BEST of Lake Garda, Italy: Top 5 Places You Shouldn’t Miss
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Lake Garda is one of the most beautiful regions of Northern Italy and has plenty to offer for everyone. But where do you go if you only have limited time and want to experience the very best that Lake Garda has to offer? In this Lake Garda guide, we cover all the most beautiful places, the best things to do in Lake Garda.
At the bottom of this post, you can also find some additional suggestions for things to do in Lake Garda and nearby. Find out!
You can spend a couple of days or a couple of weeks in Lake Garda in Italy and you will not get bored. Lake Garda has charming old towns, beautiful landscapes, plenty of sightseeing possibilities and accommodation in all price categories.
Water sports enthusiasts will find some of the best places for paragliding, windsurfing, and hang-gliding. You can go walking, mountain biking, visit a theme park, a water park, play golf, go sailing, or spend a couple of dolce far niente days by the pool or on the beach.
All of this in the most spectacular setting you can imagine…
Most beautiful places of Lake Garda
If you have a couple of days in Lake Garda Italy, don’t miss the chance to drive around the whole lake and visit some of the charming old towns along the way. This can be done as a round trip or you can choose to stay at one central location and discover the lake from there.
The round trip around Lake Garda is about 150km (95 miles) and in principle, you can do it in one day. However, the roads are narrow and the traffic is very busy, so you won’t have much time left to discover the villages along the way.
That being said, driving around the lake is still worth doing, as long as you don’t expect to see the very best of Lake Garda in one day.
I advise that you choose one or two places to visit along Lake Garda each day. You can drive, take a ferry boat, or, as we did, combine the two. It’s simply not possible to see and do everything in Lake Garda in a day or two, so don’t even try. It’s better to explore fewer places than rush by and only see the lake through the window of your car.
Further below, you can find my list of the most beautiful towns, best things to do in Lake Garda. Read on!
Best of Lake Garda – TOP 5 places you really shouldn’t miss
Below is my list of the very best towns to see in Lake Garda Italy. This is in no way a complete list of things to do in Lake Garda, but if you visit these 5 towns, you have seen the best of Lake Garda!
So if you are wondering what to see and where to go in Lake Garda, this guide is all you need. Find out!
Here are the VERY BEST places to see in Lake Garda:
1. Sirmione
Located on the South shore of Lake Garda, Sirmione is probably the most popular tourist destination on the lake. It should stand high on every list of best things to do in Lake Garda!
Sirmione is a beautiful old town located at the end of a small peninsula that towers about 4 km into Lake Garda. If you want to discover this town to the fullest, you should count on spending the whole day here.
Sirmione is easily accessible and is right in the middle of the popular tourist route between Milan, Verona, and Venice. All the organized day trips to Lake Garda stop here as well. Let’s just say, you will not be alone in town…
TIP: Try to get to Sirmione early in the morning or late in the afternoon as it gets really busy during the day. If you are staying at one of the bigger villages at the lake, you may want to consider taking a boat to Sirmione so that you can avoid the busy traffic altogether. Cars are not allowed in the historical city center. You have to leave your car at one of the designated parking areas and walk from there.
Main Sirmione attractions include:
- Not to be missed: Grotte di Catulo – the excavated ruins (scavi) of the massive Roman villa at the headland on the tip of the peninsula
- 13th century Rocca Scaligera Castle
- Church of San Pietro in Mavino
- Church of Santa Maria Maggiore
- Really worth it: if you have time take a short boat ride around the peninsula. It takes just 30-45 minutes – don’t miss it!
2. Malcesine
Malcesine, the pearl of Lake Garda, is located in a very picturesque setting. It’s definitely one of the most beautiful towns of Lake Garda!
It’s a charming old town with narrow medieval streets, a beautiful harbor, and lots of small shops, stores and cafes inviting visitors to stroll around and explore.
Just as most other places on Lake Garda, Malcesine is crowded in the summer months with thousands of visitors squeezing through the narrow streets. If you have a choice, try to visit in May-June or in September.
Main Malcesine attractions include:
- Cable car (weather permitting) to the top of Monte Baldo with amazing views of the area.
- Castello Scaligero – climb the tower for magnificent views.
Good to know: Note that Limone and Malcesine are built on very steep terrain. While in Limone you can still make a nice walk on the promenade near the lake, Malcesine may be difficult to visit for people with restricted mobility.
Our kids were all traveling in strollers when we visited and we could get pretty much everywhere we wanted, but it was quite an exercise with moments and we were glad we had full-size strollers with big rubber wheels.
3. Limone Sul Garda
Probably one of the most picturesque towns of Lake Garda is Limone sul Garda, or simply Limone. Its colorful buildings and extremely picturesque waterfront area look like a real-life postcard.
The scenic road from Riva to Limone takes you through many tunnels and you have wonderful views over Limone just before you reach the town.
Limone has a nice waterfront promenade and a very cozy old town with lots of restaurants, cafes, and little shops.
You can easily combine a visit to Limone with that of Malcesine or Riva. You can leave your car at the paid parking area in Limone and take a ferry boat from here. Since the distance is not very big, it doesn’t take that long and the ferry fees are reasonable as well.
4. Riva del Garda
Riva del Garda is a nice little town surrounded by steep cliffs and high mountains on the Northern shore of Lake Garda. It’s particularly impressive if you arrive there by boat.
Riva has a nice little old town with picturesque narrow streets and plenty of shopping and dining options. You will have a tough time trying to resist buying at least some of the local specialties and all kinds of traditional Italian gifts.
Riva makes a nice day trip on Garda Lake, but it’s also a good base to stay if you want to explore the surrounding mountains of Trentino region. If you have a day extra in this area in summer, I recommend Val di Fumo hike. It will take your breath away!
5. Boat Trip on the Northern Part of Lake Garda
You cannot truly appreciate how spectacular Lake Garda is if you don’t see it from the water. If you don’t have the time, the money, or the desire to spend the whole day touring the lake, I suggest doing at least a short ride.
If you take a boat from either Limone or Malcesine to Riva del Garda, you’ll see the best scenery of the northern part of the lake.
The dramatic fjord-like Northern end of the lake is surrounded by towering mountains and the views are just spectacular!
The northern side of Lake Garda is surrounded by high mountains and is probably the most impressive part of the lake. Seeing it from the water is really the best way to appreciate the stunning landscapes!
So, if you are visiting Lake Garda and want to see the best of the lake itself, take a boat trip to Riva. You will be really glad you did.
Several towns are close to each other here and you can use the ferry as a hop-on hop-off boat and visit a few of them. Riva del Garda and Torbole at the very end of the lake are well worth visiting. Limone is stunning. But if you stop at just one town, make it Malcesine!
Lake Garda places to visit if you have more time
The following places on Lake Garda might not be as spectacular as the Top-5, but are really nice to visit if you have more time. You can easily combine a couple of them in one day, or just go there for dinner after a day by the pool or at the theme park.
- Gardone Riviera
- Desenzano del Garda
- Salò
- Torbole
- Garda
- Bardolino
TIP: If you have more time and want to visit a more authentic part of Italy, I strongly suggest spending a few days in the Trentino region, North of Lake Garda. It’s an amazing place for those looking for a big variety of more active outdoorsy things to do.
One of the nicest places not too far from Lake Garda is Val di Fumo – the scenery along this easy hike is spectacular! You can find more recommendations for this area in our guide to the best things to do in Trentino in summer.
Lake Garda Markets
Lake Garda is also well-known for traditional Italian markets. These markets aren’t just food markets, you can buy Italian leather goods, pottery, tapestry, clothing and much more…
If you have the time, try to visit at least one local market during your Lake Garda holiday.
Below you can find a short list of Lake Garda markets per day. There are many more markets than this, but I’d choose from one of these because they are in the most beautiful towns you can visit at the same time. Note that most markets stop early in the afternoon so you have to visit in the morning.
Lake Garda market days
Monday: Peschiera del Garda, Colombare di Sirmione
Tuesday: Desenzano, Limone sul Garda, Torbole (April to October only).
Wednesday: Riva del Garda (2nd and 4th week of the month), Lazise
Thursday: Bardolino, Toscolano
Friday: Garda, Lugana di Sirmione
Saturday: Malcesine, Salò
Sunday is not really a market day in Italy. You can try Rivoltella or better wait a day and go to Peschiera on Monday.
More things to do in Lake Garda and popular day trips nearby
As already mentioned, there is so much to see and do in Lake Garda than just visiting its most beautiful towns or taking a boat ride on the lake. Below is a selection of some of the best short tours and excursions that will make your visit to Lake Garda even more memorable. Take a look!
- Half-Day Wine & Tasting Tour from Lake Garda
- Verona day trip from Lake Garda
- Venice day trip from Lake Garda
- Dolomites day trip from Lake Garda
- Gardaland Amusement Park
- Gardaland SEA LIFE
TIP: If you are visiting Lake Garda, make sure to also Verona in your itinerary (see here our complete guide to visiting Verona, including some really nice places nearby)!
Also Milan is not too far and is more than worth a trip! It’s a surprisingly diverse city, quite unique in Italy. Here you can find our guide to all the top places in Milan. And here is our suggested Milan one day itinerary – complete with highlights as well as hidden gems that most tourists never see.
If you’d like to visit a more ‘local’ city in northern Italy, you can’t go wrong with Bologna. Here you can find our guide to the best things to do in Bologna.
Another place not to miss in the area is Lake Como. If you have just one day, you can take a day trip from Milan. If you have more time, I recommend exploring some of the best towns on Lake Como.
So, this is our guide to some of the best things to do in Lake Garda. You may also like to read our tips for the best Lake Garda itinerary – it should help you plan your trip to the area.
More tips for your trip to Italy:
- What to see:
- Venice:
- Rome:
- Florence:
- Tuscany:
- Amalfi Coast:
- Lake Como:
- Off the beaten path: Emilia Romagna & Ravenna
- Mountains: Best Places to See in the Dolomites & Best Hikes in the Dolomites
- Bucket list: San Marino & San Marino Castle & Where to Stay in San Marino
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Hello,
I love your travel recoomendations and have followed them in Yellowstone.
PLanning to be in Italy in AUg for 4 days. My main goal is hiking in the Dlomites, but have heard so much about Lake Como.
Am wondering how Lake Como and Lake Garda compare as far as beauty.
Garda seems more on my route, is it worth it to go to Como instead?
Am thinking of stopping at one of these lakes for a boat ride/ swim on my drive from the airport to Dolmites.
Thank you
Hi Sara, indeed, Lake Garda is a much more logical combination with the Dolomites than Lake Como. The towns and the scenery are just as stunning, but in a different way. You’ll love it! With just 4 days in the peak season, I would concentrate on visiting fewer places that are close to each other and leave Lake Como for another trip. Enjoy your trip and keep in mind that August will be crazy busy everywhere, so try to start your days as early as you can.
Thanks for your helpful blog. I am coming from Venice the end of august and thought I could do 3-4 nights in lake garda. I have 3 kids (12,15,17). They love adventure so was thinking via ferreti and canyoning. Not sure if I should drive to lake garda from Venice or take the train and the use public transportation in lake garda. And which area should I stay in? South is closer to Venice but maybe less adventure for kids?
Open to any other ideas for 3-4 days after Florence and Venice that busy time of year Thanks!
Gina
Hi Gina, unfortunately, I really have no time to help our readers with individual trip planning. There are just too many options and too many factors to consider.
My best advice is to first figure out what exactly you want to see and do, indicate on the map all the locations, and then research how to get everywhere. It’s quite likely that renting a car will be a better option in your case as public transport is only best if you only visit cities and bigger towns. The moment you want to get a bit further away and do something a bit more special (like via ferratas or canyoneering), it’s usually quite difficult without a car.
Good luck!
Thanks so much for your very helpful vlog that is an invaluable resource in our trip planning! Coming from Venice with a car in mid-October, can we drive directly to and park at Malsecene, do the panoramic walk on Monte Baldo and take a boat trip to Riva del Garda on the same day (the spend the night in or near Malsecene)? Is the hop on – hop off ferry the best way to do see the north end of the lake from there? How long do each of those activities take? Thanks again!
Hi, if you start your day early, yes, it should be doable. You can take a ferry or a car to explore the towns in the north, but it’s definitely more relaxing by boat.
How long it all takes depends on so many factors – how busy it is, whether you prebook your gondola tickets for a specific time slot or just get tickets upon arrival and wait for the next available gondola. Also, do you hike at the top or just look around and move on…
For the boat, it depends on the schedule which might be a bit less frequent at that time of the year. You can find all that info on the official websites. See here for the Malcesine – Baldo cable car and here for the ferries.
Enjoy your visit!
Is it possible to take a car ferry from Sirmione to the north side of the lake? Or to Malsecene?
Hi Laura, there are passenger ferries, but if you want to take a car, you can only do it between Limone and Malcenise or between Torri and Toscolano-Moderno (so east-west and not south-north). The road is really scenic though and it’s a beautiful ride.
Hi Jurga
This is a great blog, thanks. We have booked to go to Lake Garda from 30th March 2024 for 4 nights. We will be arriving by train and won’t have a car when we are there. I have a few questions!
Where would be the best place to stay that’s central as we will be getting the train out again for day trips to Venice and Verona?
I know the weather isn’t going to be great at this time of year, do you know if you can still visit the Dolomites?
Is it best to book an excursion from Lake Garda to Venice or do our own thing?
We have a 12 year old, we might do the amusement park but is there anything round the lake that would be good? We don’t have a lot of time!
I am thinking we might not do Verona as I’d like to see more of the lake and the different towns along it.
Many thanks
Nicola
Hi Nicola, you could stay at one of the towns that has a railway station (e.g. Peschiera) – it will make your life easier.
Dolomites, you can visit, but it’s the end of the ski season, so you won’t be able to do much. Some lifts might be closed already, and if they are open, that means there is snow everywhere. You’ll also need a car to get anywhere or it will be practically not doable and very expensive.
For Venice, you can just take a train and visit on your own – take a look at our Venice 1 day itinerary for some suggestions on what to see/do. I’m not sure you’ll find any tours from Lake Garda this early in the season. You could check here a month or two before your trip to see if anything is available.
The same with the Gardaland amusement park; I am not sure if it will be open for the season already. It could be since it’s Easter holiday, but you’ll have to check it before you go.
Hope this helps.
Many thanks for your reply. We had to go at Easter next year, it looks like that we might have to do a second visit another time to see all we want to see! The 1 day Venice itinerary is great, thanks.
Nicola
I love your blog. My husband and I are in great shape and 82. We will train from Venice in late Oct and will stay 5 days at lake Garda. Love to walk and love old towns, walled cities and cobblestone streets
Do u give ideas for places to stay? Does the ferry run in Oct? Do u recommend driving from town to town
What is the closest international airport for us to fly home? Donna
Hi Donna, that’s a lot of questions and even more possible answers.
Airports – Milan would be ok or Venice, or Bologna, and many smaller airports (more for European flights). But you say that you’ll train from Venice, so you can easily go back to Venice at the end of your trip again.
Driving is absolutely possible and in late October it shouldn’t be too busy anymore. However, the roads are narrow and finding parking can be really challenging.
I think there are boats the whole year round, just fewer than in the summer. You can find schedules in the harbor when you get there.
As for where to stay, it depends on what you want to see and how you’ll travel around. You could stay in 2 places for 2-3 nights each. In that case, I’d probably pick Sirmione and Riva del Garda and make trips from there.
If you just stay in one place, then stay more in the middle – e.g. Garda town.
Have a great trip!
So much useful information about Italian Dolomites. And Lake Garda. Thank you!
Glad to help, Ruth. Have a great trip!
Hey Jurga, myself and my other half are travelling to Lake Garda for 3 nights in June from Verona. We’ll be reliant on public transport. We’re keen to do a canyoning experience and then just to chill around but would love to visit Sirmione. The best canyoning looks like it’s in the north. It doesn’t look easy to travel to the north and back in a day along with an experience. Are you aware of any companies that do trip pick ups from the south. Or is there somewhere else you would recommend in the north to stay instead (considering we can get there fairly easily). Appreciate your help.
Hi Danielle, no, I don’t know about any canyoning tours in that region that would pick you up.
The best places to stay in the north are Riva del Garda and Torbole, but I’m also not sure if there are any canyoning experiences there.
The tour we did was much further north and we had to get there ourselves. You can read about them in this article.
Good luck with your search and have a great trip!
@Jurga, thank you so much I’ll have a little research and give it a read.
Hi, I am looking for the quickest way of getting from Riva to Peschiera in June 2023. I can’t seem to find any information about the hydrofoil service. Thank you.
Hi Susan, you might be able to find this info on the official website of the ferry company for the Lakes (Garda, Como, and Maggiore), but it’s pretty much the worst website out there… They seem to have an app now as well, so maybe try that.
My experience is that it’s usually practically impossible to find any info in advance, definitely if you are looking for information for the season that hasn’t started yet. So try it a few days before your trip or just go to the harbor and figure it out there. In the end, it’s always easier and more straightforward than you think. They are just really not the best at providing decent info online.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, Thanks for that.
Hi Jurga,
I really appreciate all the info you have gathered on so many places! I’m looking for advice -we are splitting our trip up and have decided on 3 days at Lake Garda, 3 days Venice and were unsure whether to do 3-4 days in Croatia or 1 day longer in Lake Garda and maybe 2 or 3 days at Lake Maggiore. I was interested based on your recommendation in doing the Val Di Fumo hike as well. The time would be late May. We like nature-mountains, lakes, beach, exploring small towns, cafes, shops, some sightseeing. How does Lake Maggiore compare with Garda? I assume Garda has more to offer? How does Croatia compare with Italy in regards to scenery, shops, nature? I was looking at only doing part of Croatia like around the Porec Rovinj area or around the Dubrovnik area due to time limits. Have been to Italy several times, not to Garda or Maggiore though and we have never been to Croatia. I appreciate any advice.
Thank you.
Hi Lori, answering all of this would require a few extra articles. 🙂 You can’t really go wrong with either of these places, but in May, I think I’d skip the hiking as it might be too early (the possibility of snow on the trails). You never know.
For the rest, Lake Garda is amazing and so is Venice, but both are very popular and very touristy. Lake Maggiore will be much quieter (but likely also a bit colder), but it’s also a bit further away. For that, Lake Como is probably easier to combine if you decide to do two lakes.
Croatia is big/long and the distances are much bigger than you might think. Dubrovnik is so far from all the rest that you will need to consider how to even get there and how long it will take you. For that, northern Croatia is much simpler for your itinerary. I have heard great things about Rovinj (haven’t been there myself) and it’s also much quieter than other popular places in Croatia. It can be a nice option to combine with Venice – I think, there is also a ferry between the two in the high season.
Some people say Croatia is a bit like Italy, but cheaper, and indeed, you will also find cozy towns, plenty of cafes and restaurants, nice beaches, etc. There is also a lot of variation in scenery – just as in Italy (both are rather big countries, so the scenery depends on where you go). I know many people who absolutely rave about Croatia, and it is beautiful indeed, but – in my personal opinion – Italy always would be my preference if choosing between the two. maybe we should give Croatia a second chance, but it just didn’t ‘touch’ us the same way Italy does…
Also, Lake Garda has many different towns that you can visit and fits your description of what you say you like to do when traveling, whereas Rovinj is just one place and I’m not sure you really need 3-4 days there.
PS For Venice, you may want to take a look at our 3-day Venice itinerary.
Hope this helps a bit (and doesn’t confuse you even further ;)). Good luck deciding!
Hi I’m looking for advice please myself and my husband both 58 travelling to lake Garda for 12 nights in September flying into Verona`. I’m wondering where would be the best place to stay so we can travel around ` do you think we should split our stay on the lake or stay in the one hotel for the entire trip“ were both fit and like hustle and bustle“ i be delighted with any advice you could give
Hi Carmel, 12 days is a really long time for Lake Garda, so yes, you could definitely split your stay between a few areas. Maybe also add some cities to the mix (Verona, Venice, Bologna…), or head to the mountains (see our Dolomites guides for some inspiration). Alternatively, you could also spend a few days at Lake Como.
If you decide to stay at Lake Garda for that entire time, I think I’d spend half of the time at the southern end of the lake and half in the north. That way, you can truly explore the entire surroundings at a slower pace and without having to spend hours in commute every time.
Good luck with the planning!
@Jurga, thank you so much for your Advice 😊it’s exactly what we’ll do xx can’t wait for the trip ❤️
Hi Jurga!
Thank you for your thorough review!
I’ll be staying at Lake Garda for 2 to 3 days in February and wondering what town you would based yourself, given it’s winter.
I’m coming from Verona. I wont have a car and travelling on my own.
Thank you so much!
Claudia
Hi Claudia, based on the season when you travel, and without a car, I think I’d opt for Sirmione. But you may want to spend more time in bigger cities like Verona, Venice, Bologna, etc. at that time of the year. Lake Garda will be very quiet.
Have a great trip!
@Jurga, thank you Jurga!
I’m spending time in Venice and Verona. I’m thinking of going to Bergamo and maybe doing a day trip to lake Garda? Do you think that may work? Thank you 🙂
Hi Claudia, yes, of course, you can just visit Lake Garda for a day. But without a car, you have to plan really well, even more so because it’s low season. Otherwise, stay a night (potentially when traveling between Venice and Bergamo) – that might make it a bit more relaxing.
@Jurga, thank you! 🙂
hello
we are going on a familly trip 25-30 of december to veronna’ garda lake
what to do you mostly recmend us to do’ to get the most of this outstanding area -day& night
Hi Maissa, since you are visiting in winter, your options for outdoor activities will be more limited, so I’d just concentrate on visiting the towns. You can find more info in our guide to the best of Verona, and for Lake Garda – the main towns are already described in this article. Also ask locals if there are any Christmas markets in the area at that time.
In general, winter is not the best time to visit this area since many places will be closed for the season, not many ferries will be running, etc. Personally, I’d spend less time in the Lake Garda area and more in the cities. Verona, maybe Bologna, or Milan, or Venice. Otherwise, if you ski, you could also consider a few days in the mountains (Val Gardena area, for example). We have info on all of these on our blog, you can just use the search function on our website.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga
Thank you for your blog. We are traveling to Milan Italy this November to pick up our son who has been serving a proselyting mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. We are excited to see some of the places he has been living for the past 15 months. We will be traveling from Milan to Venice and then to Rome and a stop at Lake Garda looks worthwhile. Are any of the ferry boats operating in November or should we plan on seeing everything from the shore and the road.
Hi Laurie, the ferry service in the low season is limited, but there are several options. You can find the up-to-date timetables for Lake Garda ferries here. Click on ‘timetable and lines’ and you’ll see which ferries are running in November.
Have a great trip!
Hi there, I love your blog its very informative. I have 4 nights and can’t decide whether to go to lake Garda, lake maggiore or even lake orta. I am traveling in May next year and will be with my husband. I am interested in visiting different villages, and really just enjoying the views of the mountains meeting the sea. I don’t think we can go wrong, but im traveling from Sydney and want to do more research. Any tips?
Kindest regards, Kim
Hi Kim, there are just SO MANY options on how you could spend 4 days visiting Italian lakes. You never know how the weather will be, but in general, May is a beautiful time to be in Italy. On the other hand, the lakes are close to the mountains and you might have more chance of rain here than in the places further south. No way to know.
I think that I’d do a combination of Lake Garda/ Lake Como OR Lake Como/ Lake Maggiore if you want to visit multiple places, or just one of these if you want to explore deeper. As for which one to choose – I really can’t help since all of these lakes are so beautiful and you really can’t go wrong with any of them. Lake Como is usually very pretty in spring since all the gardens of the nicest villas are in bloom. But that will depend a bit on when you travel and on the weather.
Good luck deciding and have a great trip!
Hi, great blog! We are traveling with a 1 year old and interested in staying at Lake Garda. What would you recommend as a central location? We will be visiting in September and staying for about a week, we are just starting to plan the itinerary. thank you!
Hi Yulia, with a child that age, I assume you’ll be using a stroller, so I guess I’d stay at the flatter towns where you can easily walk around with a stroller. I think Sirmione is a great option or other towns in the southern end of Lake Garda. Desenzano or Peschiera del Garda can be good choices too because they both have a railway station and a ferry harbor. If you rather stay more towards the middle of the lake, try Garda town. A lot also depends on whether you’ll have a car or not and what you want to see and do. I’d just avoid staying somewhere on a hill like e.g. in Malcesine or Torbole.
I enjoyed reading about Lake Garda. Learned a lot about an area I knew nothing about. We will be planning a visit there sometime this October using many of your suggestions. One question- do you think visiting Brescia is worthwhile? We have limited time and are thinking maybe we should spend more time around Lake Garda and bypassing Brescia. Any ideas? Thanks.
Hi Ken, if you have limited time, I’d skip it and just concentrate on the places that look the most interesting to you.
@Jurga,
Thanks for the information. That’s what we thought.
Hi, how did you get to Verona? Do you have any tips for parking. Can’t see much info on park and ride for instance.
Thanks stef
Hi Stef, we visited Verona by car. In this guide, you can find suggestions on what to see and do in Verona, and at the bottom of that article, there is a map of the main sights and the parking that we used.
If you are visiting from Lake Garda, I think there are buses/ shuttles, and there are definitely organized tours as well.
I will be traveling with my 16 year old at the end of the month with our home base for several days in Brescia. Our schedule is somewhat dictated by an athletic event, however we do have free time for some sight seeing. I’m looking at spending 2 half days in the Lake Garda area. On one of the days I thought we could arrive at Limone around noon. Should we ferry to Riva del Garda and then a bus to Malcasine, ferrying back to Limone at the finish of our day? I see we should plan to spend more of our time at Malcasine. How much time should I allow for Riva and Limone?
Then on our second day I thought we would see Sirmoine and Verona because we have a full day to explore before returning to Brescia for a dinner. Does this sound reasonable to try to see as much as possible in our short time?
Hi Lynda, how much time you spend in each place depends purely on what you plan to see and do there. You can just hop off the boat, walk around a bit, and take the next boat to the other town, or you can visit each town longer. It’s really hard to say. I think I’d just focus on one town like Malcesine for a longer stop and just quickly visit the others for half an hour – an hour or so. If you are really short on time, skip Riva and just see the amazing surroundings there from the boat.
I also wouldn’t recommend doing both – Sirmione and Verona – on the same day, especially because you aren’t even staying in any of these, so you need to count travel time too. But I guess it could be done if you just walk around a bit and don’t really plan to see many/any places inside. See our guide to the best of Verona – that will give you a better idea of what you can see/do there and maybe will help you decide how to plan your time.
I know how tempting it is to try to see ‘everything’ when you travel somewhere for the first time. But remember that often less is more and you’ll often enjoy your trip more if you aren’t running all the time.
Good luck with the planning and have a great trip!
Hi Jurga. Your blog is very useful, thanks. If you had to rank Malcesine, Limone, Riva and Torri, which is your favourite? And second favourite 🙂 I am travelling there soon, and can only do about 24 hrs at the Lake. Also, does any one of these four generally have better restaurants (in terms of price and “authentic” cuisine) than any of the others, or are they pretty much equal in that regard? Thanks!
Hi J, take a look at our Lake Garda itinerary suggestions for some tips on which places to see if you only have limited time. Sirmione is really a must-see and Malcesine is my personal favorite. I also highly recommend taking a boat in the northern part of the lake – that way you see the other towns from the water as well (or you can hop off the boat and visit one or two of them as well).
For the restaurants, I can’t recommend much – it’s just too long ago for that. I’m sure there are lots of wonderful choices everywhere, but you may want to reserve them, especially for dinner.
Have a great trip!
HI!
I adore your blog, Thank you!!
We will be in Malcesine for 2.5 days, we are planning to see Limone, Riva del Garda and Torbo. Do you have any suggestions for restaurants? Simple, wonderful food, a place that you would go with your family.
Thank you!
Marta
Hi Marta, I really don’t remember where we ate and if/how good it was. My best advice is to simply ask locals (at your hotel, for example, or some local shopkeeper or a taxi driver) – they usually know the best spots. But don’t blindly rely on that – some of them might be promoting the places of their friends 🙂 So we always check restaurant reviews on Google Maps too – it helps to avoid tourist traps.
Have a great trip.
@Jurga, Thank you!
Great suggestions.
Marta
Your blog is awesome! We are traveling from the Dolomites to Verona in one day. We have never been to Lake Garda. We thought to stop by 1 or two towns in Lake Garda on the way south. I thought maybe Malescine and Lazsie? We are two families with kids ages 8-12 and love the outdoors and we probably have a few hours in each town or we could spend half a day in one town. Do you have any suggestions? Thank you.
Hi Christine, I think you’ll enjoy it more if you just focus on one town rather than rush from one place to another. But a lot also depends on the season, the weather, parking situation, etc. I personally love Malcesine, so that would be my pick. Also, if the weather is good and the cable car is running, take the Monte Baldo gondola. And if you see that you have some time over, you can always decide to visit other places as well.
Have a great trip!
Stumbled upon your site while looking for Stubai Glacier.
Thank you, it’s very down to earth and full of fabulous information.
Thank you for your kind feedback, Caroline.
Happy travels!
I go to Italy once a year. Always looking for new ideas. Thank you.
So do we, Melody! Such a beautiful country and so much still to be explored! You’ll love Lake Garda.
Hello! I love reading your blog posts…they’re chock full of useful information. I have a two part question. (1) My husband and I will be visiting Lake Garda in September, and will likely be spending 4-5 days there. We will not have a car. I know there is an extensive ferry and bus service, but where would you recommend staying? We are crazy about “super touristy” towns. For example, the Cinque Terre wasn’t really our jam. (2) We have the option to stay an additional two nights in either Verona or Venice. Is there one that you consider to be a “must see?” Thank you again for helping so many travelers find their perfect vacas 🙂
I meant to say that super touristy places are NOT our thing. I am assuming Siriome (and other southern points) will be very crowded in early September?
Hi Karen, without a car, you should base yourself at a town with good boat connections and maybe a train station. For that Desenzano is a good option or Peschiera del Garda. They are both somewhat more ‘local’ towns – more locas than tourists, which is indeed not the case in Sirmione.
If you don’t care about train connections, then the towns in the north of the lake might be nice to stay, but not as easy to get to without a car. You can also get there by boat or by bus, but you’d have to do some research and see what makes sense for you.
And yes, early September will still be busy everywhere.
As for Verona or Venice, they are both very nice. Venice is obviously a bucket-list place if you haven’t been, but Verona is much less busy. Still, both very popular tourist destinations and they will be busy, especially when cruise ships dock in Venice…
Enjoy your trip. Italy is amazing and the best way to explore the busy places is by visiting them very early in the morning or late in the evening when all the day-trippers aren’t there.
Thank you very much for very helpful post.
We are planning to visit Lake Garda by the end of May. We’ll be travelling by car with 2 children (2 and 3 years old) and we are planning to have 3-4 days for Lake Garda. In which city you would recommend to stay with children as we prefer to have one place for whole visit.
Hi Indre, if you want to stay in a bigger town, then maybe look into Riva del Garda. It’s nice with kids – not too busy, mostly flat, and there are some nice playgrounds. My cousin used to go there with her young kids every year for several years in a row and they said it was the best vacation ever.
If you rather stay at the southern part of the lake, then maybe try Garda town or Torri del Benaco, or Peschiera del Garda. Staying there makes it easy to visit the nearby theme parks – Gardaland or Gardaland SEA LIFE aquarium. With older kids, Jungle Adventure Park would be great too, but yours are too young for that.
It’s really about what you are planning to do. Figure out that first and then it will much easier to decide where to stay. I’d pick a place that has good ferry connections – that way you can also easily visit other towns without having to take a car every time. This ferry map might help.
Enjoy your trip!
Thank you so much for your recommendations! It helps a lot!
Wow…I’ll put these on my Google maps list.
Thanks for following our blog, Michael. Always nice to hear from you. Your Google Maps list is probably already very long… 🙂
Yes, I think I add about 20 places on it every year but only visit about half that amount each year..
That’s not bad at all! My list is always much longer than that and the funny thing is that often we end up going somewhere that wasn’t even on the list :).
Thank you for your suggestions ! We went around the lake today and your suggestions have been very helpful thank yo again !
Glad to hear that, Brigitte! Enjoy the rest of your trip!
?????
We have decided to stay in Desenzano and would be visiting Sirmione. What is the best way to visit Malcesine from Desenzano or Sirmione. Is it possible to do Sirmione and Malcesine in one day. Do you think car is a must or is it possible to travel without it considering we have 3yr old with us. Many Thanks
Hi Sorin, no, you don’t necessarily need a car and can visit these places by boat. However, Malcesine is so far, that coming from Desenzano by boat, I think you’d need the entire day (I also suggest to take the boat all the way to Riva – the scenery there is amazing). Sirmione is also a place where you can easily spend a day, so I’d recommend two separate days for these two towns.
Hello Jurga (or anyone who knows the answer, haha)
thank you so much for this post, my boyfriend and I are goning to Italy this summer and it hleped me a lot. But I have 1 question
Do you think we could swim in the lake? It is summer and it would make the trip perfect if we could lay there and take a dip in the water.
Thank you for your answer♥
Hi Dominika, Lake Garda is very big and there are indeed several areas where you can swim. From what I understand, the southern part of the lake, particularly between Sirmione and Desenzano has some of the best swimming areas.
We don’t have the first-hand experience with this as we only swam in the swimming pool of our hotel (and even there the water was quite cold end of May), so I’m afraid I can’t help you further.
Have a great trip!
You may have already visited, but YES you can swim in the lake. There are several beaches along the coastline of many of the villages. Jamaica Beach is at the tip of Sirmione and quite busy during the summer months….with outdoors chairs and cafe/bar and rocky shoreline….be sure to wear water shoes as the algae makes the rocks slippery. The water is quite high this year….covering the beach area significantly….but you can go far out into the water on the rocks and sit in the water. We were there during the heatwave in late June and sitting in the water was super refreshing. Further Southeast is another public beach area. In Riva, the Northern tip of the Lake, there is also a nice beach area…..most towns have them or areas to step into the water. If you arrive in the summer, the villages will be flooded with people (which will guide you to water play areas). Enjoy your trip.
Thanks a lot for sharing your experience. I’m sure it will be extremely useful to our readers.
Hello ! Thank you for all this helpful info ! We are going to lake Garda (staying in Gardone Riviera) for 6 days at the end of May with our 8 month old baby. Do you know if we can take the stroller in the boat ferry ? Also you mention that the boat trip to the northern part of the lake is worth it. I was planning on taking the fast boat because of the length, do you think we can still appreciate the beauty of the place in the fast boat ?
Also, has anyone visited the isola del Garda ?
Grazie
Hi Catherine, yes, you can take a stroller on a big ferry. Not sure about the smaller boats.
One tip – we found it very useful to have a bicycle lock so that we could leave our stroller behind without having to worry about it. Not just on the boat, but also at the restaurants or when visiting one or the other museum or similar.
I also don’t know about how the fast boat compares to the regular ferry, but I’m sure you’ll see the amazing scenery just the same.
We haven’t been to Isola del Garda, so I can’t help you there. From what I read on the Trip Advisor, you need a tour in order to visit. Private tours are not cheap, but the others only seem to pass there (and not stop on the island). Here you can find some tours to/near Isola del Garda, but I assume there should be more tour options.
Hello!
I was wondering about any boat tours you recommend? You mentioned how arriving by boat to Riva del Garda is amazing , but how would we do that? From where?
Thank you so much!
Hi Katarzyna, it’s not really ‘a tour’ as such – there are regular boat services that connect different towns along the lake. Here you can find more information and also a map of how the boat goes.
We didn’t take the boat often and we didn’t do the entire lake by boat because we were there by car and made lots of separate day trips to different villages, driving everywhere. The part we did by boat was from Limone to Torbole and to Riva del Garda and then back to Limone. It’s simply stunning!
PS You just buy the tickets at the harbor as you arrive and there are regular boat connections during the entire day, especially if you are traveling in high season.
thank you so much for the help ! Also, how was it driving around Italy? My friends are I are stuck between renting a car and buying train/bus tickets, was it difficult maneuvering to all the smaller villages?
We always drive anywhere we can because we prefer all that freedom that comes with having your own car. Italy is ok, in general. I’d only stay away from the biggest cities if you’re not comfortable, but even there it’s usually ok. We have never driven in Rome, but Florence was alright and small villages and smaller towns are usually fine. Parking might be a bit of an issue in some places if you travel in high season, so try to look up some parking garages on Google Maps in advance, so that you know where to go when planning to visit any bigger towns.
Hi Jurga,
Just read your amazingly helpful blog on Lake Garda! My boyfriend and I are planning our holiday to here this summer (probably around June) and I’m thinking Sirmione is where we’re going to find an air bnb for our time there. Is driving essential to make the most of it or can we see other villages around the lake from the boat tours? Also is there a train from Sirmione or near by to get to Verona?
Thanks
Hi Lauren, there is a train station in Desenzano and in Peschiera del Garda. I think there are busses from any of these towns to Sirmione.
As for Sirmione itself, if you stay there, you can take a boat to most other places along the lake, so no need for a car. PS I think that you can also take the boat from Desenzano, which might be a bit cheaper place to stay and it also has a train station if that’s easier for you. Here you can see the map of where the boats go on Lake Garda.
I’m not sure about the best way to get to Verona by car, but there are tours that can bring you there for a day trip (this one is the cheapest I found and it leaves from both Sirmione or Desenzano as well).
Hope this helps.
Hi Jurga
My wife and I will be at Lake Garda in September this year. We will be arriving by train. Just wondering the best area or town to stay as we will be on foot, a place that is charming and also has resturants/shops etc. and preferably where or near where the train station is. Thank you.
Regards
Ian
Hi Ian, there is a train station in Peschiera Del Garda and also in Desenzano. Both these towns have relatively good boat connections to the other places on the lake. Sirmione might be a bit easier in terms of traveling around Lake Garda and is also even more a tourist town with more restaurants and shops. I think you can take a bus from Peschiera railway station to Sirmione as well. But in principle, any of these three towns are good for exploring Lake Garda.
Hello, Really great website and loads of recommendations and tips with itineraries which really helps the first time visitor.
Travelling to Italy late March. I have 1 and half days in Lake Garda. I will be reaching late afternoon from Venice and then 1 full day. Thinking to stay in Sirmione or Peschiera to make the most of my time.
As I am reaching late afternoon, I am not sure what I can do around due to daylight (any suggestions would be helpful?). On next day is it possible to cover 4 towns (Sirmione, Garda, Malcesine and Limone) via boat ride as I have full 1 day? If not then time permitting which ones should I do? I will be only allocating 1 hour in each town if I can do all 4 of them.
Thanks in advance.
Hi Hemanshu, if you arrive in the afternoon, then try to see Sirmione that same day. That leaves you a full day for a boat trip on the lake. Don’t underestimate it – Lake Garda is quite big and it will take you several hours to get to the North (and several hours to get back). Also, you have to take into account boat schedules and keep in mind that March is still low season. So there might be less boats.
Also, Sirmione requires more than an hour, half day at least. Malcesine – I think at least 1-2hrs; half a day if you also take a cable car up the mountain.
As for where to go on day 2. If you can, I’d try to visit Malcesine over all the other places. Arriving to Riva del Garda by boat is also extremely impressive. So ideally you do the complete boat trip on the lake. Limone, Riva, also Torbole are nice, but you can just stay on the boat and see the towns from the water. If you have the time to leave the boat in just one town, make it Malcesine.
Hope this helps.
Going to Gardone Riviera the end of June for two weeks. Can you suggest how we can best fill the two weeks. Hoping to go to avenue at some point is this difficult?
Hi Ann, we ourselves spent around 10 days at Lake Garda and never got bored. There are so many nice places along the lake and also so many beautiful places nearby. Please check some suggested Lake Garda itineraries and keep in mind that you can easily just opt to visit one town a day and take it really easy.
You can visit Venice, Verona, spend some time by the pool… If you like more action, we really enjoyed our activity-filled vacation in Trentino, which is just nearby and you could easily do some of the activities there as a day trip from Gardone Riviera. Lago di Ledro and also Lago d’Idro are also nice, just as Lago d’Iseo.
If you feel like venturing further, you have places like Bologna, Milan, or Lake Como that are all worth a visit too.
PS I don’t really understand your question about ‘avenue’, so I’m afraid I can’t help there.
Hi
Would you recommend seeing all 3 suggested places on the northern end of Lake Garda, spending a night in each? and if so, are they easy to travel between?
Going in September.
Hi Ryan, please check my suggested Lake Garda itinerary. You don’t really need a day per town, a few hours is enough, so it really depends on what you expect to see and how much time you have in total.
As for how to travel around, you can drive or take a boat between most main towns/villages. I recommend the boat. 🙂
Thinking of going to Lake Garda with my husband 14 -20 December whilst our son is off skiing with his school. Flying in to Verona, which we have already been to, so where would you suggest the best place is to stay on the lake. Any suggestions for a hotel? Thanks for a great post too!
Hi Karen, I think one week is probably a bit too long for just Lake Garda, especially off season. I’m just back from Como/Milan and I think Como Lake would be a great additional place to add to your itinerary. So, let’s say you stay 4 nights at Lake Garda (see some Lake Garda itinerary suggestions) and then 2-3 in Como, which is a really nice town and a great base to explore some of the charming towns nearby (can be done by boat or by car).
Near Lake Garda, I suggest to stay in Sirmione. It’s so off season now and smaller towns will be really quiet, so staying in a bigger place will make things easier (restaurants, boat connections for sightseeing). I’m not really sure about hotel recommendations, it’s so personal. In any case, here are some nicer ones: Hotel Olivi Thermae & Natural Spa, Hotel Eden, also Hotel Sirmione or Hotel Catullo.
If you decide to also go to Lake Como, stay in Como town. It has a nice Christmas market and beautiful light show. We stayed at Metropole Suisse – great location. But there are so many others, e.g. the nearby Palace Hotel or VISTA Palazzo Lago di Como.
Its’ a week before Christmas, so I’m not sure how availability will be, I’d say book your accommodations asap.
Hope this helps.
Going to Sirmione for three days and very interested in pottery. November 1st-Thursday, but holiday, 2nd and 3rd. Any suggestions?
Hi Mary, sorry, I don’t think I can help you there. Why not just ask at the hotel or the local tourism information.
Enjoy your trip.
Very interesting post. We’ve been a few times and can vouch for all your recommendations. We’re going again next week and are looking forward tovisiting your recommendations.
Good to hear that, Hari. Enjoy your trip to Lake Garda!
A group of us are visiting Lake Garda next week we staying in Simione really interesting read on your page liked your 5 top tips Thank you
Glad to hear you found this information useful. Enjoy your trip to Lake Garda, Elaine.
I’m going to Italy in August. We will be staying in Verona and I would like to take a day trip to Lake Garda. From what I’ve read, mybest option is take a bus there. I was thinking about going straight to Sirmione. What would be the best place that I could go to in addition to Sirmione. Or should I just stay there the whole day? Just want to get the most of my time as I’m not sure if I’ll ever be able to come back!
Hi Sharon, I don’t really know about public transport options. But indeed Sirmione is probably the easiest to reach by bus. You can easily spend the whole day in Sirmione, but if you want to see the best of Lake Garda, you could consider booking a boat trip on the lake. The entire trip and back will probably take you a big part of the day though. Otherwise just make a short boat ride around Sirmione which is also really worth it. If you just want to take it easy, stay in Sirmione and make the best of it. Here you can read my Lake Garda itinerary suggestions (check the 1 day itinerary).
Depending on which day of the week you go there is also a possibility to join a guided Lake Garda day tour from various locations including Sirmione.
Hi Sharon. From Verona We did what you are doing last year in August 2017. we took the train from Verona 15 minute train trip to Peschiera del Garda, short walk, or bus or taxi to the port where the ferry leaves from. So beautiful and you you can choose where you want to go to. It was a Thursday and we went to Bardolino for Market day. We went really early on the boat by 7:30 am. Bardolino was about the 4th ferry stop and the town we decided to get off at. We had a fantastic day. It does get very busy late morning when it is market day. We will be going back to visit other towns on the lake over the coming years. Bernadette
Thank you,
very well written summary of Lake Garda ,especially for those who have little time .
Stunning pictures,
We will be visiting for the first time end of April and really looking forward
V
Thank you. Enjoy your trip to Italy (we can never get enough of this beautiful country!).
I have been visiting Garda for 7 years and done extensive exploring and struggled to find a helpful review as there so much out there, however this is the very best I have come across, well done this is so helpful in every way.
Great layout and helpful review well done
Thank you very much for your feedback, Stefan. You have no idea how much I appreciate it. To know that someone like you who has been to the area so many times finds this post useful – this is why I blog, not just to inspire people to visit one or the other area, but to really help them to get the most out of their trips. So thanks a lot for taking the time to leave this feedback.