Travel Guides: All Countries / Europe / Italy / Italian Lakes / Lake Garda
 |  | Travel Reviews : Lake Garda |
|
| | | | Review by Charles Baker from Falmouth
West coast of the lake beautiful and unspoiled. A thoroughly relaxing destination and close to Verona.
Review by Tony Crossland from Durham
Lake Garda is one of the truely splendid places in the world with a range of towns and activities to suit all tastes. Take it easy and watch the world go by at one of the lakeside cafes, stroll around and sightsee, uncover the history of the place or take part in any number of activities including walking sailing, windsurfing or hang-gliding. Oh and don't forget the ice-cream.
Mountainous in the North, more open in the south. Make sure you vist at least some of the following - Riva, Malcesnine, Limone, Garda, Sirminone - all are differnent. Try using the ferries especially on hot days when the cooling breeze is very welcome.
Review by Elspeth McKinnon from Brentwood
We enjoyed Lake Garda. The scenery was fantastic and the towns and gardens interesting to visit. We took one fast service across the lake between Salo and Garda which took 20 minutes but cost nearly eighty euros for two adults and two kids aged 13 and 9). The cost put us off using the ferries more particularly as they finished fairly early in the day. We ate at a wonderful restuarant in Garda but in general the food was fairly touristy and expensive.
We visited in August and the weather was extremely hot - much hotter than the guidebooks suggested - at 37%. Staying in a flat with only limited air conditioning impacted on our enjoyment considerably. We really enjoyed visiting Sirmione although it was very busy despite that fact that we went in the evening.
As a result of the weather, we toured more in the car and really enjoyed driving into the mountains where the scenery was amazing and the temperature cooler.
Review by member Walswroth from Wigan
Lake Garda and the surrounding area's are simply beautiful. Everywhere has been carefully and considerately designed and thought through.
Review by jennifer norton from Burh Heath
Villa Pontichello Manerba
Review by patricia childs from paignton, devon
we returned to lake garda for a holiday but also to attend our sons wedding the area provided a wonderful location for both
Review by member Thorpe from Ipswich
Lake Garda has to be the most splendid place we have ever been to. Beautiful doesn't seem the right word, its more than that. The lake itself is so clear, cool and clean. The views are amazing. Imagine sitting on the beach with the sun beating down on you, and in the distance the mountains with snow glistening on the tops, two completely different environments all rolled into one. Relax, explore, eat, drink and enjoy Lake Garda.
Review by Brian Church from Melbourne
Largo Garda is bordered by a mumber of extremely picturesque villages of which Salo is, in my opinion, the most beautiful. The local population are friendly and helpful and many speak excellent English. A wonderful welcoming place to stay. It also has to added advantage of being within easy reach of many of Northern Italy's most historic cities, including Verona, Milan and Venice. The train is the way to go. Reasonably priced and reasonably fast you are not far away from anywhere in the North. I look forward to my return.
Review by sonia mclachlan from liverpool
lake garda is amazing, ive never thought it would be so beautiful, the scenary takes your breath away, its absolutley stunning cant wait to go back for another holiday...
Review by Jan Tregale from 19 Nelson Road, Goring, West Sussex BN12 6EG
A great location for anyone who wants to get away from every day lifestyles. Superb food and wine, beautiful scenery and friendly, welcoming people.
Review by john cordiner from longueil, france
Visited Salo, Limone, (both wonderful),Sirmione,Torri d. Benaco, Malcesine and Venice(by train)
Review by Keith Rea from London
Lake Garda offers just about everything you could wish for - all sorts of sport, stunning scenery with fantastic views by day and twinkling vistas by night, access to culture in the forms of art, architecture, music, peace if you want it and nightlife if that is what you want. Our party ranged in age from 12 to 53 via 19, 21 and 50 and we all had a brilliant time. We drove, walked and travelled by boat in our excursions and slowed right down to gentle strolls. In short we loved it.
Review by Caroline Wood from Cheltenham
Lake Garda is beautiful. In almost whichever direction you catch your first sight of its turquiose waters you know its going to be a great holiday. With the kids screaming in the back after a long journey you can begin to relax. The western and eastern shores are as different in character as they are in geography - ditto the north end and the south end of the lake. Where you go depends on what you want to do - so do your research before deciding where to stay. What you can be sure of almost everywhere is a friendly Italian welcome, excellent food, beautiful towns and villages, and of course the lake itself.
In July and particularly August it is very crowded - traffic jams are the norm, and beach space, if that is what you want, is at a premium, but we thought it was worth this price. If you put your mind to it you can always find a secluded spot if you are willing to walk ir drive off the beaten track a little. If you don't speak Italian, then German is more useful than English particularly as you go North up the lake. Not surprisingly given Lake Garda's location there are almost as many more German and Austrian visitors as Italians.
Crowds, we thought, were Lake Garda's only real drawback. In every other sense of the word its is a perfect European holiday destination. Its beautiful, scenic, loads to do no matter whether you are 6 or 76. Everywhere we went, with or without kids, speaking the wrong language we were always made to feel welcome.
Review by Carol Davies from St Albans
The lake and surrounding areas are stunningly beautiful and we spent many happy evenings in Garda Town. The food was fabulous and the people extremely friendly. The only downside was the cost of parking which at 1.50 euro per hour was exploitative, and there were no concessions on Sundays or off peak. However, this was not as expensive at other resorts around the Lake.
Review by Don Logan from Canberra
The Lake Garda area is a wonderful place for a holiday. It combines a fabulous range of scenery, trips (particularly Ferries) and is convenient for visiting many other cities - Milan, Verona, Venice for example. Restaurant eating and enjoyable excursions through mountain and lake shores were a couple of our highlights. We enjoyed visiting the various markets as they moved from village to village. Roads can be busy in the holiday season, particularly at weekends, but this just needs careful planning. We have stayed in Salo, excellent relaxation, and San Felice, a wonderful village. We will definitely be having further holidays in this area.
Review by Yasuko Mitchell from Shipley, UK
There are a lot of things to do and see around the lake. We visited different places either by boat or by car. We went to Aquaria at Sirmione twice and enjoyed relaxing by the pool side overlooking the lake. Been to a beach at Moniga, to Riva, Malcesine, Lacize, Isola del Garda, and more. We went to Verona taking the train from Desenzano (only took 30 minutes) for the opera at the Arena. Visited Bergamo (a city on the hill),too, on the way back to the airport. The weather was perfect, too, and it was a wonderful holiday.
Review by Chris wickham from Batley
The location was extremely nice and very relaxing.
Review by Amanda Charnley from Evesham
Lake Garda is a place where each generation can find something to particuar enjoy.Be it hiring a speedboat, visiting an ancient walled town, mountain biking or just wandering around the beautiful villages that sit on the edge of the lake, all tastes will be catered for.
Review by visitor
Lake Garda offers recreational, relaxing and romantic environment for all. Simply sitting alongside the lake watching the local fishermen in the morning, eating beautiful Italian food in the evening, too more exhilerating walks, river walks, mountain biking and water sports, the Garda Region offers all. If you are lucky, you can also take advantage of a free opera / quartet within one of the many beautiful villages.
Review by Karen Tinworth from Tiptree
Absolutely stunning and certainly a place for families. Friendly and very accomodating italians a fantastic boat trip tour on lake garda gave us an incite into other places around the lake. Will certainly be back as there is so much to see, do or not if you just want to relax and take in the spectacular views.
Review by John Davidson from Portstewart
The site is useful but needs a bit of additional local information inserted such as why pools are not open in May, By-laws that mean no noise after 11pm.
Review by visitor
Lake Garda is very picturesque with a relaxing atmosphere and you can do as much or as little as you like. Each town you visit will seem even prettier than the previous one.
Review by Jo Delbridge from Guernsey
We loved Lake Garda and would definitely head back. The scenery is breathtaking, the towns very well cared for and upmarket, the shopping good and the food delicious.
Review by Tony Marcangelo from Cuffley
A very different resort location with each of the towns around the Lake providing a slightly different version of Italy across the spectrum. Fantastic scenery and the central location enables travel to other major cities ie Verona and Venice as well as a host of smaller villages. Service at all the shops and restaurants we visited was good , some exceptional.
Review by Katharine Strain from Belfast
Beautiful and picturesque with lots for the family to do including fun parks, sightseeing, boat trips etc....
The food was fantastic and the countryside restaurants were particularly good.
Review by Emilio Porfiri from Birmingham
Stunning scenery and charming towns to visit such as Limone, Malcesine, and Sirmione to name a few, but be prepared to battle the crowds during the tourist season. If travelling by car expect long queues - the narrow roads around the lake were not built to take the amount of traffic which they now have to withstand. The more leisurely option is to use the ferries which stop at all of the major towns around the lake. If you wish to avoid the crowds altogether, a trip up into the mountains to visit the smaller towns overlooking the lake, or hiking in the national park makes a pleasant alternative.
Review by Deirdre Daly from Limerick
Lake Garda is a fantastic location in Italy for families. It is very quiet outside the bigger towns like Desanzano and Salo. Moniga is extremely quiet but for those who want to relax by the pool by day and travel a few kilometers in to the bigger towns in the evening it was perfect. Value for money is great when it comes to food. You will find great restaurants all over the lake. For the shoppers there are great shopping malls all over. One particularly nice one is Leone oudside Lonato. For the kids there is Gardaland. There are multiple parks, 3 i think. The best is Gardaland itself. The others are movieland and a waterpark and a wildlife park. Also in Lonato there is a fantastic go-cart track for all the budding race drivers. Carts are available from about 7/8 years up to 90 should you feel like it!. One place I was particularily taken away with was Salo. We drove through it and stopped for an ice cream. Very nice, definetly worth a stay. We have been twice to Lake garda and we will be back!
Review by Rita Swan from Bearsted
Lake Garda is a beautiful place to visit.So much to see and do once you have mastered the public transport timetables better still if you have a car.Fantastic scenery everywhere you look. Plenty of restaurants.Ideal holiday for being busy or simply relaxing.The choice is yours! Have just one more comment -the weather can be a little unpredictable-same as England!!!!
Review by Alan & Sue Tresadern from Petrborough
A holiday at Lake Garda allows you to enjoy scenic beauty in a relaxing environment, hosted by some of the friendliest and welcoming people in Europe.
A wide choice of quality restaurants and cafes provide excellent value cuisine to suit all tastes.
Whether you choose to to relax at the waters edge with a book, cruise the lake in one of the many ferry boats or enjoy one of the many water sports on offer, a holiday at Lake Garda is guaranteed to refresh.
Review by Rob Smith from West Bromwich
We stayed at the relatively quiet resort of Salo. Lake Garda is a beautiful place with convenient and short boat trips available for visiting the lakeside towns with plenty of good value restaurants, shops, and even the option of mountain top walks for the more adventurous. My grown up children and their partners enjoyed a day walking on top of the mountain at Malcesine while I preferred to accompany my wife shopping in the town. We also took the opportunity to visit Venice for another memorable experience within a reasonable travelling distance. Everyone had a really enjoyable week's vacation.
Review by Stu Mitchell from Harrogate, UK
Fantastic place, lovely spot - must go down as a favourite!
Review by Maurice Roche from Dublin
I stayed in Gardone Riviera, which is a lovely town. There are two areas in the town, one that is on the lakefront, and the old town, which is about 1km from the lakefront. It was quiet in early May, but talking to some of the locals it is busy during the peak summer season. A restaurant I would recommend in the old town is Agli Angeli, which has very good food and friendly service.
The town of Salo is a short drive away and there is a lovely walk along the lakefront. A restaurant in Salo, which is on the lakefront that I would recommend, is Ristorante Papillon. Another town well worth a visit is Sirmione that is on the south of the lake and is about 45mins drive from Gardone Riviera. The number and quality of Gelataria in Sirmione is excellent. I counted 72 flavours of homemade ice cream at one Gelataria and when you have two young children it was amazing to see their faces.
Another town to see is Malcesine, which is on the North Eastern part of the lake. You can take a boat (take the fast boat) from most of the towns. When you arrive make sure you take the cable car to the top of the mountain, the views are spectacular. There are also some lovely restaurants in Malcesine. We visited the theme park at Gardaland which the children really enjoyed. We visited in early May, and there were no queues, which will not be the case in peak season as there are signs "60 minutes wait from here".
I would definitely recommend Lake Garda for a holiday and speaking to some locals the towns on the western park of the lake are the nicest towns to visit.
Review by Tanya Jones from Cardiff, Wales
Lake garda has everything to offer! We visited in November and the weather was stunning, chilly but blue skies everyday. Toscolano Maderno, was perfectly situated as just half hour drive to the North was skiing and windsurfing opportunities as well as more shopping areas and caves to explore. To the South there were plenty of places to shop and eat and a ship in the trees is definately worth taking a look at! Also there are theme parks such as gardaland and Movie land, so if perfect for couples, families, adventurers... everyone!
Review by Peter Coombs from leicester
Our second visit to lake Garda I'm sure we will be coming back again.
Review by James O Hare from WARRENPOINT
Lake Garda is one of the most beautiful places in Italy. With its pretty little towns, historic buildings and towering mountains making it perfect for everyone. Fantastic
|
|
|
|
|
| | Destination Guide : Lake Garda |
|
| | | Scenery, Italian style |  | Why go on holiday to Lake Garda?
To visit the largest and most famous of the Italian lakes, set against a backdrop of stunning mountain scenery, to tour picturesque medieval villages, take leisurely boat trips, have a go at water sports, and to visit famous cities Verona and Venice on day trips.
How much?
From about £400 for a week's half-board package in low season and about £50 per night for a double hotel room. Return no-frills flights from London Stansted to nearby Verona and Brescia start at about £70 in November.
When should I go?
June to September is best for decent weather, when daily highs average 23-28C/73-82F. Tourists flock to the lake in July and August.
|
|
|
|
| | | Try romantic ramblings | | Where is it?
The 48km-long lake is in northern Italy, east of Milan and fairly close to provincial town Brescia and famous city Verona, the setting for Shakespeare's Romeo And Juliet. Cable cars allow views across the lake so you can get your bearings.
Who goes there?
Mature holidaymakers, couples, walkers, families and water sports enthusiasts looking for a sedate holiday in a beautiful location. Clubbers will be disappointed.
Easy to get there?
You have to catch a bus from Verona, Brescia, Mantua or Milan, or go by train to Desenzano del Garda, on the main Milan-Venice line. Fly-drivers should take the A4 motorway and the S11, which link Milan with Venice, or the A22 which connects Verona and Trento.
First stops?
Riva del Garda in the north sits at the foot of the Dolomite mountains and is the most fashionable resort on Lake Garda. Visit its old centre with cobbled streets and squares and see why philosopher Nietzsche and writers Kafka and Thomas Mann, author of Death In Venice, enjoyed holidaying there. It's also got a 100m waterfall, fed by small lake Lado di Tenno.
After that?
At the other end of the lake on a peninsula sits Sirmione, loved by bathers and usually full of tourists. A Roman villa with baths (Grotte de Catullo) is an easy 15-minute walk past Lido delle Bionde's small beach with pedalos for hire. For a good view, check out the tower at 13th-century Castello Scaligero, or explore the area on a ferry around the lake from near the castle.
|
|
|
|
|
| | | Treats for culture vultures | | Need a treat?
Splash out on a massage, sauna or choose from dozens of body treatments at pricey Terme di Sirmione's Catullo or Virgilio spas, both in the resort. Leisurely cruises from small and friendly Malcesine to Riva or tiny, laid-back Limone are also relaxing.
Are you a culture vulture?
Head west to visit Gardone Riviera, Lake Garda's most elegant holiday spot in days gone by, and tour Il Vittoriale, an amazing villa once owned by the notorious 20th-century poet Gabriele d'Annunzio.
Things to see there?
D'Annunzio's Second World War museum and an open-air theatre that stages opera, ballet and plays and classical concerts in July and August are among the highlights.
Feeling active?
Riva is an excellent spot for windsurfing, learning to sail, going on mountain biking adventures, paragliding and even canyoning — jumping into rapids and floating downstream.
Nothing for walkers?
Pleasant, undemanding walks are possible from Gardone Riviera, inland to Monte Spino or Monte Pizzicolo and you can hike from Riva del Garda around Monte Rocchetta.
|
|
|
|
|
| | Fact File : Lake Garda |
|
| | | Lake Garda | | Did you know?
Lake Garda is home to the famous Bardolino wine region, while equally notable Valpolicella and Soave wines come from around Verona, 70km away.
Language
Italian.
Visas
None required for EU residents.
Getting there
Fly to Verona or Brescia for Lake Garda. The A4 and S11 roads, which connect Milan with Venice, pass the southern edge of the lake and the A22 the east.
Flying time from London
About an hour and 45 minutes.
Getting around
Frequent ferries and hydrofoils take you around the lakeside resorts. Buses serve various stops around the lakes, but the ferries are usually quicker. If driving, be aware of scary hairpin mountain bends where roads run perilously close to the edge.
Currency
Euro.
Costs
Prices vary but as a guide a small beer is £2, roll of camera film £2.50-£3, average meal £15, short taxi journey £9, litre of petrol 65p.
Weather
Summer highs can average 28C/83F, but spring or autumn is when the weather is still pleasant (low to mid-70sF/20sC). The foothills of the Alps shelter the lakes from the worst of winter and provide a mild year-round climate, although spring can be changeable.
Time difference
One hour ahead of GMT.
International dialling code from the UK
00 39.
Voltage
220V/50Hz. Some places use the old 125V system so check first. Plug points have two or three round holes, so take an international adaptor.
Opening hours
Shops open 8am-1pm, shut for a long lunch, and reopen at 3/4pm often until 10pm. Banks open 8.30am-1.30pm and 2.45-4.30pm on weekdays.
Health – before you go
Take an EHIC to benefit from the UK's reciprocal healthcare agreement with Italy.
Health – when you are there
For peace of mind, take out adequate travel insurance which covers treatment in private clinics.
Warnings
Don't fall victim to petty theft. Keep a close eye on personal possessions.
Emergency
Police 113.
Customs
Expect shops to shut between 1-4pm for siesta. Remember to cover shoulders when visiting churches as a sign of respect.
Pets
Italy is part of the Pet Travel Scheme, so animals with the correct documentation can return to the UK without having to undergo quarantine.
Tipping
Restaurants usually have a cover charge that includes bread, water and olive oil.
Tourist office
Italian State Tourist Board, 1 Princes St, London, W1R 8AY. Tel. 020 7408 1254. Brochure line: 09001 600280 (60p/min).
|
|
|
|
|
| | Available rental properties in Lake Garda |
|
| |  | | Il Brolo
3 bedroom, 3 bathroom apartment in an exclusive complex in the heart of the pretty lakefront town of Salo', Lake Garda
|  | | Cabiana
2 bedroom apartment with spacious outside dining space, shared pool and tennis courts, and stunning lake views from every room
|  | | CasaGarda
Small, privately owned complex of just 6 units with swimming pool and lake view.
|  | | 1, Le Begonville
Gorgeous residential complex set in the hills above Gardone Riviera, with breathtaking views over Lake Garda and large shared swimming pool.
|  | | 2, Le Begonville
Gorgeous residential complex set in the hills above Gardone Riviera, with breathtaking views over Lake Garda and large shared swimming pool.
|
Holiday Rentals in Lake Garda |
|
|
|
|
|
 |  | Family and kids (103) | | | Beautiful Scenery (64) | | | Good dining (26) | | | Unspoilt and charming (25) | | | Exclusive (18) |
|
|
|
Why Rent With Us
