How to Choose Between Italys Two Most Gorgeous Lakes

While many destinations proclaim themselves wellness destinations, Lago di Garda walks the walk, largely thanks to its famed Sirmione Spas. The Sirmoine Spas are thermal baths that draw sulphurous, bromine- and iodine-rich thermal water said to offer wondrous therapeutic properties, such as anti-inflammatory and decongestion benefits.

In fact, Lago di Garda offers an entire “therapy district” in the Colombare area, boasting renowned thermal centers. Of course, if you’re looking for something a little more private and upscale, Lago di Garda is home to a slew of gorgeous hotels that tap into the lake’s wellness scene. Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda is one such 5-star property, home to a wellness retreat complete with world-class spa treatments, therapeutic pools, and breathtaking views of the lake.

Need we state the obvious? Lake Como is pure luxury; the sort of loud and opulent luxury that calls for phrases like “dress to impress” or “see and be seen.” This is not the sort of destination to visit if you’re looking to travel on a budget and stay in a hostel; rather, Lake Como is where you go when you’re ready to throw money to the wind and indulge in a decadent experience, whether for a special occasion or simply to live like royalty for a weekend.

If this sounds like your scene, then there is really only one place to stay, and that is the iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo. This 5-star villa-turned-hotel has been around for a century and remains the standard for fine Italian hospitality. Originally opened in 1910 by Enea and Maria Gandola, the Grand Hotel Tremezzo has an illustrious past, one marked by celebrity stays (Greta Garbo once referred to this hotel as her “sunny, happy place”) and survival (the Grand Hotel Tremezzo stood tall during both World Wars and served as a military hospital during WWI). Today, this stunning example of Art Nouveau stands on the edge of Lake Como, sweeping its guests into a fever dream of luxury that is seen in every detail—from its spa to its dining concepts right down to the thoughtful gifts the hotel leaves for guests during their stay. 

Lago di Garda is Italy’s largest lake, which, to put it into perspective, is about twice the size of Lake Como. Because of its size, Lake Garda offers a much more diverse landscape than that of its bougie cousin. Towards the northern part of the lake, you’ll find rugged Alpine terrain, offering a respite for hikers and mountain bikers. In the southern area, Lago di Garda becomes another world entirely, one marked by sprawling vineyards, fragrant citrus groves, and rolling hills. On the east side of Lake Garda, on the Veneto side, you’ll discover sunnier beaches and nightlife.

Our recommendation? Head to Lago di Garda’s west side, where dramatic views, scenic drives, quieter stays, and historic lemon houses (or Limonaie) can be found. Don’t miss a visit to Saló, a charming lakeside town and one of the main villages located on the lake’s western shore.

There’s an old saying that goes, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” It’s a saying that Lago di Garda took literally. Once upon a time, Lago di Garda was the world’s northernmost commercial lemon producer, where lemons were first introduced to the region by monks in the 13th century. Lago di Garda—especially its western shores, including Limone sul Garda—fueled lemon production for generations, bringing economic status and wealth to this corner of Italy. While the lemon rush eventually subsided, largely due to a disease known as Gommosi that irreparably affected the harvest, the signs of Lake Garda’s lemony past can still be seen in the many limonaie, or lemon homes, that dot the area.

Built with high walls to protect the lemon trees from the cold winds coming from the northeast of the lake, these historic and innovative terraced lemon homes were often built directly into the hillsides and designed like half-open greenhouses to protect the delicate citrus trees. Nowadays, local initiatives—like Terre & Sapori—have sprung up to protect and preserve the area’s historic groves and lemon houses. To truly understand the region’s lemon-filled past, you can book a lemon house tour with Terre & Sapori, which will explain the cultural, historical, and economic significance of these structures before culminating in a tasting at a local Agricultural Cooperative shop. 

Lake Como is the sort of place you’ll find yourself peering over your shoulder anywhere you go, wondering if the next person to stroll through the dining room or glide by on a boat is, in fact, a celebrity. This is the sort of place where everyone seems to have a story about some celebrity encounter—be it the re-telling of George Clooney’s impromptu piano-accompanied karaoke session at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo or the time Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce booked a stay at the private Villa Sola Cabiati. While coming across the gliterrati during your Lake Como visit is a matter of luck, you can still sail by one of George and Amal’s lakeside retreats,  Villa Oleandra (the couple is said to own four villas in the area).

Because Lago di Garda is the largest lake in Italy, it has many different sides. One side is steeped in wellness, the other is marked by lemons, and yet another side—believe it or not—has been called “the Orlando of Italy.” For those traveling with young kids, Lake Como’s high-end elegance might be a tall order for little ones unlikely to sit through a multi-course Michelin-starred dinner, but thankfully, Lago di Garda offers an alternative experience for families. Think less Dom Perignon and Valentino and more amusement parks and aquariums.

Gardaland is one of Italy’s most popular theme parks, offering visitors a Disney-like experience that will suddenly have the whole “Orlando of Italy” nickname making sense. Meanwhile, family-friendly stays like the 5-star Quellenhof Lazise put kiddos top of mind, with a children’s pool, waterslides, and a prime location near Gardaland and Gardaland’s Sea Life Aquarium.

By now, standing at your metaphorical fork in the road between Lake Como and Lake Garda, you may realize that your choice really comes down to one question: budget. Lake Como, a smaller destination known for its utmost luxury, A-list celebrities, and pure indulgence, is likely to cost more than a much larger lake with a more relaxed vibe and a wider range of offerings for travelers.

“Overall, Lake Garda tends to be more affordable than Lake Como, largely because Como attracts the jet set crowds, driving up prices,” explains Michelle McGuffie, a Personal Travel Expert at the UK-based travel company, Kuoni.

Travelers heading to Lake Como can expect their daily expenses to range in the hundreds of dollars, according to the travel experts at Tourlane. Tourlane’s experts estimate that if you’re looking to stay in Lake Como at one of its coveted 5-star hotels, you should expect to pay around $860 USD per day. If you’re attempting to do Lake Como on a budget, you may be able to slash that estimated cost-per-day in half by staying in lower-star accommodations and limiting your activities and meals to cost-effective alternatives.

“You can easily find ways to splurge at either lake,” continues McGuffie in a story written for Kuoni, “but using public transport and eating away from the main squares helps keep costs down. Just remember, if a restaurant has a view, you’re likely paying extra for it.”

This is Italy, so let us be clear that fantastic meals are available at all price points. The spectrum of cuisine runs far and wide in a country where you can spend a few euros on the best cacio e pepe or pizza of your life or hundreds of euros on a Michelin-starred menu. But in an attempt to help travelers decide between these two gorgeous destinations, let’s narrow the focus down to fine dining. If we’re talking about the kind of meal that feels like an occasion, the kind of meal that requires no pre or post-dinner plans because the reservation is the main event, well, then, Lake Como is your answer.

Lake Como has its fair share of Michelin-starred and Michelin-recommended restaurants surrounding its shimmering waters. The Lombardy region is home to 64 Michelin-starred restaurants, seven of which can be found around the waters of Lake Como. Kitchen, for example, is one such restaurant, nestled amidst a private park and serving up impossibly fresh ingredients on an Italian-focused menu. Ristorante il Sereno Al Lago, inside the Hotel Il Sereno, is another Michelin-starred dining experience worth having. And if you’re staying at the Grand Hotel Tremezzo or simply looking for a spectacular meal, La Terrazza is another example of a ‘main event’ dinner experience. Notably, La Terrazza prides itself as being the only restaurant in the world serving the late Chef Gualtiero Marchesi’s most popular dishes. Marchesi is known as the founder of Italian nouvelle cuisine, and some of the dishes that appear on La Terrazza’s menu include the Jackson Pollock-inspired Dripping di pesce, a dish so visually stunning, you’ll be sad to eat it.