Unlike its more famous neighbours, Lake Iseo feels more relaxed, and more authentic. Understated yet very elegant.

We had booked a bright, welcoming apartment, comfortably sleeping four. La Vita Lake View Garden & Pool in Sarnico. Light-filled interiors open onto views of mountains and the lake, if you were tall enough to see over the garden hedge! It was also very pet friendly with a lovely garden. If you have a car, which I would recommend, it also had an underground car park. We visited at the end of October, but there is also a swimming pool for the summer months.

Whether you’re sharing long breakfasts, returning after a day of exploring, or enjoying an evening glass of wine together, the space feels easy, practical, and calm — ideal for couples, friends, or a small family wanting a peaceful base on Lake Iseo.

Two good sized bedrooms and two good sized bathrooms, there was no fighting for space here. A small kitchen space, but perfect for the amount of times we used it during our 4 night stay.

The mornings began slowly with espressos and croissants, although between the 4 of us we also laid out a lovely daily breakfast spread.

Not right in the centre of Iseo, but a little further along the coast in Sarnico. A perfect smaller town to wander around, pretty little shops and nice bars and restaurants. Two worth mentioning are Terroir for an aperitivo or a small dinner. And a little gem restaurant, Riccardo for a special occasion dinner.

During the days we ventured a little further out, starting with a day at the QC San Pellegrino spa. About a 50 minute drive from our apartment.

Stepping into the San Pellegrino spa felt like entering another era. Grand architecture meets modern wellness, with thermal pools, steam rooms, and several relaxation spaces set against mountain scenery. It had a slightly restorative atmosphere, felt very indulgent without being overwhelming.

We had booked the light buffet lunch which was not as understated as it sounds. Full of Italian delights, no restrictions on how many times you can return, and included dessert, wine and coffee.

It’s the kind of place where hours slip by and before you know it it’s home time. We could have stayed here for an extra hour or two. Sadly, we had to leave to get back to the apartment and the dog.

Another day trip took us to the Pyramids of Zone. I had to be persuaded for this one due to the mention of a mini ‘hike’ to get there. Not one to be a party pooper off we went. My OH and I are not really outdoorsy. We are not hikers, but this was sold to me as a forest of fairies. Sounding magical rather than strenuous we went in search. I endured 15 minutes of walking. I kept asking where the fairies were. How long would it be until we could see the fairies?

Unfortunately, after 30 minutes of struggle, we realized we weren’t there yet. We knew we still had to work our way back from whence we came. So, B and I took our photos from our spot. We left the others to venture down without us. Needless to say their speed increased dramatically without us.

It really is a place that’s rich in walks and trekking among beech, chestnut, and fir trees. It is one of the starting points of the paths that lead to visit Mount Guglielmo, a mountain well known and loved by all locals.

The ‘fairies’ were actually 30 metre high columns created by erosion of boulder rocks in the middle of the forest. Our friends continued on. We waited for them at the cafe. We enjoyed a nice hot chocolate and some lovely giant croissants!

Lastly, and probably my favourite of our little day trips, we took the ferry from Sulzano over to Monte Isola. We will go back to this area and definitely stay here next time, a small but buzzing island with stunning views over the lake. A perfect destination for some quiet downtime.

On our way back to drop our friends at the airport, we stopped in Bergamo. Again, not really thought of as a great tourist destination but actually a really pretty city. Especially the Alto part. You can take a cable car up there. You can also walk. Be warned, if you have dogs, they need to be muzzled! Cobbled streets wind between stone buildings, opening onto gorgeous piazzas. Views over the terracotta rooftops to the city below. Alta feels timeless and cinematic.