Lakeside Cities In Europe
By Eira Lindqvist · 2025-04-12
Some lakes behave like small seas. The cities on their shores have ferries, harbors, a maritime grammar. They are easy to overlook because the coast feels far away, but they belong to the same family.
Picks
Geneva and Lausanne on Lac Leman. Lucerne on its namesake lake. Como, of course, but also smaller towns like Bellagio and Varenna in the off season. Constance on the Bodensee.
"A lake city is a coastal city with better restaurants and fewer storms."
Why bother
Lakeside cities give you a coastal weekend without committing to a long journey. The ferries are gentle, the food can be excellent, the architecture leans toward the water in a way that rewards walking.
Travel tips
A few practical notes.
- 01Travel midweek when possible, weekends along the coast can fill up fast
- 02Bring a real waterproof shell, not just a wind layer
- 03Carry a small thermos, hot coffee at a windy harbor is a small luxury
- 04Download offline maps, signal drops near cliffs and on long ferry crossings
- 05Talk to harbor staff and bakery owners, they always know where the locals eat
A route to try
If this article moved you, try this trip.
Build a two or three day version of the Lakeside ideas above. Pair one of our curated routes with a single ferry crossing, and give yourself two nights in the same harbor town. Slowness is part of the plan.
Browse routesFrequently asked
Reader questions.
- When is the best time to visit?
- Shoulder seasons, late spring and early autumn, tend to give you the softest light and the quietest harbors. Summer is busier but the days are long.
- Do I need to book ferries in advance?
- For walk-on passengers in most northern routes, same day tickets are fine. With a car in peak summer, book at least a week ahead, sometimes longer for the popular crossings.
- Is the weather a problem?
- Not really. Rain, fog and wind are part of the atmosphere here. Pack layers, waterproof shoes and a calm attitude, and the weather becomes part of the experience.
- Can I travel without a car?
- Yes. Most of the routes we cover combine trains, coastal buses and ferries. A car gives you flexibility, but you lose the slowness that makes these trips good.
Related reads
More from the journal.
Letters from the coast