Lago di Molveno is the calling card of the Brenta Dolomites, and not just as a figure of speech: the ranking by Legambiente and the Italian Touring Club has named it Italy's most beautiful lake more than once. You understand why the moment you arrive: a turquoise basin over four kilometres long, at 864 metres, with the spires of the Brenta reflected on the water and the village of Molveno gathered on the northern shore. It is one of the largest natural lakes in Trentino, and one of the few whose shores are still almost entirely free of concrete.
In summer the shore near the village becomes a little alpine riviera: beaches of grass and gravel, equipped lidos, pedalos and stand up paddleboards for hire, while rowing boats drift out towards the middle of the lake. The water is cold, no question, but on hot days a swim is exactly what you want. If you're after peace and quiet, just move along the western shore or towards the southern tail of the lake, where the banks turn wild again and you find corners all to yourself even in August.
There's really only one walk to do, and anyone can manage it: the full loop of the lake, a good dozen kilometres almost entirely flat between jetties, woods and little beaches, with the profile of the Brenta keeping you company the whole way round. You'll find the full account, with timings and variants, in our guide to the [Lago di Molveno loop](/itinerari/anello-lago-di-molveno). If you'd rather look at it from above, the gondola climbs to the Pradel meadows, a natural balcony with the whole of the lake and village in view.
Molveno works as a base too: the climbs to the huts of the eastern Brenta start here, and in half an hour by car you're at the foot of the Andalo lifts. But the beauty of the place is its scale: a quiet lakeside village, without the traffic of the big alpine lakes, where in the evening you stroll the lakefront while the walls of the Brenta glow pink with the enrosadira. Hard to find a place that tells the story of this corner of Trentino better.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Lago di Molveno considered Italy's most beautiful lake?
The ranking of lakeside municipalities by Legambiente and the Italian Touring Club has awarded it the title more than once, thanks to the quality of its water and shores that have stayed largely natural. The scenery does the rest: the Brenta Dolomites mirrored straight on the water.
Can you swim in Lago di Molveno?
Yes. Near the village you'll find beaches of grass and gravel and equipped lidos, and in summer a swim is a classic, even though the water stays cool even in August. On the shore you can hire pedalos, rowing boats and stand up paddleboards, while motorboats are banned from the lake.
How long is the walk around Lago di Molveno?
The full loop is about 12 kilometres, almost all flat, and takes three to four hours at an easy pace. It suits families too, and you can shorten it or break it off at several points. You'll find the detailed route in our guide to the lake loop.
When is the best time to visit Molveno?
June to September for lake life, with July and August the busiest months. September gives you water that is still pleasant and far more calm, while in autumn the woods around the lake light up with colour. In winter the village lives mainly as a base for skiing on the nearby Paganella.