Lake Garda is a lake in northern Italy and though the lake itself is beautiful, it is surrounded by incredible towns and stunning attractions. With that much stuff to do it can be hard to decide what to prioritise that’s why we have our list of 11 things to do in Lake Garda.
Sirmione
The south shore of Lake Garda is home to one of the lake’s most popular tourist destinations, Sirmione.
An easily accessible town with plenty to see and do during your stay. The use of cars is not allowed within the city centre so you have to leave your car at a nearby car park making using a boat the best choice for travelling to this lovely little town.
Malcesine
An old fashioned town with narrow streets and a beautiful harbour, it’s easy to see how Malcesine got the nickname the Pearl of Lake Garda.
As with almost anywhere around Lake Garda, Malcesine provides some stunning views however that isn’t all there is on offer. Besides the variety of small local stores and cafes, a highlight is to take a trip on the cable car up to the top of Monte Baldo to really get some incredible views.
Limone Sul Garda
Limone Sul Garda or just Limone is one of the prettiest and most picturesque places around Lake Garda.
The town is filled with colourful buildings with all manner of cafes and stores lining the beautiful waterfront promenade. Of all the suggestions on this list, Limone is possibly the best place to consider grabbing a bite to eat due to the variety of local restaurants.
Onepio Winery
Italy is a country renowned for its food and drink and that is part of what makes Onepio Winery so special.
Onepio offers a few options for how to spend your visit. Obviously, you can take part in wine tastings where you can try up to 5 different wines. Our highest recommendation however is to book a picnic where you will be provided with a bottle of wine and a variety of foods that will pair beautifully with your bottle.
Riva Del Garda
The northern shore of Lake Garda is home to Riva del Garda and like a lot of our other recommendations, Riva is a beautiful little town around the lake.
Riva, more so than anywhere else, offers an incredible view if you arrive by boat. After touching down it will prove very difficult for you to resist trying the local food and buying some traditionally made handicrafts. The town is also home to the Val di Fumo hike, if you get the chance this is a terrific hike to get some stunning views of the surrounding area.
Scaligero Castle
Though not a huge castle, Scaligero is marvellous nonetheless and you can easily visit this 13th century castle in less than an hour making it a good place to visit as part of a larger day.
We do recommend however that if you do want to visit, we suggest going earlier if you can as Scaligero Castle does get a little busy as it gets closer to the middle of the day.
Bardolino
Bardolino is most well known for being at the centre of the Bardolino wine region making this the perfect place to visit if you fancy taking a wine tasting tour of the region.
Whether you take your trip by car, bicycle or join a group wine tasting tour you are sure to try some amazing wine with some incredible views. If you visit later in the year you could try to line up your visit with the annual wine festival which is perfect for wine lovers.
Gardaland
The first of our trio of theme parks is Gardaland, one of the most famous theme parks not just in Italy but in all of Europe.
Due to its popularity, Gardaland can be very busy if you choose to visit during the summer, so that’s worth bearing in mind if you’re planning a visit. That being said, if you’re okay with dealing with some queues then Gardaland has all sorts of water rides, roller coasters and even magic shows for you to enjoy.
Movieland
Our next recommendation, Movieland, has peculiar pricing based on your height so if you’re a little on the short side you can save yourself 5 euros.
As is to be expected from a theme park named Movieland the park has plenty of attractions based on movies on offer ranging from watching a show to taking part in a live movie shoot. Of course, you can also get yourself some delicious Italian food from any of the themed restaurants.
Canevaworld
Our final theme park is a little bit different as Canevaworld is a water park
After spending your time on the relaxing open waters of Lake Garda you can then change things up and take a dip at this water park. Whether you’re in the mood for something relaxing or adrenaline rush slides there is something for any taste. Canevaworld does also feature a built-in tropical beach if you need to take a break from the excitement.
Boat Trip
Our final recommendation is to take a boat trip around the Lake.
It may seem simple compared to some of our other recommendations, however, taking a boat trip around the lake allows you to visit a variety of our suggestions all in one day. Not to mention being out on the lake will provide some unparalleled views of everywhere we have suggested here.
