Lake Orta holidays
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Natural beauty, historic towns and a host of activities to try – holidays to Lake Orta have the lot.
A storybook setting
The littler sister of nearby lakes Como and Maggiore, Lake Orta serves up scenery that’s fit for a fairy-tale – it’s even known to locals as the Cinderella Lake. Terracotta roofed towns dot the shoreline and the hillsides above are covered with leafy forests. Look closely and you can spot hamlets, villas and the tall towers of churches and tumble-down castles tucked among the greenery. And as the whole lake measures less than 14km from end to end, it’s easy-peasy to take it all in on a week’s holiday.
Boat hopping and town exploring
There’s somewhere different to discover each day here, starting with Orta San Giulio. Perched on a peninsula, it’s the kind of place where you can wander winding streets and find click-worthy views around each corner, from cobbled piazzas to flower-fronted villas. A boat-hop away is San Giulio Island, where legend has it Saint Giulio defeated dragons and founded a church that you can still visit today. Further up the lake are Pettenasco and Crabbia – a duo of waterfront towns with a laid-back feel and some great beach spots. And in the hills above is the rural village of Armeno, a great place to visit if you're looking for that get-away-from-it-all vibe.
Paddles and pedals
Whether it’s on the water or dry land, there’s a host of outdoor activities on the cards here. You can borrow pedalos and stand-up paddleboards at lots of the beaches. And for even more lake-themed fun, you can take the tiller and explore in a sailing dinghy too. Back on shore, you can swap boats for bikes and set off for some two-wheeled exploring. The tourist board website has lots of readymade routes that take in some of the area’s best bits. Just hire an e-bike and away you go.
Things to do
- Lakeside promenade
- Lakeside path
- Lake bathing
- Boat trips
- Local ferries
- Bike hire
- Guided mountain walks
- Nordic walking
- Alpine flower garden
- Waterfalls
- UNESCO site
- Open-air concerts
- Outdoor pool
- Tennis courts
- Museums
- Minigolf
- E-Bikes
- Caves