A small, dazzlingly turquoise alpine lake above Riva del Garda, famous for its vivid emerald colour and a tiny island. Swimming is permitted from grassy and pebble shores, and the cold, clear water and scenery make it one of Trentino's most photogenic bathing spots.
Lago di Tenno is a small alpine lake set above Riva del Garda in the hills of Trentino, celebrated for an extraordinary turquoise-to-emerald colour that ranks it among the most photographed lakes in the region. Fed by cold mountain water, the lake glows in vivid shades of green and blue over its pale bed, and a tiny tree-covered island near one shore adds to its picture-book appeal. Unlike the warm Valsugana and Wine Road lakes, Tenno is cool and clear, so swimming is most enjoyable on hot summer days, but it is genuinely swimmable: grassy and pebble shores allow easy entry, and the lake is a popular place to bathe, picnic and paddle. A small lakeside kiosk or bar and pedalo hire operate in season, and a car park sits a short walk from the water, with picnic areas and walking paths around the shore. The setting, ringed by wooded hills with the higher mountains beyond, is tranquil and scenic rather than developed, and the lake never feels as busy as the big bathing lakes, though its fame draws a steady summer crowd. Close by, the beautifully preserved medieval hamlet of Canale di Tenno, one of Italy's officially recognised most beautiful villages, makes a perfect cultural pairing with a swim, while Riva del Garda and the north shore of Lake Garda are only a short drive downhill. For travellers seeking a strikingly beautiful, refreshing alpine swim with a photogenic emerald lake and a medieval village nearby, Lago di Tenno is one of Trentino's gems.
Good to know
- Best for
- swimmers, photographers, couples, families
- Facilities
- Small lakeside bar/kiosk, Pedalo hire, Car park, Picnic areas
Location
45.9233, 10.8275 View on map
Highlights
- Dazzling turquoise-to-emerald water and a tiny tree-covered island
- Cool, clear, genuinely swimmable alpine lake above Riva del Garda
- Grass and pebble shores with pedalo hire and picnic areas
- Close to the medieval hamlet of Canale di Tenno
Tips for visiting
- The water is cold and clear — best on a hot summer day
- Combine with the medieval hamlet of Canale di Tenno nearby
When to visit
June to September is the swimming season; because the water is cold, a hot summer day is best, and an earlier arrival secures parking and shore space at this popular, photogenic lake.
Accessibility
A car park sits a short walk from the lake, but the shore is grass and pebble with no dedicated step-free entry or beach wheelchairs, so the lake is moderately challenging for visitors with limited mobility.
Frequently asked questions
Can you swim in Lago di Tenno?
Yes. The lake is genuinely swimmable from its grassy and pebble shores, though it is fed by cold mountain water, so swimming is most enjoyable on hot summer days.
Why is the lake so famous?
Lago di Tenno is renowned for its extraordinary turquoise-to-emerald colour and a small tree-covered island, which make it one of the most photographed lakes in Trentino.
What is there to do nearby?
The beautifully preserved medieval hamlet of Canale di Tenno is close by, and Riva del Garda and the north shore of Lake Garda are a short drive downhill.