Top 10 lakes in Piemonte

Piemonte is home to some of Italy’s most beautiful lakes, from romantic island views and colourful waterfront villages to mountain lakes surrounded by dramatic Alpine scenery. From Lake Orta to lesser-known corners of the region, these are 10 of the best lakes in Piemonte to add to your trip.

10. Lago di Candia

Small rowing boats on Lago di Candia, with green shores and distant mountains in Piemonte, Italy.

In Piemonte’s Canavese countryside, Lago di Candia offers a peaceful landscape of reed beds, wetlands and green shores. Protected as a natural park, this small lake is a lovely place to slow down and discover a quieter side of the region.

Why visit: Peaceful wetlands, natural scenery and a relaxing escape in the Canavese countryside.

Hidden Italy tip: Bring binoculars and take your time watching the birds around the reed beds, rather than treating this as a quick photo stop.

9. Lago Sirio

Lago Sirio surrounded by wooded hills, with mountains beneath a cloudy sky near Ivrea, Piemonte, Italy.

Between Ivrea and Chiaverano, Lago Sirio is a small lake surrounded by wooded hills and mountain views. Part of the Five Lakes of Ivrea, it makes a beautiful stop for a slower afternoon away from Piemonte’s more famous lakeside destinations.

Why visit: Wooded shores, mountain views and a scenic setting just outside Ivrea.

Hidden Italy tip: Combine your visit with a wander through Ivrea, giving yourself time for both the historic town and its surrounding lake landscape.

8. Lago Grande di Avigliana

Wooded slopes and lakeside houses beside Lago Grande di Avigliana, with mountain peaks in the background, Piemonte, Italy.

West of Turin, Lago Grande di Avigliana brings together open water, green hills and the mountain scenery of the lower Susa Valley. Alongside nearby Lago Piccolo, it forms one of Piemonte’s most inviting lake landscapes for a relaxed day outside the city.

Why visit: Beautiful lake scenery, nearby historic streets and an easy addition to a Turin trip.

Hidden Italy tip: Leave time to explore Avigliana’s medieval old town, pairing an afternoon by the water with a walk through its historic squares.

7. Lago di Viverone

Sunset over Lago di Viverone, with a small wooden jetty and distant mountains beneath a pink sky, Piemonte, Italy.

Between the Biellese and Canavese areas, Lago di Viverone opens out beneath gentle hills, with lively waterfront stretches and greener, quieter shores. Its wide views and relaxed lakeside atmosphere make it a lovely place for an unhurried afternoon by the water.

Why visit: Open lake views, relaxed waterfront stops and beautiful surrounding countryside.

Hidden Italy tip: Stay until the evening and find a spot along the eastern shore to watch the light change across the lake.

6. Lago di Ceresole Reale

Lago di Ceresole Reale with a lakeside walking path, forested slopes and snow-covered Alpine peaks in Piemonte, Italy.

High in Piemonte’s Orco Valley, Lago di Ceresole Reale is a mountain reservoir framed by forests and dramatic Alpine peaks. The combination of open water and rugged scenery makes it a memorable stop for anyone exploring the region’s mountain landscapes.

Why visit: Dramatic Alpine scenery, mountain air and beautiful views across the reservoir.

Hidden Italy tip: Make time for a lakeside walk to enjoy the changing mountain backdrop, rather than stopping only for a photograph from the road.

5. Lago di Devero

Blue waters of Lago di Devero surrounded by forested shores, with rocky islets and Alpine peaks in Piemonte, Italy.

In northern Piemonte’s Ossola mountains, Lago di Devero, also known as Codelago, sits above the alpine hamlet of Crampiolo. Surrounded by larch forests and rocky peaks, this mountain reservoir rewards walkers with a spectacular setting far from the region’s waterfront towns.

Why visit: Alpine hiking, larch forests and a striking lake surrounded by mountain peaks.

Hidden Italy tip: Approach on foot from Alpe Devero via Crampiolo and allow time to enjoy the hamlet along the way. Plan this as a mountain walk, with suitable footwear.

4. Lago di Antrona

Still waters of Lago di Antrona framed by leafy trees, with rocky mountains reflected in the lake, Piemonte, Italy.

In the Antrona Valley, Lago di Antrona brings together mountain water, wooded slopes and rugged scenery. Its enclosed setting feels wonderfully removed from the busier lakes, making it a beautiful choice for a day exploring Piemonte’s Ossola valleys.

Why visit: Wooded mountain scenery, a peaceful valley setting and memorable lakeside views.

Hidden Italy tip: Check local trail conditions before setting out, especially if you want to include the section near the Sajont waterfall.

3. Lago di Mergozzo

Mergozzo village beside the lake, with colourful waterfront buildings, a church tower and mountains in Piemonte, Italy.

Just west of Lake Maggiore, Lago di Mergozzo offers a smaller, more intimate lakeside escape. Colourful buildings line the waterfront of Mergozzo village, while wooded slopes frame the water, creating a beautiful setting for slow walks and a long lakeside lunch.

Why visit: A colourful waterfront village, wooded hills and a compact, scenic lake setting.

Hidden Italy tip: Allow time to explore the village’s narrow stone lanes before finding a waterfront spot for a coffee with a view.

2. Lago Maggiore

Isola dei Pescatori on Lake Maggiore, with terracotta rooftops, a church tower and boats against a mountain backdrop, Piemonte, Italy.

Along Piemonte’s western shore of Lake Maggiore, elegant lakeside towns meet sweeping water views and a mountain backdrop. From Stresa and the Borromean Islands to the waterfront of Cannobio, this side of the lake offers some of the region’s most memorable scenery.

Why visit: Beautiful lakeside towns, island excursions and spectacular views towards the mountains.

Hidden Italy tip: Give yourself time beyond Stresa and continue north to Cannobio for colourful waterfront buildings and a wander through its historic centre.

1. Lago d’Orta

Isola San Giulio on Lake Orta, with historic buildings and a bell tower surrounded by blue water and sunlit wooded hills, Piemonte, Italy.

In northern Piemonte, Lago d’Orta combines wooded hills, historic waterfront buildings and the unforgettable sight of Isola San Giulio. The narrow streets of Orta San Giulio lead towards the water, creating one of the region’s most atmospheric settings for a slow lakeside escape.

Why visit: Beautiful island views, atmospheric village streets and a wonderfully romantic lakeside setting.

Hidden Italy tip: Explore Orta San Giulio early in the morning, then head to the waterfront to enjoy the view of the island before settling in for a leisurely coffee.

Explore more of Piemonte

Discover more of Piemonte with our regional travel guide and a carefully planned 7-day road trip through elegant cities, vineyard-covered hills and beautiful lakes.