Lake Garda Accommodation & Travel Guide

Lake Garda is the second most important tourist attraction in the Veneto, only Venice is more popular. If there is one Italian lake that is perfect for family holidays, this is it.

My young son never wants to leave and keeps trying to convince me and my husband to move to the lake. He may well convince me one of these days!

Don't believe me about the wonders of the Italian Lakes and Lake Garda in particular?

Well, it's official!

The Italian Lakes were voted in the top 10 destinations in the world by a major travel site, and Lake Garda is the most popular of these lakes.

Sirmione

Superb, though Lake Garda is for a family holiday or a relaxing getaway and however much I love Lake Garda, I honestly suggest, if you are looking for a romantic lake holiday, then Lake Orta is the better choice.  That said, let’s get on with exploring the lake…

Click on the highlighted links for more information about a particular place.

Map of Lake Garda

Visit our Map of Lake Garda page for the location of the towns, beaches and other attractions mentioned on this page.

Best Lake Garda Beaches

Sirmione Beach

Garda has some lovely beaches. We have put together a selection of the five best Lake Garda beaches here. It was not an easy choice, and some of the other beaches are equally as lovely, although often very inaccessible.

Having a young son, our preference tends to be for sandy rather than shingle beaches. I also don’t like dents in my posterior, which rules out a lot of the pebbly beaches.

Garda Boat Trips

Boat is by far the best way to see the lake. Unless you are in a big rush, take a slow boat and enjoy the ride. Click here for the various boat options.

Best Natural Sights

Around Lake Garda there is some spectacular scenery. Monte Baldo and the Varone Waterfall are two of the highlights, but there is lots more besides. For more on Monte Baldo, the Varone Falls and other sights click here.

Madonna della Corona

Madonna della Corona

A church perched high on a towering cliff...a place you'll never forget. This is Madonna della Corona - click for a video, our guide, and more.

Gardaland

Gardaland is often excluded from many a tourist’s itinerary, but if you have children, then it is well worth spending a day or two here, and even if you are just young at heart, you'll enjoy yourself.

This is one of the largest theme parks in Europe, and together with the nearby Water Park and Movie Studios, there is a lot to do—just don’t make the mistake I made and ride the Blu Tornado, unless of course you love to torture yourself. Read more about Gardaland here.

Lake Garda Weather

Despite Lake Garda being relatively far north, the lake has a moderating effect on the weather, making it very much a Mediterranean climate. Read our Lake Garda weather guide for more.

The Seven Best Lake Garda Towns

Peschiera del Garda

On the shores of Lake Garda are plenty of lovely towns and villages. It is no easy task deciding on the best of these. Any choice is obviously highly personal.

Lazise is tops for us because of the many happy memories it holds. Sirmione, in second place, would no doubt be preferred by many. Click on each town's name for more.

Lazise

With its winding streets, centuries-old churches, scenic promenade, and castle views, this town has plenty to charm you. But the real surprise? It’s home to a pizza maker whose restaurant is said to serve the best pizza in all of Veneto—and some even say, the world.

Sirmione

Sirmione is a magical little village (see our gallery here) with a medieval castle, famous spas, and the most important Roman villa in northern Italy. The villa was once home to the poet Catullo.

Malcesine

Malcesine has the feel of a seaside fishing village, and many consider it the best Lake Garda town. It is popular for those wanting to take the cable car up to the summit of Mount Baldo, but there is much more to see. Some of the highlights in the vicinity include a monastery, a castle, and some pleasant churches.

Garda Town

Lake Garda’s most famous golf course is located near here, and the town is an attractive base to use for exploring the lake. Boats leave Garda Town for every corner of the lake, and the town itself is full of good restaurants, shops, and perhaps the best promenade of any lake town. The atmosphere in Garda on a warm summer evening is enchanting.

Peschiera del Garda

Peschiera has a great location for exploring the lake, beaches, a long promenade, and an old town with canals, which makes it feel just a little like Venice. Free buses run from here to Gardaland and the other theme parks.

Desenzano del Garda

I love this town, but my husband isn't wild about it. The good points are that it's easily accessible by road or rail, has excellent shopping (one of the things I love doing most and my husband hates), restaurants, some lovely hotels, and one of Lake Garda’s best beaches nearby.  

I think the shopping clinches it for me, while the many hours I've dragged my husband around the shops here have put him off Desenzano altogether. 

Torbole sul Garda 

When it comes to spectacular scenery, Torbole has the location to beat all locations, with so much to see nearby too - from castles and the gorgeous village of Canale di Tenno to an 11th-century monastery. Did I mention the beaches, the kite surfing, and the views? Definitely a town worth considering when you plan your Garda visit.

View from the hills behind Torbole

Lake Garda Accommodation

Click here for the complete list of the Garda Hotels Andrew and I really like. We don't list many, only those we know personally. Of all the Lake Garda accommodation options, a few really stand out and deserve a special mention on this page...

The Palace Hotel between Desenzano and Sirmione
Excellent value - a very well-run and friendly hotel, definitely one of the best Lake Garda accommodation options.

Relais Sant'Emiliano - Conference & Leisure near Padenghe The perfect place to relax in the most beautiful of settings. Very impressive indeed.

View from Sirmione Castle

Want free insider information on an Italy undiscovered? Find out more here.

Have you Experienced Lake Garda?

Have you visited Lake Garda? Share your experiences!

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story! [ ? ]

Close Help Entering your story is easy to do. Just type!... Your story will appear on a Web page exactly the way you enter it here. You can wrap a word in square brackets to make it appear bold. For example [my story] would show as my story on the Web page containing your story. TIP: Since most people scan Web pages, include your best thoughts in your first paragraph.

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

Close Help Do you have some pictures or graphics to add? Great! Click the button and find the first one on your computer. Select it and click on the button to choose it. Then click on the link if you want to upload up to 3 more images.

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)  

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)  

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)  

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)  

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

• Check box to agree to these  submission guidelines.
• I am at least 16 years of age.
• I understand and accept the privacy policy.
• I understand that you will display my submission on your website.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Click here to see the rest of the form and complete your submission.

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Riva my home ( I wish) Not rated yet
I have visited lago di Garda five times in sixteen years, three times to Riva. Being an elderly gent it is just the right holiday for me. The culture, …

Desenzano, the perfect Lake Garda base  Not rated yet
Lake Garda is one of the most beautiful areas of Europe if not the world. Thousands of people flock to the soft lapping shores of this great lake, …

Click here to write your own.