To round off our tour of the Italian lakes, this is my guide to things to do in Lake Garda. Straddling the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino–Alto Adige, it is the largest lake in northern Italy. Like its neighbors, it benefits from a microclimate, but here you won’t find beautiful villas with lush gardens. It is mainly a beach and water sports destination. That doesn’t stop you from finding charming villages scattered all around the lake, the most famous of which is Sirmione.
Which villages are must-sees ? Where to stay in Lake Garda ? I share all my tips in this travel guide following our 3-day stay in September.
What to do in Lake Garda : the map
Lake Garda is located 30 km from Verona and is easy to reach by train. It’s a great idea for a day trip or weekend getaway if you’re in the area. It’s also an unmissable stop on a northern Italy road trip. You pass by it when heading to the Dolomites or Venice, for example. With its 367 km² and 51.6 km in length, Lake Garda requires a few days to fully explore.
I’ve marked the things to do at Lake Garda on the map below. I mainly mention the towns we visited, but you can explore other villages. Many are similar, so there’s no need to embark on a marathon to see everything. You’ll spend more time on the boat or looking for a parking space than actually visiting.
Day trips to the lake from another city
Do you only have one day to visit Lake Garda and are already on vacation in another city ? It’s possible to get a good overview by seeing the highlights on a day trip :
- From Verona : Sirmione and Lake Garda day tour with cruise.
- From Verona : Limone sul Garda & Riva del Garda day tour.
- From Venice : Verona tour and Lake Garda cruise.
- From Milan : Verona, Sirmione and Lake Garda with boat cruise.
Sirmione
The medieval village of Sirmione, located on a peninsula at the very south of the lake, is the most touristy things to do in Lake Garda. You’ll need to plan your visit carefully to avoid ending up there at the same time as thousands of tourists. Even though the peninsula is 4 km long, the village and sights are concentrated in a small area, so it quickly becomes crowded.
If you’re lucky, you can park as close as possible to the village in this parking lot. But when all the parking areas on the peninsula are full (which happened to us), access to Sirmione is closed. You then have to park 2.5 km further south; the closest parking lot is this one. You then need to take a bus (ticket €2 one way, stop here) that runs about every 20 minutes to reach the village. A tip : come early in the morning to make the most of your visit to Sirmione and park as close as possible to the castle.
To fully appreciate the beauty of Sirmione, you can take a 25-minute boat cruise around the peninsula. It’s a great way to enjoy a unique view of the castle. For the more romantic, I recommend the sunset cruise with local wine (45 minutes). For a longer itinerary (4 hours), you can choose this historic castle cruise with wine tasting.
Scaligera Castle
The Rocca Scaligera, built in the 13th century, is the first building you see when arriving in the medieval village of Sirmione. It’s one of the rare examples of a water fortress. Scaligera Castle can be visited, but the interior is empty, with just a small exhibition explaining the history of the fortress. You can walk along the ramparts and climb the keep to enjoy the view.
Prices : €6 (€2 for ages 18–25, free for under 18).
Opening hours : 8:30 am to 7:15 pm (1:30 pm on Sundays). Closed on Mondays.
Passeggiata delle Muse
When leaving the castle, instead of taking the main street that leads to the heart of the village, I recommend walking along the Passeggiata delle Muse. This pleasant promenade runs along the lakeshore and reveals several beaches (you’ll pass through the village on the way back). Just before the Passeggiata delle Muse, you can admire the Giardino Grazia Deledda (photo 1), but access is closed.
As you walk along the lake near the lido, you’ll notice a sulfur smell. Sirmione is known for its sulfurous hot springs, and several thermal spas are located on the peninsula. Lido delle Bionde is a private beach with a restaurant (€40 per day for 2 loungers with umbrella). The beach is almost nonexistent at this point (photo 4). There is a free beach where you can lay your towel at the beginning of the Passeggiata delle Muse (photo 2) ; otherwise, continuing past the lido, you reach a wilder area with reeds.
Be careful if you continue along the lake past Lido delle Bionde, you won’t be able to reach Jamaica Beach except by walking in the water, as the path is a dead end. You need to rejoin the road near the restaurant.
Grotte di Catullo
This archaeological site is located at the very north of the Sirmione peninsula. It consists of the ruins of a Roman villa built between the end of the 1st century BC and the beginning of the 1st century AD. It owes its name to the Roman poet Gaius Valerius Catullus (born 84 BC), to whom it may have belonged. It’s the most important remnant of this type in northern Italy. But if you already know Rome or Pompeii, you might be a bit disappointed. We chose to skip it.
Prices : €8 (€2 for EU citizens aged 18–25, free for under 18).
Opening hours : 8:30 am to 7:30 pm Tuesday to Saturday | 9 am to 1 pm Monday | 10 am to 7:30 pm Sunday.
Jamaica Beach
At the northern tip of the peninsula, Jamaica Beach is the most famous beach in Lake Garda. To get there, take the path starting after the Grotte di Catullo and descending toward Lido delle Grotte, a private beach. I’ll be blunt : I was disappointed by this beach. I expected a little paradise, but that’s far from the case. First, there’s no real beach, just flat stones where you can lay your towel (sun loungers can be rented for €15 per day). Then it’s packed with young German tourists, and the bar plays loud music. And yet we were there in September.
To top it off, we tried to grab a piadina at the beach snack bar for lunch, big mistake. We were served a tasteless, half-cooked flatbread that would shame any Italian. Considering the walking time needed to get there from the village, Jamaica Beach isn’t really a good option. For visitors who have difficulty walking, a small electric train runs between the upper village and the beach (€1.20 one way between 9:30 am and 6:30 pm).
Chiesa San Pietro in Mavino
On the way back down toward the village, stop at the Church of San Pietro in Mavino, built in the 8th century at the highest point of Sirmione (coordinates). The interior and façade were remodeled in the 14th and 18th centuries, while the bell tower dates back to the 11th century. In the apses of the nave and on the side walls, you can see beautiful frescoes dated 1321.
Medieval village
We end this visit to Sirmione with the medieval village and its picturesque alleys. The walk is pleasant as long as it’s not too crowded. The very touristy village is made up almost entirely of shops, cafés and restaurants. A pier allows you to take the ferry to other villages around Lake Garda (pedestrians only). I was surprised to see such long lines even in September.
Desenzano del Garda
We continue our visit to Lake Garda with the town of Desenzano del Garda, located 9 km west of Sirmione. As in all towns around the lake, parking is quite difficult. We found a parking spot on this street (€2.50 per hour year-round).
There isn’t much to do in Desenzano del Garda, but the visit is pleasant, especially along the lakeside promenade and in the colorful streets. You can take a break in one of the arcaded squares, such as Piazza Giuseppe Malvezzi (photo 2).
In terms of monuments, the town has the Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena, a church built in the 16th century (photo 1). The Baroque-style ensemble is quite understated; inside, the polychrome marble altar is worth a look (opening hours 8 am–12 pm and 3:30 pm–7 pm).
By taking via Castello (photo 3), you enter the oldest part of the town and reach the ruins of the fortress (photo 4). Inside the 11th-century fortress, there’s not much left to see. One of the towers hosts small exhibitions, with prices depending on the artists. During our stay in Lake Garda, it was an exhibition on Andy Warhol (entry €10). Otherwise, access to the tower alone (€3) offers a nice panorama over the lake. We personally settled for the view from the castle courtyard (photo 5).
For swimming in Lake Garda, north of the town you’ll find a large pebble beach, spiaggia Desenzanino (coordinates), with a free section and a private one (sun loungers and umbrellas). It’s best to bring water shoes, as the stones are quite large.
If you’d like to take a boat trip on the lake from Desenzano del Garda, I recommend this sunset boat trip with drink.
Torri del Benaco
This is one of the most beautiful villages and a best things to do in Lake Garda. If you don’t have time to do the full loop of the lake, you should at least stop in Torri del Benaco. For me, it’s the only village on the eastern shore that’s really worth the detour. Yet there isn’t much to visit besides the castle. But the lovely center with its colorful houses, the small fishing harbor, and the lakeside promenade give it undeniable charm. We loved this stop !
For parking, there’s a large parking lot at the entrance to the village (coordinates), priced at €2 per hour (€20 per day). The Torri del Benaco pier allows you to take the car ferry (traghetto) across the lake to Maderno on the western shore.
Castello Scaligero
The current castle dates from 1383 but was built on the ruins of a 10th-century fortress. Its strategic position had already been chosen by the Romans, who built a fortified camp (castrum) here. Inside, it houses an ethnographic museum on local traditions. The 9 rooms present exhibitions ranging from olive cultivation to the construction of fishermen’s boats. The visit includes the lemon grove greenhouse built in 1760 and the walkway along the ramparts, which offers a lovely view. If you’re interested, you’ll find more details on the museum’s official website.
Prices : €5 (€3 for students and those over 60, €1 for ages 6–14).
Opening hours : 9:30 am to 1 pm and 4:30 pm to 7:30 pm.
Chiesa Santi Pietro e Paolo
This lovely Baroque church, built in 1769, is located in the north of the village on Piazza Chiesa. The single nave features several beautiful works of art, including a 16th-century altarpiece. The ceiling frescoes are by Felice Cappelletti, an Italian late-Baroque painter who worked extensively in Verona. Right next to the church stands the Torre di Berengario, a defensive tower erected in the 10th century.
Gardone Riviera
From Torri del Benaco, we take the car ferry (coordinates) to Maderno on the western shore of Lake Garda. The ticket for one vehicle and two people costs €19.40. Once on the other side, we drive 4 km south to the village of Gardone Riviera. We stopped here to visit the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the former residence of Gabriele D’Annunzio, now a museum. I had no idea who he was before coming here. It was Daniela (who is Italian for those who don’t follow me) who wanted to visit.
Apart from this foundation, the village itself doesn’t particularly warrant a stop, even though it’s quite charming. If you’re looking for a place to eat nearby, we had lunch at Osteria Antico Brolo, which we highly recommend. Prices are a bit high, but the dishes are absolutely delicious.
Thrill-seekers can try a tandem paragliding flight over Lake Garda departing from Gardone Riviera (open to beginners from age 5).
Vittoriale degli italiani
This 9-hectare complex, made up of several monuments, squares, an amphitheater and gardens, is the former residence of writer Gabriele D’Annunzio. He lived here between 1921 and 1938. The ensemble is meant as a tribute to the greatness of the poet-soldier and to Italians of the First World War. It was largely financed by Mussolini’s Italian state.
Pick up a map at the entrance, as the garden that brings together all the buildings is vast and not easy to navigate. In the museum “The Secret of D’Annunzio,” his wardrobe is on display (photo 1). At MAS 96, you can see the speedboat (photo 3) he used during the Bakar raid in 1918. Nearby stands the huge mausoleum where he is buried (photo 4), and below it, the warship Puglia appears stranded on the hillside (photo 5). The garden itself is rather unremarkable, with hardly any flowers, and seems almost neglected in places. We take comfort in the lake views.
The most interesting part is the visit of Gabriele D’Annunzio’s house, with its very eccentric decoration (guided tour required with time-slot reservation). Photos are forbidden inside, but since I was the only one in the group with an audioguide, I took the opportunity to keep some distance from the guide 🙂
It’s a very touristy site (200,000 visitors per year), but in my view, if you don’t know Gabriele D’Annunzio, the visit isn’t necessarily worthwhile, especially given the rather high entrance fee. I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re short on time to visit Lake Garda.
Prices : €18 for the 3 museums and the guided tour of the apartments. Paid parking on site : €3 for 2 hours / €5.50 for 3 hours.
Opening hours : 9 am to 7 pm in summer (5 pm in winter).
Salò
We continue 4 km south to reach the most beautiful village on the western shore of the lake. As with Torri del Benaco on the other side, a stop in Salò is absolutely essential when visiting Lake Garda.
We used this parking lot (€2 per hour from 8 am to 10 pm) to park our car. It’s the closest to the village, but you need some luck to find a spot, as it’s quite small. It’s easier to arrive by boat.
From Salò, you can take a wine estate tour with tastings of 4 typical Valtenesi wines, accompanied by delicious platters of cold cuts and cheeses.
Duomo Santa Maria Annunziata
The cathedral of Salò, built in 1453, is one of the most beautiful around Lake Garda. Its late-Gothic façade is quite plain and was never completed, though it does feature a beautiful Renaissance portal made in 1508. Inside, the nave is beautifully decorated with frescoes by famous Italian painters.
Opening hours : 8:30 am to 12 pm and 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.
Old town
From the Duomo, we head to the lovely Piazza della Vittoria, surrounded by pastel-colored facades (photo 1). This is the heart of Salò. On the left side of the square, Palazzo della Magnifica Patria, a palace built in 1524 that houses the Town Hall, features beautiful frescoes in its loggia (photo 2). A bit further on, the Museo di Salò (MuSa) offers exhibitions on history, science and art, but we skipped it (entry €9).
Continuing along the street that runs through the old town, you reach the medieval Saint John district. The small Church of San Giovanni Battista, with its yellow façade, probably dates back to the 7th century but was completely remodeled in 1727. The visit to the old town ends in the quarter of the small square (14th century), where you’ll find the Clock Gate, one of the three main gates of the medieval city (photo 4). On the way back, take the beautiful lakeside promenade.
Riva del Garda
At the very north of the lake, in the Trentino–Alto Adige region, Riva del Garda deserves some time. We stopped here the previous year during our road trip to Austria. The old town, nestled at the narrowest part of the lake, charmed us with its pastel-colored houses and peaceful atmosphere (in September).
The historic center revolves around the beautiful Piazza III Novembre, surrounded by arcades and colorful houses. On its western side stands the Torre Apponale, a 13th-century defensive tower 34 m high, once used to watch over the city. You can climb its 165 steps to enjoy the panorama (10 am–6 pm, €2). To the south, the square opens onto the old harbor of Riva del Garda, where all goods passed through in the Middle Ages before heading north.
Strolling through the old town’s narrow streets is pleasant, with its many shops. Unlike Sirmione, where everything revolves around tourism, you don’t feel that atmosphere here. Riva del Garda is the second-largest town around the lake after Desenzano. To the north, Porta di San Michele (coordinates) is one of the former medieval gates providing access to the fortified city.
The town has a museum, the MAG (Museo Alto Garda), housed in a former medieval castle on the lakeshore. It offers exhibitions on history, archaeology, landscape and art. Not really a must-see, but useful if you’re looking for things to do at Lake Garda on a rainy day. You’ll find all the information on the official website.
The center of Riva del Garda is inaccessible by car. There are several parking lots around the outskirts; we used this one (€2 per hour), just a few minutes’ walk from the old town.
Sanctuary Madonna della Corona
For this final thing to do in Lake Garda, I suggest heading away from the lakeshore toward the mountains. The Santuario Madonna della Corona is located 26 km from Torri del Benaco (about a 40-minute drive).
The sanctuary parking lot is in the village of Ferrara di Monte Baldo at this location (free parking). You then need to take bus no. 499, which runs every 30 minutes from 9 am to 6:30 pm. The ticket (€2 one way, €3.50 round trip) can be purchased directly on the bus, and the stop is located here. You can also walk, but be aware that it’s quite a long hike.
The Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona is a truly exceptional site. It was built in 1522 into the rock of a 775-meter-high cliff. The first monastery dates back to the 13th century, but the site was already frequented around the year 1000 by hermits linked to the Abbey of San Zeno in Verona. The sanctuary quickly became a pilgrimage site, accessible via a narrow and dangerous path carved into the rock (the road dates from 1922).
The Neo-Gothic façade decorated with marble dates from 1899. The rather austere interior consists of three naves, with the central one reaching 16 m in height. The wall of the left nave and the apse are entirely carved into the rock. Several works of art (including a 13th-century fresco) and numerous ex-votos decorate the church.
Opening hours : 7 am to 7:30 pm from April to October (8 am to 6 pm in winter). Free entry (no shorts or tank tops, dogs prohibited).
Gardaland theme park
Lake Garda is also popular for its famous Gardaland theme park. It features 34 attractions (roller coasters, water rides, etc.), six theaters and show areas, and 19 shops. Everything is divided into nine themes, ranging from the Wild West to the medieval period, including a space base. The park is located 5 km north of Peschiera del Garda and can easily be included in your road trip itinerary. If you’re looking what to do in Lake Garda with children, they should love it.
Via ferrata and canyoning
Why not take advantage of your stay in Lake Garda to try via ferrata or canyoning ? You don’t need to be a top athlete or a rappel expert, just a good level of fitness. Some canyons are suitable for children from age 6. Here are a few excursions I recommend for the more adventurous among you :
- Canyoning for children near Tignale : from age 6, duration 1 hour.
- Beginner Canyoning in the Gumpenfever Gorges from Tignale : from age 10, half-day.
- Advanced Canyoning in Vione Canyon : for experienced participants, half-day.
- Via Ferrata Rio Sallagoni : for beginners from age 10, half-day.
- Via Ferrata Cima Capi : from age 14, duration 5 hours.
- Advanced Via Ferrata The Smugglers Path in Riva del Garda : for advanced levels, duration 4 hours 30 minutes.
Where to stay in Lake Garda ?
It depends on your itinerary and whether you want to change accommodations or stay in the same place throughout your trip. It’s perfectly possible to visit Lake Garda from a single base. In that case, it’s best to choose a village in the center of the lake, such as Salò or Torri del Benaco, which are the most beautiful. If you prefer to stay in the southern part, you’ll find plenty of accommodations between Desenzano and Peschiera del Garda. This is the least expensive area.
Be sure to book well in advance, as accommodations fill up quickly (especially if you’re looking for an apartment with private parking). If you’re traveling without a car, choose a place in the center of a village near a ferry pier.
Here are a few places I recommend for staying in Lake Garda :
- 73 € : Hotel Marolda, a good budget option—this 3-star hotel with pool and private parking is located in the modern part of Sirmione.
- 89 € : Residence Ca Del Lago, a studio for 2 to 5 people with lake or garden views in Torri del Benaco. Outdoor pool and free private park.
- 95 € : La Villa Desenzano, accommodation near the center of Desenzano del Garda with double rooms and private parking.
- 100 € : Hotel Eden Salò, good value for money for this 3-star hotel in the center of Salò with breakfast included and parking (€9).
- 101 € : Appartamenti Anna, located in the historic center of Sirmione, this is a good value for the area for who is looking for where to stay in Lake Garda.
- 107 € : Hotel Del Porto, this 4-star hotel in the heart of Torri del Benaco offers lovely rooms (parking and breakfast extra).
- 123 € : Hotel Catullo, a 3-star hotel in the old town of Sirmione with rooms including breakfast and private parking for road trippers.
- 124 € : Residence Zangirolami, a high-end apartment with a large terrace for a stay in Riva del Garda in the north of the lake.
- 158 € : Appartamento Gasparo da Salò, a large, fully equipped, well-located apartment in Salò with private parking included.
Travel guide and tips for visiting Lake Garda
How to get to Lake Garda ?
The closest airport for visiting Lake Garda is Verona. To find the cheapest flights, I recommend using this flight comparison website. You can then reach Peschiera del Garda in 40 minutes by train from the airport. From there, the ferry system allows you to reach all the villages.
However, to get around more easily and save time, I recommend using a car, especially if you plan to tour all the Italian lakes or venture away from tourist towns. If you’re not arriving with your own vehicle, you’ll find the best car rental prices on this comparison site.
Best time to visit Lake Garda
More than other Italian lakes, Lake Garda is a very popular summer beach destination. Austrians and Germans, who live nearby, come in large numbers to this part of Italy. If you want to avoid the frustration of searching for parking or driving on narrow roads, you should absolutely avoid July and August. At that time, everything is packed, and it’s not pleasant at all.
Unlike Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, there are no gardens to visit, so you don’t need to target spring to see flower beds. June and September are the best months to visit Lake Garda. The weather is still sunny, and you can swim.
How to get around by boat ?
Boats and ferries make it easy to get around Lake Garda. Piers are located in the centers of villages, making this a good option to avoid parking hassles. You’ll find all information, timetables and routes on the Navigazione Laghi website. Don’t underestimate crossing times, the lake is very large. It takes between 3 and 5 hours, depending on the route, to go from the south (Desenzano) to the north (Riva). I recommend using the boat to stay in the southern part of the lake or to reach a village on the opposite shore.
The car ferry (traghetto) allows you to cross the lake with your vehicle and save a lot of time. There are only two routes : Torri del Benaco to Maderno and Malcesine to Limone sul Garda. Plan to arrive a bit early (30 minutes), as the ferry was full of cars during our september stay.
How many days in Lake Garda ?
To do the full loop, you need at least 3 days to visit Lake Garda. The villages aren’t very large, and there’s often little to see (except in Sirmione), but travel times add up. And it would be a shame to rush when you can enjoy the lovely lakeside terraces for a break.
If you only have 2 days to visit Lake Garda, I recommend staying in the south. It’s the most beautiful part and where there’s the most to do. In the north, among the villages we couldn’t visit due to lack of time, Malcesine and Limone sul Garda are worth a stop.
What are the most beautiful villages in Lake Garda ?
We couldn’t stop everywhere, but we did complete the full loop of Lake Garda. To avoid spending all your time in transit, there’s no point in trying to see every village. It’s better to select the ones that interest you most to fully enjoy the Italian dolce vita. Here’s my ranking of the most beautiful villages to visit on Lake Garda :
- Torri del Benaco
- Sirmione
- Riva del Garda
- Salò
- Desenzano del Garda
- Gardone Riviera
You now have all the information for the best things to do in Lake Garda in Italy. If you have questions, please ask them in the blog comments rather than by email—it will benefit all travelers 🙂