Welcome to my Lake Garda itinerary travel guide.
This will be perfect for you if you have 3 or 4 days to spend at Italy’s largest lake.
Over the years, I’ve been to Lake Garda several times, as a little girl with my family, and later on for day trips from my hometown Castelfranco Veneto.
I’ve visited Gardaland, Movieland and Caneva Aquapark and if you’re a family with young children or teenagers, I suggest that you visit at least one amusement park.
Lake Garda also makes an easy day trip from Verona and this itinerary is perfect if you have a car, or, if you only have access to public transport (train, bus and ferry).
Lake Garda itinerary
I imagine that you’ll be up for a bit of an adventure during your time in Lake Garda, it is here that you’ll get to discover ancient mediaeval castles overlooking the lake and stroll around the cobblestoned streets of lakeside villages all with minimal effort.
You can travel to Lake Garda from Verona by train, or bus with sheer ease and this itinerary is ideal if you have 3 days in Lake Garda. It would be even better if you could spare a 4th day for a road trip along the Eastern side of the lake.
This would mean travelling from Lazise del Garda to Malcesine. For this reason, I recommend completing this itinerary by car. You can easily rent a car with this link which will ultimatly give you full flexibility and freedom to reach the next destination.
However, if you don’t have a car or don’t want to rent one, it’s still possible to cover the main towns on the southern eastern shores of the lake by bus.
How many days in Lake Garda?
I suggest spending at last 3 days in Lake Garda. This will give enough time to visit a couple of the most popular towns or villages around its coastline.
Also, it’s worth taking some time to head to the beach, practise a water sport or go on a boat tour, go hiking or spend half day at the spa.
There are many things to do around Lake Garda and every town has its character, history and typical food to try at local restaurants. Make sure to read my Lake Garda travel guide to get even more ideas on what to do during your time here.
Where to stay in Lake Garda?
Below you can look at this selection of bookable hotels I reccommed which are perfect for a stay when arriving to Lake Garda either by train, bus or car:
- The Ziba Hotel & Spa: this 4-star hotel is set in a 19th century building and based in Peschiera del Garda. It features an outdoor pool, two bars and a wellness centre, making it a perfect place for travellers that want to relax.
- Hotel Flaminia: what I like about this small hotel based in Sirmione is that it’s literally on Lake Garda waterfront! Book a lake view room with a terrace to enjoy lovely views of Lake Garda throughout your stay.
- Classique Hotel: for the travellers looking for a luxury and relaxing stay, check this hotel out! Just 50 metres from the shore of Lake Garda you can get room facing directly onto the lake or get beautiful views of Lazise itself.
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3 days in Lake Garda itinerary
Arriving from Verona, this Lake Garda itinerary starts from Peschiera del Garda on day 1, continues to Sirmione on day 2 and Lazise on day 3.
If you still have time, you can drive along the eastern shores of Lake Garda and reach the town of Malcesine and stop along the way in Bardolino and Riva del Garda.
If you want to know how to get to Verona from Venice, just read my guide on how to get from Venice to Verona which will show you 5 unique ways to travel there.
Arrive to Peschiera del Garda from Verona (Day 1)
Peschiera del Garda is a good base to start your exploration of the southern shores of this beautiful lake. You can get to Peschiera from Verona by car and it takes 30 minutes or by train, that’s much faster, in just under 15 minutes!
I normally prefer to go to Peschiera by train because it’s also well connected by high speed train to Venice and Padua too. Once here, I suggest that you go for a nice walk in the city centre and a stroll down Piazza della Serenissima.
More than a ‘piazza’ this is a lakeside promenade with shops and eateries on one side and water in between.
I like to see it as a ‘water square’! The lake is an integral part of Peschiera’s urban landscape. This small town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the best way to appreciate its uniqueness is by either walking around its streets and admiring its majestic city gates and fortresses or going on aquatic adventures.
Depending on how adventurous you are/feel that day, you can either go on a boat tour around Peschiera or on a stand-up paddleboard adventure!
If you want to get a ferry to other lakeside towns, then head over the small port that you can access after the war memorial.
See the Navigazione Laghi website to check timetables and routes.
Sirmione (Day 2)
Let’s continue exploring the lake with the next stop: Sirmione! From Peschiera, you can either drive for 10/15 minutes and arrive in Sirmione, get the bus LN026 or a ferry which takes 45 minutes.
Sirmione is also called ‘the pearl of Lake Garda’ and it’s truly a beautiful town. The historic centre is dominated by the Scaliger Castle that welcomes you as you cross the drawbridge. You can either visit the castle, from where you can also enjoy stunning views of the lake and town or move on towards Piazza Giosuè Carducci.
This public square is buzzing with bars, restaurants and endless places to buy gelato. Here you’ll find people walking through at all hours of the day, whether it’s to get a ferry or walk down the scenic point: Pomost Piazza Giosuè Carducci.
You can then walk down Via Dante till the ‘Kiss me’ viewpoint and relax for a bit at the Spiaggia del Prete.
If you feel like walking, then leave this beach and take the coastal walkway called ‘Passeggiata delle Muse’ (Walk of the Muses).
Other attractions in Sirmione include:
- The Maria Callas villa;
- The Aquaria Thermal SPA where you can spend half day or even a ful day simply relaxing at the spa;
- Visit the Catullo grottoes and the Archeological museum of Sirmione;
- Sunbathe at Jamaica beach, famous for its crystalline waters;
- Go on a panoramic boat tour around Sirmione to admire the harbour.
Lazise (Day 3)
Day 3 is dedicated to another lovely lakeside town called Lazise, which I visited for the first time only recently and fell in love with! You can reach Lazise from Lake Garda by car in just under 30 minutes or get a ferry in 50 minutes.
It’s also possible to get there by bus but you’ll have to change it in Peschiera. Once you get to Lazise, you can start your city walk from Porta San Zeno and continue on Via Porta until you reach the heart of Lazise: Piazza Vittorio Emanuele.
This piazza is surrounded by bars and small local restaurants where you can stop for a coffee, refreshing drink or a meal, you can spot the Dogana Veneta with its moored colourful fishing boats.
The Dogana is now an events venue but in the past it was the customs house where goods travelling between Lombardy and the Republic of Venice were checked.
Go for a walk along Lungolago Marconi for spectacular views of the lake, admire the mediaeval city walls and city gates and have a Spritz at Bar Moscatelli Giovanni like I did, and I can definitely recommend it.
For other popular activities to fill your day while in Lazise, I suggest:
- A Winery Tour with Garda Wines and Food Tasting. This area is famous for its wines and there’s no better way to taste them, if not surrounded by vineyards and the typical serene atmosphere of the Veneto’s countryside.
- This Beekeeping Farm Tour and Tasting Experience which is perfect for a family or a small group with a love for nature and the outdoors. Learn the crucial role that bees have for the ecosystem and taste honey and cheeses.
- In the mood of having some serious fun? Then a day at the biggest amusement park in Europe, Gardaland, is exactly what you need! You can get your admission ticket in advance and avoid queues at the entrance.
Drive around Lake Garda (Day 4 Optional)
If you have another day to spend around Lake Garda, well, lucky you! The best way to make the most of its beauty is to go on a road trip and drive up the Gardesana Orientale road.
This is considered one of the most scenic roads in the world, which stretches for around 130 kilometres. From Lazise you can reach Bardolino in 12 minutes, from there drive to Garda, which it’s only 10 minutes away and then up to Torri del Benaco and Malcesine.
As you drive up north, notice how close the Alps backdrop will get to you, revealing new and more dramatic landscapes. You can spend around 2 hours or less for each town, stroll around their historic centre, eat and drink and back to the car so you can move onto the next destination!
Don’t have a car or don’t want to rent one? From Lazise you can take this Full-Day Lake Garda Tour: Bus & Public Boat with Guide and stop in other popular Instagrammable lakeside towns of Limone and Salò by ferry.
Lake Garda itinerary
Lake Garda never stops to fascinate me and there’s still a lot of places I want to visit. If you ask me, the best time to visit it is in spring and autumn when the temperatures are more ideal for exploration and afternoons of exploring on foot.
I hope this itinerary guide will inspire you to visit Lake Garda next time you are in Italy.
This Lake Garda itinerary is perfect for anyone spending their stay in Verona or still undecided on the mode of transport to explore Lake Garda’s shores.
If you’re planing to visit here as part of a more ambitious trip and want to discover other lakes in Northern Italy while you’re here, take a look at my dedicated guide.
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