Italian lakes in Camping-Car: tips, areas, routes

How do I visit the Italian lakes in camper or van? Discover our guide for a successful trip to Lombardy!

Having a van or camping-car is one of the best ways to travel. First, visiting Italian lakes on a motorhome gives great freedom of movement. Secondly, you will not have to compare the prices of hotels in municipalities bordering a particular lake. Want a romantic weekend or a family getaway? This destination is most often referred to lakes in northern Italy. These are large basins in the Alps and Plaine du Pô, de Milan to Venice . The most famous of them are the lakes of Guard, Major, Côme and Lugano. But the Italian peninsula counts tens of others, from Lombardy to Lombardy Umbria and to the Puglia region. Do you want to make a road trip through the Italian las by camping-car?

It is all the Italian cultural and culinary heritage that will reveal its charms. On the programme, an idyllic climate, an explosion of Mediterranean colours and a festival of flavours. Finally, it is a marathon of art and history that fascinates its guests since the Roman Antiquity. Here is our mini-guide to visit the Italian lakes in camper!

Ideas of itineraries around the Italian lakes in motorhome

You don't know where to start your journey? From France , Switzerland , Austria or Slovenia, the Italian lakes have many access points. Whatever your point of departure, sublime views and picturesque villages will pave your way. During your preparations, imagine landscapes and atmospheres. The lakes offer superb views of the snowy peaks, contrasting with the deep blue of the lake. Admire the lush Mediterranean vegetation on the slopes of the mountains and the villages planted with olive trees and lemon trees. In short, visiting the Italian lakes in camping-car is a true aesthetic pilgrimage.

Your route must logically be built depending on the duration of your trip. You can’t visit all Italian lakes in three days: for a weekend you will have to restrict your roaming area. For example, just one lake. Here are some ideas of itineraries depending on the duration of your roaming:

• Lake Garda on 3 days : Sirmione, Bardolino, Riva del Garda and Linfano, Monte Baldo, Gargnano, Peschiera del Garda, Verona.

Source: Caramaps

• The Lake Como over 3 days : Lecco, Bellagio, Côme, Menaggio, le Greenway del lago di Como de Colonne à Griante.

Source: Caramaps

• Lake Maggiore on 3 days : Suna, Palanza, Intra, Baveno, Stresa, Arona, the Borromean Islands, Laveno,
• Italian lakes in 15 days : Lake Garda, Como and Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano, Lake Orta (Orta, Sacro Monte, Pettenasco), Lake Iseo (Monte Isola, Pisogne, Sarnico), Lakes of southern Italy (Trasimeno, Bolsena, Albano, Bracciano, Varano, Lesina.

Visiting the Italian lakes in motorhome will give you the pleasure of visiting Italy and its natural capital. In addition, these in-kind escapades will make it possible to explore the country in an unusual way: on the waterfront. These steps are of course only indicative, but they represent the must-sees of the Italian lakes.

Driving around Italian lakes in camping-car : the traffic rules to know

Driving in Italy

The Italian roads are known to be considered racing circuits. The Italians love speed and sporting driving, if not imprudent. It may even be believed that the road code does not apply in Italy. But paradoxically, users remain respectful and courteous. Rolling fast doesn’t mean missing attention! A rule to remember, however: priority is for the one who takes it! In Italy, traffic on highways can be very dense, especially on the Milan-Venise track. The A4, for example, is a major axis in Europe. It is often loaded with heavyweights going in all directions: Portugal , Spain France, the Balkans. Therefore, redouble caution by coming to visit the Italian lakes in camping-car.

The Italian road code

In general, the road code in Italy is the same as in France. The camper must be equipped with a reflective vest, a signage triangle, a first-aid kit and an emergency wheel. Each passenger must safely close his seatbelt when the vehicle rolls. It is now mandatory to light its passing beams, day and night. Also, camping-car speed limits are as follows:

• 50 km/h in agglomeration,
• 90-110 km/h on secondary roads,
• 130 km/h on the highways.

To know

The maximum legal alcohol level is 0.5 g/l. Automatic radar speed controls are frequent. It is therefore recommended that speed limits never be exceeded. Also think that historic city centers have restricted access to tourism vehicles. This is the famous zona traffico limitato. This is a radar that scans your registration plate at the entrance to the area. The device then imposes cumulative fines in the event of recidivism outside the authorized hours.

Motorway tolls around Italian lakes: what price for your camper category?

The Italian highways are subject to to tolls whose tariff may be rather high. To visit the Italian lakes, you will certainly take the Turin-Venise (A4) and the A9: the highway of the lakes, Milan-Côme-Chiasso. How to pay the toll? This is to take a ticket at the entrance to the highway. On exit from the highway, you pay according to the mileage travelled. Prepaid subscription cards can also be chosen: ViaCard. Three devices: 25 €, 50 € and 75 € . You will be subject to Class 2 by coming to visit the Italian lakes by camping-car. On the other hand, it is Class 1 that will concern you. Here are some indicative rates:

• Chiasso à Côme : 2,30 €,
• Chiasso in Milan : 5,60 €,
• Chiasso-Rome : 47,40 € (class 1) and 48,50 € (class 2),
• Chiasso-Naples : 62,60 € (class 1) and 64,10 € (class 2),
• Chiasso-Bari : 69,90 € (class 1) and 71,50 € (class 2).

Crossing Italy can therefore cost expensive according to where we go!

How and where to rent a motorhome in France?

Would you like to go to the discovery of the Italian Lakes with your Camping-Car or van for example? It is now easy to rent a motorhome in the Hexagon. How? Using interrelationship platforms between tenants and particular camper owners as Yescapa For example.

How does it work?

• At first, you have to choose the motorhome in your city (For example Bordeaux, Nantes, Toulouse, Paris, Montpellier or Marseille).

• Be careful choose unlimited mileage, to check the number of beds available and if travel abroad is possible.

• Do your work online rental request and share your travel information (dates, rental options, mileage, etc.) to the owner.

• If your request is accepted and after payment, you will have access to the owner's contact information to organize a First meeting.

• Day J, present your driver's license and pour bail.

• One. status of premises is executed and a lease is signed between the two parties. When you return, after running the Italian roads, sign the state of the places of return and the tower is played!

How and where to rent a motorhome in the lake region?

If you go to Italy by plane, know that it is possible to rent your camper on site. However, it is advisable to go through online platforms and book your camper before even leaving. This will allow you to have the vehicle you want to visit the Italian lakes in fitted van or van.

On this type of site, the rental is very simple. Enter your travel dates as well as the city where you want to rent your camper. Search among those offered by number of seats, price and vehicle type. Then make a request and pay online if accepted. You'll receive a confirmation email, and that's it! All you have to do is go get it and visit the Italian lakes in a fitted van or camper!

The camper areas around the Italian lakes: where to park?

The wild campsite

It is officially forbidden to make camping-sauvage in Italy, as in France. Yet Italy is known to be a paradise for camper-carists and passengers in fitted vans. Installing on the public road to sleep is prohibited. But it is nevertheless tolerated to sleep inside his camper. The border between the two practices is therefore porous. But it will be easier, however, near the literals: around the Italian lakes, it is indeed more complicated to park at night on the public space.

Where to settle?

To find where to sleep near the lakes, there are several options available: camping pitches, camper areas and free parking. You don't know where to park? We have the solution. Do you know the Park4night app? It is a true Bible of the travelling journey. We use it to each fitted van escapade. It is a tool for sharing spots where to park in campervan, van and equipped van. The time we had to spend two or three hours a day looking for an acceptable spot is over! Around the Italian lakes, an interactive map includes camping pitches, camper areas, car parks and outdoor areas. These are places where travellers have already passed. A comment system allows you to compare the quality of the spots. In a word, great!

Want to sleep at the top of the mountains with a splendid view of the lakes? Search for the best point of view available with your vehicle!

What is the best time to travel by camping-car around Italian lakes?

When to visit the Italian lakes in motorhome? In Italy, it’s hot, it’s a southern country, Mediterranean...! Get out of here, you have to check it. climate and weather . Most Italian lakes are located in the Alps, north of the country. The north of Italy has several climatic influences. The Italian Alps know a mountain climate. Winters are long, cold and humid while summers are cool at night and hot in the day.

The climate is tempered around Lake Maggiore. It is characterized by cold and humid winters, then warm and stormy summers. The average maximum temperature reached 27°C in July, 6°C in January. Gels are frequent in winter and rains are important from May to October. Lake Garda, further south, enjoys a Mediterranean climate. Winter is milder, and summers are warm but stormy. The climate of Italian lakes is more wet than in the Po plain. This, due to the humidity of the lakes and the proximity to the Alps.

So, when do you visit the Italian lakes by camping-car or by van? The best times are late spring, summer and September . The summer period, on the other hand, has a peak of tourist attendance. In addition, prices can increase significantly in the summer.