From Geneva Airport, the three great lakes of northern Italy can be linked in a relaxed five-to-seven-day loop: over the Simplon Pass to Lake Maggiore, east past Milan (329 km from GVA, about 3 h 50) to Lake Como, then on to Lake Garda. A private chauffeur from AirportsTransfers.ch can drive you between each base, or simply take you to the first lake and collect you from the last.
- Order of travel: Maggiore, then Como, then Garda, moving west to east
- Getting there: through Valais and over the Simplon Pass, or via the Great St Bernard tunnel and Aosta
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into Italy
- Time to allow: two nights per lake is comfortable; five nights is a minimum
- Best season: April to October, when boats and gardens are in full swing
Getting from Geneva to Lake Maggiore
The most attractive approach leaves Geneva along Lake Geneva, follows the Rhône valley up through Valais and climbs from Brig over the Simplon Pass. The pass road is a broad, modern route with views of glaciers and the Monte Leone massif, and it descends through the Gondo gorge into Italy and down to Domodossola. From there it is a short run to the western shore of Lake Maggiore at Stresa or Baveno. An alternative in poor weather is the Great St Bernard tunnel to Aosta and then the motorway east, which is less scenic but reliable.
Arriving on Lake Maggiore after crossing the Alps is one of the great transitions of European travel: within a few hours you go from snowy peaks to palm trees, camellias and lakeside promenades.
Lake Maggiore: the Borromean Islands
Lake Maggiore is long and narrow, with its northern tip in Swiss Ticino and most of its shore in Italy. The highlight for most visitors is the group of Borromean Islands off Stresa. Isola Bella is almost entirely occupied by a baroque palace and terraced gardens, Isola Madre is a botanical garden island, and Isola dei Pescatori is a small fishing village. Public boats link them with the mainland, so a day can be spent island-hopping without the car.
The lake is generally quieter and more spacious than Como, which suits travellers who prefer gardens, walks along the shore and slow lunches to a busy social scene. A second day could take in the hill above Stresa for views over the lake, or the Swiss end around Locarno.
Lake Como: villas and villages
Moving east, your chauffeur takes the motorway around the north of Milan to reach Lake Como, which has an unmistakable inverted Y shape. The central section, where the three arms meet, is the classic base: Bellagio sits on the point of the promontory, with Varenna and Menaggio facing it across the water. Ferries criss-cross between them, which makes this triangle very easy to explore on foot and by boat.
Como is known for its historic villas and gardens, several of which are open to visitors, including Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo and Villa del Balbianello on its wooded peninsula near Lenno. The town of Como itself, at the southern tip, has a cathedral and a lakeside funicular up to Brunate. Roads along the shore are narrow and slow in summer, which is one of the strongest arguments for having a professional driver rather than navigating them yourself.
Lake Garda: the largest of the three
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and has a different character again. The southern shore is broad and open, with Sirmione stretching out on a thin peninsula guarded by its moated Scaliger castle, while the northern end is narrow and fjord-like between steep mountains, with Riva del Garda and Limone as its best-known towns. The eastern shore leads to Malcesine, beneath Monte Baldo, and the wine villages of Bardolino.
Garda is also a convenient springboard to Verona, a short drive away, so the tour can end with a night in the city or a departure from a nearby airport. If you are returning to Geneva instead, the drive back runs on the motorway via Milan and either the Aosta valley or the Simplon.
Planning the tour
- Book lake hotels well ahead for July and August; May, June and September are calmer and pleasantly warm.
- Leave the car for the day on Maggiore and Como: boats are the most enjoyable way to move along the shore.
- Consider a one-way plan: transfer from Geneva to Maggiore, local boats in between, then a chauffeur from Garda to your onward airport.
- Pack light layers for the Simplon crossing, even in summer.
Reserving your lakes transfers
AirportsTransfers.ch can handle every road leg of the tour, from the first pick-up at Geneva Airport to the final drop-off, or just the long crossing into Italy. Prices are fixed per vehicle and displayed before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your driver waits in arrivals with a name sign, monitors your flight and holds the booking if you land late. For couples a Mercedes E-Class or S-Class is comfortable on the long stretches; a V-Class van takes up to seven passengers and generous luggage. Child seats are available on request. To plan several legs or ask about timings, reach the team on +41 78 346 56 77 by phone or WhatsApp.
