We hope you can enjoy the lake view and have a wonderful vacation.

Here are some practical tips for you around Solto and Lake Iseo. Feel free to add to the comments section below.

Supermarkets

We mostly use the following supermarkets:

  • In Solto, if you need something quick: Fresco Mio
  • In Piano/Lovere (15 minutes): Iperal
  • In Sarnico (25 minutes): Italmark

If you are in Bergamo and want to do some stock shopping, we can recommend the Iper Grande.

There is also a discount store nearby for those who prefer price over quality: Dpiu Discounter.

Bakeries

Standard bread is available in Solto at Fresco Mio and on Sundays also at Bar Centrale. Right behind Fresco Mio you can find the bakery La Forneria.

For the best bread you have to drive an extra 10 minutes to Endine. At the Minuscoli bakery they also have good coffee.

Restaurants

There are great restaurants in Solto and the surrounding area, from quick pizzas to some high-quality Michelin restaurants. We have already got to know the following restaurants and are happy to recommend them to you:

Solto and nearby

  • Bar Alternativa in Solto: 5 minutes by car, this is where we get our pizza, but we also like to eat it there. A simple bar where local workers and craftsmen like to chill out after work. We think the pizza is great.
  • A tip for Mondays, when most restaurants are closed: Just do eat in Riva di Solto makes good pizza as well (and burgers) and is open on Mondays.
  • An alternative to the classic Neapolitan Pizza is the Bergamasca Pizza with fluffy dough (see pictures below). You can try it at La Baita in the neighboring village of Esmate. Reservations can be made via Google or Open Table.
  • Our absolute favorite restaurant for value for money is the Trattoria al Lago in Riva di Solto. In summer you can sit outside by the lake. You should definitely book in advance, also possible via WhatsApp (+39 333 437 0489) and in English.

Three tips for foodies

Here are three top restaurants that we treat ourselves to from time to time (all of them are only 10 minutes away from Solto):

  • The Ristorante Zu in Riva is absolutely one of the best places to enjoy an exclusive menu with selected wines. The focus is clearly on (sea) fish. The location directly on the lake and the super friendly hosts Angelo and Lorenzo will give you a very special gastronomic experience. Reservations can also be made via WhatsApp at +39 348 514 4141 (Tip: Ask for a table in the newly renovated area)
    However, you can expect to pay 100 euros per person for a lovely evening. We recommend one of the menus together with a wine pairing. Ristorante Zu is also a place to meet Milanese celebrities (Michelle Hunziker was recently there).
  • The Panoramico in Fontano offers an equally beautiful view of the lake, only from higher up. Also with Michelin toques, the food here is absolutely top quality, and unlike Zu, it also serves meat.
  • The Miranda is within easy walking distance and also plays at the top of the culinary league. As in all the other restaurants listed above, you will receive a very, very warm welcome here.

E-bike Rentals and Tours

If you want to explore the area on an e-bike, then Gringo`s E-Bike Tours right here in Solto Collina is a good tip. Diego rents out high-quality e-bikes and also offers guided tours.

There are a few other providers that you can find via Google. Gringo’s is just around the corner. Adress: Via Furmignano 16, 24060 Solto Collina (BG)

Other providers nearby (both with pretty good Google reviews, reservations can be made online):

Water sports

The lake itself also has a lot to offer. Our favorite is a picnic on the lake … with a rented motorboat.

Here is a provider we have already used. However, it is in the south behind Sarnico and it takes 30 minutes by car to get there. 

Nautica Bertelli: https://www.nauticabertelli.it

A boating license is not usually required to book a boat. However, you have to create an account online in advance and provide your ID.

Here are some other providers that we have not yet used:

Walks and hikes

We don’t even know where to start here. There are so many wonderful hiking trails and tours, none of which are overcrowded.
You can get some inspiration here: Top 5 Hikes.

At Lacollinaoutdoor.it you will find seven tours in our immediate vicinity. You can also download a hiking map directly as a PDF.

The hiking trail from Sarnico to Lovere is our standard route. It passes below our house and is well signposted.

To get your circulation going before breakfast, we can recommend a climb up to the church of San Defendente. If you stand on the terrace and look up to the left, you will see the church.

The ascent to Corna Trentapassi is a must for hikers. This is the mountain you are looking at from the terrace to the left (east).

A nice walk is also to one of the “Big Benches” in Fonteno. The oversized benches are spread around the entire lake and are a popular Instagram motif. The nearest one is in Fonteno, about a 40-minute walk from here.

Monte Isola

A trip to Monte Isola is a must, at least if you spend a week or more here.

This is how you get there:

There is a ferry directly from Riva di Solto. So you only have to drive down by car and you can leave from there. But the ferry only runs a few times a day. If you want to be more flexible, drive to the eastern shore first and take the ferry from Marone or Sulzano. From Sulzano, the ferry departs every 20 minutes.

Here you can find the timetable.

Tickets can be purchased on board or online. In Sulzano, tickets can be purchased in the bar directly on the ferry. The online booking tool is the easiest way to plan your tour.

For those who are good walkers, we highly recommend the ascent to the Madonna della Ceriola monastery.

Great hiking trails – if you don’t like uphill stretches, you can also find your way right by the water

Tip: The La Spiagetta bar in Sensole is a wonderful place to sit by the lake. There you can enjoy the island vibe over a nice lunch.

Trip to Sarnico

Sarnico is in the far south of the lake and is particularly recommended on Sundays. This is when there is a flea market all over the town and the harbor promenade is really busy. There are some nice bars there where you can enjoy an aperitivo.

We can recommend the following cafés and restaurants with an exceptional ambience:

  • Bohem La Stazione: A mixture of flower store, concept store and teahouse in the former train station. Tea lovers will feel right at home.
  • San Martino, also very cozy and always good for an aperitivo. The food there is also said to be excellent.

According to legend, Dante Alighieri found refuge in Sarnico on Lake Iseo during his exile, where he may have gathered inspiration for some of his works, including the “Divine Comedy”. Visitors can explore the historic town center of Sarnico and take a walk along the lakeside promenade, perfect for finding a little inspiration of your own!

Trip to the Berlucchi Winery

Anyone vacationing on Lake Iseo must definitely try a glass of Franciacorta sparkling wine. It is famous throughout the region and some winegrowers can (almost) hold their own with champagne.
We have tried some Franciacorta. We can recommend the wines from Berlucchi. They are among the most traditional (founded in 1700 something) and best wineries.

We can also recommend a visit to the winery in the south of the lake. It’s about 40 minutes by car to Corte Franca.
Berlucchi offers various tours with wine tastings in their historic cellars.

The area of Berlucchi’s wine cellar is roughly equivalent to that of the San Siro stadium in Milan.

The standard tour lasts 90 minutes, includes a tasting of three wines and costs 44 euros per person.

Tip: Combine the wine tour with a visit to Iseo in the south of the lake.

You can find more tips about the Franciacorta here.

Trip to Bergamo

Bergamo is a wonderful city. The Città Alta is a Unesco World Heritage Site and, together with Brescia, Bergamo was the cultural capital of Italy in 2024.
Everyone can find their program for Bergamo here: Visitbergamo.net

Our favorite aperitivo place is the E-Bistrot Bergamo in the city center. There, for an extra Euro, you get a very generous aperitivi plate with your wine (see picture).

Trip to Verona

The journey from Solto to Verona takes around three hours (125 km). We have already been there several times and our daughter has compiled all our tips in a separate blog post about Verona.

Pool rules

Finally, may we kindly ask you to follow a few simple pool rules when using the pool. Our neighbors and co-owners will thank you.

  • Please take a quick shower before using the pool. This helps the water quality.
  • Please be considerate of other owners and guests and only use the pool for refreshment (no spreading of towels or garden furniture over a longer period of time).

Mille Grazie.

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