Travel Guide
Lake Garda
Italy
Best time to go: April–June, September–October
Sights
- Sirmione – A moated castle and the Roman «Grotte di Catullo» villa on a peninsula.
- Malcesine and Monte Baldo – A rotating cable car up the mountain above the lake.
- Limone sul Garda – Lemon houses on steep slopes.
- Riva del Garda – A northern harbour town – a hotspot for windsurfers and sailors.
- Vittoriale degli Italiani – Gabriele D'Annunzio's eccentric estate.
- Gardaland – Italy's largest theme park.
Food & nightlife
- Lake fish – Whitefish or trout, often grilled.
- Bardolino and Lugana – A light red from the eastern shore, a white from the south.
- Lake Garda olive oil – One of the northernmost olive-growing areas in the world.
- Aperitivo by the harbour – A spritz at sunset over the water.
Day trips
- Verona – The Arena, Juliet's balcony and the old town – half an hour by train.
- Valpolicella – The Amarone wine estates in the hills.
- Lago di Ledro – A mountain lake with a pile-dwelling museum above Riva.
Good to know
- When to go
- April–June, September–October
- Getting around
- Stations at Desenzano and Peschiera; boats and buses link the lakeside towns, with cycle paths in the north.
- Tipping
- Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.
- Power
- Plug type C/F/L, 230 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.
- Currency
- Euro (EUR)
Plan your trip to Lake Garda together
Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.
More in Italy
General tips without guarantee – please check opening times and prices locally.