Holidays to Lake Garda are all about eating good food, drinking good wine and living la dolce vita by the water.
Italy’s largest lake
Lake Garda proves that bigger is better, with every slice of its 90-mile shoreline covered in colourful towns, cute fishing villages, and pretty beaches. As if the lakefront scenery wasn’t enough, the water’s got a seriously Insta-friendly backdrop of mountains in the north and rolling hills to the south. The two ends are so far apart that you can’t see one from the other, so the vibe changes from town to town – though you get that same laidback, Italian attitude wherever you go. Whether you road trip or boat hop your way round the lake, Garda’s the gift that keeps on giving.
Big on history
The lake’s been popular for a hot minute, with the Romans pitching up back in the BC days. Some of their buildings are still standing today, like the grottoes on the Sirmione Peninsula and the ruins in Riva and Maderno – which is also home to Italy’s first paper mill. Skip forward a few thousand years to the 13th century and Scaliger Castle pops up in Malcesine, plus a Medieval cathedral and a Baroque palace in Salò.
Pick your pace
Spend your holiday horizontal or get a sweat on – Lake Garda can do both. Go for a low-key stroll along one of the waterfront proms, hire a bike to see the sights on two wheels or head into the mountains for a hike. And out on the water, you can try everything from paddle-boarding and windsurfing to jet-skiing. The north part of the lake is the windiest, so sail over that way if you really want to dial it up. Picks that don’t cost a penny
Museo Dell'olio D'oliva
The best things in life are free, like this olive oil museum near Bardolino. No Italian dish is done until it’s had a healthy drizzle of this delicacy, so it just makes sense that there’s a museum to teach us about all things olive oil. Find out how it was made then and now, and get a good look at some of the tools and machinery used in the process. And of course, there’s a gift shop at the end where you can buy your own bottle and olive-related merch.
Getting around
Garda might be Italy’s largest lake, but there are plenty of ways to get across the water or round its shoreline.
Ferries and boats
Take the scenic route by sailing round the lake with a hop-on, hop-off ticket. There are regular services throughout the day, so you don’t have to rush, plus you’ll have loads of time between harbours to get those main-character boat pics.
Buses
Each little waterside town is worth visiting, and the buses are a cheap, quick and reliable way to get from A to B. Just remember – you’re in Italy, so there might be a break between services while the drivers do their long lunching.
Cycling
Nothing beats feeling that warm breeze with some sightseeing in the saddle, so skip the public transport and peddle your way round the lake. It’s geared up for cyclists with rental shops and plenty of cycle paths.
Car hire
Getting your own set of wheels gives you the most freedom. You can easily whip your way from town to town on the lakeside road, and you’ll even be able to get out to those harder-to-reach places away from the lake.
Trains
Stylish cities Verona, Milan and Venice are all within daytripping distance from Lake Garda, and you can get trains to all three from Desenzano or Peschiera train stations.
)
)
)
)
)
