10 Tips and Advice for visiting Lake Iseo
I live near Lake Iseo and have a small apartment there with a beautiful view of the lake which I rent during the summer so this isn't the usual trip report, more a compendium of the best things to do, together with Ten Best Free Activities Lake Iseo.
This new cosy mystery "She Left No Note" set around Lake Iseo is now out on Amazon
So, that's the only advertising you'll ever find on this blog....but this is our blog and they're our activities, so I think I'm allowed, for once! Now, some advice for visiting Lake Iseo.
Lake Iseo is the quiet lake, overlooked by mass tourism heading for Lake Garda in particular but also for the renowned. You’ll never find the hordes of tourists you find on the other Lakes Garda, Maggiore and Como and even Orta, not even in August. The busiest I ever see it is on sunny spring Sundays when people escape the nearby cities of Brescia and Bergamo for a day out on the lake. Yes, Iseo and Sarnico can be busy on a Sunday afternoon with Italians out for the passeggiata, but it’s rarely chaotic.
Lake Iseo is for travellers in search of the ‘real Italy’. Ideal if you want to practice your Italian, many local people don’t speak English.
Summer
If you can possibly avoid it, it’s better not to visit Italy in August when most Italians are on holiday. But if you can’t avoid it, Lake Iseo will be less crowded than other holiday areas of Italy. Expect local people from the lakeside villages on the beaches, and a few foreign tourists. It may well be very hot. If you’re visiting between mid June and the end of August you’ll be more comfortable in accommodation which offers air-conditioning.
Autumn
September can still be hot, October mild. The ideal time also for hiking in the hills and mountains because it’s not too hot and the changing colous of the foliage are an added bonus. In September there are still village festivals -such as the ‘pumpkin Festival in Sale Marasino or the Mushroom and Chestnut festival in Pisogne. Once the clocks go back at the end of October the evenings are long and bear in mind the ‘nightlife’ in the quiet towns and villages around the lake is limited to going out for dinner or a pizza. From mid-October it’s wiser to choose accommodation with some sort of heating. It could be damp or cool in the evenings, or there could be some rainy days .
Winter
On a sunny day in a protected place near the lake it can feel pleasant but winter is cold in this area too. You will need winter clothes, accommodation with heating in December, January and February. As the days get longer and if there’s a mild spell already in February it can be warm enough to sit outside for coffee and feel comfortable.
Spring
March is often a good month whereas April and May used to be wetter. Spring is beautiful anywhere, with an explosion of green and flowers and nature. A good time for hiking, before it gets too hot. Don’t expect to be able to swim in the lake in the spring.
2. Mosquitos
You will know if they bite you or not. If you’re a person who attracts mosquitos you will need to take precautions, as soon as the weather starts getting warmer. In high summer, near any green area they can be voracious, even during the day. Spray yourself, or wear long trousers. If you’re particularly bothered by them, choose accommodation with airconditioning so you can sleep with the windows shut at night or has got mosquito screens at least at the bedroom window.
3. Be careful
It’s a lake, it’s not the sea and it’s not a swimming pool. Don’t swim in the lake unless you are a very confident swimmer. It can get deep unexpectedly.
A car will make life easier. Otherwise, keep to the eastern side of the lake because as well as the coach service there is also the train. You can find more information here and the timetable here. You can also travel around the lake by ferry. Once again, the eastern side is better served, and the villages to the south, more than Lovere or Pisogne. Public transport services are usually frequent from early in the morning until early evening. Don’t expect to go out for dinner in Brescia and get back to the lake by train. Also, when you arrive, don’t plan on getting the last train (8.45pm as far as Iseo, 6.45pm further north) out of Brescia in case you are delayed.
There isn’t a short distance taxi service like you may be used to at home. So don’t reason you can ‘just get a taxi’ if you get stuck. There are taxis, but usually prebooked and for longer distances.
5. Good places for a stroll along the Lake without the noise of traffic
Iseo
Pisogne
Sarnico/Paratico
Vello-Toline cycle/pedestrian path
Riva di Solto
6. Driving
The SP 510 is the fast road along the eastern side of the lake between Brescia and the Vallecamonica.
Be careful....The exit down to Sulzano is quite steep with a lot of sharp bends. If you’re travelling by camper or a large van take the Iseo exit and go along the lake.
Be careful....The road from the Zone-Marone exit down to Marone is VERY narrow. Don’t take this road going down towards the lake unless you have to. In many places two cars can’t go by at the same time which causes a lot of backing up and down and stress. To reach Marone cool, calm and collected, take the Iseo exit and drive along the lake (but check Google maps if it’s late afternoon/early evening, there can be hold-ups at Sulzano). Or take the Marone exit just NORTH of Marone. You come out on the main lake road above Vello and in a couple of minutes you reach Marone, or Sale Marasino, from the north.
Be careful....After this exit going north towards Pisogne there’s a speed camera just before the long tunnel "Trentapassi". You may be looking at the view and not notice. Be careful. The limit here is 70 kms per hour.
Be careful....The historical centre of most villages are difficult to access by car. Find out in advance.
7. Parking
Nowadays you have to pay for parking in most places. Or there is ‘disco orario’ – limited time but free. Some areas where parking is still free (April 2023):
Pisogne – in front of the train station there’s the large car park of the shopping centre.
Marone – going south, just after the last tunnel, on the right (limited spaces); just after the few shops, also on the right (limited spaces); continuing on the right where there’s the Lido (beach), you can’t see it from the road but there are white block stone benches on your right and the car park is below.
Sale Marasino – at the roundabout near the beach Padiglione 22
Eating out
Food is geared to Italians, not to foreigners. Don’t expect to find restaurants or bars offering an English breakfast and many menus are only in Italian. Many restaurants in the area offer a fixed menu or “pranzo di lavoro” – work lunch - from Monday to Friday/Saturday and only at lunchtime including a first course, a second course, water, wine, coffee for 13/15 euros. There’s an ample selection of places to eat. Fewer low season during weekday evenings.
Water
The water is, of course, drinkable. At Marone there is a public distributor of free refrigerated sparkling water: turn right just after the Town Hall (sign-posted Zone), a couple of metres before the level crossing. There’s another in Pisogne in the car park south of the shopping centre.
9. Is Lake Iseo a safe place?
Yes. Normal precautions are sufficient. It's never a good idea anywhere to leave things on view, or documents, medicines and other essential items in a parked car.
10. Shopping
In this area most smaller shops are open from 8.30 am to 12, then from about 15.30 to 19. Food shops may close on Sunday (but most are open just in the morning) and on Monday afternoon.
In Pisogne there’s a shopping mall, and in Iseo there are several supermarkets: Italmark, Conad and Lidl, all open all day and also on Sundays.
There is the Franciacorta Outlet Village near Ome at about 15 minutes from the lake. There are 160 shops.
Do you have tips and advice for visiting Lake Iseo? Add your comments. Here is more information about visiting Lake Iseo.
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