Lake Viverone at a glance
Lake Viverone lies in northern Piedmont between Biella, Ivrea and Vercelli. An ice age glacier shaped it at the foot of the Serra Morenica di Ivrea, a long moraine ridge, and it sits between the Canavese and Biellese areas. A promenade runs along the northern shore, the southern end has wetlands for bird watching, and the Via Francigena pilgrim route passes through the area.
This guide covers swimming and the lidos, the UNESCO pile dwellings under the water, the lake villages of Piverone, Azeglio and Roppolo, and day trips to Castello di Masino, Candelo, Oropa, Biella and Ivrea. Prices are in euros, as listed for 2026, and they can change.
Our picks: tours around Lake Viverone
None of these tours starts at the lake, so check each start point before you book. The Canavese day trip suits you if you want lunch, wine and a castle stop with transport from Turin, and the Ivrea walk is a short, easy first outing. The cheesemaking class and the horse ride are for days when you want to do something with your hands or in the saddle.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Canavese day trip with lunch and wine tasting from Turin
- Transport from Turin
- Set-menu lunch
- Wine tasting, 3 to 5 glasses
A full day with guides. The castle stop is either Masino or Agliè depending on season and availability, and castle entry is extra.
Check availability →
Mountain cheesemaking class in the Piedmont Alps
- Hands-on cheesemaking
- Tasting with wine or craft beer
- Fresh cheese to take home
You make the cheese yourself with an expert beside you. Confirm the exact meeting point before booking, as the listing mentions both Valdilana and Coggiola.
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Guided horseback ride from Albiano d'Ivrea
- Riding guide
- Riding equipment
The ride starts at a stable in Albiano d'Ivrea, in the Ivrea area, not in Turin.
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Biella walking tour with cathedral and MeBo museum
- Cathedral entry
- MeBo museum entry
- Guided walk
A longer walk than the cathedral-only tour, with a museum added. Entry to Palazzo Ferrero, Palazzo Lamarmora and Palazzo Gromo Losa is extra.
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Historic distillery visit with vermouth and spirits tasting
- Guided distillery tour
- Distillation explained
- Four spirits or vermouths
The distillery is in Chiaverano, close to Ivrea. More tastings are possible on request.
Check availability →
Ivrea old town walk with museum entry
- Museo Civico P.A. Garda entry
- Archaeological collection
- Guide in Italian and English
The guide covers the castle, the cathedral and the carnival. Castle entry is not part of the ticket.
Check availability →Piedmont tours and day trips from Lake Viverone
Wine tastings, castles and day trips around Biella and Ivrea, with live prices and availability.
Plan your visit to Lake Viverone
Start with the lake, then pick the places you want to add.
Lake Viverone beaches
The four bathing zones, day-ticket prices at the main lido and the boat to the shore stops.
Pile dwellings in the lake
What lies under the water, and the places on shore where you can learn about it.
Piedmont wine tours and day trips
Erbaluce wine, vineyards of the moraine hills and how to plan a day away from the lake.
Castello di Masino
Tickets, opening days and the park with its hornbeam maze.
Candelo and its Ricetto
A fortified medieval storage complex with free entry to the grounds.
The Sanctuary of Oropa
The Black Madonna, the Sacro Monte chapels and the bus from Biella.
Biella and the Piazzo
The old hilltop quarter, wool heritage and the closed funicular.
Ivrea
The castle, the Olivetti buildings of the UNESCO site and the Carnival.
Piverone, Azeglio and Roppolo
Churches, a castle with seasonal hours and a bird tower on the shore.
Lake Candia
A nature park lake with its own rules for canoes and rowing boats.
Weather and best time
Monthly temperatures and rain for the region, and which months suit which plan.
Turin Airport to the lake
Train, bus and car, and the timetable changes until 12 December 2026.
Where to stay
Lakeside towns, campsites and city bases, with 2026 camping prices.
Opening times and prices at a glance
Seasonal hours and 2026 adult prices for the main stops.
| Place | When it is open | Adult price in 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Main lido, Viverone | Daily from 6 June, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. | €15 on weekdays |
| Castello di Masino | Wednesday to Sunday, 14 February to 1 November, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; 4 November to 13 December until 5 p.m. | €15 for castle and park |
| Castello di Roppolo | 1 April to 31 October, Wednesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to noon and 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. | €9.80 |
| Documentation centre, Viverone | Sundays from June to October except August, 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. | Free |
| Ricetto di Candelo | Outer area open around the clock | Free |
Closing dates can shift by a day, so check the final date before a trip at the end of the season. For most visitors, a Wednesday to Sunday between April and October gives you the most choices, because the castles and the lido are all open.
A few things to know before you go
Practical details that change how you plan the day.
Oropa works without the cable car
The cable car at the sanctuary is closed for technical revision. You do not need it to visit the basilicas. Bus 360 runs from Biella San Paolo to Oropa, about 14 km.
Oropa guide →Biella's funicular is closed
The funicular to the Piazzo has been closed since 1 September 2025. A replacement bus runs from Piazza Lamarmora to Piazza Cucco. A normal city ticket costs €1.80 and is valid for 60 minutes.
Biella guide →Trains toward Ivrea change until 12 December 2026
Works between Torino Stura and Chivasso alter timetables. Some regional trains from Turin to Ivrea leave about 5 minutes earlier, so check your connection on the day.
Getting there →Water quality is rated Excellent
All four monitored bathing zones at Viverone were rated Excellent for 2022–2025. That is a multi-year rating. It does not clear every stretch of shore on every day, and the 2026 monitoring season ran from 15 May to 30 September.
Swimming guide →Candelo in Fiore returns in 2027
The next edition of the flower event is in 2027, so there is no edition to plan around in 2026. The Ricetto itself is free to enter and its outer area is open around the clock.
Candelo guide →Lake Viverone: frequently asked questions
How do I get to Lake Viverone?
Bus 358 Extra.TO connects Ivrea with Piverone, Roppolo, Viverone and Anzasco. From Turin Airport, a suburban train takes about 30 minutes to Turin, where you change at Porta Susa to regional trains toward Ivrea or Biella. That is not the total journey time, so plan the last stretch by bus or car. Parking along the Viverone shore is in paid blue zones. See getting there.
Can I swim in Lake Viverone?
Yes, in season. All four monitored bathing zones were rated Excellent for 2022–2025, and the 2026 monitoring season ran from 15 May to 30 September. Access and facilities differ from lido to lido, so look at the beaches page before you go.
Can I see the pile dwellings?
The original remains lie under 2 to 3 metres of water, so they cannot be seen from the shore. A free documentation centre in Viverone shows finds on Sundays from June to October, except August. The pile dwellings page explains what to visit.
Which day trip is closest?
Castello di Masino is about 30 minutes by road from the lake via SS/SP 228, Azeglio and Caravino. A castle and park ticket costs €15 for adults in 2026. Candelo, Biella, Oropa and Ivrea are further day trips, each with its own page.
What does a day at the lido cost?
At the main lido a weekday day ticket costs €15 for adults and €10 for children in 2026. From 2 p.m. it is €10 and €7, and from 5 p.m. it is €6 for everyone. Weekend prices are higher.
Is lago-di-viverone.com an official site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. It is not run by the municipality of Viverone, the Biella tourist board, the Piedmont region or any lido, hotel or tour operator.