In a nutshell
- Lake Garda is quite large — and where to stay at Lake Garda really depends on what you want to do. Whether you’re after beaches, sports, or sightseeing, a different area will suit you best.
- The north lies at the foothills of the Alps and is perfect for surfing, cycling, and climbing. Especially beautiful: Riva del Garda. Our top pick: Maso Tobel — a converted farmhouse with stunning views and a seriously delicious breakfast.
- The southeast is pleasantly warm and great for a beach vacation with a few day trips. Especially beautiful: Lazise. Our top pick: Le Greghe Suites — a small hotel with Italian charm and a pool.
- In the far south you’ll find green vineyards and long beaches — perfect for relaxing. Especially beautiful: Sirmione. Our top pick: San Lorenzo Apartments — modern apartments right in the middle of the Sirmione peninsula.
- The less touristy west coast is ideal for hiking, kitesurfing, and mountain biking — with incredible lake views from high plateaus. Especially beautiful: Tignale. Our top pick: Hotel Gallo — great views of the lake with multiple pools.
General Tips for Staying at Lake Garda
Before I get into the best places to stay, here are a few things to keep in mind when searching for accommodation.
Prices
Hotel room prices around Lake Garda are highly seasonal. In July and August, they can be twice as high as in October, for example.
That said, even during peak season you can still find deals under 100 euros per night for a double room — but you’ll need to book really early. If you’re heading to Lake Garda in July or August, try to lock in your accommodation as early as October or November of the previous year.
Outside of peak summer, you can book much closer to your travel dates. But as always, the earlier you book, the better the price you’ll get.
Between 100 and 200 euros per night, you’ll find a huge range of options. If you prefer something a little more luxurious, you’ll definitely find what you’re looking for starting at 200 euros.
How to Stay at Lake Garda?
There are many different ways to stay at Lake Garda. Here’s a quick overview of what each type of accommodation has to offer, so you know what to expect.
Hotels at Lake Garda
The classic hotel is of course found every few steps around Lake Garda. Most hotels include at least breakfast, and half-board is often available too. All-inclusive hotels are very rare and, honestly, unnecessary at Lake Garda. There are so many great restaurants you simply have to try!
Vacation Rentals and Apartments at Lake Garda
Vacation rentals with self-catering are usually cheaper than hotels. For longer stays of four or five days or more, they’re a great option — especially if you’re traveling with a group or with kids.
At Lake Garda, you’ll find vacation rentals in private homes as well as in apartment complexes, which sometimes have a pool or even offer breakfast.
An Agriturismo at Lake Garda
Agriturismo roughly translates to farm vacation. In Italy, that doesn’t mean you’re sleeping in a barn among cows and sheep — it simply means your host isn’t just a hotelier but also runs a winery or something similar. Most agriturismi offer either vacation rentals, rooms, or campsites and are often cheaper than hotels. There’s usually a pool and a restaurant that cooks with ingredients from the property.
Here are some beautiful agriturismi around Lake Garda, all with pools:
Camping at Lake Garda
Modern tourism as we know it was born on campsites in northern Italy. Accordingly, there is of course a huge selection of campsites at Lake Garda. Many of the larger sites are a little world unto themselves, equipped with everything a camper could need.
Where to Stay at Lake Garda?
The towns around Lake Garda each have their own distinct advantages and disadvantages. To help you quickly see whether an area suits you and your plans, I’ll start each location overview with what it’s best suited for.
There’s a wide selection of day trips around Lake Garda. These tours don’t depart from every single town around the lake, of course — I’ve specifically noted which towns are great for day trips.
By the way: you can find out which excursions are especially worth it and what there is to see in my article about the highlights at Lake Garda.
The Sporty North: Riva del Garda, Arco, and Torbole
The northern tip of Lake Garda lies at the foothills of the Alps. The partly steep rocky cliffs rising up around the lake create a seriously dramatic setting.
The north is almost entirely dominated by sports enthusiasts. Each town has its own sporting specialty. The reliable winds are a dream for surfers, and the mountains are ideal for cyclists and climbers.
That said, you don’t have to cycle, climb, or surf to have a great vacation in the northern part of the lake. The area is also really well suited for families with kids or travelers with dogs.
Riva del Garda
Great for: day trips, surfing, sailing, cycling, families with kids, dogs
Riva del Garda charms with a lovely old town right on the lakeshore. The narrow alleyways are full of shops and restaurants, perfect for wandering around at a leisurely pace for hours.
Our tip: At Salsamenteria Capolini on Via Florida, you won’t find pizza — but you will find incredibly good and authentic Italian food.
Right next to the small harbor, where various ferries depart to the surrounding area, you’ll also find a pebble beach where you can swim and sunbathe.
Riva is a great base for day trips to the surrounding area, whether by car, bike, or ferry, and for various guided tours.
Our Hotel Picks for Riva del Garda
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Arco
Great for: climbing
Arco has only a tiny stretch of about 500 meters of Lake Garda shoreline — presumably just so it can say it sits directly on the lake.
The actual town of Arco, with its historic center, lies behind Riva when viewed from the lake. The town is all about climbing. Right next to Arco’s old quarter, Italy’s most famous climbing rock rises into the sky.
Experienced climbers can simply show up and start climbing. For beginners, there are plenty of providers offering taster sessions and full beginner courses.
Arco can also be appealing for non-climbers, as it’s considerably quieter than Riva or Torbole. If you don’t need the lake right on your doorstep and prefer a bit less hustle and bustle, Arco is a great choice.
Our Hotel Picks in Arco
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Torbole
Great for: surfing, sailing, cycling, day trips, families
In Torbole you’ll find the most surf schools, and hundreds of cyclists fill the many cafés every day. If you want to surf — or you and the kids want to learn — Torbole is exactly the right place.
Our Hotel Picks in Torbole
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
The Jewel of Lake Garda: Malcesine
Great for: sightseeing, day trips, hiking, arriving without your own vehicle
In Malcesine you’ll find a beautiful old town, an impressive castle with the best views, and incredible crowds of tourists.
Because Malcesine is one of the most popular destinations on Lake Garda, room prices here are really steep in summer. Staying in Malcesine does have the advantage that in the evening, once the day-trippers have left, you can explore the historic town at a more relaxed pace.
Malcesine is also the starting point for the cable car up to Monte Baldo, making the area great for hiking.
Heads up: Parking in Malcesine is extremely expensive. Prices around 30 euros per day are not uncommon. At the northern end of town, right on the lakeshore along the main road, you’ll find the cheapest parking in town — but you should still expect to pay around 20 euros for 24 hours.
For arriving without your own car, Malcesine is super well suited, as it’s easy to reach by public transportation. You can start many excursions directly from Malcesine or explore all of Lake Garda by ferry.
Our Hotel Picks in Malcesine
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Our Insider Tip Off the Beaten Path: Castelletto
Great for: camping, sailing, kite surfing
The small village of Castelletto is usually just driven through by visitors. You shouldn’t do that, though — this little town right on the lake is my absolute favorite place to stay off the beaten path.
Even in peak season, Castelletto fills up, but everything moves at a much more relaxed pace than in the larger towns. In the small harbor, where mostly sailboats dock, you’ll find many great cafés and restaurants.
Without a vehicle, though, you’ll be pretty stuck in Castelletto. So only look for accommodation here if you’re arriving by car, motorcycle, or at least by bike.
Our Hotel Picks in Castelletto
If you want the best campsite at Lake Garda, your search ends here. The top pick by far, in my opinion, is the Agricampeggio Paradiso.
With a tent, trailer, RV, or car, you can make yourself at home in the shade of the olive trees. Power hookups are available at every pitch, but pack an extension cord or even a cable reel — it’ll give you more flexibility when setting up your spot.
The absolute highlight is the pool! Because the small property sits slightly above the village, you have a seriously stunning view of Lake Garda from the pool — especially at sunset!
Our tip: When booking, ask for a quiet spot away from the road. At the roadside pitches, only a stone wall separates you from the traffic rushing past just 3 meters away. Especially at night in a tent, that can be too loud.
The Sunny Southeast: Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, and Lazise
When the mountains around Lake Garda slowly disappear and the land flattens out, you’ll immediately notice it’s a few degrees warmer.
In spring and late fall that’s a definite plus, but in peak summer it can get really hot. Depending on whether you’re planning more of a sightseeing trip or a beach vacation, one or the other will suit you better.
That means this area is great for:
- Sightseeing and day trips in March, April, and May, as well as for a vacation in September and October
- A beach vacation with one or two day trips in June, July, and August
Of course you can still swim in October, but the serious sunbathing season is over by then. For a day trip to Verona, just 30 minutes away, the temperatures are ideal, though.
The most beautiful towns in this area are Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, and Lazise.
Torri del Benaco is a great choice for a beach vacation for two.
Bardolino and Lazise work well for that too, but they also have more to offer for kids. On the southern edge of Lazise, a water park, a movie park, and the Gardaland amusement park await younger visitors.
All the Way South: Sirmione
Great for: day trips, couples
By the narrowest of margins over Riva, Malcesine, or Limone, Sirmione claims the title of Lake Garda’s tourist epicenter. You definitely won’t have the beautiful old town to yourself.
And there’s a good reason for that: the narrow peninsula with its imposing Scaliger Castle juts about 4 kilometers into the lake in truly picturesque fashion.
Lake Garda hotels in Sirmione are available in every price range.
Our Hotel Picks in Sirmione
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Gardesana Occidentale: The West Coast
A quick explanation: the road that runs around Lake Garda is called the Gardesana. The eastern shore is known as the Gardesana Orientale, because orient means east. Its counterpart is of course the western shore, with the Gardesana Occidentale.
The west coast is a bit quieter than the tourist hotspots in the north and south of the lake. In return, you’ll find some wonderful hotels on the plateaus with spectacular panoramas over Lake Garda.
This area only really makes sense if you have a car, motorcycle, or at least a bike with you. The small towns are very difficult to reach by public transportation.
You won’t find a buzzing nightlife on the west coast. On the other hand, you’ll have some of the best starting points for hiking right on your doorstep, and water sports enthusiasts will be thoroughly satisfied down at the lake.
The Village on the Mountain: Tignale
Great for: hiking, mountain biking
A little off the main tourist trail, you’ll find the municipality of Tignale on the plateau between Limone and Gargnano. The lake isn’t reachable on foot from up here, but the views of it are all the better for it.
High up in the small village of Gardola, the pace of life is noticeably more relaxed. You’ll find fairly affordable hotels and some great restaurants with excellent food and sometimes lake views too.
Our tip: The best pizza I ever had at Lake Garda is served right in the middle of Gardola at Pizzeria Al Torchio.
Our Hotel Picks in Tignale
Good and affordable
Better
Luxurious
Sport, Sport, Sport: Campione del Garda
Great for: kite surfing, mountain biking
You want to do nothing but kite from sunrise to sunset? Then Campione del Garda is the place for you. At most, a few bikers mix in with the kite surfers here. Most other Lake Garda visitors drive right past Campione del Garda without even noticing the little town.
To be fair, there isn’t much to see beyond the fact that it offers the absolute best conditions for kiting. The tiny town itself is tucked between the lake and a massive rock face, which looks genuinely impressive.
Since the Super Strada runs on the other side of the rock, hardly anyone ends up in Campione unless they’re specifically looking for it.
Our Hotel Picks in Campione del Garda
Not for the Faint of Heart: Tremosine
Great for: hiking, mountain biking
Tremosine is another excellent base for hiking and mountain biking. Up on the plateau, you’re treated to stunning lake views at every turn.
The absolute number-one hotel in the small village of Pieve di Tremosine is the Miralago. Not because it’s a five-star property (it has three stars), but because from the dining room you look straight down 400 meters to the lake below.
Our Hotel Picks in Tremosine
Good and affordable
Better
The Lemon Village of Limone
Great for: day trips, families
Even though Limone is practically overrun by tourists in summer, it remains simply a beautiful little spot. When the day-trippers leave the lemon village in the late afternoon, things quiet down a little.
