The Lake Garda Holiday Guide to Lazise

Lazise is the most wonderful town for a Lake Garda holiday, or vacation for our American friends. My family first stayed in Lazise only because it was near to Gardaland, and with kids a visit to Gardaland is mandatory. Our expectations weren’t high. How wrong we were. Lazise is a delightful, characteristic town full of life and color.

Lazise by Bernd via Pixabay

Lazise is one of those towns that is a real joy to explore, full of little lanes with fascinating shops and tiny restaurants. It is so weird spending a day in the Gardaland amusement park and then retreating back to this thousand-year-old town—what a contrast.

The amusement parks are still only five minutes away but once you are inside Lazise, lost in the maze of ancient streets, they seem like another world.

The other great thing is that most of the old town is off-limits to cars and motorbikes so you don’t have the incessant racket that spoils so many an Italian town.

Hotels in Lazise

Wondering where to stay in Lazise? Well, you won't go wrong with the Hotel Le Mura (read more here). The hotel is just near the castle, and you have all the shops and restaurants right on your doorstep, while the lake itself is only a five-minute walk away. Not only is the location perfect, but you get a pool, great value, and spacious rooms (by Italian standards) too.

Lazise by Stefanie Koelbli via Pixabay

What to See in Lazise

For such a small town there is a surprising amount to see. The castle and its fortified walls are the major attractions. Dating back to the 14th century, the castle was built by the awful Scaligeri family of Verona, under whose violent control the town had fallen.

Other places worth seeing include the 14th-century customs house, which is now used to host events and conferences and the 13th-century San Nicolo church.

If you visit in October, then make a point of visiting the honey festival. This event is the largest of its kind in Italy and you get to taste some of the best local and national honey.

For some photos of Lazise, have a look at our photo album.

The Beach in Lazise

Lazise has one of the only sandy beaches to be found anywhere on Lake Garda; most of the beaches around Garda are gravel or pebbles. If your Lake Garda holiday is beach-focused, then have a look at our beach guide for more on Lazise’s beach.

Lazise Castle by Pcdazero via Pixabay

Shopping

The town is packed full of fascinating little shops and I always seem to discover something that I can’t possibly live without and a couple of new souvenirs too. My argument always is that no Lake Garda holiday would be complete without a bit of serious shopping so spend time wandering the old town exploring.

I love the shoe shops, while my husband prefers the excellent shops selling local olive oil and wines. The open-air market on Wednesday is even better: a superb place to find great bargains.

Where to eat in Lazise

The Forgia (read our review here) is where we normally eat.