There is not much in the world that can, by its magnificence, pair with beautiful lakes. Oceans, rivers, deltas, waterfalls, all the water surfaces that exist on the planet are unique in some ways, they have some peculiar attractions, but lakes are specific: nowhere will you find such peace as next to a lake. Many lakes across Europe are therefore very attractive to tourists who love to vacation in the true sense of the word, and Europe’s most beautiful lakes are classified as one of the largest tourist attractions in the old continent.
With picturesque scenery and guaranteed peace, European lakeside resorts are the first choice for many tourists to travel. There are many lakes in Europe that capture its beauty, so it’s hard to choose the best. Nevertheless, these 10 lakes can certainly be classified in this group.
Lake Bled
If you imagine a lake from a fairy tale, it would probably look like this:
Although most tourists come to Bled for a weekend break to enjoy some outdoor experience next to the lake, there are some other things you can do in Bled. Apart from the lake itself, you can visit Bled’s castle, ride a bike around the lake, go to the panoramic view, visit the small island in the middle of the lake, drive a boat or paddle boat or simply enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine. The decision should be yours.
How to reach Lake Bled?
- By car: take the A2 highway northwest from Ljubljana and follow the signs for Kranj or Jesenice. The journey time is 40 minutes. Do not forget that you need a vignette to drive on the highway in Slovenia.
- By train: there are two options – you can choose between Lesce train station or Jezero Bled train station. Anyhow, from each train station you can reach the capital, Ljubljana.
- By bus: Probably the easiest way as there are buses available every hour. Travel time is around 70min because bus goes through some smaller villages before reaching final destination.
Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Lake Ohrid and the city of Ohrid are surrounded by high mountains and at almost 700 meters in height you will have the illusion that you are at sea. At the very least, you will think that you are in some sea bay, and in fact you are on one of the largest and oldest iodine lakes in Europe, but also the deepest. Many like to spend their holidays on Lake Ohrid, but also – Ohrid is an indispensable point for some on their way to Greece. There are many things that you can do in Ohrid – sunbathing at the local beach, visiting monasteries, enjoying excellent local wines, sailing around the lake, discovering local macedonian cuisine etc.
How to reach Skadar lake:
- By car: having your own set of wheels is probably the most convinient way of reaching Ohrid from Skopje, capital of North Macedonia. You can fly to Skopje and then rent a car and drive to Ohrid, which would take around 2.5 hours. Or, if you decide to fly to Tirana, Albania, then you can rent a car with a total travel time of 2 hours and 20min.
- By bus: A bus from Skopje to Lake Ohrid takes about 3.5 hours and costs around 520 MKD ($9.40). Buses run every couple of hours from Skopje.
Lake Como
It is located in the northern part of the country, between the capital of the Lombardy – Milan area and the border with Switzerland. Lakes in Italy also have their own charms: cities with a long history and natural beauty, old villas and their fairy gardens, museums, cathedrals, festivals and easy-going people.
It is very easy to stroll around Lake Como, as the tourist attractions that you must see are at a short distance from the station and docks. Some of those must-visit attractions are Villa Olmo, Como Cathedral, Basilica of Sant’Abbondio, Volta’s Lighthouse, or just to drink espresso in the local cafes by the lake. Experience Como like Italian!
How to reach Lake Como:
- By car: You can easily rent a car in Milan and enjoy your drive of 1.5 hours. If you want to come from Switzerland’s side, you can except 40 minutes of driving from Lugano, Switzerland.
- By train: From Milan to Como, it would cost you around 6 USD in one direction, and normally buses operate constantly. The total trip time is around 1 hour.
Lake Hallstatt, Austria
In a country full of beautiful lakes, Hallstatt stands out from the crowd as one of the dreamiest lakes in Europe.
Hallstatt is an idyllic and fairytale village tucked into alpine wreaths. However, unusual magic happens in Hallstatt in the winter. The wooden houses and cabins look like they have crystal sugar sprinkled on their roof, and the light shimmers through the clouds from early in the morning until the evening. If you happen to have a chance to visit this wonderful place, then you should also pay a visit to Kalvarienberg Church, Market square, Archaeological artifacts, Museum Hallstatt, Hallstatt Salt Mine etc.
How to reach Hallstatt?
- By car: From Vienna, Austria to Hallstatt you can expect a drive of 3 hours and 20min, but from Salzburg, it would last only 1 hour and 20 min.
- By train: if you want just to sit and relax while someone else is helping you reach your destination, train can be a cool way! It would approximately last around 4 hours of your time from Vienna, or around 2 hours from Salzburg.
Brienz lake, Switzerland
Serene crystal clear water, green mountains and breathtaking views are some of the things you can expect at Brienz lake.
Another destination for a boat trip on Lake Brienz is the Giessbach Falls. Immediately beside it is the historic Grand Hotel Giessbach, which looks like a fairytale castle. Another popular excursion is to walk along the southern bank of Lake Brienz from Bönigen via Iseltwald to Giessbach.
How to reach Brienz lake:
- By train – we definitely suggest taking the train from Lucerne, it would take around 1,5 hours to reach lake Brienz, but in the meantime you will have a chance to see wonderful views from your cabin.
- By car – renting a car in Lucerne and driving to Lake Brienz can be a good option, especially because in that case you will easily move around Interlaken and visit more places in the same trip.
Rossvatnet, Norway
A place where you can witness a picturesque view of the amazing Northern Lights. Norway has many amazing water surfaces that you can visit, but this time we are choosing Rossvatnet lake. Although it is a bit hard to reach, we believe it’s a great place to visit it, especially during the period of frequent Northern Lights.
How to reach:
- by car: there are some options of travelling by bus, but we highly recommend renting a car from Trondheim. During your ride, you will see many beautiful places and you might decide to have couple of detours on your way to Rossvatnet.
These were our personal top picks as people that love to travel, spend quality time outdoors and explore new countries. If you are seeking more inspiration, we have prepared for you an amazing blog post about O Circuit. Let us know what are your favorite lakes that you have visited!
