Camping at Lake Trasimeno

Lake Trasimeno extends in the west of Umbria amidst a diverse natural landscape. In addition to cultural sights, such as Castiglione del Lago, the ideal weather conditions allow for a wide variety of activities and thus a varied camping holiday on the lake. The Mediterranean climate and the special offers of the campsites on Lake Trasimeno provide the ideal conditions for relaxing holidays, both for campers with children and for adventurous couples.

Special features of camping on Lake Trasimeno

The campsites on Lake Trasimeno are characterised above all by their proximity to the lake and the mountains as well as their general closeness to nature. At the same time, the small towns and the Umbrian capital Perugia are easy and convenient to reach.

This makes the campsites on Lake Trasimeno ideal not only for relaxing holidays by the lake or for excursions into nature, but also for exciting cultural trips. The providers have ideally catered to the various needs of their guests. In general, there are campsites around Lake Trasimeno in star categories three to four, most of which are pet-friendly and therefore also allow dogs.

How to get there

Car and motorhome drivers can reach Lake Trasimeno from Germany via Austria or Switzerland. From the German border crossing to Austria or Switzerland, the remaining distance to Lake Trasimeno is around 700 km or approximately 800 km respectively.

One of the most popular connections from Germany to Lake Trasimeno is via Austria. Two of the possible routes converge at Innsbruck and cross the Brenner Pass into Italy. During the main holiday season, however, there are more traffic jams there.

Alternatively, there is the option of travelling via Switzerland and the Gotthard Pass. There can also be traffic congestion on this route during the peak holiday season, but the scenic rest stops on nearby Lake Lucerne are ideal places to recharge your batteries before continuing your journey.

Motorways in Austria and Switzerland, as well as in Italy, are subject to tolls. After crossing the border into Italy, a stopover in the north of the country is recommended. There are numerous towns and campsites in this region that invite you to stay a while and allow you to continue your journey to central Italy in a relaxed manner.

Destinations on Lake Trasimeno

Directly on Lake Trasimeno and in the surrounding area, there are towns and villages worth visiting, some of which have been voted the most beautiful places in Italy by the association I borghi più belli d'Italia. Both nearby Perugia, the capital of Umbria with an impressive historic city centre, and the picturesque Castiglione del Lago are popular excursion destinations in the region around Lake Trasimeno.

Perugia

A visit to the Umbrian capital of Perugia is worthwhile for many reasons. Originally founded by the Etruscans, there are still numerous buildings in the town that are reminiscent of that era. First and foremost, the old town centre, which is located on a hill and attracts visitors interested in culture with sights such as Perugia Cathedral and Piazza IV Novembre. There are also other culinary specialities to discover in Perugia, such as the Baci Perugia chocolates.

Castiglione del Lago

With around 15,000 inhabitants, Castiglione del Lago is the largest town directly on Lake Trasimeno. The castle complex, which was considered one of the most powerful in Europe in the Middle Ages, is a major attraction for visitors. In addition, the historic town centre, which is steeped in history and also offers a fantastic view of Lake Trasimeno, exudes the typical Italian ambience with its picturesque churches and squares.

Activities and excursions

The surrounding area of Lake Trasimeno is mainly characterised by the impressive nature and historical sights in the small communities. In addition to sporting activities on the lake, the picturesque hiking and cycling trails through the countryside and past historic sites are therefore the main focus.

Hiking and cycling on Lake Trasimeno

There are a total of 250 kilometres of cycling and hiking trails around Lake Trasimeno. In addition to routes that mainly run through the vineyards to the natural beauties, such as Monte Tezio, there are also paths that lead to the cultural offerings in the individual municipalities. One example of this is the village of Tuoro sul Trasimeno, near which the Battle of Lake Trasimeno took place during the Second Punic War.

Water sports on Lake Trasimeno

Lake Trasimeno is not only the fourth largest lake in Italy, but also an extremely popular place for swimming and water sports. The reason for this is the optimal wind conditions, which also offer good conditions for surfers. Holidaymakers will find a wide range of leisure activities in the towns and villages along the lake, such as sailing, water skiing and fishing.

Gastronomy

The cuisine around Lake Trasimeno has a long tradition and is largely characterised by regional features such as the lake and the Mediterranean climate. Since ancient times, the lake has been an important source of food for the local population, who have developed local fish specialities over the course of time.

In addition to the tasty fish dishes, the region is also known for the Trasimeno bean, known in Italian as La Fagiolina del Trasimeno. This vegetable, which has been cultivated for centuries, is used in all kinds of recipes. Other local specialities include the Italian classics wine and olive oil, which find ideal conditions for successful growth in the landscapes around the lake.

Best time to visit

The climate around Lake Trasimeno is characterised by hot summers and cool winters, with hardly any prolonged rainfall. In contrast to the winter months, the summer months in particular are characterised by few rainy days and up to 11 hours of sunshine a day.

The water temperature of Lake Trasimeno is also pleasant and inviting at up to 25 degrees Celsius during the summer. With an air temperature of around 30 degrees Celsius in midsummer, the lake is a pleasant way to cool off.

Due to the high outdoor and water temperatures, the bathing season at Lake Trasimeno runs from May to October. On the other hand, the climatic conditions in spring and autumn are ideal for a cultural trip to the region.