A ten-day loop from Milan linking five lakes at the foot of the Alps: Orta, Maggiore, Como, Iseo and Garda, before finishing in Verona. You cross from shore to shore by taking the car on the ferries of Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, and follow the lakeside roads, narrow and cut into the cliffs.
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
April to June and September to October: gardens open (Borromean Islands from 12 March to 8 November 2026), fewer crowds than in July and August. In winter, villas are closed, the Monte Baldo cable car stops in November and December, and winter tyres or chains are required from 15 November to 15 April on signed roads.
🚗 87 km · 1h15 of driving from Milan
A8 then A26 motorways, Borgomanero exit, then the SS229 along the lake. Leave Milan without crossing Area C, which charges on weekdays.
🚗 24 km · 30 min of driving from Orta San Giulio
Provincial roads SP39 and SP114 through the hills separating Lake Orta from Lake Maggiore.
🚗 107 km · 3h10 of driving from Stresa
Intra-Laveno ferry (20 minutes), then Varese, Como and the SS340 Regina along the west shore. Avoid the satnav route through Switzerland.
🚗 109 km · 2h20 of driving from Menaggio
Menaggio-Varenna ferry (15 minutes), SS36 to Lecco, then main roads via Bergamo, no motorway.
🚗 119 km · 2h20 of driving from Iseo
Via Salò, then the Gardesana Occidentale (SS45bis), cut into the cliff, with many tunnels as far as Riva. Then the SR249.
🚗 94 km · 1h50 of driving from Malcesine
SR249 Gardesana Orientale via Bardolino, detour to Sirmione, then the A4 to Verona. Park outside the ZTL, which is filmed at all times.
🚗 155 km · 1h55 of driving from Verona
Skip Orta and Iseo: Milan, Stresa, Menaggio (2 nights), Malcesine (2 nights) and Verona. From Menaggio to Lake Garda, take the ferry to Varenna and then the A4 via Bergamo.
| Rental only, July | ≈ €40 a day |
|---|---|
| Rental only, November | ≈ €16 a day |
| Economy, annual average | ≈ €25 a day (Kayak, Milan, Sept. 2026) |
| SUV, annual average | ≈ €52 a day |
| Vehicle | Small car under 4.50 m: the lakeside roads are narrow, and ferry fares depend on length. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | At Malpensa Airport, on the way to Orta, the day after Milan: no use in the city. |
| Insurance | Damage (CDW) and theft cover automatically included in Italy, excess of €500 to €2,000; excess waiver optional. |
| Age and card | Generally 21 minimum, surcharge under 25. Physical credit card in the driver's name. |
| Fines | The rental company passes on every ZTL or speed camera fine and charges an extra €40 to €60 admin fee. |
| Ferries | No vehicles over 2.20 m high on the Intra-Laveno ferry. |
⚠️ Between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, satnavs take the A36 or A59, which have no barriers: the toll must be paid online within 15 days.
Any valid European Union licence is enough, with no International Driving Permit. Other licences: check whether an International Driving Permit is required.
As in mainland Europe. Dipped headlights compulsory outside built-up areas, day and night.
110 on expressways, 50 in towns. In the rain: 110, 90. New drivers: 100, 90.
Zero for under-21s and those who have held a licence for less than 3 years.
Historic centres filmed ('Varco attivo'). In Verona, €98.50 per entry, €73.60 if paid within 5 days.
Monday to Friday, 07:30-19:30. Pay before midnight the next day, €22.50 up to the 7th day.
Intra-Laveno about every 30 minutes; Menaggio, Varenna, Bellagio, Cadenabbia. Ticket valid on the day only.
Around Como and Varese: pay online within 15 days, otherwise an €87 to €344 fine.
Phone in hand at the wheel: fine and licence suspension of 15 days to 2 months.
Winter tyres or chains on board on roads where a sign requires it.
≈ €2.15 per litre of petrol, €2.34 diesel (self-service, 24 Sept. 2026)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Today's price: Osservaprezzi carburanti (Italian ministry) →
⛽ 695 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €100 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
MIMIT national average. On motorways, €2.25 and €2.42. At the pump, 'fai da te' (self-service) costs less than 'servito'.
| A4 motorway (benchmark) | Milan East to Venice Mestre €22.30 for 272 km in 2026, about 8 cents per km |
|---|---|
| A36, A59, A60, barrier-free | Pay online within 15 days |
| Intra-Laveno ferry (Lake Maggiore) | €11.40 car of 3.5 to 4.5 m and driver; passenger €4 |
| Menaggio-Varenna-Bellagio ferry (Lake Como) | €12.70 car of 3.5 to 4.5 m and driver; €10.10 under 3.5 m |
| Maderno-Torri ferry (Lake Garda), optional | €14.90 car up to 4.5 m and driver; passenger €7.50 |
| Area C, central Milan | €7.50 a day on weekdays |
| Monte Baldo car park (Sirmione) | €3.50 an hour, €28 a day in season |
| Monte Baldo cable car | €30 return, €28 online |
| Swiss vignette, if the satnav goes via Lugano | 40 Swiss francs, for the year |
| Milan Area C | Monday to Friday 07:30-19:30, except public holidays |
|---|---|
| Verona ZTL | Cameras active at all times since 28 October 2024 |
| Sirmione centre | Closed to cars beyond the drawbridge, except residents and hotels |
| Monte Isola | Visitors' cars banned: boat from Sulzano |
| Borromean Islands | Open from 12 March to 8 November 2026 |
| Villa Carlotta | 20 March to 8 November 2026, then weekends until 8 December |
| Monte Baldo cable car | Closed from 2 November to 25 December 2026 |
| Signed roads | Winter tyres or chains from 15 November to 15 April |
Allow 10 days for this loop of 7 stages and 9 nights from Milan: Orta, Stresa, Menaggio, Iseo, Malcesine and Verona. In 7 days, keep Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda. To hike on Monte Baldo or visit the Lake Como villas without rushing, add a night in Menaggio or Malcesine.
Car only in July: about €360 of rental (€40 a day, Kayak average), €16 a day in November. For about 700 km, allow €90 of petrol at September 2026 prices, €24 for the two ferries and around €20 of motorway tolls. Add parking (€28 a day in Sirmione) and Monte Baldo (€30).
Yes, between Menaggio, Varenna, Bellagio and Cadenabbia, in about 15 minutes. In 2026, €12.70 for a car of 3.5 to 4.5 m with its driver, €10.10 under 3.5 m, €16.80 over 4.5 m; passengers extra. Ticket valid on the day only, €1 more if bought on board.
Yes in the centre: Area C, a camera-controlled zone, costs €7.50 a day, Monday to Friday from 07:30 to 19:30, except public holidays. You pay before midnight the next day, otherwise €22.50 up to the 7th day, then a fine. The simplest option: visit Milan without a car and pick it up at Malpensa as you leave.
In Verona, the ZTL has been filmed at all times since October 2024: €98.50 per entry, plus the rental company's fees. Park outside the centre or have your hotel register your plate, which holiday rentals cannot do. In Sirmione, leave the car before the drawbridge, at the Monte Baldo car park (€28 a day).
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/italian-lakes · by Pierrick, updated 1 October 2026
