--- title: "Lakes of Europe, the 10 best lakes in Europe to visit | Wimup" description: "The ten best lakes in Europe, from Lake Como to Lake Geneva, ranked by the water, the mountains around it and what you can do there." url: https://wimup.com/lakes-europe type: Themed list updated: 2026-10-31 publisher: Wimup (https://wimup.com) --- # Lakes of Europe, ten shores worth slowing down for. By Wimup desk · 10 picks · 2 films · ≈ 3 min read Ten lakes from the Alps to the Balkans, ranked by the water and the setting around it, with the boat to take and the month to go for each. We ranked these ten by the lake and its setting: the water itself, the mountains or towns around it, and what a visitor can do on and beside it. Each one is worth a few nights, not a photo stop. ## Lakes of Europe, ten shores worth slowing down for. ### 1. Lake Como, Italy Lombardy · Italy Still the lake the rest are measured against: a deep Y of water, about 410 m at its deepest, under Alpine slopes lined with villas and gardens. Base yourself in Bellagio or Varenna and let the public ferries link the shores. - **Best for:** Villas - **Don't miss:** Villa del Balbianello - **Go in:** Apr–Jun · Sep Links: [Italy guide](https://wimup.com/country/italy.md) ### 2. Lake Lucerne, Switzerland Central Switzerland · Switzerland A lake of fjord-like arms between Rigi and Pilatus, still sailed by five restored paddle steamers. Take one to Alpnachstad and ride the Pilatus cogwheel railway, at up to 48% the steepest in the world, then return to Lucerne by cable car. - **Best for:** Steamers - **Don't miss:** Golden Round Trip - **Go in:** May–Oct Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/lucerne.md) ### 3. Hallstätter See, Austria Salzkammergut · Austria Mountains drop straight into this narrow lake, and Hallstatt's houses cling to the one ledge they leave. Above the village the salt mine has worked the mountain for 7,000 years by its operator's count; stay the night, when the day crowds have gone. - **Best for:** Village - **Don't miss:** Salt mine - **Go in:** May · Jun · Sep Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/hallstatt.md) · [Watch the Hallstatt film](https://wimup.com/watch/hallstatt.md) ### 4. Lake Bled, Slovenia Upper Carniola · Slovenia A small glacial lake with a church on its only island and a castle, documented since 1004, on the cliff above. Cross on a pletna, the local wooden boat, climb the 99 steps to the church, then walk the shore path at dusk. - **Best for:** Island - **Don't miss:** Pletna boat - **Go in:** May · Jun · Sep Links: [Slovenia guide](https://wimup.com/country/slovenia.md) ### 5. Lake Annecy, France Haute-Savoie · France Clear Alpine water about 14 km long, kept clean by decades of strict rules, with the canals of Annecy at its northern tip. Swim from the public beaches in summer, or cycle the 33 km greenway down the western shore. - **Best for:** Swimming - **Don't miss:** The greenway - **Go in:** Jun–Sep Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/annecy.md) ### 6. Lake Garda, Italy Italian Lakes · Italy Italy's largest lake, about 370 km², walled by mountains in the north and broad and gentle around Sirmione in the south. Windsurfers head to Riva del Garda for the afternoon Ora wind; everyone else comes for the Roman villa at Sirmione. - **Best for:** Watersports - **Don't miss:** Grotte di Catullo - **Go in:** May–Sep Links: [Italy guide](https://wimup.com/country/italy.md) ### 7. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia Ohrid · North Macedonia One of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, shared with Albania and listed by UNESCO for both its nature and its culture. Walk from Ohrid's old town to the 13th-century church of St John at Kaneo on its cliff, then swim off the rocks below. - **Best for:** History - **Don't miss:** St John at Kaneo - **Go in:** Jun–Sep Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/ohrid.md) · [Watch the Ohrid film](https://wimup.com/watch/ohrid.md) ### 8. Lake Lugano, Switzerland Ticino · Switzerland Switzerland with an Italian accent: steep green shores, palms on the promenade and two funicular peaks facing each other across the water. Ride up Monte Brè, walk down to the old village of Gandria, and take the boat back to Lugano. - **Best for:** Funiculars - **Don't miss:** Olive Trail - **Go in:** Apr–Oct Links: [View the Top 10](https://wimup.com/city/lugano.md) ### 9. Königssee, Germany Berchtesgaden · Germany A narrow lake under the Watzmann's east face, so clean that only electric, rowing and pedal boats have been allowed on it since 1909. On the way to St. Bartholomä the boatman stops to play the horn against the cliffs, and the echo answers. - **Best for:** Stillness - **Don't miss:** The echo stop - **Go in:** May–Oct Links: [Germany guide](https://wimup.com/country/germany.md) ### 10. Lake Geneva, Switzerland Vaud · Switzerland A great crescent of water between the Jura and the Alps, shared with France, with Lavaux's UNESCO-listed vineyard terraces on its northern shore. Cross on one of the Belle Époque paddle steamers, then walk the vines above Lutry. - **Best for:** Vineyards - **Don't miss:** Lavaux terraces - **Go in:** May–Oct Links: [Switzerland guide](https://wimup.com/country/switzerland.md) ## FAQs ### Which is the most beautiful lake in Europe? We rank Lake Como first for its depth, its mountain setting and the villas and ferries that make it easy to explore. Lake Lucerne and Hallstätter See follow closely for their mountain scenery. ### When is the best time to visit the lakes of Europe? Late May to September, when the water is warm enough to swim and the boat services run full timetables. June and September avoid the August crowds on the Italian and Swiss lakes. ### Can you swim in these lakes? In most of them, yes: Annecy, Garda, Ohrid and Lake Geneva all have public beaches and lidos. Swim at marked beaches rather than open water, since ferries and boats cross these lakes all day. ### Do you need a car to visit the lakes of Europe? Not for most. Ferries link the shores of Como, Lucerne, Garda and Geneva, trains reach Lucerne, Lugano, Annecy and Hallstatt, and buses run from Ljubljana to Bled. ### Which lakes can you combine in one trip? Lucerne, Lugano and Como chain together by rail through the Gotthard, a few hours end to end. Königssee and Hallstatt are both within reach of Salzburg and pair well in a few days. ## Sources - Rankings are Wimup editorial picks. Prices, durations and budgets are editorial estimates, not live quotes; check the official site before you go.