Lake Garda is one of Italy’s most beautiful tourist attractions. The reason is quite simple: it’s a fascinating place, full of unique landscapes, with historical towns. You can even tour the area by bike, or practice many sports here. Also, lots of amusement parks nearby.
If you want to take a trip to Lake Garda here’s a brief guide that will help you discover this area. Ready?
You’ve chosen Lake Garda as your destination, now all you need to do is arrange your trip down to the last detail. First of all: accommodations!
Lake Garda is home to a bevy agriturismi scattered across the region, each one special in its own way. Choose the one that’s right for you in a location that allows you to get around easily. It’s simple - just consult our map and list of agriturismi here!
Once you’ve chosen where to sleep, start planning your tour. Among the many pretty towns, here are five not to be missed: Riva del Garda, Limone, Desenzano, Salò, and Sirmione.
At Riva del Garda you’ll find a picture-perfect fortress. The historical city center overlooks the lake and dates back centuries. Limone is an ancient hamlet full of alleyways and famous for its lemon citrus groves. If you head to the Church of San Rocco, you can admire a panoramic view of the entire lake and town.
Desenzano is an enchanting lakeside resort town full of art and archeological sites. It’s also a great starting point for lake excursions. In Salò you’ll find many ancient buildings and an elegant town center.
Sirmione is considered the pearl of Lake Garda and renowned for its spas. Great names from the past lived here, including writers Catullus, Stendhal and Goethe. In addition to strolling through town and admiring the stunning lake views, you can spend time at the thermal spas or try out some water sports.
Lake Garda offers countless things to do if you prefer an active holiday. You can go hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking or play golf. And if you like more adventurous sports, there are plenty of places to try climbing, kite surfing and diving. For a real thrill, go hand gliding from Monte Baldo!
If you prefer something more relaxing, head to the spas in Sirmione, one of Italy’s oldest thermal spa destinations. In nearby Lazise, Spa Garda offers free admission to two warm water lakes.
Traveling with the entire family? On Lake Garda you’ll have so much fun! First place goes to Gardaland, an amusement park with tons of rides and kid-friendly entertainment. In San Zeno di Montagna, there’s a new Parco Avventura with activities for all ages, and in Colline Moreniche you can visit Parco Sigurtà, a gorgeous botanical park with 18 lakes, a labyrinth, educational farm and lots of places to picnic.
Are you curious about the local food and wine typical of Lake Garda? Of course, lake fish is predominant on the menu, but there are also tantalizing dishes like polenta with mushrooms, canederli pasta and carne salada – very lean cured beef with herbs. Other classics include zucchini flowers stuffed with goat cheese, and bigoli, a pasta prepared with duck broth.
Lake Garda is a very fertile farming territory, and produces a lot of olive oil and wine. The oil has great nutritional value and is considered precious and unique. Try the Lugana wine, a white wine with a fresh, bold taste, or Bardolino, and don’t forget to bring back a bottle or two to share with family and friends!
There are many local many local agriturismi with restaurants, around Lake Garda which also sell their own products. Stop for a meal and pick up some edible souvenirs to cook with at home.
Lake Garda can be reached by all means of transportation, but the simplest way is by car.
Thanks to DB-ÖBB EuroCity trains, Lake Garda is accessible via a convenient railway connection from Austria and Germany. The closest airport is Valerio Catullo in Verona-Villafranca, which is only 15 kilometers from the lake.
All the surrounding towns are connected by a good public transportation system. A truly alternative and scenic way to get around the lake is by hopping on the local ferries.
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