Still freshwater lake mirroring pine hills, with reeds, lily pads, a wooden jetty and a moored rowing boat.

Experience

Lakes

Lake holidays are quiet logistics: a base near the water, somewhere to swim or row, and a shoreline you can actually reach. Inland water rewards staying close — the best lake towns put the shore within a walk of the room.

Where to stay →

Best places to stay for lakes

Ranked by global recognition — how widely each place is read about across Wikipedia's language editions. Never paid placement, prices, or reviews.

980 more Lakes destinations, by country

United States (133)

China (31)

HangzhouZhejiang · China WuhanHubei · China DongguanGuangdong · China KunmingYunnan · China GuilinGuangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region · China JinanShandong · China HefeiAnhui · China WuxiJiangsu · China DunhuangGansu · China HeiheHēilóngjiāng · China HuizhouGuangdong · China YangzhouJiangsu · China XiningQinghai · China TongshanJiangsu · China ZhanjiangGuangdong · China DaliYunnan · China ShaoxingZhejiang · China JiaxingZhejiang · China JingzhouHubei · China ChengdeHebei Sheng · China HuzhouZhejiang · China Huai'anJiangsu · China JiningShandong · China ChangdeHunan · China HeyuanGuangdong · China Xicheng DistrictBeijing · Beijing Shi · China Luohu DistrictShenzhen · Guangdong · China NanchangJiangxi · China Xindu DistrictChengdu · Sichuan · China Longquanyi DistrictChengdu · Sichuan · China Jinniu DistrictChengdu · Sichuan · China

India (30)

ChandigarhUnion Territory of Chandigarh · India BhopalMadhya Pradesh · India SrinagarState of Jammu and Kashmīr · India JamshedpurState of Jhārkhand · India UdaipurState of Rājasthān · India JabalpurMadhya Pradesh · India GorakhpurUttar Pradesh · India AjmerState of Rājasthān · India AlappuzhaState of Kerala · India KolhāpurState of Mahārāshtra · India WarangalState of Telangāna · India SholapurState of Mahārāshtra · India KollamState of Kerala · India AlwarState of Rājasthān · India BrahmapurState of Odisha · India SaugorMadhya Pradesh · India AvadiState of Tamil Nādu · India AmbatturState of Tamil Nādu · India DīdwānaState of Rājasthān · India Dam DamWest Bengal · India TonkState of Rājasthān · India PerungudiTambaram · State of Tamil Nādu · India KhairtabadHyderabad · State of Telangāna · India HalasuruBengaluru · State of Karnataka · India West ZoneAhmedabad · State of Gujarāt · India New West ZoneAhmedabad · State of Gujarāt · India South ZoneAhmedabad · State of Gujarāt · India Rajpur GomtipurAhmedabad · State of Gujarāt · India Alam RozaAhmedabad · State of Gujarāt · India Mani MajraChandigarh · Union Territory of Chandigarh · India

Germany (10)

PotsdamBrandenburg · Germany Frankfurt (Oder)Brandenburg · Germany WannseeBerlin · Land Berlin · Germany HarvestehudeHamburg · Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg · Germany NikolasseeBerlin · Land Berlin · Germany HalenseeBerlin · Land Berlin · Germany SchwerinMecklenburg-Western Pomerania · Germany FriedrichshafenBaden-Württemberg · Germany NeubrandenburgMecklenburg-Western Pomerania · Germany HürthNordrhein-Westfalen · Germany

Montenegro (1)

PodgoricaPodgorica · Montenegro

Russia (12)

ChelyabinskChelyabinsk Oblast · Russia Petropavlovsk-KamchatskyKamchatka Krai · Russia Ulan-UdeRespublika Buryatiya · Russia PetrozavodskRespublika Kareliya · Russia VologdaVologda Oblast · Russia GatchinaLeningrad Oblast · Russia SolnechnogorskMoscow Oblast · Russia OzerkiSaint Petersburg · Sankt-Peterburg · Russia VitoslavlicyVelikiy Novgorod · Novgorod Oblast · Russia İske BistäKazan · Tatarstan · Russia Kirovski districtYekaterinburg · Sverdlovsk Oblast · Russia Leninsky DistrictMurmansk · Murmansk Oblast · Russia

Switzerland (10)

LuzernKanton Luzern · Switzerland LuganoCantone Ticino · Switzerland GenevaCanton de Genève · Switzerland ZürichKanton Zürich · Switzerland LausanneCanton de Vaud · Switzerland Zürich (Kreis 11) / AffolternZürich · Kanton Zürich · Switzerland Eaux-VivesGeneva · Canton de Genève · Switzerland Zürich (Kreis 2)Zürich · Kanton Zürich · Switzerland Zürich (Kreis 8)Zürich · Kanton Zürich · Switzerland CassarateLugano · Cantone Ticino · Switzerland

Bulgaria (2)

VarnaVarna · Bulgaria BurgasBurgas · Bulgaria

Iraq (1)

KarbalaKarbala Governorate · Iraq

United Kingdom (16)

Finland (219)

Sweden (190)

Madagascar (2)

AntananarivoAnalamanga Region · Madagascar AntsirabeVakinankaratra Region · Madagascar

Argentina (4)

San Carlos de BarilocheRío Negro Province · Argentina TandilBuenos Aires · Argentina ConcordiaEntre Ríos Province · Argentina San RafaelMendoza Province · Argentina

Uganda (3)

KampalaCentral Region · Uganda EntebbeCentral Region · Uganda JinjaEastern Region · Uganda

Netherlands (5)

LeidenProvincie Zuid-Holland · Netherlands HoofddorpProvincie Noord-Holland · Netherlands Alphen aan den RijnProvincie Zuid-Holland · Netherlands WatergraafsmeerAmsterdam · Provincie Noord-Holland · Netherlands SlotermeerAmsterdam · Provincie Noord-Holland · Netherlands

Canada (39)

Estonia (2)

TartuTartumaa · Estonia VõruVõrumaa · Estonia

Indonesia (1)

MedanNorth Sumatra · Indonesia

Turkey (14)

VanVan · Turkey IspartaIsparta · Turkey ElazığElâzığ · Turkey BoluBolu · Turkey AksarayAksaray · Turkey BitlisBitlis · Turkey BurdurBurdur · Turkey AhlatBitlis · Turkey AkşehirKonya · Turkey TatvanBitlis · Turkey ErcişVan · Turkey GölbaşıAnkara · Turkey Esenyurtİstanbul · Turkey Küçükçekmeceİstanbul · Turkey

Poland (13)

Austria (1)

Klagenfurt am WörtherseeKärnten · Austria

Hungary (5)

SzékesfehérvárFejér megye · Hungary SopronGyőr-Moson-Sopron megye · Hungary VeszprémVeszprém megye · Hungary KaposvárSomogy megye · Hungary ToponárKaposvár · Somogy megye · Hungary

Greece (3)

IoánninaEpirus · Greece SérresCentral Macedonia · Greece KozániWestern Macedonia · Greece

Albania (4)

ShkodërQarku i Shkodrës · Albania KorçëQarku i Korçës · Albania Tirana e ReTirana · Tirana · Albania Tirana 2Tirana · Tirana · Albania

Chad (1)

N'DjamenaVille de N'Djamena · Chad

South Korea (5)

DaejeonDaejeon · South Korea GyeongjuGyeongsangbuk-do · South Korea ChuncheonGangwon · South Korea GangneungGangwon · South Korea Songpa DistrictSeoul · Seoul · South Korea

Pakistan (3)

RawalpindiPunjab Province · Pakistan Bani Gala, IslamabadIslamabad · Islamabad · Pakistan BarakahuIslamabad · Islamabad · Pakistan

Iran (12)

Sri Lanka (3)

Sri Jayewardenepura KotteWestern Province · Sri Lanka KandyCentral Province · Sri Lanka Slave IslandColombo · Western Province · Sri Lanka

Nepal (1)

PokharaGandaki Pradesh · Nepal

Serbia (1)

SuboticaAutonomna Pokrajina Vojvodina · Serbia

Venezuela (2)

MaracaiboEstado Zulia · Venezuela ValenciaEstado Carabobo · Venezuela

Cambodia (2)

Siem ReapSiem Reap · Cambodia BattambangBattambang · Cambodia

Latvia (2)

LiepājaLiepāja · Latvia ČiekurkalnsRiga · Rīga · Latvia

Benin (1)

CotonouLittoral · Benin

Mexico (5)

XochimilcoMexico City · Ciudad de México · Mexico IztapalapaMexico City · Ciudad de México · Mexico Ciudad del CarmenEstado de Campeche · Mexico Texcoco de MoraEstado de México · Mexico PátzcuaroEstado de Michoacán de Ocampo · Mexico

Australia (12)

NewcastleState of New South Wales · Australia BallaratState of Victoria · Australia DaptoWollongong · State of New South Wales · Australia AdamstownNewcastle · State of New South Wales · Australia BerkeleyWollongong · State of New South Wales · Australia Meadow SpringsMandurah · State of Western Australia · Australia KanahookaWollongong · State of New South Wales · Australia Adamstown HeightsNewcastle · State of New South Wales · Australia Canberra CityCanberra · Australian Capital Territory · Australia BelconnenCanberra · Australian Capital Territory · Australia Varsity LakesGold Coast · State of Queensland · Australia NichollsCanberra · Australian Capital Territory · Australia

Djibouti (1)

DjiboutiDjibouti Region · Djibouti

Burundi (3)

BujumburaBujumbura Mairie Province · Burundi BwizaBujumbura · Bujumbura Mairie Province · Burundi NyakabigaBujumbura · Bujumbura Mairie Province · Burundi

Norway (47)

KirkenesFinnmark · Norway RjukanTelemark fylke · Norway HamarInnlandet · Norway NordfjordeidVestland · Norway BrumunddalInnlandet · Norway BeitostølenInnlandet · Norway VossVestland · Norway ØrjeØstfold fylke · Norway DokkaInnlandet · Norway GjøvikInnlandet · Norway ÅlgårdRogaland Fylke · Norway MoiRogaland Fylke · Norway UlefossTelemark fylke · Norway HornindalMøre og Romsdal fylke · Norway BjørkelangenAkershus fylke · Norway GaupneVestland · Norway VågåmoInnlandet · Norway BirkelandAgder · Norway TreungenTelemark fylke · Norway EvjeAgder · Norway TonstadAgder · Norway TrettenInnlandet · Norway NotoddenTelemark fylke · Norway JarenInnlandet · Norway SkotterudInnlandet · Norway NoresundBuskerud fylke · Norway SjøveganTroms · Norway KleppeRogaland Fylke · Norway RoaAkershus fylke · Norway VikesåRogaland Fylke · Norway PrestestrandaTelemark fylke · Norway KviteseidTelemark fylke · Norway SandInnlandet · Norway ÅmliAgder · Norway NamsskoganTrøndelag · Norway GjerstadAgder · Norway MyraAgder · Norway SandvikaTrøndelag · Norway SiljanTelemark fylke · Norway FossbyØstfold fylke · Norway KjennAkershus fylke · Norway MebondenTrøndelag · Norway ByglandAgder · Norway TingvatnAgder · Norway RøyrvikTrøndelag · Norway AasTrøndelag · Norway StrindaTrondheim · Trøndelag · Norway

Belarus (1)

PolotskVitebsk Oblast · Belarus

Chile (3)

Puerto MonttRegión de los Lagos · Chile TemucoRegión de la Araucanía · Chile OsornoRegión de los Lagos · Chile

Democratic Republic of the Congo (3)

GomaProvince du Nord-Kivu · Democratic Republic of the Congo BukavuSouth Kivu Province · Democratic Republic of the Congo KalemieTanganika · Democratic Republic of the Congo

New Zealand (4)

HamiltonWaikato · New Zealand RotoruaBay of Plenty · New Zealand BurwoodChristchurch · Canterbury · New Zealand ParklandsChristchurch · Canterbury · New Zealand

Kosovo (1)

MitrovicëMitrovica District · Kosovo

Kazakhstan (2)

KokshetauAqmola Oblysy · Kazakhstan BalqashQaraghandy Oblysy · Kazakhstan

Japan (14)

NikkōTochigi · Japan IzumoShimane-ken · Japan UbeYamaguchi · Japan ChitoseHokkaido · Japan HadanoKanagawa · Japan HikoneShiga · Japan KusatsuShiga · Japan KosaiShizuoka · Japan RittōShiga · Japan TowadaAomori-ken · Japan MitoIbaraki · Japan TomakomaiHokkaido · Japan IchiharaChiba-ken · Japan TsuchiuraIbaraki · Japan

Malawi (1)

LilongweCentral Region · Malawi

Egypt (3)

Al FayyumMuḩāfaz̧at al Fayyūm · Egypt IsmailiaIsmailia Governorate · Egypt DamiettaDamietta Governorate · Egypt

Ghana (1)

KumasiAshanti Region · Ghana

Thailand (4)

Hat YaiChangwat Songkhla · Thailand Udon ThaniChangwat Udon Thani · Thailand Roi EtChangwat Roi Et · Thailand Nong Bua LamphuChangwat Nong Bua Lamphu · Thailand

Tunisia (1)

BizerteGouvernorat de Bizerte · Tunisia

Peru (4)

PunoDepartamento de Puno · Peru PucallpaDepartamento de Ucayali · Peru JuliacaDepartamento de Puno · Peru Puerto MaldonadoDepartamento de Madre de Dios · Peru

Philippines (6)

TagaytayCalabarzon · Philippines CalambaCalabarzon · Philippines IliganNorthern Mindanao · Philippines CabuyaoCalabarzon · Philippines Lipa CityCalabarzon · Philippines Los BañosCalabarzon · Philippines

United Arab Emirates (1)

Dubai MarinaDubai · Dubai · United Arab Emirates

France (1)

CholetPays de la Loire · France

Afghanistan (1)

BāmyānWilāyat-e Bāmyān · Afghanistan

Kyrgyzstan (2)

KarakolIssyk-Kul Region · Kyrgyzstan BishkekGorod Bishkek · Kyrgyzstan

Ethiopia (3)

GonderAmhara Region · Ethiopia Bahir DarAmhara Region · Ethiopia AwasaSidama Region · Ethiopia

Denmark (14)

Ivory Coast (1)

BouakéVallée du Bandama · Ivory Coast

Panama (2)

ColónProvincia de Colón · Panama Las CumbresPanama City · Provincia de Panamá · Panama

Kenya (7)

EldoretUasin Gishu · Kenya KisumuKisumu · Kenya NakuruNakuru · Kenya LodwarTurkana · Kenya WajirWajir · Kenya Homa BayHoma Bay · Kenya KabarnetBaringo · Kenya

Uruguay (1)

SaltoDepartamento de Salto · Uruguay

Azerbaijan (1)

MingachevirMingacevir City · Azerbaijan

Nigeria (4)

MaiduguriBorno State · Nigeria AwkaAnambra State · Nigeria JalingoTaraba State · Nigeria LafiaNasarawa State · Nigeria

Ukraine (2)

Holosiiv RaionKyiv · Misto Kyiv · Ukraine Darnytskyi DistrictKyiv · Misto Kyiv · Ukraine

Niger (1)

ZinderZinder · Niger

El Salvador (1)

Santa AnaDepartamento de Santa Ana · El Salvador

Vietnam (6)

Hà ĐôngHanoi · Hanoi · Vietnam Sơn TâyHanoi · Hanoi · Vietnam Hoàn KiếmHanoi · Hanoi · Vietnam Ba Đình DistrictHanoi · Hanoi · Vietnam Hoàng MaiHanoi · Hanoi · Vietnam Cao BằngTỉnh Cao Bằng · Vietnam

Morocco (1)

KhenifraBéni Mellal-Khénifra · Morocco

Ecuador (1)

LatacungaProvincia de Cotopaxi · Ecuador

Armenia (2)

AbovyanKotayk · Armenia SevanGegharkunik · Armenia

Taiwan (3)

Neihu DistrictTaipei · Taiwan · Taiwan FengshanKaohsiung · Kaohsiung · Taiwan NantouTaiwan · Taiwan

Tanzania (3)

MorogoroMorogoro Region · Tanzania MwanzaMwanza Region · Tanzania KigomaKigoma Region · Tanzania

Bangladesh (1)

Gulshan-BananiDhaka · Dhaka Division · Bangladesh

Iceland (1)

Grafarholt og ÚlfarsárdalurReykjavík · Höfuðborgarsvæði · Iceland

Italy (7)

BergamoLombardia · Italy ComoLombardia · Italy TrentoTrentino-Alto Adige · Italy BresciaLombardia · Italy PerugiaUmbria · Italy VareseLombardia · Italy SagninoComo · Lombardia · Italy

Brazil (4)

Belo HorizonteMinas Gerais · Brazil Bragança PaulistaSão Paulo · Brazil Santa AméliaBelo Horizonte · Minas Gerais · Brazil Vila AssunçãoPorto Alegre · Rio Grande do Sul · Brazil

Nicaragua (2)

ManaguaDepartamento de Managua · Nicaragua GranadaDepartamento de Granada · Nicaragua

Bolivia (2)

CochabambaDepartamento de Cochabamba · Bolivia AlalayCochabamba · Departamento de Cochabamba · Bolivia

Spain (1)

Rivas-VaciamadridComunidad de Madrid · Spain

Macau (1)

SéMacau · Macau

Hong Kong (1)

Penny's BayHong Kong · Hong Kong

Lithuania (1)

PilaitėVilnius · Vilnius County · Lithuania

Oman (1)

GhubrahMuscat · Muḩāfaz̧at Masqaţ · Oman

Common questions

What should a lake base offer?

Direct shore access, swimmable water, and something to do on it — rowing, paddling, or a passenger boat. Lakes reward slow trips, so the base town matters more than the sights list: groceries, an evening walk, and the water at the end of it.