Fresh Air › Instead of Lake Como
Lake Orta
Lake Orta is small, intimate, and extraordinary. The town of Orta San Giulio is a medieval village right at the water's edge, and just offshore is the Isola San Giulio — an island entirely occupied by a Benedictine convent with a Romanesque basilica and a contemplative walking path around the perimeter. The lake is ringed by hills rather than dramatic Alps, giving it a gentler character than Como. Prices are significantly lower. The atmosphere is what Como charged a premium for before it sold it.
Why visit
A small, romantic lake with a magical island (Isola San Giulio), a perfectly preserved medieval town, and an atmosphere that Lake Como entirely lost.
Crowd level
Receives Italian and some European visitors but almost no international mass tourism. Orta San Giulio is lovely and manageable.
Best time
May-June or September
Getting there
Train from Milan or Turin. The lake is compact and most towns are walkable from the station.
Tradeoffs
Smaller than Como with less variety. The lake is compact which is either a pro or con depending on what you want.
Direct comparisons
Layers
Region
At a glance
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Piedmont
- Fresh Air Score
- 85/100
- Cost level
- $$
- Distance from Lake Como
- 80 km