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Tales and moments, mysticism and magic
History or stories? Dream or reality? The boundaries between reality and fiction blur almost imperceptibly. The cuckoo murmurs, the pine whispers, the little brook gurgles. And they all tell stories of their experiences and fantasies. Around the Wolfsgrubner Lake.
Lago di Costalovara, Lake Caldaro or Lago di Braies: which lake is right for you?
Lago di Costalovara, Lake Caldaro and Lago di Braies offer three very different ways to experience a holiday by the water in South Tyrol. Lago di Costalovara is a small swimming lake in Renon. Lake Caldaro offers particularly warm water and extensive bathing facilities. Lago di Braies is a high-altitude mountain lake known primarily as a nature and excursion destination.
KlausWhich one suits you best depends less on how famous the lake is and more on what you are looking for: swimming, water sports, exploring the Dolomites or spending several days of your holiday directly by the water.
Lago di Costalovara: located in Renon at an altitude of 1,176 metres. It covers around 3.3 hectares and has a maximum depth of about 4 metres. In summer, surface water temperatures can reach approximately 24–26°C. It is a small swimming lake surrounded by woods and particularly suited to a quiet holiday directly by the water.
Lake Caldaro: located on the South Tyrolean Wine Road at an altitude of 216 metres. It covers around 131 hectares and has a maximum depth of approximately 5.6 metres. Summer water temperatures can exceed 28°C. It is particularly suited to a classic swimming holiday with warm water, bathing facilities and water sports.
Lago di Braies: located in the Braies Valley at an altitude of 1,496 metres. It covers around 33 hectares and reaches a maximum depth of approximately 36 metres. Its water temperature remains below 15°C throughout the year. It is primarily an alpine lake for enjoying the natural landscape of the Dolomites.
Lake Caldaro: located on the South Tyrolean Wine Road at an altitude of 216 metres. It covers around 131 hectares and has a maximum depth of approximately 5.6 metres. Summer water temperatures can exceed 28°C. It is particularly suited to a classic swimming holiday with warm water, bathing facilities and water sports.
Lago di Braies: located in the Braies Valley at an altitude of 1,496 metres. It covers around 33 hectares and reaches a maximum depth of approximately 36 metres. Its water temperature remains below 15°C throughout the year. It is primarily an alpine lake for enjoying the natural landscape of the Dolomites.
Which of the three lakes is the warmest?
Lake Caldaro is the warmest of the three, with summer water temperatures that can exceed 28°C. Lago di Costalovara reaches surface temperatures of around 24–26°C in summer. Lago di Braies remains considerably colder as a high-altitude mountain lake, with water temperatures below 15°C throughout the year.
Altitude partly explains the difference. Lake Caldaro lies at 216 metres, Lago di Costalovara at 1,176 metres and Lago di Braies at 1,496 metres.
Those primarily looking for very warm swimming water will find suitable conditions at Lake Caldaro. Lago di Costalovara combines summer swimming with the higher altitude and landscape of the Renon plateau.
Can you swim in all three lakes?
Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro are used as swimming lakes during summer. Swimming at Lago di Braies is discouraged to help protect its sensitive natural environment. Anyone looking for a South Tyrolean mountain lake where swimming is part of a summer holiday will therefore find different conditions at Lago di Costalovara.
At Lake Caldaro, bathing facilities, sunbathing lawns and water sports are all part of the summer experience.
At around 3.3 hectares, Lago di Costalovara is considerably smaller. Woods and meadows shape its surroundings, and swimming can easily be combined with walks and time on the Renon plateau.
Lago di Braies, by contrast, is visited primarily as a nature and excursion destination.
What is the difference between Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro?
Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro differ mainly in size, altitude and tourism infrastructure. Lago di Costalovara covers around 3.3 hectares and lies at 1,176 metres. Lake Caldaro lies at 216 metres, covers around 131 hectares and offers higher summer water temperatures as well as more extensive bathing facilities.
Lake Caldaro is therefore particularly suited to those looking for a classic day by the water with bathing facilities, warm water and water sports.
The scale at Lago di Costalovara is smaller. Woods, meadows and the Renon plateau shape its surroundings. Hotel Weihrerhof on Lago di Costalovara in South Tyrol lies directly on its shore.
What is the difference between Lago di Costalovara and Lago di Braies?
Lago di Braies is a well-known nature and excursion destination in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Lago di Costalovara is smaller, lies around 320 metres lower and is used as a swimming lake in summer. For holidaymakers, the main difference is therefore how they experience each lake and how much time they spend there.
A walking trail of around 3.5 kilometres leads around Lago di Braies. During busy summer periods, special traffic regulations may apply to access the area. It is therefore advisable to check the latest travel information before visiting.
At Lago di Costalovara, the water can instead become part of the entire stay. Weihrerhof guests stay directly on the lake and do not need to plan an additional journey to swim or spend time by the shore.
Is Lago di Costalovara really a hidden gem?
“Hidden gem” is not an objectively measurable status. Lago di Costalovara does, however, differ from South Tyrol’s better-known lakes through its small size of around 3.3 hectares, its location at 1,176 metres and its combination of swimming lake, woodland and the Renon plateau. It is less a place for a single sightseeing stop and more a lake to experience throughout a stay.
The lake can also be reached without a car. It is around a ten-minute walk from the Costalovara stop of the Renon railway. From Soprabolzano, the walk takes approximately 30–35 minutes.
For more about the character of this place beyond the numbers, read our story about the Weihrerhof as a hidden gem in South Tyrol.
Which South Tyrolean lake suits which type of holiday?
Lake Caldaro is particularly suited to a classic swimming holiday with warm water and water sports. Lago di Braies is primarily a destination for experiencing the Dolomite landscape. Lago di Costalovara is interesting for those looking for a smaller swimming lake and wanting to spend several days of their holiday directly by the water.
Those looking for warm water and extensive bathing facilities will find suitable conditions at Lake Caldaro.
Those wanting to experience a famous Dolomite setting and walk around the lake will find that at Lago di Braies.
Those wishing to combine swimming, woodland and the altitude of Renon with a hotel directly on the water will find that combination at Lago di Costalovara.
Can you stay directly on a swimming lake in South Tyrol?
Yes. Hotel Weihrerhof lies directly on Lago di Costalovara in Renon. Guests can reach the water straight from the hotel, swim or spend time by the shore without having to plan an additional journey.
For details about rooms, lake access and how to get here, see our article Small wellness hotel directly on a lake in South Tyrol.
For more about the Weihrerhof and the quieter side of a South Tyrolean holiday, read our story about the Weihrerhof as a hidden gem in South Tyrol.
Lake Caldaro is the warmest of the three, with summer water temperatures that can exceed 28°C. Lago di Costalovara reaches surface temperatures of around 24–26°C in summer. Lago di Braies remains considerably colder as a high-altitude mountain lake, with water temperatures below 15°C throughout the year.
Altitude partly explains the difference. Lake Caldaro lies at 216 metres, Lago di Costalovara at 1,176 metres and Lago di Braies at 1,496 metres.
Those primarily looking for very warm swimming water will find suitable conditions at Lake Caldaro. Lago di Costalovara combines summer swimming with the higher altitude and landscape of the Renon plateau.
Can you swim in all three lakes?
Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro are used as swimming lakes during summer. Swimming at Lago di Braies is discouraged to help protect its sensitive natural environment. Anyone looking for a South Tyrolean mountain lake where swimming is part of a summer holiday will therefore find different conditions at Lago di Costalovara.
At Lake Caldaro, bathing facilities, sunbathing lawns and water sports are all part of the summer experience.
At around 3.3 hectares, Lago di Costalovara is considerably smaller. Woods and meadows shape its surroundings, and swimming can easily be combined with walks and time on the Renon plateau.
Lago di Braies, by contrast, is visited primarily as a nature and excursion destination.
What is the difference between Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro?
Lago di Costalovara and Lake Caldaro differ mainly in size, altitude and tourism infrastructure. Lago di Costalovara covers around 3.3 hectares and lies at 1,176 metres. Lake Caldaro lies at 216 metres, covers around 131 hectares and offers higher summer water temperatures as well as more extensive bathing facilities.
Lake Caldaro is therefore particularly suited to those looking for a classic day by the water with bathing facilities, warm water and water sports.
The scale at Lago di Costalovara is smaller. Woods, meadows and the Renon plateau shape its surroundings. Hotel Weihrerhof on Lago di Costalovara in South Tyrol lies directly on its shore.
What is the difference between Lago di Costalovara and Lago di Braies?
Lago di Braies is a well-known nature and excursion destination in the South Tyrolean Dolomites. Lago di Costalovara is smaller, lies around 320 metres lower and is used as a swimming lake in summer. For holidaymakers, the main difference is therefore how they experience each lake and how much time they spend there.
A walking trail of around 3.5 kilometres leads around Lago di Braies. During busy summer periods, special traffic regulations may apply to access the area. It is therefore advisable to check the latest travel information before visiting.
At Lago di Costalovara, the water can instead become part of the entire stay. Weihrerhof guests stay directly on the lake and do not need to plan an additional journey to swim or spend time by the shore.
Is Lago di Costalovara really a hidden gem?
“Hidden gem” is not an objectively measurable status. Lago di Costalovara does, however, differ from South Tyrol’s better-known lakes through its small size of around 3.3 hectares, its location at 1,176 metres and its combination of swimming lake, woodland and the Renon plateau. It is less a place for a single sightseeing stop and more a lake to experience throughout a stay.
The lake can also be reached without a car. It is around a ten-minute walk from the Costalovara stop of the Renon railway. From Soprabolzano, the walk takes approximately 30–35 minutes.
For more about the character of this place beyond the numbers, read our story about the Weihrerhof as a hidden gem in South Tyrol.
Which South Tyrolean lake suits which type of holiday?
Lake Caldaro is particularly suited to a classic swimming holiday with warm water and water sports. Lago di Braies is primarily a destination for experiencing the Dolomite landscape. Lago di Costalovara is interesting for those looking for a smaller swimming lake and wanting to spend several days of their holiday directly by the water.
Those looking for warm water and extensive bathing facilities will find suitable conditions at Lake Caldaro.
Those wanting to experience a famous Dolomite setting and walk around the lake will find that at Lago di Braies.
Those wishing to combine swimming, woodland and the altitude of Renon with a hotel directly on the water will find that combination at Lago di Costalovara.
Can you stay directly on a swimming lake in South Tyrol?
Yes. Hotel Weihrerhof lies directly on Lago di Costalovara in Renon. Guests can reach the water straight from the hotel, swim or spend time by the shore without having to plan an additional journey.
For details about rooms, lake access and how to get here, see our article Small wellness hotel directly on a lake in South Tyrol.
For more about the Weihrerhof and the quieter side of a South Tyrolean holiday, read our story about the Weihrerhof as a hidden gem in South Tyrol.
