It was during a trip to Northern Italy around the Italian lakes that we had the opportunity to visit Lake Orta (Lago d’Orta in Italian). Less well known and much smaller than its neighbor Lake Maggiore, it was a real favorite on this road trip. Among the places not to be missed is the superb village of Orta San Giulio, located on the eastern shore facing Isola San Giulio, a small island home to a Romanesque basilica.
What to do in Lake Orta ? What are the must-see sights ? How can you visit for the day from Milan ? Where to stay in Lake Orta ? I share all my tips in this travel guide.
What to do in Lake Orta
Lake Orta is the westernmost of the Italian lakes and also one of the smallest (13.4 km long and 2.5 km wide). It is located in Piedmont, just 23 km from Lake Maggiore, its closest neighbor (and 1 hour from Lake Como). Lake Orta is considered one of the most romantic lakes in Italy. It is easily accessible for a day trip from Milan, 80 km away (about 1 hour by car). I highly recommend not skipping it if you are doing an Italian lakes road trip.
To get your bearings among the things to see, note that the main village on the lake is Orta San Giulio, located on the eastern shore. It alone attracts almost all tourists visiting Lake Orta. The destination is also very popular with Milanese visitors on weekends. If you want to avoid the crowds, I strongly recommend visiting Lake Orta during the week.
On the western shore of the lake is the village of Pella, which has a pleasant lakeside promenade but lacks the architecture and charm of Orta San Giulio. You can easily reach Pella by boat (€5) by crossing the lake, otherwise it takes about 20 minutes by road. A car is required if you want to visit the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary perched on a rock 8 km from Pella. In addition to the church visit, you will enjoy a superb panorama over the entire Lake Orta.
If you don’t have much time, focus on Orta San Giulio and its island. The village can also be visited on a day trip from Stresa on the shores of Lake Maggiore (30-minute drive).
Orta San Giulio
This mountain village on the lakeshore is a true gem not to be missed under any circumstances. It was our favorite of the Italian lakes. The village is very small and does not have many major landmarks to visit, but its setting and medieval architecture give it a unique, romantic atmosphere. It is also the closest point from which to take a boat to Isola San Giulio.
Piazza Mario Motta
This is the main square of Orta San Giulio and a must-pass spot when visiting Lake Orta. Its central location by the quays and at the bottom of the street coming down from the Sacro Monte hill makes it the main meeting point for tourists. Restaurant terraces and benches by the water invite you to enjoy lunch or relax while tasting an ice cream (always excellent in Italy).
The square is surrounded by beautiful colorful arcaded buildings and by the Palazzo della Comunità (also known as the Broletto), dating from 1582. By climbing the staircase leading to the first floor, you will enjoy the best view over Piazza Mario Motta. Inside the palace’s single room is a Baroque fresco depicting the Madonna and Saints Francesco and Giulio (you cannot enter, but it is visible through the glass door).
Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta
The parish church of Orta San Giulio is located at the top of the cobbled street leading to the Sacro Monte from the historic heart of the village. It was built in the 15th century in a late Romanesque style, but the façade was remodeled in 1940. In the late afternoon, when the sun illuminates its yellow façade, it truly shines. The interior of the Chiesa Parrocchiale di Santa Maria Assunta, with its three naves covered in frescoes, is superb (unless you prefer the more restrained Gothic style).
The Santa Maria Assunta church is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Sunday mass at 10 a.m.). Free entry.
Villa Bossi (Municipio)
This 17th-century palace located at 11 Via Bossi does not hint at what lies inside. Beyond the wrought-iron gates, you discover a coffered ceiling covered with frescoes as well as a garden (Giardino del Municipio) that opens directly onto the lake. We visited Lake Orta on a Sunday, which explains the number of people in the garden (the paths are not very wide). But on weekdays or outside peak season, the peaceful atmosphere offers a pleasant break with a magnificent lake view.
Villa Bossi houses the Orta San Giulio Town Hall (municipio), but not the tourist office, which is located near the parking areas.
Entrance to Villa Bossi and the gardens is free.
The waterfront
The quays and wooden piers where you can take a boat to explore the lake run along Piazza Mario Motta. They offer beautiful views, and benches allow you to enjoy a snack break or a gelato in the shade of the trees. This is where the shuttle departs for Isola San Giulio. You’ll also enjoy a lovely view of the village as you leave the docks.
Via Motta
This narrow street allows you to walk around Orta San Giulio and escape the crowds concentrated mainly on the main square. Via Motta begins at the bottom of the ramp leading to the parking areas and heads north along the lake and the wooden pontoons where small boats are moored. The panorama over the lake and mountains is magnificent. If you follow it all the way, you’ll return to the entrance of the village, where the tourist office and the Moorish-style Villa Crespi are located. Even on a Sunday, there was hardly anyone along this route.
Isola San Giulio
Isola San Giulio, measuring 275 meters long and 140 meters wide, is the only island on Lake Orta. It lies just opposite the village of Orta San Giulio, only a five-minute boat ride away.
To reach Isola San Giulio, you have two options (tickets are purchased directly on board) :
- the public transport line operated by Navigazione Lago d’Orta, located to the right of the pier. Round-trip fare : €3.20 per person. Departures every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends and every 45 minutes on weekdays.
- the smaller boat operated by Consorzio Navigazione, located to the left of the pier. Round-trip fare : €4.50 per person. Departures every 15 minutes from 9 a.m.
Basilique San Giulio
The boat docks at the southern end of the island, right in front of the basilica, which is reached by a few steps passing under a porch. In the 6th century, Saint Julius, an evangelizer from the Greek island of Aegina, built the first church on the island. The Romanesque Basilica di San Giulio as seen today was constructed between the 11th and 12th centuries on the remains of that original church.
The interior of the Basilica San Giulio is richly decorated with numerous frescoes, giving it a Baroque appearance. Among the remarkable features is a 12th-century ambo used for proclaiming the Gospel, carved from dark green serpentine stone extracted from the Oira quarry (on the western shore of Lake Orta). The sculptures depict the symbols of the four Evangelists (bull, angel, winged lion, and eagle) and emblems representing the struggle between Good and Evil (a deer attacked by a centaur archer and a griffin taming a crocodile-dragon).
In the frescoed crypt, you can see the remains of San Giulio in a glass and silver sarcophagus.
The Basilica di San Giulio is open Monday from 12 p.m. to 6:45 p.m., Tuesday to Saturday from 9:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m., and Sunday from 8:45 a.m. to 6:45 p.m. (mass at 11 a.m.). Free entry.
Walking around the island
The basilica is the only monument to visit on Isola San Giulio. Before leaving, take the single path that circles the island, it takes about ten minutes. Unfortunately, it offers no real lake views except for a small pier at the end of a narrow alley. But outside high season or weekends, you may feel as though you have the island entirely to yourself. The island has only one bar-restaurant next to the basilica (Ristorante San Giulio, main dishes €15–26 and menu at €40). It is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays.
Back at the dock, simply take the boat back to Orta San Giulio. With the public transport boats (Navigazione Lago d’Orta), you can also directly reach the villages of Pella, Lagna, and San Filiberto on the western shore.
Sacro Monte di Orta
The Sacred Mount of Orta is located on the hill overlooking the village of Orta San Giulio. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2003. If, like us, you use the free parking located here (see below “Where to park”), it will be the first site you visit at Lake Orta before walking down to the village.
From the village, to reach the Sacro Monte di Orta, take the street leading to the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, then turn right onto Via Gemelli. Allow about ten minutes on foot (it goes uphill slightly, but nothing difficult).
The Sacro Monte di Orta was built starting in the late 16th century and consists of a complex of 20 chapels along a route climbing to the top of the hill at 400 meters above sea level (the lake lies at 292 meters, a difference of about 100 meters). Each numbered chapel recounts a moment in the life of Saint Francis, follower of Christ, from his birth to his canonization. They are decorated with beautiful frescoes and terracotta sculptures. The path connecting the chapels winds through the hill’s vegetation, making for a pleasant walk.
To start the route at chapel no. 1, it is best to arrive from Orta San Giulio village. If you use the free parking at the top of the hill, you will begin at chapel no. 17. That said, you don’t have to visit all of them 🙂
Even if you are not particularly interested in religious buildings, I recommend not missing the Sacro Monte di Orta, as it offers one of the most beautiful views over Lake Orta and Isola San Giulio. To enjoy it, go to the platform facing the church just after chapel no. 20 (coordinates).
Where to stay at Lake Orta
I recommend staying in Orta San Giulio or nearby to visit Lake Orta. This is where you will find the widest range of accommodations and many restaurants for dinner in the evening. As the village is touristy, prices are fairly high. To find cheap accommodation, you need to move a few kilometers inland.
- 72 € : Oca Mannara, this farmhouse located on the heights 2.6 km from the Sacro Monte di Orta offers double rooms with breakfast included. A good option for budget travelers wanting to stay at Lake Orta.
- 102 € : Locanda Tempi Lontani, this former 16th-century farmhouse in Miasino is only an 8-minute drive from Orta San Giulio. Nicely decorated rustic-style rooms, some with a terrace.
- 142 € : Ortaflats- Appartamento Gli Archi, you can’t be more central than this apartment located on Piazza Mario Motta. It also offers a superb view of Lake Orta, the island, and the mountains.
- 143 € : Hotel La Bussola, this 3-star hotel in Orta San Giulio offers rooms for 2 to 4 people with mountain or lake views and breakfast included. Swimming pools, free parking, and an on-site restaurant.
- 172 € : B&B Al Dom, this lovely accommodation in a renovated 18th-century building offers double rooms and suites with balconies and lake views. Breakfast included.
Tips for visiting Lake Orta
Best time to visit Lake Orta
You can visit Lago d’Orta year-round, as winters are never extremely cold. However, the best seasons are spring, when gardens are in bloom, and autumn, when the vegetation turns golden and orange. In summer, Lake Orta attracts many tourists, which can make the atmosphere feel a bit crowded in the narrow streets of Orta San Giulio or on the island. If possible, avoid high season and sunny weekends, as many Milanese come for the day (we also encountered quite a few motorcyclists).
We visited Lake Orta on a Sunday in September. There were some people, but it was still manageable. We waited until late afternoon to visit Isola San Giulio—by then, there was almost no one left. We chose a Sunday so Daniela’s family, who live in Milan, could join us for the day.
How to get to Lake Orta ?
Unless you live nearby and plan a simple day trip, Lake Orta is mainly discovered as part of a Northern Italy road trip. You can plan a 5- to 7-day itinerary including Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore and Lake Como, or even continue on to Lake Garda.
The nearest airport is Milan. The lakes are then less than an hour’s drive from the Lombardy capital. To find the cheapest flights, I recommend using this flight comparison website. Once there, you will need a vehicle to move between the different villages. Again, I recommend using this car rental comparison website, which often offers much better rates than booking directly with international rental companies.
For those staying in Milan and wishing to visit Lake Orta as a day trip, it is possible to take the train from Milan station. You must change in Novara, then take a connection to Orta-Miasino station (around 1.5 hours total travel time). Once there, you can get around the lake by boat. It connects most villages with one another. Timetables and routes are available on the official website.
Where to park in Orta San Giulio ?
As the lake’s main tourist attraction, Orta San Giulio is the only place where parking can be difficult, especially on weekends during high season. In the other villages, tourism is much lighter.
Orta San Giulio has several paid parking lots before entering the ZTL (limited traffic zone), less than a 10-minute walk from Piazza Mario Motta. The largest one is located here and is open 24/7. Prices are €2 per hour with a daily maximum of €10.
There is also a free parking area on the Sacro Monte hill, which we used. Spaces are limited, it is a bit farther away, and the return walk is slightly uphill, but you save €10. You can even park a campervan or van overnight there (designated spaces). To reach this parking lot, take the road climbing toward the Sacro Monte on the left just after the roundabout near Villa Crespi. The parking lot is not listed on Google Maps, but entering these coordinates will take you there easily. 2025 update : the Sacro Monte parking lot is now paid and included in the blue zone (€2 per hour and €10 per day).
How many days to spend in Lake Orta ?
It is one of the smallest Italian lakes, and there are not many major sights or activities. You can easily visit Lake Orta in one full day, including Pella and the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary. Those in a hurry can even explore Orta San Giulio and visit the island in half a day. But it’s worth taking your time and enjoying the charm of the area, especially since there are some great places to have lunch or enjoy an ice cream.
You now know what to do in Lake Orta in Italy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the blog comments.