Walk the Shore of Lake Molveno, Where the Brenta Dolomites Meet the Water
You arrive at the north end of the lake, in the village of Molveno itself, and the geography does the talking. To the west rise the Brenta Dolomites — the Campanile Basso, Croz dell'Altissimo, Sfulmini and Cima Tosa among them — and to the south-east the Paganella and Mount Gazza close the basin. The lake sits in Trentino, in the Trentino-Alto Adige region of north-east Italy, at the foot of the Brentas, which form part of the Dolomites UNESCO World Heritage Site. The village gives you Alpine buildings, a long grassy shorefront and a white pebble beach. This is a place to walk, swim and look up.
Circle the Lake on the Giro del Lago
The classic way to see Lake Molveno is on foot, on the circuit known as the Giro del Lago. The route runs 11.5 km (7 mi) around the basin and takes about three hours, with roughly 200 m of total elevation gain. It is relatively easy, though there is one significant hill on the western side. Follow the red-and-white "Giro del Lago" markers.
- Southern tip: a road-accessible beach popular for swimming and sunbathing.
- Western side: viewpoints, notably by a hydropower waterfall, and the so-called Roman Bridge — which, despite the name, is not actually Roman.
- Facilities: none en route, so plan your food and water around the restaurants in town.
Get on the Water — and Above It
Swimming is permitted, and the water is clear and turquoise, though cold — around 18°C (64°F) in late August. The village beach is white pebble, so water shoes help. The lido area adds an outdoor pool, a playground, mini golf and water-sports rentals.
Motor boats are banned on the lake, which keeps it calm. Electric boats are available to rent — the six-seat "Gogo" boat is easy to operate and moves slowly and quietly; two hours is enough to reach the far end and back. The rental hut (Noleggio Barche) also rents kayaks and paddleboards, beach chairs, and books mini golf. Paddleboarders tend to find the water calmest early in the morning and near sunset.
For a different angle, take the cable car (funivia) from town up to Pradel, a six-minute ride. In summer there are hiking and bike trails, an educational trail, play areas and a farm; in winter, ski slopes. A two-seater chairlift continues higher, to mountain huts.
Walk to the Rifugi — and Time Your Visit Well
From Pradel, Trail 340 leads to Rifugio Croz dell'Altissimo (an easy 3.7 km/2.3 mi one way option), then on to Rifugio Selvata (1,630 m/5,347 ft, about a 40-minute climb), then Rifugio Malga Andalo (1,350 m/4,429 ft, road-accessible, with a larger menu). The route includes an easy via ferrata section — fixed cables on narrow rocky stretches. The full loop is about 12 km (7.5 mi), roughly four hours of walking with 386 m (1,266 ft) of gain, and a steep final descent to Molveno through forest. The rifugi offer basic accommodation, meals and toilets.
Mountain weather here is changeable: expect a mix of sunny days around 21°C (70°F) and cloudy afternoons with rain showers, and cooler nights — bring layers. The altitude makes the lake cooler than southern Italy in summer. The highlight not to miss is the circuit itself: give it a full morning, and pause at the western viewpoints where the water and the Brenta peaks line up.
Practicalities and What's Close By
- Guest cards: Dolomiti Paganella guest cards, available from many hotels, give discounts on the cable car and boat rentals.
- Maps: hiking and trail maps are available at the cable car top station; Visit Paganella hiking leaflets are available in town.
- Getting there: the lake is about an hour north of Lake Garda; the nearest international airport is Verona (VRN), 130 km (81 mi) away.
- Local flavour: the region was once part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, so German and Italian signage is common and the food shows Germanic influence — apple strudel among it.
- Also here: the area is popular with mountain bikers and paragliders.
One more thing worth knowing: in 1952 the lake was drained to build collectors and conduits feeding the power plant of S. Massenza, and a petrified forest submerged when the lake formed was found on its bed. Radiocarbon analysis at the University of Pisa dated the lake's formation to the early Iron Age, about 3,000 years ago. You are walking around a basin with a deep history — start planning your circuit, your boat hour and your rifugio lunch, and let the Brentas do the rest.