Lombardy Cruises: Top 5 Sailing Tours for those Unforgettable Lake Views
Lombardy, in Italy, is almost certainly more than just its fashion-forward capital city; it’s like your postcard of scenic lakes which seem to practically beg you to get out on the water. And guess what? You totally can. We are chatting about some fantastic cruises and sailing tours that will let you soak up those seriously great lake views. You can see lake views and some pretty unique spots from a whole new angle. So, get ready to trade in your walking shoes for some boat shoes, as we check out the top five aquatic outings around Lombardy.
1. Lake Como’s Charm: a Full-Day Boat Tour with Villa Visits
Lake Como, it’s a bit like the A-lister of Italian lakes, and what way to make an entrance than by, you know, boat? These full-day boat tours are very cool way of getting a taste of the lake’s glamorous vibe. Now, they typically zip you around the central basin where you can check out the very iconic villas like Villa del Balbianello (you might know it from a movie or two) and Villa Carlotta with seriously scenic gardens.
Lunch, arguably it’s one of the best bits, tends to be at one of the lakefront restaurants which are a bit awesome, giving you time to soak up the views as you wolf down a tasty meal. You know, they often drop anchor in a few of those picturesque villages such as Bellagio which is almost certainly a “pearl of Lake Como,” or maybe Varenna known just a little for those colorful houses which line the waterfront. The great thing, is that a full-day thing means you aren’t rushing, and you actually get time to properly relax and drink in all of that lovely scenic loveliness. You will feel very good after doing one of these all day tours.
2. Lake Garda’s Southern Shores: a Sirmione and Peschiera Cruise
Lake Garda, Lombardy’s very big, lake, and its southern bit packs its own charm. What would make a seriously chill cruise? It’s around the town of Sirmione with its postcard-perfect Scaliger Castle practically sticking right out into the lake. Many cruises, you know, tend to push off from here, gliding gently toward Peschiera del Garda, which actually has quite the history being a UNESCO World Heritage site with its well-kept Venetian defense structures.
Is that right? Some cruises will chuck in a pit-stop in Lazise where you have the option of poking around that medieval town or just taking it easy with an Italian gelato as you people-watch by the harbor. Apparently, they give you views all the way, right along the cruise. From Sirmione it also affords amazing sightlines, so very close up of the Grotte di Catullo. Like your Roman ruins sitting at the end of the peninsula; it feels particularly amazing when seen from the water, that. Very good to check out those cool historic things, very interesting historic Venetian points of interest there!
3. Lake Iseo’s Artful Escapes: a Franciacorta Wine Tour by Boat
So, if you fancy joining your cruise with a bit of wine tasting, Lake Iseo, could be an absolute win. Lake Iseo is that little hidden gem, so close to the Franciacorta wine region which is often named as the home to some delicious sparkling wines. In some respects, boat tours tend to blend both things together offering a cool tasting experience that you won’t get anywhere else.
Usually, those tours mean sailing around the lake as you admire that Monte Isola. Apparently Monte Isola is known as the biggest lake island across Europe – then they usually sail onto a vineyard by the lake, for that tasting. And that, is a bit special. If you ask me it just might be an awesome, pretty unique way to appreciate the flavors of Franciacorta with like your stunning waterside views very well. They make very special wine flavors at Iseo.
4. Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands: a Hop-On, Hop-Off Boat Trip
Lake Maggiore, its is the lake which you find stretching from Lombardy and into Switzerland, which provides chances for a seriously scenic hop-on hop-off boat trip to visit those well known Borromean Islands. These include Isola Bella and Isola Madre as well as Isola dei Pescatori offering just a little something very different for all types of traveller.
On Isola Bella you can explore this beautiful Baroque palace and terraced gardens. Then there’s Isola Madre known rather for botanical gardens with unusual plants and free-roaming peacocks, next you’ve got Isola dei Pescatori a real charming fishing village which, very unusually, is occupied all year round. Arguably, one of the best bits relating to hop-on hop-off tours is like you can make your schedule up, exploring the bits which are for you at the tempo which suits. This offers that rather cool level of very amazing freedom making the experience a lot more enjoyable and the views you find really make Lake Maggiore worth spending some time on. It might tend to be, a pace that suits, on Lake Maggiore!
5. Sunset Sailing on Lake Lugano: a Romantic Evening Cruise
Alright, how about one, seriously, that would win the hearts. Lake Lugano does sit astride the Swiss-Italian boundary, but also makes its mark in Lombardy. Those sunset sailing cruises on Lake Lugano do feel like a scene directly from like your movie which offers an experience that’s equal part relaxing equal part amazing.
Often, these kind of tours have setting sail close to the early evening so the time the sun gets lower plus those rays begins painting that lake a collection with golds, pinks and oranges, and these, in the evening will make your tour special. Normally, the boats have a small size making them a good setting especially like your special occasions in addition to very cool quiet nights just admiring the shores from either side plus enjoying just a glass related to Prosecco. Lake Lugano, provides something, very, rather different giving travellers the possible chance in order to experience both Swiss, in addition to Italian lifestyle throughout just one voyage Italian voyage .