Lake Iseo
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By Dion Protani
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Latest update: 13 March 2022
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The beautiful Lake Iseo in Lombardy covers a surface area of 65 square kilometres which makes it Italy's sixth largest lake.
It's split between the provinces of Brescia to the south and Bergamo to the north with the larger Lake Garda and Lake Como 35 and 40 kilometres to the east and west respectively. The lake is 251 metres deep and stands at 185 metres above sea level. |
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Lake Iseo is usually included in the collective term of the 'Italian Lakes" alongside the two mentioned above, the larger Lake Maggiore and the smaller Lake Orta, Lake Lugano, Lake Varese and Lake Idro. Each of the eight lakes in the group were formed at the end of the Ice Age and are situated to the south of the Italian Alps.
All but one of the above mentioned lakes are within the region of Lombardy and Lake Iseo is one of the most attractive. It could almost be considered a "mini" version of its three larger/more illustrious counterparts, with a smaller surface area, a smaller number of resorts but a similar level of aesthetic charm.
The main town around the Lake is the eponymous Iseo with its Castello Oldofredi and a 6th century church among its sights. It's possible to drive almost the entire length of the Lake along a coastal road and the next town you come to in an anti-clockwise direction is Sulzano.
Both Iseo and Sulzano offer a certain charm that you might find in say Venice or the larger lakes with the striped poles that mark out the water bound routes around the lake. Sulzano is a good deal smaller than Iseo but it's one of the closest points from which you can take a ferry across to Monte Isola.
All but one of the above mentioned lakes are within the region of Lombardy and Lake Iseo is one of the most attractive. It could almost be considered a "mini" version of its three larger/more illustrious counterparts, with a smaller surface area, a smaller number of resorts but a similar level of aesthetic charm.
The main town around the Lake is the eponymous Iseo with its Castello Oldofredi and a 6th century church among its sights. It's possible to drive almost the entire length of the Lake along a coastal road and the next town you come to in an anti-clockwise direction is Sulzano.
Both Iseo and Sulzano offer a certain charm that you might find in say Venice or the larger lakes with the striped poles that mark out the water bound routes around the lake. Sulzano is a good deal smaller than Iseo but it's one of the closest points from which you can take a ferry across to Monte Isola.
Included in the list of Borghi Più Belli d'Italia, Monte Isola is as the name suggests, a mountain island and has more to discover than you might at first think. You get a fabulous view of the lake island from the main road that runs to the east of the lake which provides more of an idea of Monte Isola's scale.
Continuing in that anti-clockwise direction from Sulzano you find a series of three small resorts, similar in scale to Sulzano. Each of Sale Marasino, Marone and Vello offers its own set of charms while the northern end of the lake is dominated by the town of Lovere, another which has its rightful place on the Borghi Più Belli d'Italia list.
The western shore of Lake Iseo is certainly the quieter of the two sides and not quite as punctuated by so many small towns. The last of those resorts you reach if completing an anti-clockwise circuit is Sarnico in the south-west corner of the lake.
There's no more pleasant way to get around the lake than by using the ferries. The towns of Iseo, Sulzano and Sale Marasino have a port from which you can make the short crossing to Monte Isola, with the island itself having four separate ports, the main one being Peschiera Maraglio at the south-east corner. Scroll a but further down the page for a full breakdown of the timetables along with prices.
Iseo and most of the towns on the eastern shore of the lake have a train station from which you can connect to the city of Brescia in around half an hour. The most convenient airport for Lake Iseo is Bergamo Orio al Serio which is a 35-40 minute drive from Iseo while Verona Airport is another viable alternative at just under an hours' drive away and a distance of 85 kilometres.
Continuing in that anti-clockwise direction from Sulzano you find a series of three small resorts, similar in scale to Sulzano. Each of Sale Marasino, Marone and Vello offers its own set of charms while the northern end of the lake is dominated by the town of Lovere, another which has its rightful place on the Borghi Più Belli d'Italia list.
The western shore of Lake Iseo is certainly the quieter of the two sides and not quite as punctuated by so many small towns. The last of those resorts you reach if completing an anti-clockwise circuit is Sarnico in the south-west corner of the lake.
There's no more pleasant way to get around the lake than by using the ferries. The towns of Iseo, Sulzano and Sale Marasino have a port from which you can make the short crossing to Monte Isola, with the island itself having four separate ports, the main one being Peschiera Maraglio at the south-east corner. Scroll a but further down the page for a full breakdown of the timetables along with prices.
Iseo and most of the towns on the eastern shore of the lake have a train station from which you can connect to the city of Brescia in around half an hour. The most convenient airport for Lake Iseo is Bergamo Orio al Serio which is a 35-40 minute drive from Iseo while Verona Airport is another viable alternative at just under an hours' drive away and a distance of 85 kilometres.
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Province: Brescia
Region: Lombardy Surface area: 65 km² Maximum depth: 251 metres Surface elevation: 185 metres Lakeside towns and islands: Iseo, Monte Isola, Lovere, Sulzano |
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Close by: Bergamo, Lake Idro, Brescia, Lake Garda, Milan, Lecco
Recommended accommodation: Hotel Rivalago (Sulzano) |
Train stations: Iseo, Sulzano, Lovere
Fly to: Milan Bergamo Airport - 37 mins by car from Iseo (38 km) |
Lake Iseo Ferry Timetables
Sale Marasino
Sale Marasino, Lake Iseo, Lombardy
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Vello
Vello, Lake Iseo, Lombardy
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Isola di San Paolo
Isola di San Paolo, Lake Iseo, Lombardy
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