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
