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The Italian Lakes by road: Route Guide

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Varenna's waterfront on Lake Como
Photo: Oursana · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons

Spend six days among the waterfront towns of lakes Como, Maggiore and Garda, from Como and Bellagio through Varenna and Stresa to Sirmione and Malcesine. The journey reaches each town by road, including the longer way around Lake Como between Bellagio and Varenna. Ferries and boat rides are optional; check their current schedules and weather before choosing one.

The Italian Lakes by road is a 480 km one-way journey (self-drive). It works best as a 6-day trip; the plan below is the 6-day version for June, built from 106 verified places, with planned transit times, opening hours and daylight checked.

6
days
480km
distance
6
Stops
106
curated stops

View ready-made plans 6-day plan · best time to go

The route

Como→ 35 kmBellagio→ 75 kmVarenna→ 125 kmStresa→ 175 kmSirmione→ 70 kmMalcesine
Cypress trees, lakeside paths and piers along the east shore of the Sirmione peninsula on Lake Garda

Sirmione · Day 5

Sirmione public peninsula circuit

Park outside Sirmione’s restricted historic centre for a bounded public circuit along the peninsula’s public lanes and waterfront. Castle and ruins entry, boats, spas, beaches and events remain optional.

6-day plan →

Photo: Dguendel · CC BY 3.0

What you'll see

Como public centre-and-lakefront circuit
Use lawful city parking for a bounded public circuit through Como’s centre and public lakefront. Funiculars, boats, villas, paid interiors and guided products remain optional.
Como
Bellagio public village-and-lakefront circuit
Use lawful town parking for a bounded public circuit through Bellagio’s lanes and public lakefront. Gardens, villas, boats, water activities and guided products remain optional.
Bellagio
Varenna public village-and-lakefront circuit
Use lawful parking for a bounded public circuit through Varenna’s village lanes and public lakefront. Villas, gardens, castle access, boats, long hikes and guided products remain optional.
Varenna
Stresa public centre-and-lakefront circuit
Use lawful parking for a bounded public circuit through Stresa’s centre and public Lake Maggiore waterfront. Islands, boats, villas, the closed cable car, zoos and paid attractions remain optional.
Stresa
Malcesine public village-and-lakefront circuit
Use lawful town parking for a bounded public circuit through Malcesine’s village lanes and public Lake Garda waterfront. Castle entry, cable car, boats, sailing and mountain activities remain optional.
Malcesine
Parco della Villa Pallavicino
Wander gardens filled with exotic plants and towering trees.
Stresa

Choose your length

6-day plan11 stops · 12.6 h transit1.8 stops/day · 2.1 h transit/daySee the full plan →

When to go

Best months: May, June, July, August, September

Longer daylight generally suits the public circuits. Check current roads, parking, heat, weather, traffic and local access.

See the month-by-month breakdown →

Similar journeys

View ready-made plans