Summer in Trentino is about two things: water and fresh air. While the heat gives no respite down on the plains, here you can spend the morning swimming in a warm lake and the afternoon walking in the shade of a forest, with the mountains keeping the temperature pleasant even in August. In this guide we tell you what to do in Trentino in summer, from the large swimmable lakes to walks to the waterfalls, from alpine lakes to parks for children, all the way to the views that open up from the mountain passes. We at Italy Holiday have been welcoming guests to this land for a long time, and these are the places we would recommend to a friend on the way for the summer.
1. Lago di Caldonazzo, the great warm lake of the Valsugana
If you are looking for a lake where you can really swim, in Trentino this is where you start. Lago di Caldonazzo is a large stretch of water in the greenery of the Valsugana and it is one of the warmest lakes in Southern Europe: in summer its water turns mild and invites you to stay in for a long time. It is the perfect lake for whole days on the beach with the family, swim after swim, without the chill of cold mountain water.
Its beaches have been awarded the Bandiera Blu, and the water is not just for swimming. Here you can try sailing, SUP (stand up paddle), canoeing and even water skiing. The swimming season runs from May until the end of September. You can reach it in about twenty minutes by car from Trento on the SS47 state road towards Levico, or by train on the Trento-Bassano line, which stops just a few steps from the shores.
2. Lago di Levico, the other warm lake just nearby
Just a few minutes from Caldonazzo, near Levico Terme, the second large swimmable lake of the Valsugana awaits you. Lago di Levico has an elongated, distinctive shape that recalls a fjord, and it is surrounded by wooded hills. Its waters have also been awarded the Bandiera Blu: they are mild and clear, the shores are gentle, and in summer the water is warm enough to swim at your ease.
On the shore you will find a large free beach with grass and trees, equipped areas and a flat path along the shores, perfect for a walk after a swim. Swimming runs from May to September. You can reach it on foot from the centre of Levico Terme, by car on the SS47, or by train on the Valsugana line. Having two warm lakes so close means you can change beach every day.
3. Cascate di Vallesinella, the cool walk in the woods
When the heat sets in, nothing cools you down like a walk near falling water. The Cascate di Vallesinella are above Madonna di Campiglio, in the Parco Naturale Adamello Brenta, where the Sarca di Vallesinella stream tumbles through the forest in a series of jumps. The falls are divided into three groups, lower, middle and upper, linked by trails and wooden walkways in the shade of firs and larches.
It is an easy walk and suitable for families, ideal precisely on hot summer days, because between the woods and the spray of the water the air stays cool. You can choose a short loop up to the middle falls or a longer ring that touches them all. You set off from the Vallesinella area, reachable from Madonna di Campiglio. If you like walking near water, you will find more ideas in our guide to the waterfalls of Trentino on foot.
4. Lago di Tenno, the turquoise diamond where you can swim
Just above Riva del Garda hides one of the most beautiful lakes in Trentino. Lago di Tenno is a small alpine lake at around 570 metres, famous for the intense turquoise colour of its waters and for being one of the cleanest lakes in Italy. In summer you can swim here, and bathing in water so clear is an experience you remember.
An almost flat trail of about 3 kilometres loops it in a little over an hour, giving you ever new views over the lake, and it is suitable for everyone. Not far away is Canale di Tenno, a medieval village among the most beautiful in Italy, with narrow lanes and stone houses: a lovely stop to combine with a day at the lake. From June to August it is perfect for a swim, while spring and early autumn are ideal for walks.
5. Lago di Molveno, summer at the foot of the Dolomiti di Brenta
Lago di Molveno is an alpine lake with crystal-clear waters at around 830 metres, at the foot of the Dolomiti di Brenta, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its large grassy beach slopes gently down towards the water and is so well kept that the lake has been awarded several times among the most beautiful in Italy. It is the right place for those who want to combine a swim in a mountain lake with a relaxing day on the lawn, with the peaks all around.
Besides summer swimming, here you can do kayaking, SUP and pedal boats, or walk the loop trail of about 11 kilometres around the lake, lovely by bicycle too, between woods and open shores. The best season runs from late spring to early autumn, with June and September among the quietest months. You reach it from Trento towards Andalo, in about an hour by car from our area.
6. Forest Park Molveno, the treetop adventure for children
Above Molveno, on the Pradel plateau, there is a park designed to entertain grown-ups and little ones in the open air. Forest Park is an adventure park among the trees, with rope courses, Tibetan bridges and zip lines strung between century-old firs. The courses are divided into several difficulty levels, from the easiest for children aged four and up to the more demanding ones for teenagers and adults.
You go up to the Pradel plateau in a few minutes on the cable car from the centre of Molveno, or on foot along the trails. During the activity you are always followed by instructors, with safety harnesses, so it is an experience suitable even for the first time. It is a great idea for a family day, perhaps combined with a swim in the lake. If you travel with the youngest, you will find more ideas in our guide on what to do in Trentino with children.
7. Cima Paganella, the 360-degree view without the effort
To see Trentino from above without a long climb, go up to Cima Paganella, at around 2,125 metres. From the summit a 360-degree panorama opens up that ranges from the Dolomiti di Brenta to Lake Garda, from the Adige Valley to the more distant Dolomite groups. On clear days your gaze really reaches far, and it is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the region.
You go up easily from Andalo with the lifts, so it is a destination within everyone's reach, even for those who do not like long walks. At altitude the summer air is cool and light, a lovely break from the heat of the valley. It is a great idea for a morning up high followed by an afternoon at the lake, since Molveno is just a few minutes away.
8. Passo Pordoi, the balcony of the Dolomites
To close, we take you higher, to one of the most spectacular passes of the Dolomites. Passo Pordoi sits at 2,239 metres, between Val di Fassa and Arabba, and even from here the views are wide and open. But the highlight is the cable car that climbs to the Sass Pordoi, at around 2,950 metres, onto a large terrace that many call the balcony of the Dolomites.
From up there your gaze embraces some of the most beautiful mountains in the world, from the Sassolungo to the Marmolada, and the fresh high-altitude air makes you forget the summer heat. The cable car runs roughly from late May to October, but it is best to check the up-to-date times on the official site before setting off. It is the most distant pass on this list: from our area it takes over an hour and a half by car, but for a day trip it is well worth the journey.
Where to stay for a summer in Trentino
If you look at the map of these places, you notice one thing: much of what makes a Trentino summer special is within easy reach of the Valsugana. The two large warm lakes, Caldonazzo and Levico, are practically on the doorstep, and from here Trento, the walks to the waterfalls, the alpine lakes like Tenno and Molveno, the family parks and even the views from the passes are all reachable as day trips.
That is why the area of the Valsugana lakes, around Caldonazzo, Levico and Calceranica, is an ideal base for a summer holiday. In the morning you wake up a few minutes from the water, you spend the day between beach and sport, and when you want a bit of cool you have the mountains a short distance away. If you love lakes, you will find more ideas in our guide to the 8 lakes to visit in Trentino.
We at Italy Holiday welcome guests in this very area, in homes designed to make you feel at home from the very first moment. If you dream of a summer with the lake in front of you and the mountains all around, discover where to stay near the lakes of the Valsugana and pack your bags: Trentino in summer is waiting for you.
