Travel Guide
Italy – The Great Lakes Motorhome Guide
Discover a relaxed Northern Italy route shaped by lakeside campsites, scenic ferry crossings, bike-friendly towns and memorable motorhome stops around Maggiore, Garda, Verona and Como.
🏔 Alpine Scenery
Mountain backdrops, sparkling water and dramatic viewpoints make every drive feel special.
🚲 Explore By Bike
Cycling gave us freedom to explore lakefront towns without constantly moving the motorhome.
⛴ Ferry Adventures
Some of our favourite moments came from ferry crossings to islands, waterfront villages and scenic viewpoints.
🐕 Dog Friendly Italy
We found plenty of lakeside walks, open spaces and relaxed stops that worked well for travelling with a dog.
Our Route
A Northern Italy journey built around the lakes
01 Lake Maggiore
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02 Lake Garda South
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03 Lake Garda North
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04 Verona
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05 Lake Como
This route worked brilliantly because each stop offered something different: island ferries on Maggiore, classic lake scenery on Garda, a city break in Verona and a more challenging but beautiful finish at Lake Como.
Interactive Map
Follow the route stop by stop
Use this map area as a visual route guide for Lake Maggiore, Lake Garda South, Lake Garda North, Verona and Lake Como. It mirrors the journey order and helps tie together campsites, attractions and practical notes from each section below.
- 📍 Lake Maggiore
- 📍 Lake Garda South
- 📍 Lake Garda North
- 📍 Verona
- 📍 Lake Como
Destination Guide
Lake Maggiore
Our stay at Camping Orchidea
We stayed here for 4 nights in Feriolo and it proved to be an excellent base for exploring Lake Maggiore. The campsite location worked brilliantly for getting around, and the area felt relaxed, scenic and easy to enjoy at a slower pace.
What stood out most was how well this stop balanced practical touring with memorable days out. Cycling was excellent, the lakefront setting was beautiful and it was one of those places where we could happily return and do it all again.
The islands we loved
- Isola Bella for grand architecture and formal gardens
- Isola Madre for a quieter, greener atmosphere
- Isola dei Pescatori for character, food and a more traditional feel
★★★★★
Campsite: Camping Orchidea
Stay: 4 nights
Cycling: Excellent
Dog friendly: Excellent
Would we return? Without hesitation
Nearby attractions
Boat trips to the Borromean Islands, lakeside promenades and relaxed exploring around the western shore made this one of the easiest stops to enjoy.
Motorhome notes
A very manageable stop with good access and enough nearby interest to justify a longer stay without feeling rushed.
Photos and video
Use this area for island crossings, campsite views, lakeside cycling clips and evening footage from Feriolo.
Featured Destination
Lake Garda
South Lake Garda
Camping San Francesco Village gave us a comfortable base for exploring the southern end of the lake. This part of Garda felt easier, more relaxed and ideal for mixing campsite downtime with sightseeing days.
Nearby highlights included Sirmione Castle, the Grotte di Catullo and Desenzano Castle. It is a great area if you want classic lake towns, history and a base that works well for day trips.
Would we return? Yes, especially for a longer relaxed stay with more time around Sirmione and the southern shoreline.
North Lake Garda
Al Lago Camping and Rooms was our base for the northern end of Garda, where the scenery becomes more dramatic and the atmosphere feels more adventurous. This was one of the most visually impressive parts of the whole trip.
Standout places included Riva del Garda, Torbole, Varone Waterfalls, the Bastione viewpoint and Marmitte dei Giganti. It is a brilliant stop for active days, photography and mountain-backed lake views.
Would we return? Absolutely. North Garda felt like the most dramatic and adventurous part of the lake.
Motorhome Reality Check
Lake Garda pros: excellent variety, easier exploring, strong campsite choice and plenty to do without constantly moving the motorhome.
Lake Garda cautions: popular areas can be busy, and the northern roads need a little more patience, especially in peak season.
Photos and video
Perfect for lakeside footage, castle visits, ferry scenes, cycling clips and dramatic mountain-backed drone shots from the north.
Comparison
Which Italian Lake Is Best For Motorhomes?
| Lake | Scenery | Cycling | Motorhome Access | Dog Friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Garda | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ |
| Lake Maggiore | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Lake Como | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Based on our experience, Garda offered the best all-round variety, Maggiore felt the easiest and most relaxing to tour, and Como was beautiful but needed more planning.
Verona
Camping Verona Village worked very well for a city stop. The facilities were clean, the site was dog friendly and the bus connection into Verona made visiting the city simple without the stress of driving in.
The campsite specifically advised not to cycle into Verona, which was useful practical advice and exactly the kind of detail that helps when planning a motorhome trip. Instead, using public transport made the day much easier.
- Verona Arena
- Castelvecchio
- Scaliger Bridge
Would we return? Yes, as an easy and worthwhile city break within a wider Northern Italy route.
Lake Como – Beautiful But Different
Camping & Residence Green Village had a beautiful setting, private beach access and useful train connections, but Lake Como felt noticeably different from Garda and Maggiore. It was still stunning, but it required more planning and felt less straightforward for motorhome touring.
Campsite availability was more limited, exploring by motorhome was more difficult and the whole area felt busier and less flexible. That does not take away from the beauty, but it is worth being honest about if you are deciding where to spend the most time.
Would we return? Yes, but with more planning and slightly different expectations than Garda or Maggiore.
Motorhome Reality Check
Lake Como pros: beautiful scenery, elegant towns, private beach access and useful rail connections from the campsite.
Lake Como cautions: limited campsite choice, more difficult road access and a route that benefits from more planning before you arrive.
Final Section
Our Northern Italy Journey
Lake Maggiore
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Lake Garda South
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Lake Garda North
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Verona
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Lake Como
Three lakes, countless memories, and one unforgettable motorhome adventure.
This page now reflects the real character of the trip: large scenery, campsite experiences, honest verdicts and practical touring advice rather than a generic tourism overview.