Why Lake Destinations Deserve a Spot on Your Travel List

Lakes offer something that oceans and mountains cannot replicate: a stillness that settles into your bones. The combination of calm water, surrounding landscapes, and the distinct microcultures that develop around lakeshores creates travel experiences with a particular quality of peace.

Lake destinations also tend to be more affordable and less crowded than their coastal equivalents, offer a wider range of seasons and activities, and are often situated in regions with rich cultural heritage. Whether you are after adventure, relaxation, photography, or cultural immersion, there is a lake destination that fits.

This guide covers 15 of the world's most stunning lake destinations, with the practical details you need to plan a visit.

The 15 Best Lake Destinations in the World

1. Lake Bled -- Slovenia

Lake Bled is the kind of place that looks digitally enhanced in photographs but is equally surreal in person. A glacial lake with an island church, a clifftop castle, and the Julian Alps as a backdrop.

Activities: Row a traditional pletna boat to Bled Island ($15-$20 round trip), visit the 11th-century Bled Castle ($14 entry), hike the Vintgar Gorge (1.6 km boardwalk above emerald water, $12 entry), swim in the lake (designated areas), paddleboard, cycle the lake path (4 km loop)
Accommodation: Hotel Park Bled (lakefront, from $120/night), Vila Bled (former Tito residence, from $200/night), Garden Village Bled eco-resort (from $180/night), hostels from $25/night
Best months: June through September for swimming and warm weather; December for Christmas markets and snow
Average daily budget: $80-$200
Getting there: 55 minutes by bus from Ljubljana ($7), or 45 minutes by car

Insider tip: Arrive at the lake before 7:00 AM for mirror-still reflections and near-complete solitude. The famous cream cake (kremsnita) at the Park Hotel's cafe is the traditional post-visit reward.

2. Lake Como -- Lombardy, Italy

Lake Como has been attracting the wealthy and the creative since Roman times. Its microclimate supports Mediterranean vegetation -- lemon trees, oleanders, palms -- despite being in northern Italy.

Activities: Ferry-hop between lakeside villages (day pass $15-$20), tour Villa Carlotta gardens ($12), explore Bellagio's stepped alleyways, kayak to Villa del Balbianello (of Star Wars fame), hike the Greenway del Lago (10 km trail between Colonno and Cadenabbia)
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Tremezzo (legendary five-star, from $500/night), Hotel Silvio in Bellagio (family-run, from $100/night), Ostello Bello Lake Como hostel in Lecco (from $30/night)
Best months: April through October. May and September offer the best balance of weather, fewer crowds, and reasonable prices.
Average daily budget: $100-$300
Getting there: 1 hour by train from Milan to Varenna or Lecco

Insider tip: Skip Bellagio on weekends (day-trippers from Milan overwhelm it) and explore the quieter eastern shore villages of Varenna and Mandello del Lario instead.

3. Lake Tahoe -- California/Nevada, USA

Straddling the California-Nevada border at 6,225 feet elevation, Lake Tahoe is one of the deepest and clearest lakes in North America, with visibility exceeding 70 feet.

Activities: Skiing at Palisades Tahoe or Heavenly (winter), swimming at Sand Harbor or Pope Beach (summer), hiking the Rubicon Trail or Mount Tallac, kayaking Emerald Bay, mountain biking the Flume Trail, casino nightlife on the Nevada side
Accommodation: The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe (from $400/night), Basecamp Hotel South Lake Tahoe (boutique, from $150/night), campgrounds at D.L. Bliss or Sugar Pine Point State Parks ($35/night, reserve 6 months ahead)
Best months: December through March for skiing; June through September for lake activities
Average daily budget: $100-$300
Getting there: 3.5 hours by car from San Francisco; 1 hour from Reno (nearest airport with frequent flights)

Insider tip: The east shore between Incline Village and Sand Harbor is the most scenic and least developed stretch of shoreline. The water color transitions from cobalt to turquoise in a way that rivals Caribbean beaches.

4. Plitvice Lakes -- Croatia

A UNESCO World Heritage Site consisting of 16 terraced lakes connected by waterfalls, set in a dense forest that is home to bears, wolves, and dozens of bird species.

Activities: Hike the wooden boardwalk trails (routes range from 2-8 hours), take the panoramic boat across Kozjak Lake, photograph the Great Waterfall (78 meters, the tallest in Croatia), spot wildlife in early morning or late afternoon
Accommodation: Hotel Jezero (inside the park, from $120/night), Plitvice Holiday Resort (nearby, from $70/night), guesthouses in Rakovica (5 km away, from $40/night)
Best months: May through September for full waterfalls and green foliage. Autumn colors peak in October. Winter visits offer frozen waterfalls and virtually no crowds.
Average daily budget: $60-$150
Entry fee: $35 (July-August), $25 (other months). Two-day tickets available.
Getting there: 2 hours by car from Zagreb; buses run regularly ($12-$18 one way)

Insider tip: Enter at Entrance 2 and take the boat across Kozjak Lake first. Most tour groups enter at Entrance 1 and follow the lower lakes route, so going in reverse gives you quieter trails.

5. Moraine Lake -- Banff National Park, Canada

Moraine Lake is the image that launched a thousand desktop wallpapers. The glacially-fed turquoise water set against the Valley of the Ten Peaks is one of the most photographed landscapes in North America.

Activities: Canoe on the lake ($110 per hour rental), hike the Rockpile Trail (short scramble to the iconic viewpoint), hike the Consolation Lakes trail, hike the Sentinel Pass trail (strenuous, stunning)
Accommodation: Moraine Lake Lodge (on-site, from $500/night, books out months in advance), Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise (15 minutes away, from $400/night), HI Lake Louise Alpine Centre hostel (from $45/night)
Best months: Mid-June through early October (the road is closed in winter). July and August for warmest weather; September for larch trees turning golden.
Average daily budget: $100-$300
Getting there: 14 km from Lake Louise village. Parks Canada operates a mandatory shuttle system during peak season ($8 per person, reserve at reservation.pc.gc.ca).

Insider tip: The shuttle system has made sunrise visits easier to plan than in previous years when the parking lot filled by 5:30 AM. Book the earliest shuttle slot available for the best light and fewest people.

6. Lake Atitlan -- Guatemala

Described by Aldous Huxley as "the most beautiful lake in the world," Lake Atitlan sits in a volcanic caldera surrounded by three volcanoes and a dozen Maya villages.

Activities: Kayak or paddleboard on the lake, visit the Maya village markets (Santiago Atitlan on Tuesdays, Chichicastenango on Thursdays and Sundays), hike Volcan San Pedro ($20 with a guide), take weaving classes, study Spanish (from $150/week including homestay)
Accommodation: Casa Palopo (luxury boutique, from $200/night), Lush Atitlan (eco-hotel in San Marcos, from $80/night), hostels in San Pedro La Laguna (from $8/night)
Best months: November through March (dry season). October is beautiful with fewer tourists.
Average daily budget: $30-$100
Getting there: 3 hours by shuttle from Guatemala City or Antigua ($12-$20)

Insider tip: Each lakeside village has its own distinct character. Panajachel is the main tourist hub. San Pedro La Laguna is the backpacker center. San Marcos La Laguna is the yoga and wellness village. Santa Cruz and Jaibalito are quieter and only accessible by boat.

7. Hallstatt and Hallstattersee -- Austria

The lakeside village of Hallstatt, with its pastel-colored houses reflected in the lake and mountains rising directly from the waterline, has been inhabited for over 7,000 years.

Activities: Visit the Hallstatt Salt Mine (the world's oldest, $38 entry), ride the funicular to the Skywalk viewing platform ($20), kayak on Hallstattersee, hike to the Waldbachstrub waterfall, visit the Charnel House (1,200 painted skulls)
Accommodation: Heritage Hotel Hallstatt (lakefront, from $200/night), Seehotel Gruner Baum (traditional, from $180/night), B&Bs in Obertraun across the lake (from $70/night)
Best months: May through September. June offers long days and garden blooms. October delivers autumn color.
Average daily budget: $100-$250
Getting there: 4 hours by train from Vienna with a change at Attnang-Puchheim, then a ferry across the lake

Insider tip: Stay overnight. The vast majority of visitors are day-trippers who arrive between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM. Early morning and evening, the village returns to its peaceful self.

8. Lake Ohrid -- North Macedonia/Albania

One of Europe's oldest and deepest lakes, Lake Ohrid has been inhabited for thousands of years and contains over 200 endemic species found nowhere else on earth.

Activities: Swim from pebbly beaches, visit the Church of St. John at Kaneo (the most photographed spot in North Macedonia), explore Ohrid's Old Town and fortress, boat to the Bay of Bones (reconstructed Bronze Age village on stilts), visit St. Naum Monastery at the southern end
Accommodation: Villa St. Sofija (boutique in Old Town, from $60/night), Hotel Tino Sveti Stefan (beachfront, from $80/night), apartments from $30/night
Best months: June through September for swimming. July and August are peak season.
Average daily budget: $40-$100
Getting there: 3 hours by bus from Skopje ($10); budget flights to Ohrid St. Paul the Apostle Airport from some European cities

Insider tip: The Albanian side of the lake, particularly the towns of Pogradec and Lin, is dramatically less touristy and even cheaper. The lakeside cycling path connecting the two countries is a highlight.

9. Lake Titicaca -- Peru/Bolivia

The world's highest navigable lake at 3,812 meters (12,507 feet), Lake Titicaca straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia and has been central to Andean civilizations for millennia.

Activities: Visit the Uros floating islands (constructed entirely from totora reeds), stay with a family on Taquile Island (community-based tourism), explore Copacabana and Isla del Sol on the Bolivian side, acclimatize and explore Puno
Accommodation: Titilaka Lodge (luxury all-inclusive on the Peruvian shore, from $400/night), Hotel Libertador Lago Titicaca (on an island near Puno, from $100/night), homestays on Amantani Island ($15-$20/night including meals)
Best months: May through October (dry season). June and July are coldest but clearest.
Average daily budget: $30-$80 (Peru side); $20-$50 (Bolivia side)
Getting there: Flights from Lima or Cusco to Juliaca (1.5 hours by bus to Puno). Bus from Cusco to Puno (6-7 hours, $10-$25).

Insider tip: Spend at least one night on an island. The homestay experience on Amantani or Taquile provides cultural immersion that a day trip cannot. Bring warm layers: nighttime temperatures can drop below freezing even in summer.

10. Lake Wanaka -- South Island, New Zealand

Lake Wanaka combines alpine scenery with a relaxed small-town atmosphere that feels worlds apart from the tourist intensity of nearby Queenstown.

Activities: Hike the Roys Peak track (16 km return, one of New Zealand's most Instagrammed hikes), visit the famous lone willow tree, ski at Treble Cone or Cardrona (winter), kayak to Mou Waho Island, mountain bike, tandem skydive
Accommodation: Edgewater Hotel (lakefront, from $150 NZD/night), Wanaka Homestead Lodge (from $120 NZD/night), YHA Wanaka (from $35 NZD/night)
Best months: December through March for hiking and summer activities. June through September for skiing.
Average daily budget: $80-$200 NZD
Getting there: 1 hour by car from Queenstown; scenic drive over the Crown Range

11. Bacalar Lagoon -- Quintana Roo, Mexico

Known as the "Lagoon of Seven Colors" for its shifting shades of turquoise, indigo, and aquamarine, Bacalar is Mexico's freshwater answer to the Caribbean.

Activities: Kayak or paddleboard the lagoon, swim in Cenote Azul (one of the deepest cenotes in Mexico), visit the Pirate Fortress, sail on a catamaran tour, discover the living stromatolites (among the oldest life forms on earth)
Accommodation: Akalki Hotel (lakefront eco-hotel, from $80/night), Hotel Laguna Bacalar (from $60/night), hostels from $12/night
Best months: November through April (dry season). February and March offer ideal conditions.
Average daily budget: $40-$100
Getting there: 40 minutes by car from Chetumal airport; 4.5 hours by bus from Cancun ($20-$30)

12. Lake Interlaken Region (Brienz and Thun) -- Switzerland

The town of Interlaken sits between two lakes -- Brienz (turquoise) and Thun (deep blue) -- with the Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau peaks towering above.

Activities: Cruise Lake Brienz to Giessbach Falls ($30 round trip), visit Jungfraujoch ("Top of Europe," $220 round trip by train), paraglide over the lakes ($180), hike Harder Kulm viewpoint, visit the medieval castle at Thun
Accommodation: Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel (iconic luxury, from $400/night), Hotel Beausite (mid-range, from $150/night), Backpackers Villa Sonnenhof (from $35/night)
Best months: June through September for hiking and lake activities. December through March for skiing.
Average daily budget: $100-$300 (Switzerland is expensive)
Getting there: 1 hour by train from Bern; 2.5 hours from Zurich

13. Crater Lake -- Oregon, USA

The deepest lake in the United States (1,943 feet) and one of the clearest bodies of water on earth. Crater Lake fills the caldera of a collapsed volcano, and its intense blue color is entirely natural.

Activities: Drive the 33-mile Rim Drive (open July-October), hike the Cleetwood Cove Trail (the only legal lake access), take the boat tour to Wizard Island ($43), snowshoe the rim in winter, photograph from Discovery Point and Watchman Overlook
Accommodation: Crater Lake Lodge (historic lodge on the rim, from $200/night, books out quickly), Mazama Village cabins (from $170/night), camping at Mazama ($21/night)
Best months: July through September (Rim Drive is fully open). June and October are spectacular but partially accessible.
Average daily budget: $80-$200
Getting there: 2.5 hours by car from Medford (nearest commercial airport); 4.5 hours from Portland

14. Lake Garda -- Italy

Italy's largest lake spans three regions (Lombardy, Trentino, Veneto) and offers everything from Mediterranean-climate southern shores to alpine northern fjords.

Activities: Visit Sirmione's castle and thermal baths, windsurf at Torbole (world-class conditions), visit Gardaland theme park, hike the Ponale Trail from Riva del Garda, explore Limone sul Garda's lemon groves, wine taste in Bardolino
Accommodation: Grand Hotel Fasano (five-star on the Riviera, from $300/night), Hotel du Lac in Riva (from $100/night), campgrounds (Italy has excellent lakeside camping, from $25/night)
Best months: April through October. July and August are warmest but most crowded.
Average daily budget: $80-$200
Getting there: 1.5 hours by car from Milan or Verona. Direct trains to Desenzano del Garda.

15. Lake Malawi -- Malawi

The ninth largest lake in the world, Lake Malawi contains more species of fish than any other lake on earth. The lake is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the heart of Malawian life.

Activities: Snorkel among hundreds of cichlid species, kayak to uninhabited islands, visit fishing villages, scuba dive (freshwater diving certification available), relax on sandy beaches on Likoma Island
Accommodation: Pumulani Lodge (luxury, from $350/night), Kaya Mawa on Likoma Island (from $280/night), Mayoka Village in Cape Maclear (budget-friendly, from $10/night)
Best months: May through October (dry season with clearest water). November through April is warmer but hazy.
Average daily budget: $30-$80
Getting there: 5 hours by car from Lilongwe to Cape Maclear; flights to Likoma Island from Lilongwe

Lake Destination Comparison

Lake	Country	Budget/Day	Best For	Unique Feature
Bled	Slovenia	$80-$200	Romance, photography	Island church
Como	Italy	$100-$300	Luxury, villages	Historic villas
Tahoe	USA	$100-$300	Year-round sports	Clarity and depth
Plitvice	Croatia	$60-$150	Hiking, waterfalls	16 terraced lakes
Moraine	Canada	$100-$300	Photography, hiking	Turquoise glacial water
Atitlan	Guatemala	$30-$100	Budget, culture	Maya villages
Hallstatt	Austria	$100-$250	History, charm	7,000 years of habitation
Ohrid	N. Macedonia	$40-$100	Budget, swimming	Ancient endemic species
Titicaca	Peru/Bolivia	$30-$80	Culture, altitude	Highest navigable lake
Wanaka	New Zealand	$80-$200	Adventure, scenery	Roys Peak hike
Bacalar	Mexico	$40-$100	Relaxation, color	Seven shades of blue
Interlaken	Switzerland	$100-$300	Alps, adventure	Two lakes, three peaks
Crater	USA	$80-$200	Geology, solitude	Deepest US lake
Garda	Italy	$80-$200	Versatility	Three regions, one lake
Malawi	Malawi	$30-$80	Snorkeling, remoteness	Most fish species

Plan Your Lakeside Getaway with TripGenie

Lake destinations often require coordinating ferry schedules, seasonal road closures, and activities that depend on weather and time of day. TripGenie can help you build a day-by-day itinerary that accounts for these variables, ensuring you are at the right viewpoint at golden hour, on the right trail before the crowds arrive, and in the right village for the weekly market. Let TripGenie handle the scheduling so you can focus on the stillness.

Final Thoughts

There is a reason that civilizations have built their most important settlements beside lakes for thousands of years. The combination of fresh water, fertile surroundings, natural beauty, and that particular quality of calm that still water provides is something deeply embedded in human preference.

The 15 lakes in this guide span every continent, every budget, and every travel style. Some, like Como and Tahoe, are famous. Others, like Ohrid and Bacalar, remain relative secrets. All of them offer something that is increasingly rare in modern travel: the chance to slow down, look at something beautiful, and let the stillness do its work.

Best Lake Destinations in the World: 15 Stunning Lakeside Getaways