From lakes where you can swim in Lombardy there are more than you think. And even if it is not the sea (and at the moment it is not known when you will be able to go there, as we explain here), you can find clear waters and beautiful beaches for a refreshing dip, a swim in open water, doing water sports such as canoeing or kayaking but also SUP and in some locations even sailing sports, including windsurfing.
And certainly the possibility of spending a day outdoors, sunbathing.
The 8 lakes where you can swim in Lombardy
The best known lakes are obviously the Lake Gardaon the Brescia side, and the Lake Comoon the two branches, the Como and Lecco ones as well as to the north, in the localities at the entrance to Valtellina.
But then there are also the lakes of Varese, the pre-Alpine ones between Como and Lecco and those of Brescia, all excellent lakes for swimming in Lombardy. All places where you can take a dip for the day but also find campsites in nature (as we describe in this article on where to camp in Lombardy).
In particular, staying in the region and also starting from the cities or towns in the plains, that’s it the 8 lakes where you can swim in Lombardy and where you can find clean, certified bathing beaches and waters:
Lake Garda Lake Idro Lake Iseo Lake Como Lake Pusiano Lake Lugano (or Ceresio, on the Lombard and Varese side) Lake Monate Lake Maggiore
The lakes where you can swim in the province of Brescia and Bergamo
The lakes where to swim in the province of Brescia and Bergamo there are 3 and they are able to satisfy all needs: from the large Lake Garda, which is just like the sea in terms of tourist offer and accommodation facilities, to the smaller but beautiful lakes of Idro and Iseo, there are many possibilities to find a beach and dive into cool, clear waters.
1. Lake Garda
Il Lake Garda it is more than a lake and for many tourists, especially foreigners from northern Europe, it is actually better than the sea. There is no shortage of beaches, and you are spoiled for choice. TO Manerba there are 11 km of coastline, with equipped beaches like La Romantica or wild ones like that of Sasso, in the Rocca Park. TO Lemon they are all gravelly, some in the center of the town like Grosol, others more distant like the shady Tifù. For something truly special there is Jamaica beach Sirmione, where you can arrive by boat, or on foot when conditions allow: the remains of the spa behind you, the water of Garda in front, is something truly unique. But in addition to these, which are perhaps the most famous and popular, then there are the equipped beaches DesenzanoOf LonatoOf Toscolano and many other locations that can be discovered for example on the site Visit Garda Lake (in Italian).
2. Lake of Idro
Also in the province of Brescia, another body of water suitable for swimming is the Lake of Idro, a beautiful pre-Alpine lake nestled among the green mountains where you can find coolness and clear waters. There are essentially 3 the most popular places to find beaches, namely Info, Bagolino e Hydro: in Anfo there are two stony beaches, also suitable for children and one also dog-friendly, with the possibility of renting equipment and also a camper area; in Bagolino the beaches are in Ponte Caffaro; and then there are other free beaches in different locations reported by Brescia Turismo website.
3. Lake Iseo
Il Lake Iseo became internationally famous in 2016 with The Floating Piers, the installation by the artist Christo, but above all it is a magnificent body of water in which to spend a few days of relaxation or an entire holiday with also the possibility of swimming or water sports.
There are numerous places where you can find beaches, access to water and obviously clean, bathing water: Pisogne e Marone Fleece, Marone, Marasino sale, Sulzanoe Pilzone they are dotted with more or less large free beaches, a Iseo, Paratico e Sarnico there are both free beaches and those equipped with umbrellas and deckchairs, as well as all the other services (all the details on Visit Brescia). And then there is Monte Isolathe largest Italian lake island, waiting to be discovered (including its beaches).
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The lakes where you can swim between Como and Lecco
Between Como and Lecco there are only two lakes to swim in: that of Como, on its 3 branches, and that of Pusiano, the only one among the pre-Alpine ones of the two provinces that is truly swimmable (Annone and Alserio have instead been in critical conditions for years and constantly monitored by ATS Brianza). And then there’s the matter of Lake Mezzolaat the beginning of Valchiavenna and connected to Lake Como by the Mera river: for years it was off-limits to bathing but in recent years things have improved so much that it is not unlikely that swimming is permitted.
4. Lake Como
To bathe in the Lake Como you are spoiled for choice, even if the presence of numerous villas on the lakeside limits access to the beaches a bit (but then the historic villas are also those that have brought about its international fame and interest from numerous VIPs). In any case between Bellagio (there is a free beach reachable by a path, always sunny in the morning), the Menaggio Lido (there is both a sandy beach and a more rocky one), the Cadenabbia Lidoin the village of Criante (with both free and equipped beaches in the bathing establishments), and that of Argegnothe beaches of Lenno (easily reachable by car with nearby parking), and that of Moltrasioreachable only on foot surrounded by nature.
But also the luxurious Cernobbio Lido with its elegant bathing establishments, and still there Sorico beachsuitable for water sports because it is large and easily accessible, that of Colic beloved by those who practice kiting and windsurfing for its winds, the nearby beach of See it where the Municipality allows camping, and finally the Gravedona Lido (which in addition to the beaches also has beautiful itineraries on foot or by mountain bike), that of Domasowith a small beach loved by fishermen, are just the best-known places where you can find access to the water and the possibility of relaxing, sunbathing and swimming.
5. Lake Pusiano
Nell’Upper Brianza between Lecco and Como there are also other less well-known but equally interesting and pleasant pre-Alpine lakes in which to swim. Unfortunately the Lago d’Annone has long been classified as unsuitable for swimming, despite numerous requests from the municipality of Annone to ATS Brianza to monitor the waters to certify that they are suitable for bathing (but it is still possible to practice some activities such as kayaking and canoeing, when the conditions linked to the Coronavirus emergency allow the reopening of sports and rental centers). Same goes for the Alserio Lake, which has also been classified as non-swimming for some time and awaits the green light from ATS Brianza. The case however is different for the Lake Pusianowhere there are some beaches where swimming is permitted: last summer ATS Brianza gave the green light to swim in the Darsena Brera area (Bosisio) and Punta del Corno (Rogeno), as well as in the localities of Pusian e Meronebut it is always good to check the situation with updated information and, in the case of cloudy water, with foam or mucilage, or with anomalous colours, it is better to avoid diving.
The lakes where you can swim in the province of Varese
Between lakes where you can swim in the province of Varese those of Varese and Comabbio have been excluded for years, due to the measurements cyclically found by the Insubria ATS, while Ceresio, or Lake Lugano, Maggiore and Lake Monate are always bathing, generally in the vast majority of locations and beaches.
6.Lake Lugano
Il Lake Lugano it is half Italian, for the entire eastern coast and part of the western one, and the good news is that Lake Lugano is basically entirely swimmable. There are also beaches in the portion of the province of Como (above all in Porlezza) but it is above all those in the province of Varese that attract tourists looking for a bit of coolness and the possibility of diving into the water.
On Ceresio the beach is always at risk Porto Ceresio while the beach of Brusimpiano Lidoequipped, and that of Lido Ponte Tresa in the municipality of Lavena Ponte Tresa, they are generally suitable for bathing.
7. Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is the second largest lake in Italy, and is divided between Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland (Canton Ticino). Its waters are always under observation but generally the coast of the province of Varese, from Colmegna di Luino until Zenna, is always generally suitable for swimming, with many small grass and stone beaches. In particular, the beaches in the localities of are always safe Angera, Brezzo di Bedero, Castelveccana (Cinque Arcate and Lido II), Germignaga (Boschettino), Ispra (Fornaci and Lido Euratom), Laveno Mombello (Ceresolo and Cerro), I read it, Not him, Maccagno (Lido and Ronco delle Monache), Monvalle, Pino on the shore of Lake Maggiore, Port Valtravaglia, ranco (Caravalle and Molo), Sixth Calende e Tornzano.
8. Lake Monate
Finally for bathing there is the pearl of Lake Monatewith the beaches of Travedona Monate, I love you, Osmate e Fall always swimmable for years. Lake Monate is in fact one of the smallest in Lombardy but it is also one of the cleanest and its beaches are often very popular, especially by locals from Varese and the province.
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