Peschiera Holidays

Besides being a great base for touring the lakes, holidays to Peschiera serve up scenic canals and ancient sights.

Historic charm

Hidden away on the south-west corner of Lake Garda, in northern Italy, lies the fortressed town of Peschiera. Thanks to roots back in the 1st century, it's got some ancient Roman remains. Wander through the cobbled streets of the old town and criss-cross over the canals on picturesque bridges – they're prime spots for a selfie or two.

Travel by train

Peschiera's one of only two resorts on Lake Garda with its own train station, putting Venice, Verona and Milan all within reach. Check out the Roman amphitheatre in Verona, or pound the pavements shopping in Milan's golden triangle.

Boat trips aplenty

Peschiera's also served by ferries waiting to whisk you across the lake. To the west there's Desenzano and Sirmione, both ideal daytrip destinations. If you're more into action than sightseeing, take the bus all the way along the eastern shore to Riva's scalable cliffs.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in Peschiera:

• Lakeside path
• Lake bathing
• Fishing museum
• Theme parks
• Markets

At a glance

Explore the gardens of Sigurta and Medieval Mantua
Watch an opera show at Verona's amphitheatre
Sip a canalside cappuccino

Braccobaldo Beach

If you’re mad about dogs, this beach is for you. Braccobaldo Beach is so dog friendly, they not only have sun loungers for humans, but specifically made loungers for dogs too. It’s a clean pebble beach approximately 3km from Peschiera centre, open daily from around 9.30am. Sun loungers, beach chairs and parasols can be rented, and there’s space for up to 60 people, so during high season, it’s recommended to book. Nearby, there’s a bar and toilets.
The pebble beach

If you’re looking for a beach a little closer to town, Cappuccini beach is a great option - just a few hundred metres from the centre. This pebble beach has lots of space, and great facilities nearby. If you get hungry or fancy an ice cream, Lido Cappuccini is a perfect choice.
It's warmer than you think

The Mincio River that begins Peschiera is the only outlet of Lake Garda, with the water having travelled down from the Sarca River in the north. Peschiera is also one of the shallowest parts of the lake at an average depth of 10m. For these reasons, the water here is the warmest, and around 6°C warmer than the north.

Bargain Buys

A great chance to pick up a bargain is at the weekly market. It takes place in the centre of the town every Monday morning between approximately 8am and 2pm. A range of products are on offer from traditional pottery, clothing and gifts, all at a reasonable price. The weekly market moves from town to town around Lake Garda throughout the week, so if Monday doesn’t work for you, head to a nearby town on another day.
Mid-Range Buys

In the pretty streets of Peschiera, back from the lakefront, there’s many shops and boutiques for buying something nice. Everything from clothing, souvenirs, Italian-style homeware and handmade jewellery is available. It’s common in Italy for shops to close in the middle of the day for a siesta, at around 12.30pm until 3pm. This does mean that they are open until later – great for an evening stroll.
Designer Buys

You’ll be able to get some high-end items at several of the shops in the town. For a wider choice, Peschiera has a train station with convenient access to cities such as Verona, Venice, and, Milan – The fashion capital of Europe. In these cities, find designers such as Prada, Versace and Gucci.

Laid-back evenings

With a long lakefront promenade, Peschiera is great for an evening stroll – ice cream parlours stay open late into the evenings, and can provide a nice stop along the way. Peschiera’s fortress walls and picturesque canals and bridges are also ideal for a wander to see the twinkling lights on the water.
Lively evenings

Peschiera in an evening has a great atmosphere, with people visiting from all around. Lively streets and bars are great for a dance – especially Café Momus on the lakefront. For something a little livelier, nearby towns such as Verona or Desenzano have lots of evening entertainment.

Eating out

Lugana wine, originating from the stretch of land between Sirmione and Peschiera, is served with a lot of local dishes in Peschiera town. One of these is I Bigoli con le Sarda - spaghetti with a sardine sauce. You’ll find this dish around the resort as there is an abundance of Italian restaurants and patisseries here, a lot of them on the lakefront.
Platters and pastas at Marco e Daniela Time

On the other side of the river is a delicatessen and café, Marco e Daniela Time, serving fresh ciabatta sandwiches and a range of deli products. Antipasti platters and pasta are also on the menu. Everything is reasonably priced, and free shortbread is provided for afters.
Beautifully tasty at Vecchio Mullino Beach Bar

With a large outdoor terrace and fantastic views of the lake, Vecchio Mulino Beach Bar is a restaurant most visitors return to more than once during their stay. The creative presentation of dishes means your food is more than just about the taste. But book before you go, as it gets busy.
Natural ingredients at Toasteria Italiana

Along the Via Venezia is the Peschiera branch of Toasteria Italiana. It’s an original and quirky café serving up a variety of toasted sandwiches, alongside fruit juices, smoothies, coffees and pastries - all made from natural ingredients.

On foot

The fortressed town of Peschiera, with its cobbled streets and waterfront paths, is a lovely place to explore at your own pace. Inside its walls you’ll find a pedestrianised centre and canal-side walkways, all with panoramic views of southern Lake Garda.
Ferries

From Peschiera you can jump on either a Batt ferry or the faster hydrofoil. The hydrofoil leaves only a couple of times a day, compared to the standard Batt that leaves several times a day, but will only take 2 hours and 20 minutes to reach Malcesine instead of 3 hours and 40 minutes on the Batt.
Trains

The train station in Peschiera is located on the Viale Stazione in the town centre. Trains depart twice an hour to Verona and take only 20 minutes. You can also catch trains to Venice in an hour and a half, and even Milan in just over an hour.
Buses

There are two main bus lines operating from the bus station in the harbour – the first goes along the eastern shore of the lake, and the second runs along the southern shore. Hotel Parc Paradiso and the Eden Apartments run free shuttles into town. There are also free shuttles to and from the theme parks.

Walking

If you prefer casual strolls to strenuous walks then Peschiera is the place to be. The fortressed old town and pedestrianised centre is the perfect place to get lost, wandering it's charming streets, canals and bridges. You can break up your day with a spot of shopping, or just sit back with an ice cream and enjoy people watching. For a bit of fresh air, take to the lakeside paths or stroll through lush parkland. Catch a bus or ferry to the other towns on the lake if you want to explore further and try more varied walking routes.
Lakeside walk

Explore a little piece of Peschiera’s history on this easy walk. Start from the centre of town at Piazza Betteloni and head west along the path that stretches right around the lakeshore to Fornaci – an old fishing port at the south end of the lake. Take your camera to capture the lovely views of Sirmione peninsula and then sit back with a drink to watch fishing boats bob in the harbour.