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Grand Hotel Terme, Lake Garda

Things to do guide

The best things to do in Lake Garda

Updated 1 October 2026 · 15 things to do

Pictured: Grand Hotel Terme

Lake Garda is Italy's biggest lake, and it can't make up its mind what it is. The southern shore is gentle and Mediterranean, with olive groves, vineyards and a castle sitting in the water. The north is an Alpine fjord, with cliffs falling straight into the lake and snow on the peaks into spring. In between are lemon-house villages, pastel harbour towns and, if you like, a theme park.

The lake is about 50 kilometres long, so you can't do it all from one spot, but boats, buses and a short drive make it easy to mix and match. Spend a day on the water, a day up a mountain, and one in Verona. Order a glass of Bardolino or Lugana at every opportunity.

Don't miss

  1. 1Sirmione
  2. 2Malcesine
  3. 3Monte Baldo cable car
  4. 4Il Vittoriale degli Italiani
  5. 5Verona

The southern shore

Gentle, sunny and easy, with the lake’s most famous peninsula.

  1. Sirmione

    Neighbourhood

    The moated Scaligero Castle at Sirmione on Lake Garda
    Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A narrow finger of land pokes a couple of kilometres into the lake, and at its base sits Sirmione, an old town you enter across a drawbridge past the moated Scaligero Castle. Inside, car-free lanes of gelaterie and shops run down to the waterfront. It's touristy, yes, and still lovely.

    Tip: Visit early or late in the day to see it without the coach-party crowds.

  2. Grottoes of Catullus

    Landmark

    The Roman ruins of the Grottoes of Catullus at Sirmione
    Photo: This Photo was taken by Wolfgang Moroder. Feel free to use my photos, but please, CC BY-SA 4.0

    At the very tip of the Sirmione peninsula, the ruins of a huge Roman villa sit among olive trees on a cliff above the water. The name comes from the poet Catullus, who is linked to the area, though no one can say the villa was his. The views over the lake are the real prize.

  3. Lazise

    Neighbourhood

    The harbour of Lazise on Lake Garda
    Photo: Hoppend, CC0

    A relaxed medieval harbour town on the south-east shore, with walls, a small castle and a waterfront lined with restaurants. It's quieter than Sirmione and a pleasant place for a long lunch beside the boats.

The northern shore and the mountains

  1. Malcesine

    Neighbourhood

    The castle at Malcesine on Lake Garda
    Photo: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de

    On the eastern shore, a castle on a rocky spur towers over a tangle of lanes and a small harbour, with Monte Baldo behind. The writer Goethe stopped here in 1786 and was briefly mistaken for a spy after sketching the castle. Today you can climb its tower for the view.

  2. Monte Baldo cable car

    Activity

    The upper station of the Monte Baldo cable car
    Photo: Wittylama, CC BY-SA 4.0

    From Malcesine, a cable car climbs the slopes of Monte Baldo, with the floor rotating on the way up, to a ridge high above the lake. At the top are walking trails, paragliders launching into the valley and a view of the water far below that makes the whole lake look like a map.

    Tip: Take a jumper. It is noticeably cooler and often windier at the top than on the shore.

  3. Riva del Garda

    Neighbourhood

    Riva del Garda at the northern end of the lake
    Photo: High Contrast, CC BY 3.0 de

    At the lake's northern tip, Riva sits at the foot of steep mountains. It's one of the lake's windsurfing and sailing hubs, with a pretty old town, a medieval tower and cafés along the promenade. Walks and cycle routes begin right from the waterfront.

  4. Limone sul Garda

    Neighbourhood

    Limone sul Garda seen from a lake boat
    Photo: Unknown, CC BY-SA 3.0

    A tiny village squeezed between cliffs and water on the western shore, named, say locals, for the lemons once grown in terraced greenhouses above it. You can still see the pillars of the old lemon houses. The harbour is photogenic, and the narrow lanes are best explored in the evening.

Culture and gardens

  1. Il Vittoriale degli Italiani

    Landmark

    The open-air theatre of the Vittoriale with Lake Garda behind
    Photo: Moroder, CC BY-SA 4.0

    Above Gardone Riviera, this eccentric estate was the home of the poet and political firebrand Gabriele D'Annunzio. It's a hillside of gardens, an open-air theatre, a mausoleum and a house crammed with objects, and even the prow of a warship set into the hillside. Strange and fascinating, with lake views from the theatre.

  2. Isola del Garda

    Nature

    The Isola del Garda on Lake Garda
    Photo: Wolfgang Moroder, CC BY-SA 4.0

    A private island near the western shore, owned by the Borghese Cavazza family, with a neo-Gothic villa and terraced Italian gardens that you can visit on organised boat trips in the season. It's a serene escape from the busy lakefront.

    Tip: Visits depend on the boat schedule and season, so check before planning your day around it.

  3. Cascata del Varone

    Nature

    Near Riva del Garda, a waterfall thunders down through a deep gorge, with walkways taking you into the rock to feel the spray. A cool, damp place to be on a hot day.

Days out

  1. Verona

    Day trip

    The Roman Arena in Verona
    Photo: Bo&Ko, CC BY-SA 2.0

    Romeo and Juliet's city is a short drive or train ride from the southern shore. Walk past the Roman Arena (still used for opera in summer), through the market square of Piazza delle Erbe and over the Adige river. The Juliet's balcony courtyard is touristy and still draws a crowd.

  2. Gardaland

    Activity

    Italy's best-known theme park sits near Peschiera del Garda on the south-east edge of the lake, with rollercoasters, rides for smaller children and shows. A day here is an easy win with a family.

    Tip: Check the season dates before you book, as the park does not open all year.

  3. Boat trips on the lake

    Activity

    Ferries and fast hydrofoils link the lake's main towns, and it's the most relaxing way to see the shoreline. Hop between Sirmione, Salò, Limone and Malcesine, or simply sit on deck with a coffee while the mountains slide past.

Eat and drink

  1. Bardolino and Lugana wine

    Food

    Bardolino is a light, fresh red from the lake's south-east shore; Lugana is a crisp, aromatic white from the south. Many cantine around the shore offer tastings, and a bottle by the water is the essence of a Garda evening.

  2. Lake fish and olive oil

    Food

    Lake Garda has a famous olive oil, light and delicate, produced on the terraced groves along the western shore. On menus look for lake fish such as trout and whitefish, often served simply grilled or with polenta.

Where to stay in Lake Garda

Not sure which area suits you? Read our guide: Where to stay on Lake Garda →

Getting around

Ferries link the lakeside towns for much of the year and are a pleasure in their own right. Buses cover the main shoreline roads, and Verona is reachable by train from Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano. A car helps for hill villages, though lakeside roads can be slow in summer.

When to go

May to September is best for swimming and boat trips, and the season runs a little longer in the south. Spring and early autumn are lovely for walking and cycling, with fewer people. Many attractions and some hotels close in winter.

Questions about visiting Lake Garda

What is Lake Garda best known for?
Its scenery, from Mediterranean olive groves in the south to Alpine peaks in the north, plus Sirmione’s castle, lakeside towns, water sports and wine.
Is Lake Garda worth visiting?
Yes. It combines Italian lakeside charm with easy access to Verona, mountains and a lively choice of towns, and it works for couples, families and active travellers alike.
What is there to do at Lake Garda with kids?
Gardaland theme park, boat trips, gentle beaches in the south and the Monte Baldo cable car are all popular, along with plenty of gelato.
How many days do you need at Lake Garda?
Four or five days lets you see the highlights of both ends of the lake and fit in a day in Verona. A week is better if you want to slow down and swim.
Do you need a car at Lake Garda?
Not necessarily. Ferries and buses link the main towns, though a car makes it easier to reach villages in the hills and to visit Verona and the vineyards.

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