There are many beautiful lakes in Europe that are worth exploring, and not all of them are crowded with tourists.
Lake Como in Italy has been one of the most popular lakes in Europe for many years, in part because it is a favorite vacation spot for many world-famous celebrities, from George Clooney to Madonna. As a result, the place is already suffering from excessive tourism to the point where local authorities have even considered making it a paid visit.
However, the truth is that there are many other beautiful lakes in Europe that are worth exploring, and they are just as picturesque but much more affordable and less crowded.
Experts from the world’s largest travel magazine, National Geographic, have named five picturesque lakes in Europe that are truly worth a visit.Video of the day
1. Lake Constance, Germany. This vast lake on the border of Germany, Austria, and Switzerland offers tourists breathtaking views of the Alps and an extraordinary blend of beauty, history, and culture. As the third-largest lake in Central Europe, it offers a wide range of activities, from ferry and canoe rides to cycling along the nearly 260-kilometer circular bike path. With temperatures averaging around 25°C in the summer, it provides a pleasant warmth without being too hot for exploration.
There is everything here – beaches, gardens, vineyards, wetlands, birds, wooded gorges, gardens, historic towns and art galleries. Especially experts advise to pay attention to the towns of Meersburg with its stone walls, fabulous views, wine taverns and a medieval castle with towers, Unterwuldingen with its prehistoric pile dwellings and Konstanz with its majestic Roman-style cathedral, as well as the fabulous Mediterranean gardens on the island of Mainau. For a touch of southern charm, head to the pastel-colored town of Lindau, where you can enjoy ice cream on the café terraces and admire the sparkling lake views from the harbor, guarded by a lighthouse and a stone Bavarian lion.
2. Great Lake of Alqueva, Portugal. Experts recommend leaving the Atlantic coast of southern Portugal during the summer travel peak and heading to Alentejo to explore the vast inland areas. The Great Lake of Alqueva, which resembles a fjord and covers an area of approximately 246 square kilometers, is a striking display of greenish-blue hues. Located near the border with Spain, this largest reservoir in Europe is a complex interplay of flooded valleys, narrow bays, and islands.
In the summer, tourists can ride a SUP or kayak on the lake, or ride a bicycle or electric bicycle along the shore. If the summer heat reaches 35°C, you can cool off in the waters of the coastal beaches. The Praia Fluvial de Monsaraz beach is particularly noteworthy for its powder-like sand, floating pool, and water sports center. The village of Monsaraz itself, picturesquely spread out on a hillside strewn with granite boulders, is one of the most beautiful in Portugal. This medieval creation, drowning in whiteness, is crowned by a castle built by King Dinis in the 14th century, and the Templars once walked along the local cobblestone streets.
At night, you can’t miss the opportunity to admire the starry sky. The Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve is the world’s first destination for star tourism. Here, tourists can enjoy a variety of activities, from star gazing to nighttime canoeing and astrophotography workshops.
3. Lake Bohinj, Slovenia. Although the most popular lake in the country is Lake Bled, Lake Bohinj, located a half-hour drive to the south, is just as incredibly beautiful but far less crowded. The jagged limestone peaks of the Julian Alps, which rise above this piercingly blue, clear lake in the Triglav National Park, are breathtaking. In the summer, when the temperature rises to 30°C, the lake’s water, fed by mountain streams, warms up to 24°C.
On the western shore of the lake, in the quiet village of Ukants, tourists can enjoy a pebbly beach where they can cool off and swim. For those who prefer to spend the night in nature, there is an eco-friendly campsite called Bohinj, where they can go kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, or canoeing. The area also offers a variety of activities, from caving, canyoning, and rock climbing to cheese tours and schnapps tastings. Meanwhile, the surroundings of Ukanets are wild, mountainous, and densely forested, and a cable car can take you up to Mount Vogel, which offers a bird’s-eye view of the lake.
4. Lake Peruca, Croatia. Bordered by undulating limestone mountains, this is a true gem hidden in the Dalmatian countryside. This long, winding lake, located just a few steps away from Croatia’s Adriatic coast, is the perfect place to connect with nature. It offers a serene escape from the summer heat, where temperatures can reach up to 35°C, allowing you to cool off in the water. Croatia’s largest artificial lake, formed by a dam on the Cetina River, is perfect for cycling, hiking, kayaking, or boating to peaceful beaches and coves.Advertisementad
On the northern shore, the sleepy stone village of Gharak is a perfect starting point for your vacation. From here, you can enjoy breathtaking views of the rocky mountains of Dinara and Svilai, as well as the lake. The view is especially beautiful in the early morning, when the turquoise waters are still calm. Meanwhile, the Peruca campsite, surrounded by forests and bright sandy beaches, offers tourists the opportunity to engage in activities such as rowing, kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, diving, horseback riding, and mountain biking. If you head north for a while, you will see a natural wonder: the Eye of the Earth (Izvor Cetine), a round karst spring that looks like a precious stone and originates in the Cetina River.
5. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia. This picturesque lake, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is undeservedly little-known. Nestled between the mountains of North Macedonia and eastern Albania, the greenish-blue lake is one of the oldest and deepest in Europe. In the summer, visitors can enjoy swimming in the clear waters, picnicking on the pebbly beaches of the eastern shore, such as Potpes and Labino, and admiring the pink and purple sunsets.
On the northern shore of the lake, tourists are attracted by the promenade, which runs along the rocky beaches, and the steep, warm stone streets of the old town of Ohrid, where Orthodox churches and the ruins of a medieval fortress can be found. Coastal restaurants serve local delicacies, such as fish soup made with lake trout, lemon, and garlic, along with Macedonian wines. Meanwhile, outside of Ohrid, tourists can explore cultural attractions such as the Byzantine-style dome monastery of Saint Naum, located high on a cliff and adorned with frescoes, as well as the reconstructed Bronze and Iron Age pile dwellings in the Bay of Bones.
