Lake Garda Travel Guide

Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake, is known as “one of the biggest activity playgrounds in Europe.” Picturesque villages, medieval castles, and lakeside promenades dot the shoreline. The lake has a diverse landscape with beaches along the southern shores and rocky cliffs above the northern shoreline. Lake Garda is known for its clear water, great for swimming in summer. Windsurfing, sailing, and hiking in the lake’s many parks are popular activities.

Top Places to Go on Lake Garda

• Peschiera del Garda is one of the most picturesque towns on the lake’s southern shore. Its small historic center is enclosed by16th century walls. Peschiera is served by train, bus, and ferry so makes a good base. It’s also near a golf course and Gardaland , the largest amusement park in Italy. There’s a free shuttle bus from the Pescheria train station. The Gardaland bus runs from many of the towns around the lake.
  Where to Stay in Peschiera: Hotel Buena Onda has rooms with a balcony, about a 10 minute walk from the historic center. Aurora ApartHotel is a condo hotel with swimming pool and river views.
• Desenzano del Garda has a castle and remains of a Roman villa with beautiful mosaic floors. Its archeological museum, housed in a former monastery, holds artifacts from the Paleolithic era to the Bronze age.
  Where to stay in Desenzano: Antica Dimora Desenzano has suites with period furniture in a historic palace near the lake shore. Viola Relais has a swimming pool and rooms with patio or balcony.
• Sirmione, a picturesque town in the south popular with artists and tourists, has a charming medieval center dominated by a large castle. The town is known for its thermal bath resorts. Le Grotte di Catullo, on the Sirmione peninsula, has ruins of the villa of Catulla, a writer or senator of the Roman empire. The site is situated in a spectacular point on the peninsula, surrounded by olive and lemon trees.
  Where to Stay in Sirmione: Villa Cortine Palace is a luxury hotel with beautiful gardens and lake views a 5 minute walk from the historic center. Hotel Casa Scaligeri is a 3-star hotel right at the start of the historic center.

• Gardone, also in the west, is known for its beautiful park with exotic plants. Its historic center dates from the middle ages and has both medieval and baroque buildings. There are several aristocratic villas from the early 20th century.
• Bardolino, in the east, has thermal baths and a wellness and beauty center at the Hotel Caesius Thermæ & Spa Resort.
• Malcesine, in the northeast, has a small harbor, a medieval castle, and a historic center with small streets. From Malcesine, a cable car goes to Monte Baldo, known as the Garden of Europe, where there are botanical gardens, hiking paths, and spectacular views.
• Riva del Garda, at the northern tip, is a popular summer resort and one of the best places for windsurfing. The town is dominated by a fortress.

Lake Garda Location and Transportation:

Lake Garda is between Venice and Milan. Its western shore is in the Lombardy region, the eastern shore is in the Veneto, and the northern tip stretches into the Trentino-Alto Adige region. The Dolomite mountains are not far away and can be seen towering above the lake.

• Transportation to and from Lake Garda:
  Desenzano and Peschiera del Garda, in the south. both have train stations. The closest station to the northern part of the lake is in Rovereto, east of Riva del Garda. Verona and Brescia are the closest airports but the closest large airport is Milan Malpensa.

• Getting Around the Lake:
  Lake Garda is well served by hydrofoils, catamarans, and ferries, especially during summer. Car ferries between the western and eastern shores run between Toscolano Maderno and Torri del Banaco and between Limone and Malcesine. Public buses run all around the lake.

Italian Lakes Guide Books

Rick Steves Travel Snapshot: Milan and the Italian Lakes District
Lonely Planet Italian Lakes
The Rough Guide to Italian Lakes

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