Explore Lake Garda

The beautiful towns that surround the incredible Lake Garda have long enchanted visitors from around the world for hundreds of years. The southernmost area of the lake offers low, rolling countryside with many beautiful waterside towns and resorts, whereas the north is characterised by dramatic mountain ranges and dense forestry. Although a contrast in scenery, each area is equally dazzling to the eye.

If you are travelling as a family then Gardaland – near Peschiera – is pretty unavoidable. Ranking as Italy’s largest amusement park, Gardaland has enough roller coasters and other thrill rides to amuse all ages.

But those who are here just to enjoy the scenery usually head straight for the ever-popular town of Sirmione. The stunning beauty of this peninsula attracted wealthy Romans in times gone by – proof of their existence can be found in the immense ruins of the Grotte di Catullo, a huge Roman villa built in the 1st-century AD that still possesses baths and a mysterious crypt. Also worth visiting in the town is the awesome Rocca Saligera castle, which features a beautiful moat and offers astonishing views from its walls across this stretch of Lake Garda. The town also has a lively shopping area which features many boutique shops, a market selling fresh foods (locally produced olive oil is a speciality) and craft shops.

Flanking Sirmione is Desenzano to the west and Peschiera to the east. Both are popular by night thanks to the number of nightclubs and restaurants, but often suffer from traffic congestion during the summer season. However, the spectacularly lit fountains of nearby Lonato offer a great alternative for evening entertainment.

Those interested in wine tasting should make stops at the tiny unspoilt villages found between Desenzano and Sirmione where medieval castles and residences sit majestically by the crystal water. Dusano and Manerba are perfect examples of this – the perfect place to stop for something to eat with views over small marinas.

The southern stretch of Lake Garda ends as you leave these village settlements and begin to head north along the Gulf of Salo (the “Western Riviera”) taking in tourist-friendly towns such as Salo and Gardonne Riviera. Salo is awash with cafes, restaurants and has a beautiful harbour, a compact shopping district and winding backstreets that are particularly good for jewellery shops.

A little further north of Salo is the aforementioned Gardonne Riviera. The town is punctuated by a number of pleasant and high-class hotels which line the waterfront and many visit to stroll along the palm tree-lined promenade and to visit monuments to former residents. The most famous resident of Gardonne is without question the Italian writer, poet and journalist Gabriele d’Annunzio whose decadent estate “The Vittoriale” (The Shrine of Italian Victories) contains paintings depicting former battles and also a mausoleum, making for a fascinating visit.

Moving north of Gardonne, you will find Toscolano-Maderno where you are able to board a car ferry to the eastern shore of Lake Garda -  although doing this would miss some of the truly beautiful towns and scenery found along the rest of the west coast. The lakeside road begins to delve into a series of tunnels as you head towards Limone, which is particularly famous for its olive groves. Limone ranks as one of the most visited towns on Lake Garda, perhaps due to the large souk where vendors vie for the attention of tourists as they try to peddle their goods (a good place to pick up some of Italy’s finest olive oil). The town also boasts a number of wonderful waterside restaurants.

The next port of call if touring the lake clockwise should be Riva del Garda which falls in the Trentino region and lies at the most northerly tip of the lake. This part of Lake Garda actually belonged to Austria between 1797 and 1918 and in that time became a prime spot for the rich and famous of Austrian society to spend their holidays. This can be noted in a lot of the architecture in the town, which is markedly different from the Italian influence found in other parts of the lake.  

Torbole is equally as pretty as you begin to near the beginning of the eastern shore. On clear days you are able to see the entire length of Lake Garda as far as Sirmione and Desenzano to the south. Windsurfing is a popular activity in Torbole, likewise bike riding, climbing and walks into the mountainous areas of Monte Baldo which overlooks the town.

It is these mountains which dominate the eastern shore, rising 2000 metres above Lake Garda, dominating the landscape throughout, creating a picture-perfect setting. Many enjoy taking the cable car ride up to the Punta Telegrafo peak by cable car from Malcesine. As well as this immense cable car ride, you will find narrow cobbled streets and shops throughout Malcesine’s old town which lead down to the lake, with the awesome Scaliger Castle being the crowning treasure of this eye-catching town.

Another terrific castle can be found at Torri del Benaco a little further south as you cross into the Veneto region of the lake towards the town of Bardolino. The town has two of the most celebrated churches on the lake – the San Zeno and San Severo. Both are noted for their exquisite medieval architecture. Wine enthusiasts are well looked after here - head for the hills and the Cantina Zeni where you will find a ‘wine museum’ and opportunities to sample locally produced wines.

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