[Countrywide] Most beautiful lakes (Top 20): which ones have the best panoramas and are realistically accessible?

[EIA_Ask_NO]

Let’s build one practical thread around the “Top 20 beautiful lakes” idea—focused on two things people actually care about: panoramas and how easy it is to reach. Many lists online are either “hard hikes only” or vague.

If you recommend a lake, please include:

• How you got there (car/public transport) and how far the walk really was
• What the viewpoint is like (shoreline stroll vs elevated panorama)
• Whether it’s worth it in average weather (clouds/rain)
• Any logistics: parking, toilets, crowds, best time of day

If you could recommend only one lake for maximum “wow with minimal effort,” which one would it be?

 

[ViolettaPetrovna]

For most beautiful lakes with a ridiculous panorama-to-effort ratio, Gjendevatnet is hard to beat, especially if you’re allergic to “mandatory epic hikes.” You can get there by car or bus, the shoreline views are immediate, and even in average weather that unreal turquoise color still does its thing from what I’ve seen. Yes, the Besseggen crowd is nearby, but you can enjoy the lake without turning it into a cardio punishment, which feels like a life hack. If you had to crown one lake for maximum wow with minimal effort, does anything honestly top Gjendevatnet, or am I just biased against suffering?

 

[Alex Turner]

One lake that really surprised me with how easy it was for the payoff is Lovatnet. I drove right up to it, parked near the water, and was walking the shoreline within minutes — no hike, no planning, just instant scale. The cliffs rising straight out of the lake make it feel huge and dramatic, and even with light clouds it still worked because the mood stayed moody instead of flat. I remember stopping just to sit there longer than planned, watching the light shift across the water. Crowds were manageable early in the day, and there were basic facilities nearby. If you’re aiming for minimal effort, this one’s hard to beat. Are you threading this into a Stryn or Loen-based route, or just passing through as part of a longer drive?