Lake Garda is the jewel of the Italian Lakes and Italy’s largest body of water. Its shoreline is more than twice the length of the Amalfi Coast, and it’s still possible to find untouched towns and villages among the glossy resorts, for example, Peschiera del Garda, a pretty waterfront town which is often compared to Venice for its network of canals. A little further north is Bardolino. Its elegant promenade is surrounded by vineyards, and the lakefront path takes walkers as far as Garda, the lake’s namesake town.

Lake Lugano stretches from Switzerland in the west to Italy in the east. It is a sparkling blue expanse at Ticino's southernmost tip, with a real holiday flavour as soon as the weather warms. Less overrun than many of the lakes over the border, it is nevertheless bewitching, whether glimpsed from one of the many trails that wriggle along its shores, from a mountain peak or from the deck of the boats that glide across it.

Lake Como has so much to offer. The resorts of Menaggio, Tremezzo, Cadenabbia and Lenno are situated on the sunny, western shore with Bellagio perched on the promontory that divides Como and Lecco. Bellagio and Menaggio, the largest resorts, are characterised by a buzzing cosmopolitan atmosphere with quaint, cobbled alleyways and café-filled piazzas. The adjacent villages of Tremezzo and Cadenabbia hug the road from Como to Switzerland and provide great bases for exploring.

The Stelvio Pass at 2757m, is one of the highest and most dramatic mountain passes in the Alps. You’ll experience the drive down the famous switchbacks driving through the heart of the Stelvio National Park before starting the descent, which takes you through some great stretches of alpine forest and fast sweeping roads prior to your arrival at the foot of the pass. The drive down to Bormio is a spectacular drive and has a few vantage points to stop and take pictures of the valley.