The 4. Varenna, a magnificent fishing village on the shores of Lake Como, dates back to the 11th Century. Those that walk its streets and pass by its Garda — which touches the three Italian Regions of Lombardy , Trentino Alto Adige and Veneto — is even surrounded by palms oleander, olive trees and vines, in addition to the picturesque villages, beaches and little ports, parks and nature reserves it is known for.
Lake Garda is ideal for a tailor-made vacation, whether for nature lovers, athletes, or history and culture buffs. History lovers especially can marvel at the evidence of prehistoric settlements in the Valtenesi and on Monte Baldo , or the remains of Roman villas in Desenzano and Toscolano. Equally-charming are the Medieval castles and Scaliger fortresses, from which the Benaco and Sirmione Towers rise up to dominate the scene. Then, the Sanctuaries of the Madonna del Frassino, Madonna di Montecastello and Madonna della Corona make for important pilgrimage destinations.
Finally, take this occasion to see Sirmione , thermal spa locale comprising a very characteristic historic center, the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site, and the 13th-Century Scaliger Castle. In the 15th and the 16th centuries, with over 60 paper mills the town became the leading paper manufacturer of the Republic of Venice.
The prestige of the area was such that the famous Gonzaga dynasty — rulers of nearby Mantua and patrons of the Italian Renaissance — built several palaces in Maderno.
Nowadays, the two adjacent towns are a lovely stop during your explorations of Lake Garda. Click for accommodation options , otherwise here are some of the most exciting things you can see and do in Toscolano-Maderno on Lake Garda in Italy:. The towns of Toscolano and Maderno have several lovely beaches that offer stunning views across Lake Garda. The Bau Beach in Toscolano caters specifically to pets and their owners. The area is also popular for its golf facilities.
Golf Bogliaco is a particularly well-known golf club. It was established in and offers unparalleled views of Lake Garda and the surrounding mountains. Gardone Riviera is absolutely lovely. It offers the best trappings of the Italian lake life and still, it has its quirky corners which deserve a deeper look. As you drive through the town, you cannot help but be impressed by the incredibly long and imposing building of the Grand Hotel. It is truly palatial! Incredibly splendid are also the many historic villas that dot the town and the adjacent area.
A special mention here deserve:. The most important sight in Gardone Riviera, however, is the Vittoriale degli Italiani. He lived here for 16 years until his death in Time spent erecting an amphitheatre in the garden of the estate, encasing a battleship in the side of a hill, and furnishing the spacious on-site villa in a lavish manner recalling and exemplifying all the reasons that should make the Italians proud of their history.
A must-see for anyone with an interest in history, a sense for the whimsical or simply seeking to experience something truly unique. If a few days in the laidback atmosphere of Gardone Riviera is something that appeals to you, click here for accommodation options. It was created at the start of the 20th century by Arturo Hruska — doctor and dentist to kings and popes. With a strong interest in botany and the natural world, he established a garden where visitors can see and enjoy the botanic richness of the world.
Later on, the botanical garden was acquired by the Austrian multimedia visionary artist Andre Heller. A creative person of many talents, he has created several emblematic works of art and movies and has designed theatrical plays and shows, labyrinths, and even firework displays.
Most notably, he is the designer of the experience attraction Swarovski Crystal World in Austria. In the botanical garden on the shores of Lake Garda, you can see several sculptures and works of art both by Heller and other renowned artists placed among the over 3, plant species that grow here. If you love art in its nature- and human-created forms, the garden is a delight to explore, especially on a hot summer day.
You will find it just up the hill from the small historic centre of Gardone Riviera. In the 14th century, the town became part of the territories of the Republic of Venice for a short period of time. In , it joined the Serenissima once again. Translated in English as the Magnificent Motherland, this was a federation of 52 municipalities on the western shores of the lake.
The town has the longest promenade on Lake Garda. The historic centre is dotted with precious palaces and old churches and it is a pleasure to walk around a cone of gelato in hand.
The town is also the perfect starting point for a lake trip to the nearby islands — Isola del Garda and Isola di San Biagio also known as the Island of the Rabbits. Here are some of them for your interest:. It is very picturesque and has a lively vibe to it. Its historic centre has an old harbour where colourful boats sway.
Boutiques and trattorias dot the lakefront area and the cobbled curving streets of Desenzano del Garda. Nearby, pebbly beaches attract a fashionable crowd each summer. White yachts are moored in straight lines just off the shore. A lighthouse provides a great focus for photos of the lake.
In the distance, you can glimpse the long promontory Sirmio with the medieval castle and the Roman ruins of the town of Sirmione. Desenzano del Garda is the perfect lakefront town to take it easy. In the evening, sit at an outside table and sip an aperitivo while engaging in a spot of people watching.
Click for accommodation options , otherwise here are some of the most exciting things you can see and do in Desenzano del Garda on Lake Garda in Italy:. Many festivals and events take place in Desenzano del Garda all throughout the year. I particularly loved visiting Desenzano on day trips around Christmas.
Here is a short video from a Christmas event staged in Desenzano del Garda in the last days of As you can see, there is entertainment, people are out in force, and lovely Christmas lights are projected on the facades in the historic centre of the town.
In summer, there are many nearby beaches to sunbathe on. On a hot summer day, swimming in Lake Garda feels so refreshing! Desenzano del Garda is also a great starting point for explorations of the western shore of Lake Garda. This guided tour will whisk you to the most important sights and allow you to discover historic towns and incredible landmarks.
Alternatively, you can head to the southern shore of the lake where amusement parks and even more historic towns await. Here is a map showing you the exact locations of the 20 best towns to visit around Lake Garda, Italy. I hope that it will come in useful when you are planning your day trips or longer explorations of the area. I made the map in Google Maps, so you can zoom in and out, use Street View, click on the pins of the towns on Lake Garda for directions, and work with it just as with any other map in Google Maps.
For ease of reference, right below this map, there is a list of the 20 best towns around Lake Garda, too:. It stands within close proximity to some of the largest and most well-known northern Italian cities. It thus gives you a chance to experience their traditions, food, and history within a short amount of time and distance.
Lake Garda is a glacial lake surrounded by Alpine mountains. One of the most important of them is Mount Baldo or Monte Baldo in Italian which is also known as the Garden of Europe as it is incredibly rich in botanical species. Among them are 62 types of orchids. Called by the Romans Lacus Benacus the lake took its current name around the 8th-9th centuries AD from the town of Garda on its shores.
If you are planning to arrive in Italy by plane, have a look at these two blog posts for the most convenient airport s for Lake Garda in line with your specific travel plans:. Lake Garda has a lovely Mediterranean-style microclimate. Winters are rarely freezing. In summer, a nice refreshing breeze brings a welcome respite even on a scorcher of a day. When to visit Lake Garda in Italy and one or several of the towns on its shores depends entirely on what you want to do and see here.
If it is beautiful views, great hiking, amazing food, and historic sights, feel free to come at any time of the year. The lake is gorgeous in any season. There are many events that take place here all throughout the year. From Christmas festivals in winter to town-wide celebrations in summer, there is always something to do and see around Lake Garda. Late autumn, winter, and early spring are mostly crowd-free and offer many different types of local entertainment like Christmas and craft markets, food and wine festivals.
Plus, skiing and snowboarding on Mount Baldo! When the weather gets warm, visitors start flocking to Lake Garda. In July and August, the streets are densely packed, restaurants are abuzz with people, and taking a dip in the clear lake waters to cool off is a pleasure like no other. In August, temperatures around Lake Garda can reach on average 30 degrees Celsius. The shoulder season is especially pleasant here. April and May and then September and October bring temperatures between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius.
However, there is also a slightly bigger chance of rain. It really depends on what you want to see and how quickly you want to move from place to place. Lake Garda has a perimeter of almost km and — save for heavy traffic during the high season — you can drive around it in one very hectic day. Lake Garda has many beautiful corners and lovely towns. Each one of them is quite unique and offers its own range of things to do and sights to see.
As you can see on the map, some of the towns are adjacent to one another and many are linked by a long promenade. You can easily walk from one town to the next. For example, from Lazise to Bardolino is only about an hour at most on foot.
Alternatively, you can get an open day ticket for the ferries and crisscross either Upper Garda or Lower Garda stopping at different lakefront towns along the way. If you are planning a longer break, then you can base yourself in one town on Lake Garda and explore many others nearby and across the lake.
Or you can move from town to town, sleeping each night or every two nights at a different place for an even bigger range of experiences. You can find all sorts and types of accommodation in and around the 20 best towns on Lake Garda, Italy to suit any budget. For ideas about the types of accommodation available around Lake Garda in particular and Italy in general, have a look at this blog post:.
I usually prefer to book all my accommodation through Booking. It gives me many different options in terms of budget and location and I can also read and compare reviews left by real people.
Click to see all available places to stay around Lake Garda , Italy. If you need some visual help in terms of precise location and price range, have a look at this map. It gives you a quick idea of the prices and whereabouts of the many hotels and other forms of accommodation you can book for your stay at Lake Garda, Italy.
You can zoom in and out in order to search for a place. You can also click on the option that interests you to find out more details or to make a booking directly.
There are many tours and experiences that take place around Lake Garda and are organised by the most well-established tour companies and licensed guides in Italy. Booking one or more of their offerings can save you lots of time and enable you to see a side of Italy that may be difficult to discover by yourself. Especially if you are here only for a limited period of time.
They are either on the shores of or within easy reach of Lake Garda. Click on the links below for further details and to purchase tickets:. For more useful travel resources, have a look at this dedicated page. Within easy reach from a number of well-known Italian cities like Verona , Milan , and even Venice and Bologna, Lake Garda is a great destination for exciting day trips and longer holidays. Many of them have ancient roots stretching back to at least the times of the Roman Empire.
Medieval castles and lavish palaces and villas stand proud in and near their historic centres. Surrounded by lush nature, the towns on Lake Garda offer countless opportunities to both keep active and blissfully relax. In this blog post, I introduce you to the 20 best towns on Lake Garda, Italy.
To give you lots of ideas and inspiration as to which one s of them to head to and what to do in them, I have provided a short overview of each town, a shortlist with the best local sights, and my insider tips for even more exciting things to do off the beaten path in the area.
Now, get ready quick for your visit to Lake Garda, Italy! Thank you for reading! Please, leave me a comment, pin the images below or use the buttons right at the top and at the end of this blog post to share it on social media.
First Name. Email address:. I am an Italian woman who lives in Vienna, Austria.. Your photos are stunning and really capture the atmosphere of my land i am from Desenzano del Garda.. Thank you for helping me to overcome my nostalgia. Thank you so much for your very kind words! Coincidentally, I am working on a blog post about Desenzano del Garda which is such a lovely town.
I hope you like the photos once the post is online. Thanks for the article! This post may contain affiliate links. At no cost to you, I may receive a small commission if you click and make a purchase through them. Full details in my Disclosure. Share Tweet 5. Pin 1K. Consult these guidebooks.
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