Best Things to Do Around Italy Lake Garda 2023
Best Things to Do Around Italy Lake Garda 2023
In the summer of 2019, we decided to take a short trip with our children, and since I had my driver’s license for a short time, we had to choose a destination close to Munich. We had to find a suitable place for a family with small children, so we ordered a 4-day vacation at Lake Garda.
Informations
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is a popular holiday location in northern Italy, about halfway between Brescia and Verona, and between Venice and Milan on the edge of the Dolomites. Glaciers formed this alpine region at the end of the last Ice Age.
Temperature: the summer season starts from the beginning of June until the middle of September with temperatures between 23 and 29 degrees Celsius. In the rest of the months of the other seasons we have temperatures between 10 and 20 degrees Celsius.
Language: The main language is Italian, of course. English is also spoken because there are many tourists everywhere. There are tourists that speak Spanish, English, German and French. If you speak one of these language you will have no problems.
Currency: Euro
Food Prices: Cheap Restaurant 15 EUR/person, Mid-range Restaurant 2 persons 50 EUR
My husband’s brother lives in Bergamo and said he knows a very nice place where we could spend our vacation together. So we ordered our train tickets and went to Bergamo. From there we went with the cars to Lignano Sabbiadoro, a very beautiful area that we really liked very much.
If you have already read our travel guide for the cities of Verona and Bergamo, you already know that there are areas in the city where you are allowed to enter by car between certain hours. If you violate this rule the fines are quite high. So please be careful with the ZTL areas! You can find more informations about these areas by searching on google about them.
Things to do
We chose the Toscolano Maderno area and although the road was a bit difficult, due to my lack of driving experience, the road was worth it. Of course it is a bit difficult to reach, even for an experienced driver, because the streets are very narrow and the curves are quite dangerous. If you choose this destination, pay close attention to driving. It is better to arrive later than never at the destination.
We were very satisfied, and the children felt very good. They played, swam in the pool and were very happy with the lake even though they were quite young. Edward was 4 years old and Milan was almost 3 years old.
This are our memories from our vacation to Lake Garda:
Bardolino
Bardolino is an Italian municipality on Lake Garda in the province of Verona in the north-eastern Italian region of Veneto with 7207 inhabitants. Bardolino is on the east side of the lake north of Lazise and south of Garda. Bardolino has two million tourists a year and is the 24th tourist destination in Italy.
Scaliger Castle
The Scaliger Castle in Sirmione is a moated castle in the Italian municipality of the same name on the southern shore of Lake Garda in the province of Brescia. It is one of the most exceptional 14th-century Italian military architecture that has survived relatively unchanged.
Sirmione
Sirmione is located on the southern shore of Lake Garda about 31 km south-east of Brescia and about 30 km north-west of Verona on a peninsula that protrudes about four kilometers into the lake. The historic town center extends at the narrowest point of the peninsula about three kilometers from the southern shore. In ancient times, the southern shore of Lake Garda was covered by a dense forest. Today the vegetation is Mediterranean in character and consists largely of olive trees.
Limone sul Garda
Limone sul Garda is an Italian commune on the western shore of Lake Garda in the province of Brescia, Lombardy. The community lying on the Gardesana Occidentale has 1142 inhabitants. The original fishing village is a tourist resort with many modern hotels and holiday apartments. In Limone there are two ports, Porto Vecchio and Porto Nuovo. The name Limone is probably not derived from the surrounding lemon groves, as is often assumed, but from the Latin word limes. Because once upon a time the Republic of Venice ended in Limone. Nevertheless, the “lemon image” is mainly marketed there.
Peschiera del Garda
Peschiera del Garda is an Italian commune of 10,930 inhabitants in the province of Verona, Veneto region. Since July 9, 2017, the Peschiera del Garda Fortress has been part of the Unesco World Heritage Site, on the transnational series Venetian Defense Systems of the 16th-17th centuries.
Caves of Catullus
Caves of Catullus is the name given to the ruins of a Roman villa built in the 1st century AD at the northern end of the Sirmione peninsula on the southern shore of Lake Garda. The villa was built on the remains of older previous buildings from the first century BC. It was probably given up as early as the 5th century AD; the term “grotte” comes from the time when the remains of the building were already left to decay and overgrown with plants.
Gardaland
Gardaland Resort – thanks to its Amusement Park which ranks among Europe’s top attractions, the new LEGOLAND® Water Park, the themed SEA LIFE Aquarium and the three Hotels (Gardaland Hotel, Gardaland Adventure Hotel and Gardaland Magic Hotel) – is now truly a must-visit destination for tourists where visitors can stay overnight for an even more memorable experience on this site that boasts the beautiful Lake Garda as a backdrop.
Malcesine
Malcesine is a northern Italian municipality on the eastern shore of Lake Garda in the province of Verona with 3689 inhabitants. Malcesine is often referred to as the “Pearl of Lake Garda”. However, other places such as Riva del Garda or Limone sul Garda are often associated with this term. The place is heavily influenced by tourism.
In addition to the towns of Riva del Garda and Nago-Torbole, Malcesine in the north of Lake Garda is popular with windsurfers, kitesurfers and sailors due to its location, partly for getting into the two main winds of northern Lake Garda, Pelér and Ora. A cable car runs from Malcesine to the mountain station at 1760 meters on the Passo Tratto Spino in the Monte Baldo massif. The municipality of Malcesine also includes the two fractions of Cassone and Navene.
Vittoriale degli Italiani
The Vittoriale degli italiani is a museum complex in Gardone Riviera on the western shore of Lake Garda in Italy. It is the former residence of the Italian writer Gabriele D’Annunzio, who had the property designed from 1921 under the overall direction of the architect Giancarlo Maroni. The site now covers nine hectares and, in addition to the buildings and the open-air theatre, consists of gardens, parks, squares and watercourses. Around 300,000 guests visit the Vittoriale every year.
Varone waterfall
The Varone Waterfall is located in a grotto northwest of Riva del Garda.
Gardone Botanical Garden
The Gardone Botanical Garden is located in the Lombardy region, in the province of Brescia, in the municipality of Gardone Riviera, on Via Roma. The complex is now owned by the Austrian real estate investor Günter Kerbler and is open to the public between March and October every year.
Castello di Desenzano del Garda
A beautiful medieval castle. A beautiful view of Lake Garda and the small town of Desenzano. Again and again there are performances within the walls of the castle theater.
Where to stay
A good night’s sleep is particularly important when you are travelling. Lake Garda offers its guests a host of luxurious, charming and also out-of-the-ordinary accommodation.
Whether in the heart of the city, near the lake or surrounded by nature – Lake Garda’s hotels, B&Bs and guesthouses guarantee a relaxing and invigorating stay.
We managed to find the best three companies that offer hotels, holiday homes and transportation. These are: Booking.com,Trip.com and Vrbo. We have already tested these companies and we warmly recommend them. As a result this will just bring you good deals for your next vacation.
Top hotels we recommend in Lake Garda: La Cascata Negli Ulivi ,Residenza Diana
We ordered a 4-day vacation at Lake Garda with Booking.com at the hotel Casa Gardenia .
Ragu Alla Bolognese, or Bolognese sauce, is considered to be the national dish of Italy since it is used widely in Italian cuisine with many traditional Italian dishes and some of the best Italian dishes (spaghetti, tagliatelle, pappardelle, fettuccine…) across Italy.
Pizza, Focaccia- italian flatbread, Spaghetti.
Risotto, Polenta, Seafood, Lasagne, Ribollita, Minestrone.
Italian desserts: Panetonne, Tiramisu, Gelato, Tartufo, Panna Cotta, Cannoli
Restaurants
- Pizzeria Bella Napoli, Riva del Garda
- QB DuePuntoZero, Salò – Interesting dishes on the menu such as capers from Gargnano, served with local fish and lakeside lemons, or Veneto veal, served with caviar and porcini mushroom broth.
- Lido 84, Gardone Riviera – traditional italian dishes
- Dalie e Fagiole, Manerba – On the menu you’ll find fish scooped straight from the lake, along with spit-roasted quail and home-made cheese.
- Osteria al Pescatore, Brenzone Restaurant, Seafood, Mediterranean, Italian
- La Grande Limonaia, Gargnano – There’s also a daily chef’s menu, as well as a daily spa menu, which is low-sodium, low-calorie and broadly vegan
Saving Tips
- It’s no surprise that summer is the busiest tourist season in Italy. If you want to book one of our favorite cheapo hotels, make sure to book as early as possible. For even better rates (and fewer crowds!), visit in the spring or fall.
- The earlier you book your train or bus tickets, the cheaper the seats! By booking directly with the railroad, you can also take advantage of special promotions.
- Most of the larger tourist attractions and museums in Italy offer free entrance days throughout the week or at least once a month. Do some research ahead of time and maybe you can synch up your trip to a few of the free days.
- If you want to save money in Italy, don’t sit outside a Bar to have your coffee. If you are budget conscious, go to the counter and pay for the coffee you want. Once paid, show the receipt to the Barista and have your coffee standing there itself. If you sit outside, you will be charged an extra sum for the table.
- Despite all the crowds and high prices, many tourist attractions are worth a visit. In large cities, a city or city pass is therefore offered. This allows you to admire tourist attractions for less money and you can escape long queues.
- Avoid the Tourist Menu- Instead, go to a place where you would probably spot locals or simply a Pizzeria where pizza ranges from EUR 5-10! You can also go for Pizza al taglio (pizza by the slice) and combine it with a bottle of beer from the supermarket.
- In bigger cities such as Rome, water is in abundance and free because of the many fountains in the city. This helps you save the money for that extra bottle(s) of water. Just remember to keep an empty bottled water and make use of the free fountain water. The tap water in Italy is safe to drink too but don’t rely on it.
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Shopping
The lovely villages on Lake Garda are filled with all kinds of shops among gorgeous winding streets: clothes, shoes, accessories, jewellery, multi-brand stores, souvenirs and shops selling typical products. Not to be missed for all shopping lovers: a stroll in Desenzano, Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino and Garda. Besides traditional shops, there is a weekly market in every town of Lake Garda, where you can hunt bargains and enjoy a stroll among the stalls.
Shopping Malls : Il Leone Shopping Center, Grand’Affi Shopping Center, Le Vele Shopping Center, La Grande Mela Shoppingland.
Getting Around
It is very easy to travel in or from Italy. Italy has a well-developed public transport system that consists of railways, metros, buses, ferries, airplanes and other means of transport. You can use the train to travel in the country and outside. Italian railway system is extensive and well connected with the European railway system. The regional network is more extensive in the north, than in the South. An important high-speed train line connects the South with the North of the country going from Naples to Milan and Turin.
In the majority of larger Italian cities, public transportation is available, in the cities like Naples or Milan you have an extensive network of buses connecting all suburbs to the center of the town.
Buying tickets for public transportation varies from city to city, sometimes they are bought at dedicated sales points and other times they are bought on the bus for example, so be sure to check which options are available for the city you are travelling in:
Tourist Tickets (24 hour and 72 hour) – Lots of cities’ bus companies will offer a friendly price for tourists. These tickets usually have a validity from 24 to 72 hours, so tourists can have unlimited rides within that time period. Again, the length of the routes usually affect the price of these tickets. The further you go, the higher the price.
A “carnet” is a collection of tickets you buy at one time. For example, if you have to take the bus back and forth for 5 days, you would want to buy a “carnet 10 corse” and then you’d specify how many zones your route covers so the seller knows what ticket to give you. Every time you get on the bus, you validate that ticket and the machine will punch out one of the numbers to show you have used that ride. This can be a ticket option for tourists, especially those staying a bit longer in certain areas.
One-way tickets are most commonly sold for city buses. They have a period of time that they are valid for use, usually 90 minutes, so within the 90 minutes from validating your ticket on the bus, you can use that ticket for as many rides as you want. However, if it’s after 90 minutes (or whatever time period your ticket says) from the ticket’s validation, you’ll need a new ticket to take the bus. Read on to find out why validating your ticket is so important! Roundtrip ticket Regional buses usually sell roundtrip tickets and it’s pretty straightforward – keep your ticket for the return trip!
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Getting here
Italy is the most often visited country by tourists in the world so thus it’s no surprise that there are big international airports in Italy in almost every large city. The beautiful country houses a total of 77 airports.
Depending on where you are departing from in the United States or Canada, you are looking at about a 12-hour flight. If you are flying out from the East Coast, it will be in the range of about a 9-hour flight.
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One of the best things about traveling Italy by train is a chance to appreciate the allure of the breathtaking landscapes while enjoying a fast and convenient ride to the final destination.
The extensive Italian train system interconnects all major hubs of the country, making train rides in Italy a comfortable way of getting from one city to another. Moreover, the Italy train schedule offers numerous daily departures, so you can easily plan your upcoming adventure.
Train travel is often cheaper than flying, in part because you can generally take more with you before paying extra baggage fees. It can also be more convenient and relaxing than driving, especially if you’d be driving in an unfamiliar place or driving for many hours nonstop to get to your destination.
The main rail connections to its neighbour countries- Switzerland, France and Germany.
The bus, like carpooling, often has the advantage of being the cheapest way to travel. In addition to that, even if the trips can be longer or of the same duration as by car, today’s buses are equipped with comfortable seats and often benefit from a free wifi connection. This will allow you to do your favorite activities without worrying and thus, not to see the time passing. With Busbud you travel cheaply everywhere in Europe.
