In a nutshell
- Lago di Carezza sits in the Dolomites and, with its intense emerald colors and mountain panorama, is one of the most beautiful places in South Tyrol.
- In this article, we share all the tips you need for your visit to Lake Carezza: how to get there, what to do, where to stay, and much more.
- The most important thing to know upfront: you can’t swim or boat on Lake Carezza — but there’s a gorgeous easy loop trail around the lake that’s absolutely worth the trip.
The Most Important Info About Lake Carezza in South Tyrol
Lago di Carezza is a stunning mountain lake and one of the top attractions in South Tyrol.
It sits at an elevation of 1,520 meters and is a protected nature reserve. This means you’re only allowed to walk along the circular trail around the lake — you can’t go down to the shore or into the water, unlike at Lake Braies or Lake Caldaro.
One big upside of this: you can take beautiful photos without crowds in the background.
The lake itself isn’t very large — the circular trail is only 1.2 kilometers long.
Depending on the sunlight, it often shimmers in shades of emerald green or blue — set against the surrounding mountain landscape, it’s simply breathtaking!
Where Is Lake Carezza in South Tyrol?
Lago di Carezza is located in the southeastern part of South Tyrol in the Eggental valley. It’s only about 30 kilometers from Bolzano and is especially popular as a summer day trip destination in South Tyrol.
The nearest town is the small village of Nova Levante, just 6 kilometers away.
Map of Lake Carezza
Getting There and Parking at Lake Carezza
Here are all our tips on the best way to get to Lago di Carezza. We’ve already marked the bus stop and parking lot on the map.
Getting There by Car
If you’re driving to Lake Carezza, we strongly recommend arriving early. Aim to get there by around 9 AM — after that, traffic gets chaotic.
Since there’s only one main road and one parking lot at Lake Carezza, expect significant traffic jams, especially during peak season.
From Bolzano, take the SS241 — depending on traffic, the drive takes about 30 minutes.
Parking at Lake Carezza
Right at Lake Carezza, there’s Parking Lot P1. If you arrive in the morning, you’ll have a good chance of finding a spot. The later you arrive, the busier it gets — and you may have to wait in line.
Prices for cars at Parking Lot P1
- 1 hour = €3
- 2 hours = €6
- 2–6 hours = €9
About one kilometer from Lake Carezza — on Via Bellavista — is the free Parking Lot P2.
If that one is full too, continue a bit further to the base station of the Paolina cable car. There you’ll find a third, paid parking lot.
Getting There by Bus
If you’re staying in Bolzano, we really recommend taking the bus. Line 180 runs from Bolzano’s bus station to Lake Carezza and takes about one hour.
You can buy your bus ticket from the driver, or pick up a prepaid card at the Bolzano bus station beforehand — you load money onto it and a fee is deducted per ride. The rates are lower than buying a single ticket.
Hiking at Lake Carezza
Since you’re not allowed to swim or take a boat out on Lago di Carezza, hiking is really the main activity here.
If you love hiking, spending a vacation at Lake Carezza is absolutely worth it — there are so many great trails in the area.
Circular Trail Around Lake Carezza
The circular trail is only 1.2 kilometers long and very easy. It’s totally manageable for anyone who can walk. Part of the trail goes through the forest, but most of the time you have a great view of the lake and can snap beautiful photos.
Suspension Bridge
Another hiking highlight at Lago di Carezza is the suspension bridge (“Ponte Tibetano” in Italian). It’s located next to Parking Lot P1, in the opposite direction from the lake.
From here you can start several hiking trails and also walk to Lake Carezza.
From Lake Carezza to the Christomannos Monument
If you’re after a more strenuous, longer hike, head to the Christomannos Monument.
Take the bus from Lake Carezza to the Christomannos Alm and hike up from there to the monument, covering around 500 meters of elevation gain.
From the monument, you then hike down to the Paolina Hut and take the cable car back down — or walk if you still have the legs for it.
Also read all our hiking tips for South Tyrol
Also read our hiking packing list
Restaurants at Lake Carezza
There’s only one restaurant right at Lake Carezza: the Bar Carezza Snack. The food is decent, but the place is very touristy.
You’ll have more options in the small village near the base station of the Paolina cable car. We recommend the Ristorante Laurin Carezza and the Pitt Bar.
Accommodation at Lake Carezza
There are no hotels directly at Lago di Carezza. That said, there’s plenty of great accommodation close by for a wonderful stay. Here are what we consider the best hotels near Lake Carezza.
Our Hotel Recommendations
LAKE & RIVER Hotel: a small, affordable hotel with excellent value for money, just 1 kilometer from Lake Carezza.
Hotel Alpenrose: a lovely sports hotel with a pool, 2 kilometers from Lake Carezza.
Moseralm Dolomiti Spa Resort: a seriously impressive hotel in the Dolomites with a pool, 2.8 kilometers from Lake Carezza.
Also read all our hotel tips for South Tyrol:
Camping at Lake Carezza
Wild camping is prohibited around Lake Carezza. You may only camp at designated campgrounds.
For RVs, there’s a basic parking area very close to Lake Carezza. You can find it on Google Maps under: RV Parking.
The nearest proper campground is Camping Catinaccio Rosengarten — though it’s located 15 kilometers from Lake Carezza.
Lake Carezza in Winter
Lago di Carezza is also a wonderful day trip destination in South Tyrol during winter.
Since it’s usually covered in snow and frozen from November onward, you’ll miss the brilliant colors of the water. But the mountain panorama is just as impressive blanketed in snow.
December in particular is a great time to visit Lake Carezza, as that’s when the Christmas market takes place — and it’s truly special here. It consists of just a few small wooden huts that look like lanterns — cozy and charming.
You can find current information about the Christmas market at Lake Carezza here.
Also read our tips on the best time to visit South Tyrol
FAQ About Lake Carezza
How deep is Lake Carezza?
It reaches a maximum depth of 22 meters.
Why is Lake Carezza green?
Honestly, it’s not entirely clear — but there are several theories.
Our favorite is the legend of the water nymph in Lake Carezza.
The more scientific explanation is that the intense colors come from various inflows into the lake.
By the way, it sometimes shimmers in other colors too — which is why it’s also called the Rainbow Lake.
