Türkiye and the Caucasus
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Uzungöl | A lake among the mountains and forests with a wooden mosque, one of Saudis' favourite spots in Türkiye. | About 100 km from Trabzon |
| Lake Abant | A forest lake formed by an ancient landslide, with a lakeside walk and horse-drawn carriages. | About 35 km from Bolu; entry fee |
| Lake Sapanca | A lake among the mountains and forests, with a lakeside walk, restaurants and cafés. | About 2 hours from Istanbul by car |
| Lake Nohur | A quiet lake among green hills, with restaurants and seating on the shore. | About 5 km from Gabala, Azerbaijan |
| Lake Sevan | A wide mountain lake of blue water, one of the largest high-altitude lakes in the world. | About an hour from Yerevan, Armenia |
The Alps
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Braies | A turquoise lake below a rock wall, with wooden boats for hire and an hour's walk around it. | The Dolomites, Italy |
| Lake Como | A lake among the mountains with colourful villages and lakeside villas, and boats between Bellagio and Varenna. | About an hour by train from Milan |
| Lake Oeschinen | A turquoise lake below towering rock walls, one of the most beautiful in the Alps, frozen in winter. | Kandersteg, Switzerland |
| Lake Bled and its island | A traditional wooden boat takes you to a small island in the middle of the lake, with a walk of about 6 kilometres around it. | Slovenia |
| Riffelsee | The most famous spot to photograph the Matterhorn's reflection on a still morning. | On the Gornergrat line, Zermatt |
| Lac Blanc | A mountain lake mirroring the peaks of Mont Blanc, one of the loveliest walks in the Alps. | Chamonix, France; in summer |
| Königssee | An emerald lake between towering mountains, with quiet electric boats. | Berchtesgaden, Germany |
| Achensee | Tyrol's largest lake, with turquoise water among the mountains and an old steam train running up to it. | About 45 minutes from Innsbruck |
Eastern Europe and the North
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| The Plitvice Lakes | Terraced turquoise lakes joined by waterfalls, walked on wooden boardwalks. | Croatia |
| Morskie Oko | The best-known lake of the Tatra mountains, among towering peaks. | Zakopane, Poland; about a 9 km walk |
| Lake Balaton | The largest lake in Central Europe, with its beaches and summer towns. | About 1 h 30 min from Budapest |
| Jökulsárlón glacier lagoon | Blue icebergs floating in a lagoon, and Diamond Beach with chunks of ice on the black sand. | South-east Iceland |
| Loch Ness | A long lake among the mountains, with the ruins of Urquhart Castle on its shore. | Near Inverness, Scotland |
Asia
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Kawaguchi | A lake facing Mount Fuji, with some of its finest views in autumn and winter. | Japan |
| Big Almaty Lake | A turquoise lake at about 2,500 metres among the peaks. | Kazakhstan; private cars are not allowed |
| Lake Kaindy | A lake with the trunks of a sunken forest rising from turquoise water. | Near Kolsai, Kazakhstan |
| Ala-Kul | A turquoise lake among the peaks, reached by hikers on a mountain trek. | Kyrgyzstan; in summer |
| Lake Bratan | A quiet lake among the mountains with cool air, and some of Bali's loveliest scenery. | Bedugul, central Bali |
| Qiandao Lake | A lake with more than a thousand green islands, explored by boat and bike. | Near Hangzhou, China |
| Lake Baikal | The deepest lake in the world, with clear water that freezes like glass in winter. | Siberia, Russia |
Canada and New Zealand
| Place | Why go | Before you go |
|---|---|---|
| Lake Louise | A turquoise lake below a glacier, with a lakeside walk and canoes. | Banff, Canada |
| Moraine Lake | A blue lake among ten peaks, one of Canada's most famous views. | By park shuttle only; private cars are not allowed |
| Lake Tekapo and its stars | A turquoise lake in the largest dark-sky reserve in the southern hemisphere. | New Zealand |
Tips before you go
- Early morning is the best time for lakes: still water, clear reflections and fewer people.
- Alpine lakes are at their most colourful from June to September, and some freeze in winter.
- Some famous lakes ban private cars or need a parking booking, so check before you go.
Hotels in Lakes
- Hotels in Trabzon
- Hotels in Uzungöl
- Hotels in Sapanca
- Hotels in Zell am See
- Hotels in Bali
- Hotels in Geneva
- Hotels in Bled
- Hotels in Almaty
- Hotels in Budapest
- Hotels in Zakopane
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Frequently asked questions
What's the most beautiful lake in Türkiye for Saudi visitors?
Lake Uzungöl near Trabzon, Lake Abant in Bolu, and Lake Sapanca near Istanbul.
What is the deepest lake in the world?
Lake Baikal in Siberia, Russia, with clear water that freezes in winter.
Where can I see the Matterhorn's reflection?
At Riffelsee on the Gornergrat railway in Zermatt, in the morning when the water is still.
What is the largest lake in Central Europe?
Lake Balaton in Hungary, about 1 h 30 min from Budapest.
Last updated: October 2026. The information is for guidance only; ticket prices and opening hours are set by each attraction and may change, so check them on the official website before you go.