Favorite Italian Lake - Como, Garda, Maggiore?

Travel, Wine Tourism, and Restaurants Forum
1

And why. Thanks.

2

Molveno. Mountains (much tree-lined), picturesque village, lake, and no ‘filler’ scenery. Nearby Lago Toblino also very picturesque in a different way. Plenty of others in the area that may even be nicer. There’s tourism here for sure, but at least in the times of year we’ve been (May/later Sept) it’s not excessive, and that’s a big factor for me as I hate mass tourism.

1 Like
3

Garda.

Search for the thread

1 Like
4

Jim, what are you looking for?

I like all of them for different reasons, and Molveno as well, its comparatively tiny, beautiful tho.

1 Like
5

Good question. I think it would be a mixture of sense of space, beautiful settings and views,. Varied dining choices and other amenities available, but without detracting from the natural surroundings. Not feeling overwhelmed by the presence of a lot of people. Space to relax and take it all in, not chase after it with other folks.

6

Molveno not somewhere that shines on dining (nor is there a wide array of other amenities), but it does shine on the natural surroundings and ability to escape the rest of humanity (simply walk up to Pradel, rather than taking the ski lift, but there are other equally quiet routes). If you want fine (rather than homely) food, then it’s a trip into Trento.

As an aside though, the village butcher is quite the character and full of energy. The meats very good, making self-catering for the most part an attractive proposition, with a handful of other shops useful for filling out the pantry. There’s also a super gastronomia in (IIRC) Fai della Paganella.

2 Likes
7

Been to, and stayed in, both Garda and Como.

We found Como to be majestic and elegant, highlighted by the upscale ambiance of the towns surrounding the lake. Manicured in a natural and breathtaking way. Breadth and depth of Italian wines is deep among restaurants.
Garda was rugged featuring the regional make up and rusticity of the towns and the natural beauties of the surroundings. Plus, outdoor-type activities like cycling and hiking are revered by locals and visitors. We loved the localized execution of the foods and the local wines (especially the whites) endeared. Not as expensive as Como, in a general way.

We love both and, given any opportunity, will happily visit both.

5 Likes