Saturday morning, the sky is clear and the lake calls to you. Then reality arrives: the traffic on the ring road, the navigator showing delays, the loop around the block to find a place to park the car, and, in the evening, the fatigue of having to drive back home. The lake was the destination, but the trip ended up consuming half the day.
And what if the journey could become part of the outing again? With Trenord trains you depart from any station in Lombardy, you watch the scenery glide by from the window, and you arrive at the water’s edge already relaxed. Then it’s the boat’s turn, and only then does the day you had imagined begin.
From west to east, one lake after another
Take the map of Lombardy and follow the water: Trenord services guide you along the shores of each lake, from one end of the region to the other.
We begin in the west, at Lake Maggiore, where the train drops you at Laveno Mombello Lago, where the botanical gardens of Villa Taranto await. And from Luino, a short stroll leads to the dock for the Cannero Castles: two medieval fortresses on rocky islets, visitable with an audio guide and augmented reality.
A little further east, almost toward Switzerland, opens Lake Lugano. From Porto Ceresio the boat reaches Morcote, considered one of Switzerland’s most beautiful villages, with its cobbled alleys, elegant arcades and the Scherrer Park. Those who want to go further can also reach Melide, where the Alprose Chocolate Park makes chocolate lovers happy, then Paradiso, Gandria and Lugano itself with its elegant lakeside promenade.
Then comes Lake Como, the one with the richest array of options. From Como begins the “route of the villas on the water” up to Bellagio, with the possibility of including admission to Villa Carlotta and its botanical gardens. If you prefer a shorter circuit, the first basin up to Torno takes you through Cernobbio, Moltrasio and Blevio, with Villa Bernasconi as an extra. On the Lecco branch you sail freely between Lecco and Onno, or you can follow the Viandante Path to the Castle of Vezio, which for over a thousand years has dominated Varenna, with free train travel along the Lecco–Colico route.
Further east, Lake Iseo has a name to remember: Monte Isola. Get off at Iseo, walk to the pier, and board toward the largest inhabited lake island in Europe.
The journey closes on Lake Garda. Get off at Desenzano or Peschiera and let yourself be carried to Sirmione, between the Scaligero Castle and the Catullus Caves. With the Garda Experience you sail freely among the towns of the lower lake, from Sirmione to Salò, from Bardolino to Garda, and you visit the Vittoriale degli Italiani and the Heller Park in Gardone Riviera. With the Girogarda West, instead, you take a boat to Salò and return to Desenzano by bus with ARRIVA.
Why choose the train
The first advantage is the one you feel right away: no one is driving and the day begins on the platform. Trenord offers complete itineraries, with train, boat and, where provided, admission to attractions within the same package. You don’t have to reach a specific starting point, because you depart from any station in Lombardy. On many itineraries navigation between stops is free, so you decide where to get off and how long to stay. There are options for adults, teens and families, and itineraries for those who love art, gardens, trekking or fine dining. The choice of public transport is also a more sustainable way to experience the territory. And on the way back you can finally rest, chat, and browse the day’s photos.
Discover all the train-based tourism options and book your day at the lake.
