Are you wondering what the most beautiful lakes in Europe are? I’ve been exploring, and photographing this stunning continent for over 30 years and I’ve had the privilege of visiting many of its breathtaking lakes.
In this guide, I’ve carefully selected the absolute best for you to discover. From the renowned Italian lakes to the majestic Swiss and Austrian lakes and mountains, Europe is truly blessed with extraordinary natural wonders.
But our exploration doesn’t stop there. We’ll also take you to hidden gems in the Balkans, the Highlands of Scotland, the Spain-Portugal border, and Snowdonia in North Wales. So lets dive into this mesmerizing tour of Europe’s finest lakes. I hope some of these lakes inspire you to plan your own unforgettable lake adventures.
The 15 Most Beautiful Lakes In Europe
1. Lake Bled, Slovenia
Lake Bled is one of the prettiest lakes in the world. It’s located in Slovenia’s Julian Alps, and is an unforgettable sight. A church sits on an island in the middle of the lake.
A medieval castle guards the area from a vertical cliff on the lake shore. Behind this, the Alpine peak Mount Stol dominates the landscape. Lake Bled also made our most beautiful landscapes in Europe list.
2. Lake Como, Italy
The Italian Lakes region has some of the best lakes in Europe to visit. Garda, Maggiore and Orta have everything – amazing lakes surrounded by magnificent mountains and lovely towns. Lago di Como has these too, and it’s the gorgeous lakeside towns like Bellagio that set it apart for us. One of the most beautiful lakes in Italy and on the continent.
3. Llynnau Cregennen, Wales
Llynnau Cregennen is one of the most beautiful places to visit in Wales, and one of the least known. It’s hidden away in the foothills of Cadair Idris, in the south of the Snowdonia National Park.
There are two lakes, walks around each, and a great view of the Mawddach river estuary and Barmouth from the hill behind the car park.
4. Königssee Lake, Bavaria, Germany
Königssee is one of the best lakes in Germany. It’s a classic steep mountain valley lake in the Berchtesgaden National Park, in the east of the Bavarian Alps. It’s very close to the border with Austria and its second city, Salzburg.
It’s a long, narrow lake, the sheer rock faces either side making it reminiscent of a fjord. There’s a lovely red-domed pilgrimage church, St Bartholomä, halfway down the lake, which can only be reached by boat or a 40 km hike.
5. Lake Brienz, Switzerland
We nearly didn’t get to see the Swiss Lake Brienz – Brienzersee in German – at all. We took the Brienzer Rothorn mountain railway to the summit café, but the clouds that had followed us much of the week weren’t going anywhere.
They did eventually part, for two seconds, revealing one of the most beautiful lakes in Switzerland. The turquoise water was crystal-clear, and the backdrop of the Alps of the Bernese Oberland wondrous.
6. Lake Ohrid, North Macedonia
Lake Ohrid is one of the oldest lakes in the world, at two to three million years of age. It’s also relatively isolated, which has helped over 200 endemic species to survive there. It straddles North Macedonia and Albania.
The lakeside Byzantine church of St Jovan Kaneo is one of the most iconic images of the Balkans. Lake Ohrid is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, both for its biodiversity and rich heritage and culture.
7. Llyn Gwynant Lake, Wales, UK
Llyn Gwynant is a stunning lake in the Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. Unlike Llynnau Cregennen, it’s hardly a secret destination – it’s next to the main A498 road which runs down from the Llanberis Pass to Beddgelert.
It’s one of the most beautiful places to see in Wales, in a deep valley in the shadow of Y Lliwedd, a peak adjacent to Mount Snowdon. Stop at each of the viewpoints on the way down, and again at the lake shore. It’s also a popular kayaking and canoeing spot.
8. Wastwater, Lake District, England
England’s Lake District National Park has recently been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Wastwater is its deepest and, for me, most beautiful lake. It’s surrounded by mountains, including Scafell Pike, the highest in England. Wastwater (sometimes written as Wast Water) was voted the UK’s Favourite View on a TV programme in 2007.
9. Lake Bohinj, Slovenia
Pristine Lake Bohinj is around an hour from Lake Bled, but attracts far less visitors. This lake is one of the best places to visit in Slovenia, a gorgeous lake surrounded by Alpine peaks, with a 12th century church at the head of the lake.
It’s around a 12km circuit walk, with the best views towards the ends of the lake. Bohinj is one of the most peaceful places I’ve visited – the only sounds I heard all day were the Alpine cowbells from the fields above the track.
10. Loch Shiel, Scotland
Loch Shiel is one of several sublime lochs around Fort William, on the west coast of the Scottish Highlands. It’s around 20 km (13 miles) west of the town, a one of the best lochs in Scotland, flanked by mountains each side.
The Glenfinnan Monument at the northern end commemorates the start of the second Jacobite Rebellion under Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745. Harry Potter fans will recognise the nearby Glenfinnan railway viaduct, on which the Hogwarts Express travelled in one of the early films.
11. Barragem do Alqueva, Portugal/Spain
This is one of two man-made lakes on our list. The Alqueva lakes are a system of reservoirs formed by the damming of the Rio Guadiana along the Spain-Portugal border. You get some amazing views, especially from the Portuguese side.
There’s also a lovely drive linking historic castle towns such as Monsaraz, Moura and Mourão along the shore of the lake.
12. Plitvice Lakes, Croatia
Croatia’s Plitvice Lakes are among the most famous lakes in the world. They’re a series of sixteen lakes on several levels, with waterfalls cascading down from one level to the next.
They’re in the east of the country, in an area of forested limestone karst. The lakes are an incredible sight, with pristine emerald green and turquoise water at different places. They’re also amazing in all seasons.
13. Hallstatt Lake, Austria
Hallstättersee is one of the best lakes in Austria, in a wonderful mountain setting in the Salzkammergut region. It’s surrounded by 2,000-metre-high Alpine peaks, one of the most beautiful villages in Europe, Hallstatt, is on its western shore.
This is one of the oldest inhabited areas in Europe because of the vast salt deposits underground. As well as visiting the village, it’s well worth taking the cable car ride to the summit area of Krippenstein mountain for the ‘Five Fingers’ viewpoint over the lake.
14. Koman Lake, Albania
The second man-made lake on our list is Lake Koman in northern Albania. The river Drin was dammed in the 1980s to create this reservoir, and the result is one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.
It is surrounded by the spectacular Albanian Alps, and the boat journey from Koman to Fierza, which takes around three hours, is one of the best river cruises in Europe.
15. Štrbské Pleso Lake, Slovakia
Štrbské Pleso is one of the best places to visit in Slovakia. It’s a gorgeous glacial mountain lake in the High Tatras, the main mountain range in the country. It’s only a short bus or cog railway ride from nearby Poprad, the gateway to the Tatras.
Some of the best High Tatras hotels are close to the lake, including the Grand Hotel Kempinski. Štrbské Pleso is the starting point for some of the best hikes in the Tatras, including the full-day climb to Kriváň peak.
Lakes in Europe – Final Words
I hope these beautiful European lakes have given you some inspiration.
I hope you have been inspired by my guide to the best islands in Europe to visit.
I have written a series of inspiration articles covering the whole of Europe, each with a different theme.
Check out some of these guides to whet your appetite further:
Most Beautiful Beaches In Europe – from the Mediterranean to the Baltic to the Atlantic and more
Most Beautiful Castles In Europe – from Moorish fortresses to ‘Mad’ King Ludwig, and many more
Most Beautiful Villages in Europe – from Santorini to the Swiss Alps via Slovakia
Most Beautiful Landscapes In Europe – the Rhine Valley, Tuscany, Amalfi Coast and many more
Most Beautiful Lakes In Europe – from Austria to Albania and Switzerland to Snowdonia
Most Beautiful Islands In Europe – from Crete to Croatia, Sicily to Slovenia and more
Best Sunsets In Europe – from the Champs-Elysees to the Charles Bridge, and many more
Most Beautiful Churches In Europe – from vast cathedrals to a 1000-year-old Byzantine beach chapel
Most Beautiful Bridges In Europe – Charles Bridge, Tower Bridge, Pont Alexandre III and more
Most Beautiful Squares In Europe – the loveliest public spaces in Europe, from Berlin to Bath, and Portugal to Prague
Best Christmas Cities In Europe – the best places to spend Christmas in Europe, and their Christmas Markets
Most Underrated Cities In Europe – hidden gems from all corners of the continent
David Angel is a British photographer, writer and historian. He is a European travel expert with over 30 years’ experience exploring Europe. He has a degree in History from Manchester University, and his work is regularly featured in global media including the BBC, Condé Nast Traveler, The Guardian, The Times, and The Sunday Times. David is fluent in French and Welsh, and can also converse in Italian, German, Portuguese, Spanish, Czech and Polish.