Lake Caldaro: All the Tips You Need for Your Vacation at Lago di Caldaro

Key Facts About Lake Caldaro

Lake Caldaro (“Lago di Caldaro” in Italian, “Kalterer See” in German) is a swimming lake in South Tyrol and sits at an elevation of 216 meters. It’s one of the top highlights in South Tyrol.

The lake covers about 155 hectares — that’s roughly 217 soccer fields. Walking all the way around Lake Caldaro is about 7.5 kilometers.

At its deepest point, Lake Caldaro is 5.6 meters deep.

The water temperature is around 27°C in August and can freeze over in winter.

Where Is Lake Caldaro?

Lake Caldaro is located in the southern part of South Tyrol in Italy, southwest of Bolzano — from the city it’s about a 25-minute drive. The nearest larger town on the lake is Caldaro, which is about 4 kilometers from the lake.

Right on the shores of Lake Caldaro sits the small village of Sankt Josef am See. This is where you’ll find most of the swimming spots and hotels on the lake.

Swimming in Lake Caldaro

Lake Caldaro is perfect for swimming in summer. From June through September, the water temperature averages around 24°C — perfect for a swim!

If you’re feeling brave, you can also take a dip in April, May, or October — but the water will only be around 15–19°C.

Note: The swimming areas are only open from May through September.

Swimming Spots at Lake Caldaro

You can’t swim just anywhere around the lake, since part of it is located in a nature reserve with reed beds — you can’t enter the water there.

There are four public swimming spots at Lake Caldaro:

• Lido at Lake Caldaro
• Badestrand Seegarten
• Badebetrieb Gretl am See
• Badebetrieb Klughammer

Lido at Lake Caldaro

The Lido is an outdoor pool with sunbathing areas and direct lake access. It’s very easy to get to — there’s a bus stop right at the Lido as well as a parking lot.

Day ticket prices: €10 for adults and €6 for children up to 14 years old.

Badestrand Seegarten

Right next to the Lido there’s another swimming beach. It belongs to the Hotel Seegarten and also features a lawn for sunbathing.

Day ticket prices: €7 for adults and €4.50 for children up to 14 years old.

Badebetrieb Gretl am See

Gretl am See is similar to the Lido — an outdoor pool with direct lake access. The facility is adjacent to the Seegarten and has a parking lot.

Day ticket prices: €8.50 for adults and €5 for children up to 14 years old.

Badebetrieb Klughammer

Badebetrieb Klughammer is the only public lake access point on the other side of Lake Caldaro. There are lawns for sunbathing and a parking lot here.

Day ticket prices: €7 for adults.

Swimming in Lake Caldaro for Free

Even if it seems nearly impossible at first glance: yes, you can jump in the lake for free! North of the Lido there’s a free lake access point — you can get into the water via a ladder.

Staying Overnight at Lake Caldaro

If you want to spend as much time swimming as possible, your best bet is to stay at a hotel with direct lake access. As a hotel guest, you can use the affiliated swimming area for free.

Hotels with Direct Lake Access

Here’s an overview of hotels at Lake Caldaro with their own swimming area:

Seegarten
Parc Hotel am See
Seehotel Ambach
Lake Spa Hotel SEELEITEN

Want the full rundown? Check out our dedicated article on hotels right on Lake Caldaro — we go through each one in detail.

Camping at Lake Caldaro

There are several campgrounds at Lake Caldaro. Here’s a quick overview.

• Camping Gretl am See: A small, no-frills campground right on the lake with access to the swimming beach.
• Caravanpark: A simple RV parking area in St. Josef am See.
• Camping St. Josef: A large campground on the southern end of Lake Caldaro with its own lake access.

Circular Trail Around Lake Caldaro

• Distance: 7.5 kilometers
• Duration: 1.5–2 hours
• Difficulty: Easy
• Route: view the hike on Komoot

There’s a circular trail around Lake Caldaro that’s a really lovely walk. It’s easy and great for families too.

Note: For most of the circular trail, you’ll be walking through forests, meadows, and tall shrubs. You can’t walk directly along the lakeshore.

Activities at Lake Caldaro

Besides swimming and hiking, there are plenty of other great things to do at Lake Caldaro.

Pedal Boating and Stand-Up Paddleboarding

You can rent boats at Lake Caldaro and explore parts of the lake you wouldn’t otherwise be able to reach.

At the Lido, for example, you can rent stand-up paddleboards and pedal boats.

Visiting a Winery

The area around Lake Caldaro is well known for its wine production. There are many wineries close to the lake — at some you can stay overnight, while others offer tastings or sell wine directly.

Our Top 3 Winery Picks at Lake Caldaro

• Weingut Morandell: A wonderful family-run operation — you can sample delicious wines here and even drop in spontaneously for a tasting.
• Rösslhof: A small, personal hotel with a restaurant and its own vineyard. You can stay overnight or just stop by for a meal or a glass of wine.
• Weingut Manincor: A large winery with a modern shop and excellent wines. You can also book guided tours here.

Hiking to the Rastenbachklamm Gorge

The Rastenbachklamm is a fantastic hiking destination when you’re vacationing at Lake Caldaro. From St. Josef am See it’s about 3 kilometers and 350 meters of elevation gain to the gorge.

If that sounds like too much, you can also drive to the gorge.

The Rastenbachklamm features staircases that look amazing set against the surrounding landscape. That said, the paths are quite narrow, so the gorge — just like Lake Caldaro itself — tends to get very crowded in summer.

Beautiful Spots Near Lake Caldaro

Lake Caldaro is somewhat secluded in nature — but there are still a few charming little towns nearby that are well worth a visit during your stay.

Caldaro

You’ll probably pass through Caldaro (“Caldaro sulla Strada del Vino” in Italian) anyway on your way to the lake — the village has a small, lovely town center with plenty of cafés and restaurants.

We’d suggest stopping at a winery or a wine cellar and trying some local wine. Honestly, it doesn’t matter which one you choose — the quality is consistently good throughout Caldaro.

St. Michael

St. Michael (“San Michele” in Italian) is the main town of the Appiano wine region, which borders Caldaro. St. Michael also has great wine and a very authentic town center.

Also read our tips for Appiano
Also read our hotel tips for Appiano

Bolzano

The nearest major city to Lake Caldaro is Bolzano. Plan a full day to truly explore it — there’s seriously a lot to see!

Also read our tips for sights in Bolzano
Also read our hotel tips for Bolzano

Hidden Gems at Lake Caldaro

Lake Caldaro is a pretty well-known vacation spot. But there are still a few corners around the lake that most visitors miss. Here’s what we’d point you toward.

Leuchtenburg

The Leuchtenburg (“Castelchiaro” in Italian) is an old ruin perched on a hill above the lake. You can see it directly from Sankt Josef.

Hike up to the Leuchtenburg and you’ll be rewarded with what is, in our opinion, the most beautiful view of Lake Caldaro. And the best part? On the other side you look out over the Adige Valley — so you get completely different vistas in every direction.

Here you’ll find the route and more information about the hike to the Leuchtenburg.

Cycling from Bolzano to Lake Caldaro

Cycling in South Tyrol is incredibly popular — and there’s a very well-developed bike path from Bolzano to the lake. From the old town of Bolzano, it’s about 20 kilometers to Lake Caldaro.

You start by following the Adige Cycle Path, passing Sigmundskron Castle, then winding through forests and vineyards up to Appiano and from there on to Lake Caldaro.

Info: If you search for a cycling route from Bolzano’s old town to Lake Caldaro in Google Maps, it will show you the bike path route directly.
Also read our tips for cycling in South Tyrol

How to Get to Lake Caldaro

You have several options for getting to Lake Caldaro. We already covered the bike option above. Alternatively, you can arrive by car or public transit.

Parking at Lake Caldaro

If you’re driving to Lake Caldaro, you have several parking options.

• Parking lot at the Lido: Large parking lot at reasonable prices.
• Parking lot Gretl am See: Reasonable prices, suitable for RVs as well.
• Parking lot Klughammer: Small lot that fills up quickly.
• Parking lot at the circular trail: Free.
• Parking lot Leuchtenburg: Free.

Heads up: We’ve read that car break-ins are common at the free parking lots.

Getting to Lake Caldaro by Bus

From Caldaro, buses run regularly to St. Josef am See. The ride takes only about 5 minutes. If you’re starting from Bolzano, take a bus to Caldaro first and then transfer there.

Bus connections are shown in real time in the südtirolmobil app. You can also buy bus tickets there. A single ticket costs €4. You can also buy one from the bus driver.

The bus ride is cheaper if you buy a prepaid card at a ticket counter, such as at the Bolzano bus terminal. You tell the driver your destination when boarding and the corresponding amount is deducted.

If you’re staying in Bolzano or Caldaro, your hotel will often provide a guest card that includes free public transit.

FAQ About Lake Caldaro