Lake Garda Itinerary Suggestions for 1 to 3 Days
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Thinking of a trip to Lake Garda in Italy and wondering how to best plan your time? This Lake Garda travel guide and itinerary should help you make the most of your trip. Take a look!
In our previous post, we talked about the most beautiful places of Lake Garda. In this article, we are sharing some ideas for a Lake Garda itinerary, from 1 to 3 days to a week and more. That way you can get the best of your visit, no matter how much time you have in this beautiful area.
How much time do you need in Lake Garda? You can drive around Lake Garda and get a quick impression in just a day or you can spend a week in the area and you’ll find plenty to see and do… Ideally, I suggest at least 2-3 days at Lake Garda.
Good news for families traveling with children and for people who don’t like packing suitcases every day is that you can easily explore Lake Garda from one single location. You will spend a bit more time in a car or on a boat, but it’s perfectly doable.
Below, you can find Lake Garda itinerary suggestions. The proposed itineraries are made assuming that you are staying at the Southern part of the lake, but can be adjusted as needed.
This Lake Garda travel guide should give you a good idea of what places are most worthwhile to visit and how much time you need to see them.
Use this as a guide, but don’t forget that no two trips are ever the same. You might end up having more time for sightseeing on some days or you may not be able to see and do all that is suggested. It might depend on the weather, the traffic, but also on how much time you spend at each landmark, how many gift shops you visit, or how much time you take to enjoy Italian food and gelatos along the way…
All these itineraries and suggestions are based on what we actually did when we visited Lake Garda with our kids. We took our time and had long lunches and even longer dinners, stopped at the playgrounds, climbed every single tower we could, etc. And we still had plenty of time left to do quite some sightseeing and visit the most beautiful places along the lake.
One Day in Lake Garda
Below are three suggestions for Lake Garda itinerary for one day.
Here’s how you can spend one day at Lake Garda:
OPTION 1. If you only have a day in the area and you have a car, I suggest you drive around Lake Garda and visit at least two towns along the way.
Lake Garda road trip is not that long (approx. 150km – 95 miles). However, the roads are narrow and, depending on the traffic you may not have much time left to do a lot of sightseeing.
Try to visit Malcesine and count at least an hour for the visit. You will need 1,5-2 hours if you are there for lunch and even longer if you want to take a cable car to the top of Monte Baldo.
If you have the time for just one more town, pick either Limone sul Garda or Sirmione. While you don’t need much time to visit Limone, in Sirmione you can easily spend a few hours or more. If you only have an hour to spare, pick Limone as Sirmione is much busier and you will probably lose a lot of time driving and looking for a parking spot.
OPTION 2. If you don’t have a car or don’t feel like driving, you should visit Sirmione. You can easily spend a day exploring this picturesque old town and/or you can combine a visit with a short boat ride on the lake.
OPTION 3. Take a full-day guided tour of Lake Garda. This popular tour has different itineraries depending on the day and covers most of the highlights along Lake Garda in one day. See more suggestions for Lake Garda tours here below.
Lake Garda 2 Days Itinerary
Day 1: Sirmione
If you have two days at Lake Garda, visit Sirmione on day one.
Stroll the picturesque streets of the old town, visit the castle, go all the way to the end of the peninsula and visit Grotte di Catulo. Have lunch at one of the many local restaurants, take a short boat ride around the old town and the peninsula.
If you feel like exploring a bit more, you can go for dinner in Desenzano del Garda. It’s just a short drive from Sirmione and the old town is very picturesque, especially the area around Via Porto Vecchio.
Day 2: Drive Around Lake Garda
Visit a local market in the morning. There are many markets that take place in different Lake Garda towns on different days. Here you can find more information regarding Lake Garda market days.
Continue your journey along the Eastern side of the lake all the way up to Malcesine. In Malcesine, you should visit the old town and the castle and/or take a cable car to the top of Monte Baldo.
Continue your trip around Lake Garda making a few stops to absorb the scenery. You can stop at Torbole, Riva del Garda, or Limone sul Garda. I recommend Limone. Explore the town and go for dinner at one of the many waterfront restaurants.
If it’s too early for dinner and you feel like you are still fit to do some more sightseeing, continue to one of the other beautiful towns along the lake. The nicest ones are probably Gardone Riviera, Salò, or Desenzano.
READ ALSO: Best Towns of Lake Garda
Lake Garda 3 Days Itinerary
Day 1: Sirmione
Visit Sirmione (see above).
Day 2: Explore the Eastern Side of Lake Garda
Same as above, except that you can spend more time exploring the Eastern side of Lake Garda and leave the other side of the lake for the next day.
Take more time at the market, stop at the Punta di San Vigilio viewpoint just outside Garda village, explore the beautiful old town of Malcesine to the fullest.
You can drive around the whole lake but focus on visiting the towns on the Eastern – North-Eastern side only since you can see the rest on day 3.
TIP: A nice thing to do is to take a boat tour to Punta San Vigilio and Isola del Garda from Bardolino. It’s a nice part of the lake that you wouldn’t see otherwise.
Day 3: Explore the Western Side of Lake Garda
If you haven’t done it yet, visit Desenzano. Afterwards, drive along the Western side of Lake Garda all the way to Limone sul Garda. Leave your car at the parking in Limone. Explore the town and have lunch at one of the many restaurants.
After that, hop on the boat towards Riva sul Garda. This is a really spectacular boat trip and it’s worth doing even if you don’t have the time to visit any of the towns along the way.
If you do have an hour or two to spare, make sure to visit the old town of Riva. If you have even more time, you can hop off at Torbole before heading to Riva and visit them both. Just make sure you don’t miss the (last) boat to Limone where you left your car.
Where to Stay for Exploring Lake Garda
The charming town of Sirmione is a great place to stay for exploring Lake Garda. Its location is ideal for day trips around the lake, but also for exploring other towns in the area. Verona is just 45 minutes and Venice – 1h45min driving time from Sirmione. Here you can find accommodation in Sirmione.
Other popular options are the towns of Garda or Bardolino at the southeastern side of the lake. Also Riva del Garda is a nice place to stay if you prefer the beautiful mountainous northern side of Lake Garda.
If you don’t have a car, make sure that you stay in a town that has good boat connections to the other places on the lake. If you also need a train station nearby, then Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda are the best towns to be.
What to See and Do in Lake Garda Area If You Have More Time
If you have more than three days in the area, you can visit other villages and towns at Lake Garda.
The nicer places are Garda, Torbole, Salò, Desenzano del Garda, Gardone Riviera, and Bardolino famous for its wines.
Lake Garda is also a good place for water sports enthusiasts. You can also play golf, visit Gardaland theme park or Caneva Aquapark. Or simply spend a couple of dolce far niente days by the pool.
If you are looking for day trips from Lake Garda, you can opt to visit other beautiful towns in the area. It’s just a short ride to Verona or Trento or even Venice, which is less than 2 hours drive from Lake Garda.
Whatever you choose, Lake Garda has plenty to offer for everyone. Here you can find an organized day tour to Verona and also a day tour from Lake Garda to Venice.
If you like nature and the outdoors and want to experience Italy in a more authentic way, you could consider visiting the Trentino region, just north of Lake Garda. It is especially great for families with kids and teens as there are so many great activities for families in Trentino. Val di Fumo hike is wonderful as well and just a short drive from Riva.
READ ALSO: Best Places to Visit in the Italian Dolomites (just a few hours drive from Lake Garda!)
More tips for your trip to Italy:
- What to see: Best Places in Italy
- Cities: Best Cities in Italy
- Milan:
- Venice:
- Rome:
- Tuscany:
- Amalfi Coast:
- Lake Como:
- Emilia Romagna:
- Mountains: Best Hikes in the Dolomites & Most Beautiful Lakes in the Dolomites
- Bucket-list: San Marino
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Hi, we are planning 10 days in Lake Garda. Do you think 5 days in the North and then 5 days in the South makes sense or just keep one base and travel around. BTW – We will not have a car.
Hi Mark, with 10 days in Lake Garda and without a car, I would definitely split your stay into 2 areas. It will be more relaxing and you can explore deeper without having to spend hours commuting every day.
And yes, one place in the North (Riva/Torbole) and one in the south (Sirmione/Desenzano/Garda) should be just great. From the southern end of the lake, you can also take day trips to e.g. Verona or even Venice or Bologna if you would want to (in that case, you may want to stay closer to the railway station (e.g. Desenzano or Peschiera del Garda))..
Have a great trip!
Hello, thank you for great info. We will be visiting lake Gardo july 2023. Not planing to rent a car. Renting hotel in Sirmione, and planning to visit Limone and Cardone Rivera. Is it possible to get there on the Ferry from Sirmone, or better use bus?
Hi Inessa, yes, it’s possible to travel all over Lake Garda by ferry, and definitely in the summer when there are many boats.
Gardone Riviera is not far, so that should be an easy and pleasant visit. Limone and other places located more up north (Riva, Torbole, Malcesine,…) are quite a long journey by boat. So start your day early! The problem with buses is that they stop everywhere and it takes forever, so I would still prefer a boat.
Hello! My boyfriend and I will be driving from Florence to Forestis in the Dolomites the last weekend in July. I figured we would check out Lake Garda and stay one night since it is half way in between Tuscany and Forestis. What area would you recommend staying in for just one night. Also, coming from Florence which side of the lake would be a nicer drive? As of now, I was planning on staying in Limone Sul Garda — but considering Malcesine. Thank you!
Hi Valerie, I’d definitely go for the right side of the lake since that’s much more en-route for you. Just keep in mind that traffic can be very busy there. For where to stay, be sure a place actually has parking, but for the rest – it depends on which town you’d like to see. If you are already driving next to the lake anyway, then indeed, Malcesine could be a good choice.
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga, great info here thanks for that.
My wife and I will be visiting Garda on 9th July 22, staying in Garda itself. It doesn’t look like you can get a ferry to the Northern end of lake from Garda. Can you buy a ticket that lets you hop on / off all of the ferries throughout the day or week? Is it easy to get connections from other places to reach the places in the North, such as Riva Del Garda, from Garda town?
We also like walking so will be looking for some splendid walks around Garda, I trust there are many 😎
Hi Thomas, you should be able to find all this info on this website. It’s something you’ll normally be able to easily figure out when you get there. Just go to the harbor and you’ll find all the schedules and get info on the ticket options, etc. Many hotels will also have ferry schedules available.
Have a great trip!
Hello Jurga, loved both your Lake Garda pages. My friend and I will be travelling to Lake Garda next year at the start of June, no car. I am considering Bardolino as our our base as it seems central to the lake and has the ferry pick up/drop off. My question is, is it possible to do more than one town in a day using the ferry? I hate rushing, and am thinking five nights, which effectively is four days, does the ferry travel between towns frequently. I thank you for a reply, it’s hard to know how much time to devote to such a gorgeous place.
Hi Ruth, yes, normally you can easily visit a few towns on the same day. It also depends on the place – you can spend more time in Sirmione or Malcesine than in Limone or Torbole, for example.
As for how much time you need, I think 4-5 days is about right to see most of the popular places along the lake. You’ll never be able to see ‘everything’, but it can be a very pleasant and enjoyable visit. Just focus on the places you absolutely want to visit first and add a few extras if you feel like it. Of course, you can easily spend a week or more and you’ll find enough to do at that time of the year.
Here you can see one of the current ferry schedules. It will give you an idea of how often and where the boats go.
P.S. If you have at least a day to spare, be sure to visit Verona as well. See our guide to the best of Verona for more information. Attending an opera at the arena is something for a bucket list and there’s also a ticket that includes transport from the Lake Garda area too. Many other nice options and things to do. Nice vineyards as well.
Good luck with the planning!
Hi Jurga
Awesome information given thank you. Still torn wether to stay in the North or South. We’re going for 7 nights with no car at the end of June. With regards traveling around on the lake, is booking required for the ferries, are there any other options as we’re expecting it to be busy.
Kind regards
Gary and Lesley
Hi Gary & Lesley, without the car, be sure to look for a hotel close to the ferry so that you can easily explore other places – it’s better than driving around the lake in summer anyway. Indeed, it’s going to be very busy.
And no, I don’t think you need to/can book any regular ferries in advance – we never did. Just get tickets there.
If you also want to visit places like Venice or Verona, there are tours that can bring you there, so no need for a car either (e.g. this day tour to Venice offers pick-up pretty much anywhere in Lake Garda and this tour to Verona has quite a few pick up locations as well). If you want to do a boat tour (vs ferry), then it’s probably better to research and book in advance too.
As for where to stay, you could either stay somewhere more central for the entire week – places like Garda or Torri del Benaco would be about in the middle. And if you don’t mind switching accommodation, then you could stay 3-4 nights in the south (maybe Sirmione) and the rest in the North (my favorite there is Malcesine, but Riva or Torbole are very nice too).
Have a great trip!
Hi Jurga, great information about Lake Garda, thanks. I’m planning a trip next January, and I was wondering if the restaurants, hotels and shops will be open during this period.
We will be arriving there by car and I hope to drive around the lake over three days. I don’t expect everything to be open but do you think its worth visiting in January. We’re hoping to avoid the crowds and just take it easy. Thanks
Hi Edward, I really don’t know, but my guess is that it will be very quiet everywhere. On the other hand, there are plenty of people living there, so yes, of course, some things will be open.
I once visited Lake Como in November and it was already very quiet with many places closed. So January will be even more deserted, also at Lake Garda where the high season is between +-April and October…
I think I’d still go, but maybe not for 3 days. Definitely visit Verona for a day once you are there and Venice is just a 2hrs drive.
If you want to know more, I think I’d contact a hotel where you are planning to stay or a local tourism board… Talk to the locals, see what they suggest.
Another idea – January will be amazing for skiing and winter activities in the mountains north of Lake Garda. Madonna di Campiglio is a popular ski resort and also Val Gardena in the Dolomites. Just an idea ;).
Great information, thanks so much.
We will be coming from Belluno and have 2 days for this beautiful area. From here we will be heading to Turin, where would you recommend staying for 2 nights? Would you suggest driving the lake or just doing a couple of trips from the home base? Don’t want to spend too much time in the car and would enjoy seeing places rather than rushing through 🙂
I do appreciate you taking the time to answer.
Nicky
Hi Nicky, it looks a bit strange to drive from Belluno to Lake Garda to then drive back up to Trento, but if that’s in your planning, then I think I’d opt to stay at the northern side of Lake Garda. My personal favorite pick would be Malcesine. From there, you can take a boat to Torbole, Riva, and also Limone. And if you absolutely want to, you can also drive or take a boat to the southern side of the lake as well.
If you don’t want to spend too much time in the car, I’d definitely not drive around the entire lake. There’s enough to see/ do in Malcesine to keep you busy for half a day to a day, plus exploring the northern side of the lake by boat is one of the nicest things you can do. And with just two nights, you’ll likely only have one full day, plus maybe the afternoon when you arrive, which is about the right amount of time for all this.
And if you prefer to do even less driving, then stay in Torbole, which is even closer to the main highways from where you’ll be arriving/leaving, and you can easily visit Malcesine and other places from there by boat as well.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga. I really appreciate the information you provided about Lake Garda. We’ve only got one night there so your advice for one day is incredibly helpful and we cannot wait to explore Sirmione. I was wondering if by chance you have advice for farms to stay at in Tuscany. Friends of ours went and said that there were amazing farms they passed by to get to their hotel that are not advertised online. They said they have no idea how to book them in advance or they would have stayed at one of them. Is this something you are familiar with?
Hi Brandi, most of these ‘farms’ are called ‘Agriturismo’ and you can find quite a lot of them online. Just searching for accommodation near San Gimignano (a great area to stay in Tuscany and very central for day trips to Florence, Siena, Pisa, Lucca, etc.!), I see quite a few really nice ones. So take a look here and I’m sure you’ll find something very nice for your stay. Or check out accommodations in the Montepulciano area – also a very nice place in another part of Tuscany, and I see quite a few villas and agriturismos there too.
I’m not sure what kind of a ‘farm’ you are looking for exactly, so it’s hard to recommend something specifically. But there are definitely plenty of them to be found online. If you are looking for something even more different and can’t find it here, maybe try some local tourism board websites, keeping in mind that they’ll often only have info in Italian or prices higher than what you pay via sites like Booking.com… Also, I’d never book anything where I can’t see pictures and read real customer reviews.
Here are just some random picks I stumbled upon that look great:
– Agriturismo Mormoraia in San Gimignano
– Agriturismo Il Segreto di Pietrafitta in San Gimignano
– Agriturismo Merigge Montepulciano in Montepulciano
– Agriturismo Cognanello in Montepulciano
And there are many, many more.
Hope this helps.
PS We have quite a few articles about Tuscany on our blog if you need some recommendations on where to go, etc. You should be able to see them here.
@Jurga,
Fantastic! Thank you!
Jurga, I am planning on visiting Lake Garda this coming Oct 1-5, 2021. I am looking for a luxurious stay with my wife for a special occasion. What is the town/city and hotel that would be your best recommendation?
Can you point me in the right direction for further dining, etc around Lake Garda. We will be arriving from Munich and then on to Verona after. Your help is greatly appreciated.
Hi Craig, this is such a difficult thing to say as there are so many nice places around Lake Garda. Here are a few suggestions:
– If you don’t have a car, it’s probably best to stay on the south side of the lake. Sirmione is a good place for that, lots to do, and it has good boat connections to other places. One of the nicest hotels here is Hotel Olivi Thermae & Natural Spa and the price for your travel dates seems very reasonable. Also with a car, from Sirmione, you can quite easily get anywhere you want to be.
– If you prefer to stay on the north side of the lake, Riva del Garda is a nice town for that and you can easily visit Limone and Malcesine from there. Also Torbole is nearby. This part of the lake is surrounded by mountains. There are so many nice hotels here: Hotel Lido Palace, but also Grand Hotel Liberty which has much better rates for your travel dates. Du Lac Et Du Parc Grand Resort looks great too and is probably the best price-quality-location of the three.
– One more really nice town to stay is Malcesine. It’s also surrounded by mountains, boats stop here, and the scenery is amazing. Probably the most romantic place of the three with narrow cobbled streets, a castle with amazing views, and there’s also a cable car to the top of the mountains (go when the weather is nice). Where to stay here, depends if you have a car and if hotels have parking. I recommend places that are close to the center, close to the lake, and have car parking possibilities. Hotel Castello Lake Front is a good option and has a parking. Hotel Vega also has a very nice location.
In all these places, there are lots of restaurants. I’m just not sure how much will be open in October, but I think it should still be ok.
Good luck choosing! 🙂
I loved the suggestions and comments. I have my old parents and your comments about the hilly places are very useful. Well, loved everything. 10/10!
Good to hear that, Stela. Enjoy the trip.
PS If you haven’t seen it yet, make sure to also check our guide to the best places to see in Lake Garda.
Hi Jurga,
We are hoping to explore italy for our honeymoon next year. Your blog has been so helpful. We are currently thinking of ending in Lake Garda (flying back via milan).
Although we want to explore, we want somewhere to relax, sunbathe etc. Can this be done at Lake Garda or have I got the wrong perception of it?
Thank you
Chris
Hi Chris, Lake Garda is not exactly a beach destination if that’s what you are looking for. But there are a few (busy) areas where you could swim. Otherwise, take a really nice hotel with a pool and maybe nice lake views and relax at the hotel, but also do some sightseeing around the lake if you feel like it – the best of both worlds.
Hi my wife and I are staying in Sirmione in September, are there any ferries to take you to Limone or other towns as we don’t have a car and not to keen to drive, but love being out on the water.
Hi Graeme, yes, there are ferries. You can see the map of the ferry routes here and you can find the schedule online or once you get there.
Hi. Great posts!!! So helpful.
I’m coming with my older teens, end of August.
I’d really love to stay somewhere where we can dip in the water.
For now I’ve been recommended to stay in Malcesine, since it’s a convenient spot to visit both sides of the island
I’ll be there for 3 nights, on our way from Venice. Depending on if we visit Verona on way over, or perhaps bergamo on way back to Milan will determine how much time we have in lake Garda but a good 2,5 days
Would you consider a day drive to dolomites insane 🙂
Thanks!
Hi Andrea, I think Malcesine is a great choice, but I have no idea how easy it is to actually go swimming there. For that Sirmione or Riva are probably better. Or just get a hotel with a pool…
As for the Dolomites, the area is huge (and incredibly beautiful). We spent a week there and hardly saw a part of it. So if you go just for a day, make sure to plan very well and know exactly where to go and what to do there. Only you can decide if it’s worth it for you…
Enjoy your trip!
Hello Jurga.
We are going to lake Garda next July for our honeymoon.we are having a week there and have looked for things to do.My partner though has some mobility issues so is it ok for him to get a motobility scooter there.? we will have his manuel wheelchair with us..
Hi Marjorie, first of all congratulations!
To answer your question – I really have no idea if you can rent mobility scooters anywhere there. I think that your best bet is to find a local tourism office and ask if they know more.
You should also note that many places aren’t that wheelchair-friendly – there are lots of stairs and cobble stones. That being said, we visited Lake Garda with two big strollers, including a double one for our twins, and we usually managed just fine. It won’t always be easy, but you can still see quite a lot.
Enjoy your trip!
Hi Jurga,
Some great tips here. By the way where did you stay while exploring Lake Garda? We have 4 days there and want to do the lake and Verona if we can?
Thanks for your help!
Steve
Hi Steve, we stayed in Moniga del Garda, which was ok because we had a car to travel around. Without a car, I’d stay in one of the towns that has direct boat connections to the other places. If you are interested in which hotel, I looked it up too – it was Park Residence Il Gabbiano. They have nice family apartments, a pool, and even a kids club if I recall well. But without a car it’s really not an ideal place to stay.
If you are mostly interested in sightseeing and also want to go to Verona, then maybe better look into staying on the Eastern side of the lake. Peschiera del Garda is a good place if you have no car – it has a railway station as well, but a boat stops there as well. Take a look at this map to see how the boats go and where there is a train station.
Thankyou for your answer….
I will try to get in touch with the tourist center.
Hi Jurga,
Do you have restaurant recommendations in Sirmione? Also, do you have any idea of the store hours in Sirmione? I was thinking since it is a touristy town that they might be open all day long.
Thanks!
Hi Jeni, I don’t have any specific recommendations – there are just so many restaurants in Sirmione. When we travel, we usually just look at the google maps to see what nice places are in the vicinity when we get hungry and then pick something with good reviews. Ideally, a place that doesn’t look too touristy and is a bit off the main tourist streets. If you rather do your research in advance, you’ll find plenty of choices on Trip Advisor.
I can’t seem to remember if any shops were closed in Sirmione during the day – we didn’t do any shopping there, so I really couldn’t say. But yes, it’s not abnormal for places to close for lunch in Southern Europe, usually for at least 2-3 hours. I think that souvenir shops stay open either way, the places that sometimes close are more local stores, clothing, etc.
Sorry I can’t help you more with this.
thank you so much for all the inf so very helpful
im going to rome for 4 days then to verona and i have 6 days im not sure what to do and where to stay i have a car in verona for 6 days after that im off to amalfi cost and capri and back to rome.your ideas are very helpfu thank you
Hi Iwona, if you have 6 days in Verona, then definitely check out Lake Garda- 2 or 3 days is perfect. You can also do a day trip to Venice. Also going up to the Dolomites/Trentino is a good option or alternatively to Milan and Lake Como for a few days.
Enjoy the trip!
Hi Jurga
I am planning to visit lake garda in March for 4 nights, I am flying from UK to verona airport. Initially I was thinking to stay near torbole as I found beautiful hotels there with the amazing view. I was quite worried about the transportation as well as I don’t drive. I read your itinerary and thinking to stay somewhere near the airport like sirmione but quiet mesmerise with the view from the hotel in torbole. What would you suggest ?
Thank you
Torbole is beautiful, if you like it, then you can just as well stay there. It’s completely on the other side of the lake than Sirmione and it will take you a few hours to get to the other side by boat. On the other hand, it’s not too far from Limone and Malcesine, and also Riva is just nearby, so you can keep yourself busy in that area and don’t even have to go to the southern part. In fact, the northern part is much more impressive scenery-wise. I think you’ll love it there. I think you can take the boat from Torbole to all the other main towns, just check the schedule as in March there will probably be fewer boats as it’s still low season.
I have answered my own question by reading your other post – I hadn’t seen it! We’ll stay in Sirmione. For 6 nights..
🙂 And I didn’t see this comment of yours before answering the other one… 🙂 Catching up on all the emails and comments after a trip is always overwhelming. Have a great time!
Hello Jurga,
We have 7 nights in Lake Garda, based in Desenzano del Garda from Oct. 20-27. Your 3 day itinerary is very useful and we will follow it. We are allotting 2 days for day trips to Verona and Venice. Which other city would you recommend to visit on a day trip? We have a car rental. For the Verona and Venice trips we will take our car. Any thoughts on what to see and do in Venice for the day?
Thank you so much!
Marian
Hi Marian, there is so much choice on what to see and do anywhere in Italy that it’s really hard for me to advise. I think indeed Verona and Venice are both great choices from Lake Garda – we also took day trips there when we were in that area. In Venice, park the car at the big carpark near the railway station. From there you can walk through all the narrow streets all the way to San Marco square. Don’t miss Rialto Bridge and Grand Canal. Also the waterfront area close to San Marco is beautiful (and soo busy)… If you have some extra time, it’s nice to take a boat to Murano and Burano Islands as well.
If you like big cities, then Milan or Bologna are both worth a visit as well. If you rather take it easy and enjoy the beautiful nature, you could drive to Lake Iseo and maybe stop in Brescia on the way back.
Hope this helps. Enjoy your trip!
Dear Jurga;
Thank you for your blog on Lake Garda.
We will be staying in Verona and will take the train to Peschiera. We had planned to take a boat to Sirmione.
Our question is, would you recommend taking a boat ride to the North end of the lake and back to see the entire lake, and then visiting Sirmione? Is this too ambitious for one day?
Do yo have any suggestions for Verona?
Thank you,
Marta
Hi Marta, yes, I think it’s quite a lot for one day, especially if you first have to take a train to get to Lake Garda (and then back in the evening). But if I understand it right, you only have a day? I’d say take a boat if you want to get an overview of Lake Garda and maybe visit Malcesine if you can – that’s my favourite town.
Otherwise, just stay in Sirmione, visit the town, take a short boat tour around the town there, and you’ll have a wonderful day as well. It’s really a tough choice, why not just wait and see how you feel on the day itself and just decide once you get there.
In Verona, don’t miss the Arena (maybe even catch a convert in the evening), Juliet’s house, for the rest just explore the old town. If I remember well, there was a tower you can climb that had stunning views of the surroundings. There are also city tours (walking or biking), food tours, gelato making class, or skip the line tickets, etc. – you can find some ideas here.
Whatever you choose, it’s such a beautiful area to visit, you can’t really go wrong either way.
Jurga;
Thank you!
I like your idea. We have two great options and will wait til the morning of to make a decision. We will have a beautiful day in Garda.
I love your blog, and your travel ideas. The tours in Verona look amazing. Who wouldn’t want to learn how to make gelato while in Italy?
Thank you.
Happy Travels.
Marta
I’m traveling by myself, any suggestoon of a group I can join. Im 69, female. Thanks, Alina
Hi Alina, it’s a bit difficult for me to advise because I have no idea what you are looking for and where you’ll be staying. Here is an example of a nice day trip in the area, with many different places possible as a starting point. Alternatively, you can find many other tours on that same website, just type Lake Garda from … (insert a place name where you are staying).
Hope this helps.
Hello, Jurga — We intend to visit Lake Garda for 3 days/2 nights, arriving in Peschiera del Garda by train from our rental apartment in Verona. My research to date suggests staying in Peschiera and taking boats/ferries to various towns. However, your suggestion to stay in Sirmione interests us. We know we can take the LN026 bus to Sirmione from Peschiera station. Because we will not have a car, which of the two towns would you recommend for our visit, given its duration? By the way, I have read dozens of travel advice sites the past few years for our travels to Europe and yours is the most helpful, informative I have accessed. Thank you. Jim L.
Hi James, I think it doesn’t matter that much where you’ll stay as the boats seem to be stopping in both these towns, so you can easily make day trips to the other places either way. I suggest Sirmione mainly because due to its location, but also because it’s such a nice town with lots to see. If Peschiera is easier for you, just stay there. It might be a bit cheaper as well, Sirmione is really popular with tourists and very busy. I just checked, and there are about 25% more accommodation options in Sirmione, but Peschiera has plenty hotels as well, so you’ll definitely find something that fits you best. Which I think will be the case in all the towns this time of the year…
And thank you very much for your kind words. Glad you fond our blog useful in helping you plan your trip. If you are looking for more ideas for other destinations in Italy, we have a few more blog posts from Italy. We are actually ourselves just back from Lake Garda area, just this time we stayed in the mountains in South Tyrol and also in Trentino region, to the North of the lake. Very beautiful areas as well. I could go back to Italy again and again – there is so much to see there and you really cannot go wrong with any town. Have a wonderful trip!
Hello,
Your post was spectacularly helpful. We are spending a week at lake Garda with day trips out to surrounding places like Verona and Modena. We were considering renting a car to get around but have never driven in Italy before. What is it like trying to find affordable parking and fuel in the lake Garda area? Are there designated parking areas? Do most hotels and side roads offer parking availability? What should we budget as a daily parking/fuel cost?
Hi Jackie, driving in Italy highly depends on the area. The roads in Lake Garda area are generally very narrow and busy. There are some parking areas, but in high season parking can be an issue, so if you drive somewhere, try to get there early in the day. Taking a boat from one village to another might be a more enjoyable and relaxing option. But yes, if you also want to visit towns like Verona, having a car will make it all so much easier.
Most hotels have parking available, but some require reservation and charge for it, especially in towns. You can usually see this when you book your hotels via Booking.com, or ask at the hotel directly.
Parking costs are generally not very high, but then again it depends on the place. Sometimes it will cost you 2 euros per hour, sometimes 25-30 euros a day (no matter how long you stay), sometimes just a few euros in total.
Fuel is very expensive in Italy, we just spent two weeks there and it’s not unusual to pay 1.7 euro for a litre of petrol. It’s one of the most expensive countries in Europe for fuel at the moment.
All this being said, having a car is still the most flexible way to travel around and see a lot.
Enjoy your trip!
Dear Jurga,
i really enjoyed reading your posts on tuscany and lake garda.
my husband and i along with our 6 yr old daughter are going to be in italy this july for 15 days. i am wondering if we should spend 2 or 3 nights in tuscany. probably want to do san gimignano and pisa from one cenytral location-not sure yet about florence ( not big fans of history and architecture-prefer scenic places and activities). we are heading to venice from tuscany for 2 nights. and then, 2-3 (have 5 nights between tuscany and lakes-either 3+2 or 2+3 ) nights at the lakes. wondering weather to do lake garda (gardaland and areas around lakes) or lake como. we are flying out from milan,
would really appreciate your help. should we do 2 nights in tuscany and 3 on the lakes or vice versa? and which lake shoud we do? gards or como?
thanks so much
Hi Aarti, it’s really up to you to choose as there is simply so much to see and do in every area. Tuscany is big and there are so many beautiful towns there; you can easily spend a week or two there. Lake Garda is a bit more compact, but even then there’s plenty to do for at least 3-4 days. I think you have to decide based on the places that you really want to see. We only been to Como lake very shortly and it’s beautiful as well, but at least from what I saw I’d say Lake Garda is more impressive. In any case, in just 15 days you really can’t see it all, so try to make an itinerary that gives you a nice mix of places without too much driving and wasted time in between.
In San Gimignano you don’t need the whole day, main highlights of Pisa can also be visited in half a day. Whereas bigger towns like Siena or Florence definitely require a day.
In Lake Garda you can really see a lot in 2-3 days, so at least maybe you won’t go home with a feeling that you missed something, whereas in 2 days in Tuscany you’ll hardly scratch the surface. Also, Verona is very close from Lake Garda and is definitely worth a visit as well. You could visit Venice as a day trip from Lake Garda area too – just a matter of changing hotels less often and also accommodation in Venice is crazy expensive, so maybe something to consider…
Sorry if this isn’t helping much, but it’s really up to you to decide which places you want to see the most and create your itinerary based on that.
Dear Jurga,
Thank you so much for your quick response. i think your response makes complete sense.
we should spend 3 nights in tuscany. we will be arriving from naples. where should we come in order to rent a car? i saw that you chose montaione as a central location to stay and take day trips. we will look for something around there.
i also like your idea about doing venice as a day trip from lake garda. we are scheduled to spend 2 nights in venice after tuscany, followed by 2 nights at the lakes before our final night in milan from where we fly out to india. however, do you think our daughter will rather enjoy 3 nights in garda from where we take a day trip into venice, and also do gardaland and northern parts of the lake, or is it worth spending 2 days in venice?
also, if we spend 3 nights in garda, where should we base ourselves to do venice, gardaland and lake garda-we will be relying on public transportation.
what is the best way to reach lake gards from tuscany. we need to return our rental car there.
i would really appreciate your advice.
thank you
Hi Aarti, I think you should consider renting a car for the whole trip – it’s so much easier, definitely when you travel with a child.
You can rent it from one location and return to another. You could take a train from Naples to Florence and rent a car there and then return it in Milan when you leave. On the other hand, driving in Italian towns can be quite stressful. 😉 So it’s really up to you.
One of the best places to stay for exploring Garda, Verona, and potentially take a day trip to Venice is probably Sirmione. Also, because it’s well connected to the other places on the lake by boat. If you don’t have a car, you can also take some guided tours from here, also to Venice.
Other nice thing to do with your daughter is visit Gardaland (I guess you can get there by bus from Sirmione as well since it’s not that far, but I’m not sure). There is also a possibility to combine a visit to Gardaland with SeaLife aquarium.
I found one more interesting tour from Lake Garda – it brings you to Verona opera and back. Not sure if it’s something you like, but experiencing Italian opera in the Arena of Verona must be magical!
So yes, you can see a lot even without a car, so it’s really up to you to decide what works best for you.
As for Venice, I think one day will be more than enough with a child. It’s really tiring as you have to walk a lot and there are so many people everywhere. On top of that, it’s really hot in July as well. If I were you I’d spend minimum time in big towns and more time in the countryside and by the lake.
thank you Jurga! we will plan accordingly.
OK, Thanks, so I am now basing in Sirmione and have to choose from Degli Oleander Hotel and Hotel Catullo hotels. Anyway have a nice trip Monday……..where are you going?
I will be attending a conference for travel industry professionals in Tyrol Austria. With some hiking and other nice activities on the agenda, so it’s a nice working trip ;). You can follow us on Facebook or Instagram for some pictures from there if interested.
P.S. Both the hotels (Hotel Catullo and Hotel Degli Oleandri) you chose look really nice and the location is amazing too. Have a nice trip!
Wow, thanks for the prompt reply, I’m impressed. I am now trying to decide to base in Sirmione or Desenzano on the bottom of the lake. I like old narrow streets and greenery and not too much
commerce besides restaurants and shops. The ferries are really
great as to all the ports they stop at. Thanks again.
P.S. I’ll contact you again if I have a question.
You’re welcome, William. I am not always as prompt, just tonight I am going through all the recent comments and trying to answer as many as I can before I leave on a trip on Monday. 🙂
I am of course not the one to tell you which place is better to stay. But as much as we loved Desenzano, Sirmione is much livelier and there is more to see and do there. It’s also greener, and you can escape the tourists quite easily. Also, I think it’s a bit better located for exploring the area. But I don’t have any experience with busses and such, for the boats it seems to be somewhat better (saves one stop). I found this ferry map for you, might be useful. In any case, try not to spend all your time in one town, there’s so much to see! Not sure if you saw my other post with my favourite places at Lake Garda – if not, check it out.
In terms of accommodation, both Desenzano and Sirmione seem to have accommodation in all price ranges, so it’s really about your preference.
Have a wonderful trip!
Nice but I am staying at sermon and traveling the lake only by bus or ferry and no car, so can you provide itinerary for same?
Hi William, unfortunately I have no time to work out an itinerary for you. I think that the best way for you to explore Lake Garda from Sirmione is by taking a boat. Try to figure out which places you want to see and then make your own itinerary based on the boat schedule, time of the year, etc. Take a look at this website for boat timetable, prices, and other practical information. Hope this helps!
HI Jurga…thank you ! This is a very helpful site. We will be visiting Lake Garda the first week in October. My husband and I are looking forward to visiting the towns. We are not sure where we should stay for 3 nights. Any recommendations? Our previous stop will be in Verona where we will rent a car. We love being in a town in the midst of activity. Thanks….Angie
Hi Angie, if you like to stay 3 nights at just one place and you like to be in the middle of the action, then I would suggest Sirmione. Riva del Garda on the Northern side of the lake is really nice too, but it’s a lot quieter and maybe a bit more difficult to make day trips from there. It’s more a vacation town for the summer (just as most of the other towns around the lake), whereas in Sirmione you will probably have plenty of action even in October. Also, there are more accommodation options in Sirmione. Have a nice trip!
Hi Hannah, we took a car. There is a big car park at the railway station in Venice. It’s not cheap though. I think about 30eur/day, no matter if you stay an hour or 23,5 hrs :).
This post is really helpful, thank you. I was just wondering about driving to Venice for the day. Is it possible to park in /near Venice? Would it be better to drive to a train station then get the train to Venice? We want to spend a full day there so the quicker the journey, the better!
Beautiful photos and wonderful blog. Thanks for sharing your suggestions for itinerary. Unfortunately, we will NOT have a car and will rely upon bus and ferry. We are staying at Desenzano and I would love your opinion of which villages and sites to visit in two days there in early May. Thanks.
Hi Patricia, I’d try to do Sirmione and Malcesine. I’m not sure, but I think you should be able to take a boat from Desenzano to both of these places. You’ll need a full day for Sirmione. On the day you go to Malcesine, consider taking the boat all the way to Riva (even if you don’t have the time to explore) – the views on that side of the lake are amazing. Hope this helps.
I will probably go there next summer on my Italy road trip! Pinning this to keep the good tips 🙂
Looks very nice!! next year we are going to italy , beautiful!!
Thanks for reading and for your comments, Vanessa. Always great to hear from readers. 😉 You’ll love Italy!