was not so calm anymore. We decided to head back and damn how we struggled. I thought my arm muscles were alright, but it was so hard to peddle against the current. We were both exhausted afterward, so we celebrated with a cold beer. Regardless, it was a great experience and I would really recommend renting a SUP or kayak.
2. Go for a hike
Time for another perspective again! Around the lakes, there are many different hikes you can do to see the mountains and the lake from above. We were a bit tired from the paddling so we drove the first part up and then walked to the Chiesa di San Defendente. The views from up here were phenomenal! Somehow reaching a viewpoint in the mountains always gives me an intense feeling of freedom. Mountains are full of surprises and constantly give you breathtaking moments.
3. Have a picnic and a swim near Lovere
There are several picturesque villages around Lake Iseo. Unfortunately, we couldn’t explore them all, but we really enjoyed Lovere. Buy some Italian snacks at the supermarket and have a picnic near the lake. You can also go for a swim here, so it’s perfect for a hot afternoon. Afterward you can explore the village.
4. Eat everything in Lovere
Yeah, I know this is a no-brainer, but I’m just making sure you try as much as possible. Italy has so many delicacies you just can’t say no to!! As a major ice cream addict, I needed to get an ice cream before going into town. We went to Artigiana Gelati di Balosetti Claudio (catchy name, I know) in Lovere where they had some very nice flavours! Oh and good to know; Lovere has a very large parking lot so no need to stress about that. There were a few market stands selling Italian sweets and cookies, good stuff 🙂 Make sure you’ll get some, as they’re very tasty.
This town is built into the mountain so it’s kind of hilly. On top there is a beautiful little cathedral. If you want to go inside, make sure your shoulders and legs are covered as they will send you away otherwise.
5. Sunset and aperitivo, the golden match
Pisogne is located on the other side of the lake which is where you can watch the sun disappear behind the mountain peaks. Head down here for an aperitivo while you enjoy the sunset and perhaps some swans if you’re lucky enough. Sounds like a pretty good start to the evening to me!
Where to eat around Lake Iseo?
First of all, the number of restaurants around the lake is not enormous, so if you travel in a peak period it wouldn’t hurt to make some reservations. Generally, I don’t really like making reservations during my holidays as I like to see how the day goes and be flexible. A reservation puts extra pressure which is what you don’t want on a holiday. On the other hand, if you want to eat in a good restaurant, perhaps with a nice view, it could be worth it.
We had a great dinner with seafood and pizza at Il Porticciolo in Tavernola Bergamasca on the first night. The second night we tried a spaghetti alle vongole at Bistrot Diclotto 10, a restaurant with a nicely lit terrace and a very friendly owner.
Lake Iseo is a place you must visit when you’re traveling around Lombardy or other parts of Northern Italy. It would also be possible to continue your trip to the stunning coastline at the west of the “boot”. In a little over 3 hours you can drive from Milan to the colourful and photogenic villages called Cinque Terre.
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