Orta San Giulio on the shores of Lake Orta in northern Italy is the lake’s most popular town, not to mention its prettiest!
If you’re unfamiliar with it, Lake Orta is considered a hidden gem in the Italian lakes. Orta San Giulio is its crown jewel.
Located just 30 minutes from Stresa in Lake Maggiore, Orta San Giulio has an idyllic combination of lakeside ambiance and medieval charm. It’s one of my favorite spots in north Italy’s Piedmont region and I’m sure it’ll win you over, too. This beauty is the perfect addition to your northern Italy itinerary!
I’ve spent many days in Orta San Giulio and around Lake Orta. It’s an easy drive from my house in Piedmont. So, I wanted to share the best things to do in Orta San Giulio and what I love about this gorgeous town.
Let’s head to Orta San Giulio and Lake Orta together!
1. People-Watch in Piazza Motta.
A great place to start in Orta San Giulio is the beautiful Piazza Motta. It’s at the center of the village and is one of the prettiest piazzas in northern Italy.
Every time I’m in Piazza Motta, I feel like I’ve walked into a classic movie scene set in a lovely Italian village, but then I remind myself that even Hollywood couldn’t create a place so perfectly authentic and eye-catching.
On one side of the piazza, you’ll find a row of buildings with pastel facades and cafes at street level. Opposite this is gorgeous Lake Orta with the Isola San Giulio sitting just offshore in the distance.
Honestly, if all you did on your visit to Lake Orta was enjoy the views and people-watch from one of the cafes in the square, I wouldn’t blame you. In fact, I’d like to join you at that table!
On Wednesdays, Orta San Giulio’s weekly market takes place in Piazza Motta. If you visit then, check out the local foods and products for sale. You just might find a perfect Piemontese souvenir to take home with you.
2. Admire the Palazzo della Comunita.
While you’re in Piazza Motta, you can’t miss the Palazzo della Comunita. Built in 1582, it sits elevated with an arched passage below where a musician sometimes sits to play.
What I love about this building is its facade of faded frescoes. Today, the building’s worn aesthetic fits the square perfectly but it’s a reminder of the town’s history. The Palazzotto, as it’s sometimes called, was used as a government council meeting hall.
You can’t visit inside but take a moment to admire it while you’re having a gelato in Piazza Motta.
3. Visit the Isola San Giulio.
The Island of San Giulio is the only island on Lake Orta. You can see it and easily reach it from Orta San Giulio. From Piazza Motta, take the 5-minute boat ride to the island for one of the nicest and most peaceful experiences in the Italian lakes.
The island is home to an operating Benedictine monastery, the Basilica di San Giulio with stunning frescoes, and the “Way of Silence,” a circular path to walk around the island.
I recommend taking a boat to the island to see the basilica. Afterward, walk around the island. It’ll only take about 10-15 minutes if you walk it without stopping. But it’s a lot of fun to follow the alleyways down to the water and peek into the lakefront gardens within the courtyards of some of the houses on the island.
The island also has one restaurant with beautiful views of Lake Orta and a delicious menu with classic Piedmont dishes and lake fish. It’s one of my favorite places to eat when I visit Lake Orta.
4. Explore Orta San Giulio.
Just as pretty as Piazza Motta are Orta San Giulio’s narrow streets. The village has actually been recognized as one of the most beautiful villages in the Piedmont region.
If the essence of La Dolce Vita is to slow down and appreciate what’s around you, there’s no better way than a passegiata (walk) around Orta San Giulio with a gelato (of course) to see the history and character of this village that has roots extending back to Roman times. Find tucked-away gardens and tiny churches, and visit the shops selling everything from clothes, books, lace, ceramics, handmade pastas, and local Piemontese products.
I love to wander along the cobblestone lanes just to browse the shops and take photos of the buildings and village streetscapes. As you walk, be sure to also wander into the tiny Chiesa di San Rocco and look for the quiet, lakeside public gardens behind Orta San Giulio’s town hall. It’s a pretty spot to sit and enjoy the lake views.
5. Walk Along the Lakeshore.
As pretty as Orta San Giulio is, Lake Orta is always simmering in the background. It’s impossible to resist.
From Piazza Motta, you can go in either direction along the lakeshore. If you’re in the Piazza and looking at the lake, go right along Via Bossi and Via Motta and follow the lakeside path around the peninsula that Orta San Giulio sits on. You’ll be walking right along the lake and, at times, may even have the walkway to yourself.
Eventually, you’ll loop around and connect with Via 11 Settembre along the other side of the peninsula. From there, continue along the lake and use Via Panoramica to wind your way back into the town center.
It’s an easy walk along a most paver stone-marked, flat path that’ll take less than an hour to walk. If Orta San Giulio is your only stop at Lake Orta, the walk is a nice way to see more views of the lake.
Alternatively, you can go to the left from Piazza Motta and follow the village streets along the lake until it connects with a lakeside path that leads to some small beach spots on Lake Orta.
6. See the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta.
From Piazza Motta, with your back to the lake, you’ll see the Church of Santa Maria di Assunta with its yellow facade sitting on the hill overlooking the lake.
It’s a beautiful Church that dates back to the 15th century. In true Baroque style, the inside is trimmed with gold leaf and ornamentation. I’m a sucker for frescoes and the ceilings here are covered with beautiful works of art.
From the vantage point outside the church, you also get a pretty view of Orta San Giulio with a glimpse of Lake Orta in the background.
7. Walk Up to the Sacro Monte di Orta.
The Sacri Monti are a set of nine chapel complexes spread across the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy that collectively form one of northern Italy’s most underrated UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Piedmont is home to seven of these pilgrimage sites, one sitting above Lake Orta and Orta San Giulio.
The Sacro Monte di Orta has 20 chapels set in a wooded, park that tell the life story of St. Francis of Assisi. The first time I visited I was truly in awe. Inside the chapels, you’ll find frescoes and life-sized figures, dating back to the late 1500s, acting out the scene being told.
Imagine your elementary school diorama project but life-sized and done by a master artist. The effect is breathtaking, as are the panoramic views over Lake Orta and the Isola San Giulio. In particular, there is an open point in front of the church that has stunning views!
You can drive to the Sacro Monte di Orta but it’s walkable from Orta San Giulio, too. If you’ve walked up to the Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta, continue along Via Gemelli climbing past houses until you make a sharp left up the tree-lined path to the Sacro Monte.
The walk is uphill but the path is easy to navigate. It’ll take about 15-20 minutes to reach the site.
It’s free to visit and you can walk to all the chapels or visit just some. If you want to see them all, plan on about 1.5-2 hours.
If you decide to drive up instead and you’re spending just a day in Orta San Giulio, I recommend visiting at the end of the day so that you can keep your parked all day until you’re ready to leave the town. From April until the end of October, the chapels are open until 6:30 p.m.
Either way, make time to visit. The Sacro Monte di Orta and the other Sacri Monti are the unforgettable sites you never knew you needed on your Italy itinerary!
8. Eat at One of Orta San Giulio’s Michelin-Recognized Restaurants.
You wouldn’t expect it but Orta San Giulio (outside the historic center but still part of the town) is home to the famous Villa Crespi, a restaurant and luxurious place to stay at Lake Orta. Chef Antonino Cannavacciuolo’s restaurant there has earned an incredible 3 Michelin Stars.
If you know anything about fine dining, you know there are only about 150 restaurants in the world that have this distinction. It’s a huge honor.
So, if you’re a foodie who has top restaurant experiences on your bucket list, this is a rare chance to eat at one of the world’s best restaurants.
It’s no fluke either. Orta San Giulio is home to Locanda di Orta, with one Michelin star and, in nearby Pettenasco, Cannavacciuolo by the Lake also has one Michelin star.
9. Take a Boat to Pella.
If you’re spending more than a day in Orta San Giulio, I recommend taking a boat from Piazza Motta to Pella, the town directly across Lake Orta.
Pella is a quiet, yet charming lakeshore village with a promenade to stroll. If you have time for just this, it’s still worth it. You’ll get out onto Lake Orta to see the area from the water and get fresh views of Isola San Giulio and Orta San Giulio.
With a bit more time, take the Pella tourist train for a tour of the area and up to the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso for arguably the most spectacular view over Lake Orta.
10. Go for a Swim.
Less than a 15-minute walk from Piazza Motta, you’ll find Spiaggia di Sassi and another grassy lakeside area where you can sit, sunbathe, and go for a swim in Lake Orta. You may have already noticed how clear the lake water is and you’d be right. Lake Orta is one of the cleanest lakes in Europe.
The areas aren’t big with long stretches of beachfront like you’d find in Liguria but they’re peaceful and easy spots to cool off in the water.
Best Time To Visit Orta San Giulio
May to September is the best time to visit Lake Orta. The weather is the warmest and sunniest during these months. Lake Orta is still a hidden gem in the Italian lakes, but July and August are still busy. If you can, visit in May, June, or September for good weather and fewer people.
However, I’ve also visited Lake Orta during March, April, and October and had sunny days with cool, comfortable temperatures.
Winters are quiet and cold at Lake Orta so don’t be surprised to find some hotels and restaurants closed during these months.
If you do visit in summer, try to avoid the weekends when it’s busier with groups of daytrippers including many Italians from cities like Milan and Torino.
How Long to Stay in Orta San Giulio
Many people spend 1 day in Orta San Giulio and visit places like the Isola San Giulio and Sacro Monte di Orta, too. If all you have is 1 day for Lake Orta in your northern Italy itinerary, you’ll have enough time to do the same.
But, you could easily stay here for 2-3 days, even more, to take advantage of all Lake Orta has to offer. Because Lake Orta isn’t as popular as other lakes nearby, you have a special opportunity here to enjoy the northern Italian lake vibe away from the crowds that Lake Como or Lake Maggiore see.
The town of Stresa along Lake Maggiore is only a 30-minute drive from Orta San Giulio. You could base yourself at Lake Orta and visit both lakes.
Around Lake Orta, you’ll find a lot of hiking and biking paths, several of which start or end in Orta San Giulio. One of my favorites is from Pettenasco back to Orta San Giulio through the frescoed village of Legro. (You can find all the details here.)
Where To Stay in Orta San Giulio
Villa Crespi is a total splurge if you’re looking for luxurious rooms and suites near Lake Orta.
Otherwise, I suggest staying in or just an easy walk from the center of Orta San Giulio.
Here are a few hotels for you to consider:
How To Get to Orta San Giulio from Milan and Turin
I always drive to Lake Orta when coming from my house a bit further south in Piedmont. An d no matter where you’re coming from, driving is the best way to get to Orta San Giulio and around Lake Orta.
From Orta San Giulio, boats can connect you to towns around the lake.
Trains stop at the Orta-Miasino station. From there, it’s about a 20-minute walk or a taxi ride to Orta San Giulio.
From Milan:
- Milan to Orta San Giulio by Car: 90 minutes
- Milan to Orta San Giulio by Train: About 2 hours on the fastest train to Orta-Miasino station
From Turin:
- Turin to Orta San Giulio by Car: 90 minutes
- Turin to Orta San Giulio by Train: About 2 hours on the fastest train with a transfer in Novara to go to Orta-Miasino station
Parking in Orta San Giulio
I park on the hill near the staircase that leads into Orta San Giulio. You can’t drive into the town because of ZTLs, Traffic Limitation Zones.
I drive to this parking area and then park in the bigger lot across the street. During summer and on warm weekends, parking areas fill up so arrive early.
From this area, it’s a 5-minute walk down towards Orta San Giulio where a set of stairs takes you into the town. If you need it, there’s a decent public bathroom halfway down the steps.
Inspired to Visit Orta San Giulio?
Orta San Giulio is one of the prettiest towns in Italy. Its streets, architecture, and piazzas are beautifully authentic and full of Italian lake charm.
As you plan your Italy itinerary, I hope you’re inspired to visit Orta San Giulio and Lake Orta. Together with the other Italian lakes, it’s one of the best places to visit in northern Italy.
When you go, look for me. I’ll be the one with the chocolate and pistachio gelato cone strolling through Piazza Motta. Hope to see you there!
Would you like to visit Orta San Giulio?
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