Lago d'Iseo – a pearl between Lake Garda and Lake Como

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: August 2026 | Lago d'Iseo is a beautiful lake in Lombardy in northern Italy, surrounded by mountains, small villages and vineyards. The lake is much less well-known than Lake Garda and Lake Como, but for us it became a real favorite. We drove around Lago d'Iseo in a camper van and enjoyed the fantastic views – although the hunt for a free campsite turned out to be much more difficult than we had expected.

Lake Iseo in northern Italy

Lago d'Iseo, which in Swedish is also called Iseosjön, is a quieter and lesser-known alternative to the larger Italian lakes nearby.

Lake Iseo is located in northern Italy between the provinces of Bergamo and Brescia. The lake lies west of Lake Garda and east of Lake Como.

Monte Isola – the island in the middle of Lago d'Iseo

In the middle of Lago d'Iseo lies Monte Isola, the large green island that is one of the lake's most special excursion destinations. The island rises steeply from the water and consists of small villages, hiking trails and fine viewpoints.

Monte Isola is accessible by ferry from several towns around the lake, including Sulzano. A popular way to explore the island is by walking or cycling, and along the way there are small restaurants and villages by the water.

Iseo – the town that gave the lake its name

In the southern part of the lake lies Iseo, the pleasant little town that gives Lago d'Iseo its name. It has a historic town centre with narrow streets, small squares, restaurants and cafés, as well as a promenade with views of the lake and the mountains.

Iseo is a good starting point for discovering the southern part of the lake. It is also close to the Franciacorta wine region, famous for its sparkling wines. Just north of Iseo is Sulzano, from where ferries depart for Monte Isola.

Small villages and towns around Lago d'Iseo

A big part of the charm of Lago d'Iseo is the small towns scattered along the shores. In the north is Lovere, with a historic city center and a nice beach promenade, while Pisogne On the opposite side of the lake has an old center with squares and churches.

Along the eastern shore are, among other things, chestnut, surrounded by mountains and olive groves. It was near Marone that we found our nice spot by the water during our motorhome trip. Farther south is Sarnico, where the Oglio River leaves the lake and where there is a lively promenade with restaurants and cafes.

You don't have to visit all the resorts to appreciate Lago d'Iseo. A big part of the experience is the journey along the lake itself, with small villages, steep mountains and ever-changing views of the water.

Driving around Lago d'Iseo

Driving along Lago d'Iseo is an experience in itself. The road follows the lake in many places, with steep mountains on one side and the water on the other. Along the way you pass small towns and constantly get new views of the lake and the islands.

We drove around Lago d'Iseo by camper van and were fascinated by the landscape. On some stretches the roads are narrow and go through tunnels, so with a larger camper van it might be wise to take it easy.

Lake Iseo by motorhome

When we traveled around Lago d'Iseo by camper van, we hadn't booked any campsites in advance. This turned out to be a mistake – the campsites we asked about were fully booked and several places had signs prohibiting overnight stays with camper vans.

Finally we found a place by the water near Marone where we could stay for the night. It was a fantastically beautiful evening right next to the lake and one of those campervan memories that stays with us for a long time.

Please note that the rules for free camping (or rather: sleeping in the camper) may be locally regulated and change over time, so always check current rules and local signage.

More to see in the neighbourhood

There is a lot to see and experience in this part of Italy. Here you will find more tips and reports:

• Bergamo
• Things to do in Milan
• Guide to Lake Garda
• Wine in Valpolicella