Sirmione Old Town and Peninsula
A narrow peninsula reaching four kilometres into the southern lake, with a moated castle at its gate, a car-free medieval centre and Roman ruins at its tip.
Italy
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and one of its most varied holiday regions, shared between Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino.
At the southern end the Sirmione peninsula reaches into the water with its moated Scaliger castle and Roman ruins, while Gardaland and the walled harbour of Lazise draw families. The eastern shore brings Bardolino wine, Garda and the castle town of Malcesine below the Monte Baldo cable car. The western shore is the lake's elegant Riviera, with Salo, the Isola del Garda, the Vittoriale and the Hruska garden in Gardone Riviera. At the narrow northern tip, Riva del Garda offers mountains, waterfalls, e-bike rides on the old Ponale road and via ferrata climbs. This guide covers 23 sights, 9 hotels and 6 guides, with boat trips, wine tastings and a cooking class, and it leaves Verona to its own market.
Don't miss
Sirmione Old Town and Peninsula
A narrow peninsula reaching four kilometres into the southern lake, with a moated castle at its gate, a car-free medieval centre and Roman ruins at its tip.
Riva del Garda
A lively town at the northern tip of the lake, ringed by mountains, with a moated castle, a clock tower and a long waterfront for walking and cycling.
Malcesine and the Monte Baldo Cable Car
A medieval lakeside town with a castle on a rock, and a rotating cable car that lifts you from the shore almost to the summit ridge of Monte Baldo.
Scaliger Castle, Sirmione
A thirteenth-century moated fortress at the gate of Sirmione, with a drawbridge, a harbour inside its walls and a tower with the best view over the peninsula.
Things to do in Lake Garda
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Scaliger Castle, Sirmione
A thirteenth-century moated fortress at the gate of Sirmione, with a drawbridge, a harbour inside its walls and a tower with the best view over the peninsula.
Grotte di Catullo Roman Villa
The ruins of a vast Roman villa on the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, among olive trees and with views over open water in three directions.
Sirmione Peninsula Boat Cruise
A short boat cruise around the Sirmione peninsula, passing beneath the castle walls and along the cliffs below the Roman ruins.
Sirmione Sunset Boat Tour
An evening boat outing from Sirmione timed for the golden light, when the castle, the cliffs and the mountains turn soft shades of orange and pink.
Isola del Garda and Salò Boat Tour
A guided boat tour across the western lake to the private Isola del Garda and the elegant town of Salò, with its long waterfront and Renaissance cathedral.
Gardaland
Italy’s largest theme park, on the southeastern shore of the lake, with big roller coasters, water rides and a themed area for younger children.
FreeRiva del Garda
A lively town at the northern tip of the lake, ringed by mountains, with a moated castle, a clock tower and a long waterfront for walking and cycling.
Half day to full dayDetails →
Ponale Road E-Bike Tour
An e-bike ride above Riva del Garda on the old Ponale road, carved into the cliffs, with sweeping views over the lake and a tasting at an organic farm.
Malcesine and the Monte Baldo Cable Car
A medieval lakeside town with a castle on a rock, and a rotating cable car that lifts you from the shore almost to the summit ridge of Monte Baldo.
Limone sul Garda
A tiny town squeezed between cliffs and water on the western shore, known for its lemon houses, steep lanes and one of the most dramatic coastal roads in Italy.
Lazise Old Town and Harbour
A walled medieval port on the southeastern shore, with a Scaliger castle, a Venetian customs house and a harbour lined with cafes.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Villa Cortine Palace
Sirmione, Lake Shore
A grand lakeside villa in a large private park on the edge of Sirmione, a short distance from the old town and the castle, and a member of the Relais & Châteaux collection.
Check rates →Hotel Sirmione Terme
Sirmione Peninsula
A hotel on the Sirmione peninsula that suits visitors who want to be close to the castle, the old town and the thermal tradition for which the town is known.
Check rates →Lido Palace
Riva del Garda, Lakefront
A historic lakefront palace in Riva del Garda, a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, within walking distance of the old town and the water.
Check rates →TH Lazise Hotel Parchi del Garda
Lazise, Southeast Shore
A family-oriented hotel near Lazise on the southeastern shore, convenient for Gardaland and the other theme parks of the area.
Check rates →Savoy Palace
Gardone Riviera, Western Shore
A historic hotel on the Gardone Riviera waterfront on the western shore, close to the promenade, the Hruska garden and the Vittoriale.
Check rates →Grand Hotel Gardone Riviera
Gardone Riviera, Promenade
A grand hotel in the elegant lakeside resort of Gardone Riviera, with the promenade, the gardens and the Vittoriale close at hand.
Check rates →Grand Hotel Fasano
Fasano, Gardone Riviera
A historic lakeside hotel at Fasano, just outside Gardone Riviera, in a quiet setting on the western shore with gardens and views across the water.
Check rates →Hotel Bellevue San Lorenzo
Malcesine, Eastern Shore
An adults-only hotel at Malcesine on the eastern shore, close to the castle town and the cable car up Monte Baldo.
Check rates →Hotel Regina Adelaide
Garda, Eastern Shore
A hotel in the town of Garda on the eastern shore, close to the lakefront and the wine hills of Bardolino, with the Rocca di Garda viewpoint above.
Check rates →Tour + stay
Ready-made pairings: a top sight and a hotel that suits it. Add both to your trip and book each when you are ready.
Do
Sirmione Old Town and PeninsulaStay
Hotel Sirmione TermeSirmione Peninsula
Do
Riva del GardaStay
Lido PalaceRiva del Garda, Lakefront
Do
Malcesine and the Monte Baldo Cable CarStay
Hotel Bellevue San LorenzoMalcesine, Eastern Shore
Lake Garda guides
First Time on Lake Garda: Where to Go, What to Book and How Many Days
A practical primer for a first visit to Lake Garda: how the lake is divided, which towns to see first, what to book ahead and how many days you need.
Where to Stay on Lake Garda: Sirmione, Riva, Gardone and the Eastern Shore
A guide to choosing your base on Lake Garda: how Sirmione, Lazise, Garda, Malcesine, Riva and Gardone Riviera differ, and which hotels suit which kind of trip.
Lake Garda in Three Days: A Sample Itinerary by Boat, Bike and Foot
A practical three-day plan for Lake Garda covering Sirmione, the western shore and the northern lake, with suggestions for boats, wine and an optional family day.
Eating and Drinking on Lake Garda: Lake Fish, Olive Oil and Local Wines
A guide to the food and wine of Lake Garda: lake fish, olive oil, Lugana, Bardolino and Chiaretto, fresh pasta, how to eat well and how to book a tasting or class.
Getting Around Lake Garda: Ferries, Buses, Trains and Driving
How to get to and around Lake Garda: airports, trains to Desenzano and Peschiera, ferries between towns, buses and the pros and cons of driving the shore roads.
Best Time to Visit Lake Garda: Seasons, Weather and What Is Open
When to visit Lake Garda: how spring, summer, autumn and winter differ, what is open in each season, swimming temperatures, crowds and ideas for every month.
