22 Best Things to Do at Lake Garda: Top Attractions & Highlights

The most important Lake Garda attractions on a map

For a quick overview, here are the most important highlights and things to do around Lake Garda on the map.

Beautiful towns on Lake Garda

Riva del Garda: Old Town, Tower, Fort, and Hiking Trails

Around Riva, the mountains rise steeply and offer plenty of hiking trails and great cycling routes. Down by the lake there’s always wind, which is why you’ll find lots of surfers, kiters, and sailors here.

But you don’t have to be a super-athlete to have fun in the northern part of the lake. There’s plenty to see and do.

In the old town of Riva del Garda, you can wander through the alleyways at your leisure. For a small admission fee, you can climb the Torre Apponale on Piazza III Novembre and enjoy the view over the old town and Lake Garda.

On this piazza you’ll also find a few restaurants right on the waterfront — they’re very touristy, but you’re sitting in a wonderfully picturesque spot right on the lake. I can really recommend the pizza at Ristorante Bellavista!

To the east, you can walk three kilometers to the old bunker Forte Garda. The last stretch of the path is pretty steep, but you’ll be rewarded with a seriously stunning view. Wear sturdy shoes — on the final ascent, flip-flops on the gravel are way too slippery.

Our hotel pick in Riva del Garda: Holiday IV Gardan

Hiking, Cycling, and Climbing from Riva del Garda

There’s a great cycling and hiking path in the other direction from Piazza III Novembre. It’s called “Sentiero del Ponale” and is beautifully developed. You can cycle or hike for miles along the cliffs right by the lake.

The trail does go up and down a bit here and there, but it’s still suitable for beginners. It’s about three kilometers to the Cascata del Ponale waterfall.

Tip for a day trip: Hop on the ferry at Piazza III Novembre and ride across the lake to Malcesine.

For climbers — or those who want to give it a try — a detour to Monte Colodri is also worthwhile. There you can climb to the summit via an easy via ferrata.

Also not far from Riva del Garda, a trip to the Cima Capi via ferrata is totally worth it. During your climb, you’ll enjoy a stunning view of Lake Garda.

A head for heights is naturally required. The climbing route is also perfectly doable for beginners as part of a guided tour.

Guided tour on the Cima Capi via ferrata

Malcesine: Castle and Historic Town Center

The town of Malcesine sits on the eastern shore of Lake Garda and you can reach it by ferry from many docking points on the lake. Despite the many tourists who visit every day, Malcesine is truly one of the top picks on the lake. You can wander through the alleyways, go shopping, or treat yourself to an Italian lunch.

On a rock on the shore stands Malcesine’s Castello Scaligero, which originally dates back to the 6th century. Over the years, the castle was almost completely destroyed, then rebuilt and expanded. As a result, you’ll find architectural elements from very different eras as you explore it.

Inside the castle there’s also a small natural history museum. It’s especially fascinating for children, as the various rooms engage all the different senses.

Our hotel pick in Malcesine: Hotel Castello Lake Front

Lazise: Historic Old Town with City Walls

About 30 kilometers south of Malcesine, where the land around Lake Garda is already flat, you’ll find the car-free historic old town of Lazise. Three gates in the city wall lead you to the small, winding alleyways.

In the harbor, at Piazza Vittorio Emanuele, you can stroll around and enjoy some gelato. The adjacent promenade hosts a weekly market on Wednesdays. It’s become very geared toward tourists, cyclists, and dog owners, but it’s still fun to browse the stalls.

Unfortunately, you can’t visit the Scaliger Castle at the southern city wall — it’s privately owned.

Lazise is quite small, but there are still some lovely places to stay.

Our hotel pick in Lazise: Hotel Smeraldo

Sirmione

Even though Sirmione is virtually overrun by tourists in summer, it’s an absolute must on any Lake Garda trip.

There are several highlights in Sirmione that are well worth your time.

Castello di Sirmione

The Scaliger Castle, an ancient fortress that once protected Sirmione from attackers, greets visitors on the way into the old town. The Castello di Sirmione is seriously impressive even from the outside, but I’d really recommend seeing it from the inside too. From the towers you get a great view of the lake and the surrounding area.

Grotte di Catullo

At one of the most beautiful spots on Lake Garda — at the very tip of the Sirmione peninsula — stand the ruins of an ancient Roman villa. The grounds are huge and quite imposing. In the building among the olive trees, you’ll also find a museum displaying the ancient artifacts discovered here.

At the entrance, you’ll almost certainly encounter a line in the summer months. Don’t let that put you off — it moves along quite quickly, and the crowds spread out nicely inside.

Jamaica Beach

Around the Grotte di Catullo you’ll find Jamaica Beach. You’ll look in vain for sand, but thanks to the natural limestone slabs lying in the water, it shimmers in the most beautiful shades of turquoise. The slabs are sometimes just a few centimeters below the surface and are perfect for sitting in the sun in the water in a totally relaxed way.

The most beautiful sections are at the northwestern tip of the peninsula. You can also swim on the eastern side next to the Grotte di Catullo, which is actually said to be very healthy since the water there has a high sulfur content. That also comes with the classic sulfur smell, though.

Our tip: If you’re at Lake Garda in summer and it’s at all possible, visit the old town of Sirmione early in the morning or very late in the afternoon. Between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM, the alleyways are truly completely packed. It’s a bit quieter in spring and fall, but you’ll still have to share Sirmione with plenty of other visitors.

You can of course also spend the night in Sirmione. Late in the evening, once the day-trippers have gone, there’s something almost magical about the atmosphere around the beautifully lit castle.

Our hotel pick in Sirmione: Villa Pioppi Hotel

Limone sul Garda: Terraces & Lemon Trees

The terraced village of Limone sul Garda sits on the eastern shore of the lake, wedged between steep rock faces and the waterfront.

The flower-lined alleyways are wonderful for a leisurely stroll, and the lemon gardens above the village offer a gorgeous view of the lake.

Limone is also the starting point of a scenic bike path leading to Riva del Garda, just two kilometers away.

Peschiera del Garda: The Largest Town on Lake Garda

Peschiera is located in the southeastern part of Lake Garda and is the only town on the lakeshore connected by high-speed train.

Peschiera is larger than the other towns on Lake Garda, and its lively old town sits within a large fortress surrounded by water.

Peschiera is a great base for visiting Verona and Venice without needing a car.

Special Places on Lake Garda

Gardone Riviera: Vittoriale degli Italiani

The grand Grand Hotel Gardone has been welcoming guests on the flower-lined western shore of the lake since 1885. Today, though, it’s no longer just the rich, the powerful, or the artists who spend their time in Gardone.

Besides the small promenade in front of the Grand Hotel, the main reason to visit Gardone is the Vittoriale degli Italiani. At the beginning of the 20th century, the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio created a bombastic complex here with a theater, a mausoleum, and his villa.

Around the villa, you can wander through the nine-hectare garden grounds. The best view is from the mausoleum!

Admission to the park costs 10 euros; for the entire complex you pay 16 euros.

My tip: Also make a detour to the Giardino Botanico – Fondazione Heller. This park is far from being a typical botanical garden. You’ll find some seriously wild sculptures and other artworks by André Heller.

Strada di Forra: Panoramic Road on the Western Shore

The Strada della Forra is a world-famous mountain road that winds via spectacular switchbacks from the western shore of Lake Garda up to the village of Pieve di Tremosine, perched over 400 meters above.

It also passes through the impressive Brasa Gorge, surrounded by steep rock faces, and offers stunning views throughout.

The panoramic road is frequently used as a filming location for commercials and movies.

Pilgrimage Church Madonna della Corona: Between Cliff and Abyss

The pilgrimage church is famous above all for its breathtaking location: it perches against a steep rock face of Monte Baldo, while the other side drops straight down into the void.

The church sits at around 770 meters above sea level and, due to its narrow access road, can only be reached on foot or by shuttle bus.

Cascata Varone

The Cascata Varone is an impressive waterfall located just about three kilometers north of Riva del Garda. The waterfall flows and tumbles straight through the mountain.

There’s an excellent, well-developed loop trail through the mountain and the park around the waterfall. The trail is also great for children.

My tip: Because the waterfall makes everything pretty wet, be sure to wear sturdy shoes and pack your camera in a waterproof bag.

Right at the entrance to the Parco Grotta Cascata Varone there’s a small, free parking lot for visitors. During peak season, this lot is unfortunately often full. You can always use the also-free Parcheggio Cascata Varone, just a few meters further away.

Admission to the waterfall costs 6 euros.

How to get to the Varone Waterfall:

Technically, you can walk from Riva to the Cascata Varone on foot, but the route is comparatively unremarkable. I’d recommend taking the car or bus 211 to Varone.

Borgo Medievale di Canale

Borgo Medievale di Canale is a wonderfully beautiful medieval village that you absolutely must visit if you’re in the area.

Take a stroll through the centuries-old alleyways and stop into the artists’ house, Casa degli Artisti. Admission is free, but a donation is always appreciated.

The restaurant Locanda del Borgo is a perfect spot for a break — whether that’s a delicious sandwich, a cheese board, or a rustic plate of meat and beans.

How to get to Canale:

You can easily reach Canale by car or bus 211. But if you’re in the mood for a hike, you can take a nearly eight-kilometer, very beautiful trail from Varone to Canale.

Lago di Tenno

Lago di Tenno is a brilliantly green mountain lake that’s especially well suited for a day trip in midsummer. At 570 meters above sea level, it’s usually a few degrees cooler in July and August than down at Lake Garda.

In spring and fall it can already be too cold for swimming, but then you can take a lovely walk around the picturesque lake. A full loop is just under two kilometers.

How to get to Lago di Tenno:

You can easily reach the lake from Riva by car, bus 211, or even on foot.

You can also walk to the lake from the Varone Waterfall. From the parking lot in Varone, simply head up the main road away from the waterfall. After about 200 meters, you’ll see some stone steps on the left side and a trail marked with a sign reading Sentiero di gola Tenno. That’s the start of the roughly eight-kilometer hiking trail — from there you can follow the signs.

If you’d prefer just a short hike, you could drive to the Borgo Medievale di Canale and start from there to Lake Tenno.

That’s only about three kilometers round trip. The path is unfortunately not all that easy to find — your best bet is to ask at the artists’ house, as the trail starts very close by.

Brasa Gorge and Tremosine

If you’re traveling by car or motorcycle along the western shore, you should definitely turn onto Via Benaco SP38 between Limone and Campione del Garda. Just stay on that road — it’ll take you through the incredibly stunning Brasa Gorge.

At one of the switchbacks that winds through the gorge, there’s a restaurant. We’ve never eaten there and can’t say anything about the food itself, but we’ve parked here a few times. That’s because the waterfall is just a few meters away from this parking lot. Simply follow the path behind the wooden bridge to the right of the restaurant.

Wear sturdy shoes that can get wet, and be careful where you step and what you climb on. The waterfall isn’t set up for tourists — you’re simply out in nature here.

Afterward, just continue on the SP38 and you’ll automatically arrive in Pieve di Tremosine. In this village perched high above Lake Garda, you’ll find the Hotel and Restaurant Miralago — only go for a meal here if you don’t have a fear of heights. Right below the restaurant windows, it drops 400 meters straight down to the lake.

Rocca di Garda & Eremo di San Giorgio – The End of the Alps

It takes about 45 minutes from the lakeshore in Garda to reach the Rocca di Garda. Once you arrive at the plateau, you’ll have a fantastic panorama of the entire lake and you’re literally standing at the edge of the Alps. To the north you can see the mountains surrounding Lake Garda; to the south you look out over the flat land toward Bardolino.

The ascent is no stroll, though — it’s quite steep and absolutely not suited for flip-flops. Getting up by bike is very strenuous; I’d recommend going on foot.

If you’d like to hike a bit further, just follow the trail to the Monastery of San Giorgio. That’s about another half hour — first downhill, then back up.

After that, head back toward the lake — beyond the monastery, the trail eventually goes on forever and there’s no more public transportation.

The best place to start your hike is at the Church of Santa Maria Assunta in Garda. Head down the street to the left of the church, where the hiking trail A – Rocca Vecchia begins. Simply follow the signs toward Rocca to the viewpoint, then continue toward Eremo dei Camoldolesi to the monastery.

My tip: If all of that still isn’t enough hiking for you, you can also walk from Garda along the lakeshore on the nearly 11-kilometer Passeggiata Rivalunga all the way to Bardolino. This path runs directly along the lakeshore and involves no elevation gain at all.

Historic Sights

Desenzano del Garda: The Roman Villa

Desenzano is just a little bit quieter than Sirmione. A stop here is especially worthwhile if you’re interested in history or archaeology.

Roman Villa Archaeological Site

The Villa Romana archaeological site isn’t particularly large, but it’s truly beautiful and quite fascinating. Walking among the well-preserved mosaics created around 100 BC is pretty impressive.

In Desenzano you can also take a boat tour. With a glass of Prosecco, you’ll cruise along the Lake Garda shoreline at sunset on a motorboat. Departure is from the small harbor in Desenzano.

Castello di Desenzano del Garda

Not far away stands the Castello di Desenzano del Garda, waiting for you to climb its towers. There isn’t much else to do inside the castello, though. If you’ve already visited the castle in Malcesine or in Sirmione, you won’t see much that’s new here.

Rocca di Lonato

In Lonato del Garda, just five kilometers from Desenzano, you’ll find another historic fortress that is far less crowded than the castles right on the lake. From the Rocca di Lonato fortress, you have a great view of the surrounding area all the way to Lake Garda.

In summer, festivals take place here from time to time, so don’t be surprised if you suddenly come across a medieval maiden or some jugglers.

Inside the fortress there’s also a museum housed in a 15th-century building. The displayed artworks hang in rooms that in some cases look as though nothing has been changed in them since 1490.

Salò: Duomo di Santa Maria Annunziata and Isola del Garda

If you have the chance, try to visit Salò in the evening after sunset. The little town sits in a narrow bay, and in the evening with all the lights reflecting around the shore, it looks truly stunning. Treat yourself to a glass of wine with a view at one of the many bars, or take a romantic stroll along the nearly two-kilometer promenade.

In Salò you’ll also find the most beautiful cathedral on Lake Garda: the Duomo di Santa Maria Annunziata. From the outside the cathedral looks rather unassuming, but inside it’s simply magnificent. It’s worth stepping inside — admission is free.

The piazza right in front of the Duomo is a perfect spot for a gelato break.

Just offshore from the bay of Salò lies the small private island of Isola del Garda. There is only one building on this island, but it’s quite something. The neo-Gothic Venetian villa looks incredibly impressive even from the water.

The owners of the island live in this villa and only welcome guests as part of a guided tour. These tours depart from various points around Lake Garda by boat, which takes you directly to the island.

Tour information

Special Experiences

Cable Car Ride up Monte Baldo

In Malcesine, you can take the cable car up to Monte Baldo. You won’t get any higher on Lake Garda — at 1,750 meters, the mountain summit is the highest point around the lake.

In winter, Monte Baldo is a ski resort. In summer, hikers, cyclists, and mountain bikers flock here.

Of course, you can also hike up Monte Baldo and take the cable car back down, or the other way around. It’s entirely up to you — the cable car segments are also bookable individually.

A one-way ride to the mid-station costs 6 euros, round trip 10 euros. To the summit it costs 15 euros, round trip 22 euros.

Note: From April to October, you should buy your cable car ticket in advance online. Demand is very high during this period and buying ahead will save you a lot of time. Even with an online ticket, however, you should expect waiting times of around an hour — unless you purchase a more expensive ticket with a fixed departure time.

At the top there are a few huts for a snack or lunch. Mountain-top restaurants are naturally quite pricey, since every tomato and every apple juice has to be brought all the way up. So don’t expect bargain prices.

My tip: Bring a jacket even in midsummer — the wind on the mountain can be really cold.

Boat Trip on Lake Garda

What could be better on a lake than a boat tour? Exactly! There’s no shortage of providers offering boat trips on Lake Garda.

We can recommend the following boat tours:

• Short boat trip (1.5 hrs)
• Half-day tour (4 hrs)
• Private sunset boat trip to Isola del Garda

Canyoning in the Brasa Gorge

The Brasa Gorge is home to a small adventure that’s especially great for families. The only requirement: everyone must be able to swim.

In the gorge, you can try canyoning for the first time on a guided tour designed for beginners. Canyoning means navigating a gorge in various ways — rappelling, climbing, jumping, sliding, and swimming. Guaranteed to be anything but boring!

Book the family-friendly canyoning tour

Wine Tasting in Bardolino

During the 1.5-hour tour of a winery in Bardolino, you’ll learn more about winemaking and of course get to taste the delicious wines in depth.

There’s also plenty of information about the wine-growing regions and viticulture in northern Italy. If you enjoy red wine and want to do something a little different from the classic sightseeing tour, I can highly recommend the wine tasting.

Book the wine tour and tasting

Amusement Parks on Lake Garda

There are several amusement parks around Lake Garda for families.

Busatte Adventure Park

The Busatte Adventure Park above Torbole is very well suited for children. General park admission is free. Costs only apply if you want to tackle the five different climbing courses.

The courses are available at various difficulty levels, so there’s something suitable for every age group. Trained staff are on hand at each course to brief the big and little climbers. Safety harnesses and helmets are provided as well.

The park has great spots for a picnic. You can either bring your own food or stock up on snacks and drinks at the park entrance.

Caneva Aquapark

A trip to a water park is always a great idea, especially in the peak of summer.

Caneva Aquapark, located a bit south of Lazise on the eastern side of Lake Garda, isn’t the biggest water park out there, but it’s pretty cool with its Caribbean vibe. And there are definitely enough slides and other attractions to make for a really fun day.

Adults pay 26 euros; children over one meter tall pay 20 euros.

My tip: Right next door is the Caneva Moviepark. If you want to visit both the aquapark and the Moviepark, there are discounted combo tickets available for 35 euros.

Caneva Moviepark

At the Moviepark, you can expect roller coasters, water rides, film sets, and stunt shows. Don’t be startled if Chewbacca suddenly crosses your path on the Hollywood Boulevard or you find yourself in the middle of a staged shootout.

Admission prices are the same as at Caneva Aquapark.

You can easily visit both Caneva parks in one day. I’d recommend doing the Moviepark in the morning and then diving into the cool water at the Aquapark in the afternoon.

In August, the Moviepark is open until 11 PM, in which case you’d be better off doing it the other way around. That way you can spend the evening enjoying the exciting shows at the Moviepark.

Gardaland

The largest and most well-known amusement park around Lake Garda is Gardaland — and in fact, it’s the most famous amusement park in Italy. You’ll have an enormous selection of roller coasters, carousels, and themed worlds for all ages.

During the summer vacation period, the park is unfortunately always so packed that wait times for rides can reach up to two hours.

On-site admission to Gardaland costs 41 euros.

Day Trips from Lake Garda

From Lake Garda, you can reach many other highlights in Italy. You can either do a day trip or combine your stay at Lake Garda with a few days in one of these destinations.

Verona

Verona is not far from Lake Garda. From Bardolino it’s only 30 kilometers, from Riva about 85 kilometers.

The city isn’t very large, and you can easily discover the most important highlights in Verona — such as the Arena or the balcony of Romeo and Juliet — in a single day.

There’s a day trip from Lake Garda that even includes a guided city tour of Verona in the price. You’ll have about five hours in total to explore Verona on this tour. Of course, you can also easily spend the night there, for example in a beautiful boutique hotel in Verona.

Venice

Venice is always very busy, no matter the time of year. So you can always count on tourist crowds here. But there’s a reason for that: Venice is simply incredibly worth seeing.

We believe that everyone should stand on the Rialto Bridge and Piazza San Marco at least once in their life — or treat themselves to an outrageously expensive espresso there.

If you want to make a side trip from Lake Garda to Venice, about 200 kilometers away, plan a full day for it. That’s enough time to cover the most important sights in Venice.

The bus tour to Venice, offered from Lake Garda, already includes a boat ride through the lagoon city and a guided city tour.

South Tyrol

If you want to combine Lake Garda with a trip into the mountains, spend a day in South Tyrol. Or even better: one week at Lake Garda and then one week in South Tyrol. Or the other way around.

Milan

Milan is also not that far from Lake Garda. From Sirmione it’s just 130 kilometers, from Riva about 180 kilometers.

For a trip to the cathedral, the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, or even shopping in the fashion capital, Milan is truly ideal.

General Tips for Visiting Lake Garda

Before we dive into the best things to do at Lake Garda, here are a few quick general tips.

Choosing the Right Area to Stay

The areas around Lake Garda are very different from one another, with each town having its own distinct character. Some towns are particularly well suited for surfing, while others are where families feel most at home.

Pay close attention to this when booking your accommodation, because a vacation on Lake Garda is much more enjoyable when you find the right area for you. You can find more details in our in-depth article on the topic:

Hotel tips around Lake Garda

Getting Around Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a classic destination for a vacation by car or motorcycle. This gives you the flexibility to explore the entire lake.

That said, you can also explore Lake Garda without your own vehicle, as there are very good bus connections around the lake. Many towns can also be reached by ferry.

Dressing for Lake Garda

If you’re going on excursions or hikes in the mountains, always bring something to layer up with. Even if it’s 95°F on the lakeshore in July, it can be much cooler in the mountains.

Sturdy shoes are a must for mountain excursions in general. They certainly don’t need to be hiking boots for a stroll through a town, but a pair of light sneakers is definitely better suited than flip-flops.