Lake Garda holidays

Things to do

Visit ancient Garda and Malcesine's 13th century castle, where a cable car scales Monte Baldo, offering spectacular views. Get swept up with the emotion at an opera in Verona. For action-packed days, enjoy watersports or explore the rolling landscape, cycling past vineyards, lemon trees and olive groves. Head to Gardaland, Italy's biggest theme park, drive through the Dolomite mountains or relax at Parco Termale del Garda's thermal spa. Sail to waterfront villages, to wander picturesque lanes and sun-baked promenades, before sailing back beneath romantic starry skies.

Explore your destination

Here's a little taste of what's on offer: for more excursion ideas, speak to your Rep.

Venice by day or night
Take a guided tour round this incredibly romantic city, with free time to visit St Mark's Cathedral, climb up the bell tower in St Mark's Square or take a gondola ride along Venice's famous canals.

Arena di Verona
You can enjoy extravagant performances of Aida, Carmen and other well-known operas in this unforgettable setting, during high season. You'll join thousands of spectators holding candles in Verona's Roman amphitheatre as the sun goes down and the show begins.

The Dolomites
Close to the Austrian border, these spectacular mountains offer breathtaking views, made famous by The Sound of Music. You can take a cable car ride up to the Sass Pordoi and, at 3,000m above sea-level, you'll feel on top of the world.

Highlights

• Screaming your head off on the rollercoasters at Gardaland, one of Europe's biggest and best theme parks, for a fun-packed day out on your holiday in Lake Garda
• Looking out across the lake from the tower of the 13th century Malcesine Castle, and exploring its museum
• Scaling the heights of Monte Baldo on the cable car from Malcesine, taking in spectacular views of Lake Garda
• Making a splash with Lake Garda's excellent watersports; this is one of Europe's best windsurfing destinations
• Getting swept up with the emotion of an opera in the amazing setting of Verona's Roman amphitheatre
• Hitting the shops in Riva del Garda, with its designer boutiques
• Hiring a bicycle in Lazise and exploring the rolling landscape, peddling past acres of vineyards, lemon trees and olive groves
• Sailing to waterfront villages, to wander picturesque lanes and sun-baked promenades before sailing back beneath romantic starry skies
• Sharing magical moments on a day trip to the romantic city of Venice where you can drink coffee in the Piazza San Marco or recline in a gondola as you're guided along the famous waterways
• Relaxing in the warm waters of Parco Termale del Garda's thermal spa
• Following in the footsteps of the ill-fated lovers Romeo and Juliet on a trip to Verona, the city of their tragic romance
• Tasting Lake Garda's delicious wines, including its most famous Bardolino reds, on local vineyard tours taking you into picturesque countryside

Food and drink

Many dishes are cooked using tasty local produce, such as mushrooms, wine and extra-virgin olive oil, some of Italy's best thanks to Lake Garda's many olive trees. Make sure you try fresh fish caught from the lake, whether you go for mouth-watering trout, carp or sardines.

Lake Garda is a pasta-lover's dream, with spaghetti, linguine, tortellini, and penne cooked al dente in delicious creamy or tomato-based sauces. Thin, crispy pizza is baked in clay ovens, with tasty toppings from seafood to parma ham.

For something different on your holiday in Lake Garda, try Agnello Saporito, a lamb dish, or Pollo Milanese, succulent chicken in breadcrumbs.

Evening Flavour

Lake Garda's villages are the perfect setting for special evenings, with superb dining, chic late-night cafes and beautiful views. For the most romantic way to experience Lake Garda, take an evening cruise and enjoy the scenery under the moonlight.

Soak up the atmosphere at Garda's summertime lakeside concerts, jazz bands and twilight fireworks, or for livelier nightlife, enjoy Bardolino's open-air discos or dance the night away in Riva's clubs.

Shopping

Take home Limoncello lemon liqueur from Limone's tiny piazzas, and explore Garda's labyrinth of cobbled lanes, brimming with stylish boutiques and art galleries. Don't miss Malcesine's craft shops, leather goods and waterfront artists, you'll find big names like Armani in Riva, and you can pick up the famous local wine in Bardolino.

You'll find local markets in Limone, Riva and Garda, selling everything from food to antiques, but if you want to head into real shop 'til you drop territory, make a day of it on a trip to Milan, the fashion capital of the world.

Local weather

Information

Language: Italian. Currency: Euro. Standard GMT: +1hr. Italian Tourist Office: 1 Princess Street, London W1B 2AY. Tel: 020 7408 1254. www.italiantourism.com

Travel money

Euro

You can get commission-free foreign exchange on currency notes and travellers cheques at most First Choice Travel Shops and Holiday Hypermarkets.