Torbole Holidays

Make waves or just savour the views on a holiday to Torbole, northern Italy's windsurfing capital.

Wow-factor watersports

Torbole has all the trappings of a fine north Italy resort, but its biggest draws are wind-powered. The town's trio of windsurfing schools keeps the lake dotted with brightly coloured sails. It's a fantastic base for hiking, too, with jaw-dropping views within striking distance.

Soul food

Visitors to the region are in for some seriously scrumptious food. Pop into a local cheese factory for a spread of cheeses, salami and honey. Restaurants all over town plate up pizzas and pastas that are easy on the wallet – plus they're served with lake and mountain views.

Harbour hub

Town life revolves around the harbour, spilling out from the pretty piazzas and terracotta-topped buildings. The lakeside promenade's a favourite with cyclists and strollers. To explore further afield, other lakeside towns can be reached via the frequent ferries.

Out and about

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

• Lakeside promenade
• Lake bathing
• Sailing
• Cycle routes
• Natural caves
• Markets

At a glance

Go back to school and learn to windsurf
Sample tasty nibbles at a cheese factory
Hike the panoramic trail from Busatte to Tempesta

Sport on the water

Al Cor and Lido Blu are both pebble beaches with grass areas. Facilities include snack bars and restaurants, plus showers and toilets. Sun loungers are available to rent, too. Torbole is known for its watersports – take a beginner lesson in windsurfing or kitesurfing, or relax on the shore and watch the pros out on the water.
Head to Riva beach

If you’re looking for a change of scenery, cycle or walk along the lakefront promenade to Riva. Riva has some of the largest pebble and grass beaches of the north - Pini beach, or Pine Beach, and Spiaggia Sabbioni. Both beaches have bars and cafés, pedalo hire, playgrounds, floating platforms, sun lounger rental and showers.
Fancy a dip?

The Sarca River is the main inlet of Lake Garda. The source is high up in the mountains and, for much of the year, the water is snow melt - so not only is it extremely clear, but it's also wonderfully refreshing for a dip on a hot summer’s day. Just be aware that the river is quite fast moving, so it's only recommended for strong swimmers.

Bargain Buys

To pick up holiday bargains, the market is the place to be. Open every second Tuesday morning from around 8am to 2pm, you’ll find a variety of products including traditional Italian pottery, clothing, leather goods, gifts and souvenirs. While the market is not as cheap as you may think, the quality of the products is really good.
Mid-Range Buys

Torbole has a great selection of shops, many of which stock surf gear and activewear. There’s a Rip Curl store and Quicksilver store for clothing, walking gear and footwear, alongside shops offering leather goods, jewellery, and souvenirs. For a larger range, the Blue Garden Shopping Centre in Riva has over 40 shops to browse.
Designer Buys

As Torbole is more of an active town, it doesn’t have many high-end stores offering designer brands. Along the promenade or road into Riva, you’ll find stores such as Jack Wolfskin, Armani and United Colors of Benetton. If you’re looking to spend some serious money, take a trip to Verona for the likes of Gucci, Versace and Prada.

Laid-back evenings

The lakefront promenade is ideal for taking an evening stroll with an ice cream in hand. Watch the lights twinkling from nearby towns and listen to the water lapping over the pebbles. For a relaxed bar in town, Aurora has a large garden area full of comfy beanbags.
Lively evenings

To cater for the many watersports fans who flock to Torbole in summer, many bars offer happy hours and there’s often live music. Wind’s Bar on the main road is open until 2am and has a lively atmosphere and refreshing cocktails. The Aurora Lounge Bar often hosts bands and DJ sets on a weekly basis.

Eating out

In Torbole, as with most of the other Lake Garda resorts, Italian cuisine dominates, and here you can find pizza and pasta for under €10. As the town is located on the northern part of the lake, most restaurants have spectacular views of not only the lake, but the mountains too. There are lots of informal cafes and restaurants on the lakefront, as well as up in the hills of Nago-Torbole.
Drinks and snacks at Bar alla Sega

On the beach and with gorgeous views of the lake and the surrounding mountains, Bar alla Sega is lovely for some quiet drinks and snacks. The bar itself is contemporary and has a retractable roof, and serves everything from sandwiches to ice cream.
Pizzas, pastas and seafood at Al Pescatore

Just off the waterfront is Al Pescatore, which serves up large pizzas in creative shapes, and with a variety of toppings, at an extremely good price. If you don’t fancy pizza, then they also offer pasta, risotto and seafood dishes. This restaurant also has wheelchair access.
A wine for each dish at Aqua Ristorante

Part of the Hotel Lago di Garda, and with fantastic views of the water, Aqua Ristorante is a modern but elegant restaurant with a charming atmosphere. Customers love their seafood platters and they have a good wine selection to go with every dish.

On foot

Torbole is home to wide, open piazzas and a bustling harbour – easy to navigate on foot. The lakeside promenade stretches for 3km all the way to Riva, a must-do walk for any visitors to the area.
Ferries

Steamers and hydrofoils run from Torbole to most of the other towns on the lake, including Riva (15 minutes), Limone (30 minutes) and Malcesine (50 minutes). Faster services run from Riva to the southern towns.
Trains

The nearest stations are in Rovereto (30 minutes by bus) and Peschiera – from either, you can jump on a train to Venice (1.5-2.5 hours) or Verona (20 minutes - 1 hour). From Peschiera, you can also get a train to Milan (1 hour 10 minutes).
Buses

A local service runs through town and to the hillside hamlet of Nago, a few minutes away. You can also get to Rovereto, Mori, Riva, Arco and Bolognano. Buses don’t normally run on Sundays.

Walking

Torbole is a wonderfully picturesque place for exploring on foot. The harbour is the hub of the village and, from there, you can follow the lakeside promenade towards Riva, stopping along the way to relax on the beach or watch watersports on the lake. You can also head inland to wander through the olive groves and vineyards that surround the town, or go further into the foothills of the Monte Baldo for more challenging mountain walks. A favourite is the scenic route up to Penede Castle near the hamlet of Nago.
Torbole to Riva

The ideal place to start your exploration is the lakeside promenade. It winds 3km along the shore, all the way to Riva. From the harbour, turn right and follow the path. You’ll cross the River Sarca and pass the Monte Brione – the little mountain. Riva is home to lots of boutiques, restaurants and historic buildings – a lovely place to spend the day. The walk takes about 40 minutes, and you can catch the bus or ferry back to Torbole if you want.
Torbole to Nago and back

A more challenging route that winds inland from Torbole to the hamlet of Nago, 4km away. Along the way, you’ll have fantastic views of the lake and the Monte Brione. Take your time wandering around Nago – and you could take a detour to see the Marmitte dei Giganti, a huge crater caused by a whirlpool in the last ice age. The route back takes you into the Santa Lucia Valley, past ancient olive groves and below the famous Penede Castle.