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Discover Some of the Very Best Things To See and Do Around the Lake Garda, Italy – OUR CROSSINGS
As the promise of lighter, balmy days drew closer, my mind quickly turned to where to go on a vacation in August.
Halfway through the year, I was itching to splurge on my annual leave on a fabulous escape, whether it’s a long weekend exploring a new European city, embarking on a chic staycation or to brace a long-haul escape consisting of little more than sun worshipping.
While most of the time I prefer to enjoy the thrill of visiting somewhere I have never been before, we initially settled on returning to a beloved destination and joining Valters’ family, who were travelling to Italy.
We blissfully spent a week weaving our way around Italy’s largest lake, where every turn revealed something wonderful: elegant architecture, flowers lining the lake, delicious food, art, and picturesque boats.
Italy’s largest lake is overflowing with brilliant activities on land and in the water. Here are ten of our favourite things to do in Lake Garda.
While listing all the possible things to do in Lake Garda would be an impossible task, this list of activities and attractions that are genuinely worth a visit is a good place to start.
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Discover Some of the Very Best Things To See and Do Around Lake Garda, Italy
Lake Garda is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.
It is situated on the border between three regions: Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino, and can be easily accessed from just about any large city in the country.
If you are keen on outdoor activities, you’ll find plenty of things to do on Lake Garda, as it offers different landscapes from north to south.
The northern end is narrower, more rugged, and mountainous, making it ideal for hiking, climbing, and watersports like windsurfing.
In contrast, the southern part is broader, flatter, and features rolling hills, making it better suited for gentle cycling, exploring historic towns, and enjoying local vineyards and olive groves.
Whether you want to visit the vineyards, whether you like climbing or simply want to go for a swim in the crystal clear water, Lake Garda will certainly enchant you!
Go For A Drive on Strada della Forra – the “James Bond Road”
If you love driving or simply want to enjoy a beautiful landscape from the comfort of your car, you have to go for a drive on this spectacular stretch of road carved into the rock.
Acclaimed by history and made famous by the cinema, the Strada della Forra is the most beautiful road on Lake Garda, found on the northern Lombard shore of the lake.
The road stretches on for 6 kilometres, winds through a canyon and was immortalised in the film “Quantum of Solace” with Daniel Craig in the role of James Bond, who travels along it at full speed.
Strada della Forra starts near Limone sul Garda and is narrow and winding in places, and leads directly through an impressive gorge.
Although the route is challenging by car, it is doable as long as you drive carefully and slowly.
*Good to know – In high season, you can only travel uphill, to avoid blockages due to the narrow dimensions of the carriageway
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Go Hiking and Biking on Monte Baldo
One of the best things to do on Lake Garda is to hop on a cable car and reach the top of a mountain with spectacular views in just minutes.
The cable car can be found in Malcesine, and it takes you to the top of Monte Baldo, where you can explore the wonderful landscape and views it has to offer.
You’ll find a plethora of wildlife, including golden eagles and marmots grazing the land, as well as blossoming flowers such as orchids and red lilies between March and August.
For the active traveller, there are many wonderful hiking and mountain biking opportunities and even extreme sports such as paragliding.
Please keep in mind that these are essentially the foothills of the Alps, and just because the cable car makes them easily accessible, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t come prepared.
Make sure you set off for a day hiking with a decent pair of walking shoes, snacks and plenty of water.
If you visit during the warmer summer months, plan your hike for cooler times like early morning or late evening, and bring sunscreen and a hat.
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Visit Some of the Most Beautiful Lake Garda Towns
Lake Garda’s shores are dotted with quaint, charming towns well worth exploring.
Some of the most popular places are located in the south of the lake, but they become heavily overcrowded during the high season.
In the south, some of the most popular are the picturesque towns of Desenzano, Sirmione and Bardolino. They have great links to other areas of the lake thanks to an efficient ferry service.
If you want to visit something slightly quieter, then it is best to try west or north of the lake, which has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.
Places like Riva del Garda and Gardone Riviera offer plenty to see and do, but come with fewer crowds.
Here are some of the best towns worth checking out:
- Sirmione: A lovely town, famous for its medieval Scaliger Castle and the Grotte di Catullo, an ancient Roman villa complex.
- Malcesine: A wonderful town with medieval lanes, restaurants, shops, and a castle.
- Riva del Garda: Located on the northern shore, it’s a hub for sailing, cycling, and rock climbing.
- Peschiera del Garda: A family-friendly town known for being close to amusement parks like Gardaland.
- Limone sul Garda: Known for its striking water and mountain scenery, with a famous panoramic cycling path.
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Embark On An Unforgettable Boat Trip
Lake Garda hosts many boat tours, which offer a fantastic way to fully enjoy the endless sights and colours of the lake.
All you have to do is choose your destination, jump on a boat, relax and take in a new perspective of this beautiful area.
We used Navigazione Laghi, a local company that provides boat tours to all the major locations on both the Brescia and Verona sides of the lake, for most of our trips around the lake.
As the northern area of Lake Garda doesn’t allow private motorboat navigation, Navigazione Laghi is the only company that runs boat tours in this area.
There are three main routes to choose from:
- Desenzano – Peschiera – Riva | the main route that connects most of the lake towns.
- Maderno – Torri del Benaco | connects Maderno and Torri, two towns in the central area of the lake.
- Limone – Malcesine | connects Limone sul Garda and Malcesine, two towns in the northern area of Lake Garda.
*Good to know – The price of your ticket depends on the route you choose and whether you are transporting a bike or a vehicle.
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Visit the Santuario Madonna della Corona
To catch a glimpse of a church perched precariously on the edge of a mountainside requires climbing approximately 1,500 steps.
It is well worth the time and effort as you’ll visit one of the most enchanting and mystical pilgrimage sites in Italy – Santuario Madonna della Corona.
This unique sanctuary, the “Shrine of Our Lady of the Corona”, is set into the rocky cliff of Monte Baldo, giving it an unmistakable dramatic appearance and an atmosphere of spiritual serenity.
To reach the sight, you can drive to the quaint town of Spiazzi and then opt for a 20-minute walk downhill through the winding stairs.
- Address: Vicolo Santuario, 1, Ferrara di Monte Baldo
- Opening times: Daily, 7:00 to 19:30 (Apr-Oct), 8:00 to 18:00 (Nov-Mar)
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Check out the Lakes’ Many Wonderful Viewpoints
Lake Garda is surrounded by mountains of all sizes, offering countless viewpoints from where you can enjoy breathtaking scenery.
Viewpoints range from panoramic mountain vistas to charming town views, and many of them can be reached through hiking, short cable car rides, or drives, making them accessible and highly rewarding experiences.
What I liked most about the viewpoints was that they offer different perspectives and angles of the lake.
For example, the Rocca di Garda looks down on Garda and Bardolino, while the Montecastello church provides views of the eastern and southern parts of the lake.
Here are some of the best viewpoints you should check out:
- Montecastello Hermitage | is a 17th-century church built on a rock famous for its panoramic views over Lake Garda.
- Terrazza del Brivido | The Terrazza del Brivido is located in the village of Tremosine, 350 meters above lake level, within the Hotel Paradiso. It is open to the public every day from mid-February to mid-November
- Punta Larici | An easy walk from Pregasina that takes you to one of the most beautiful viewpoints. The climb is not challenging and on arrival you’ are’ll be rewarded by a spectacular view of Lake Garda, Monte Altissimo and Monte Baldo.
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Explore Varone Waterfall Cave Park
Parco Grotta Cascate Varone is a wonderful green oasis with a series of waterfalls – a true natural wonder located near the Trentino shore of Lake Garda.
The main thing to do in the park is to go for a walk along the boardwalk into the dimly lit gorge to catch a glimpse of the Varone waterfall plunging into a cave that’s been carved by the force of water over millennia.
It’s an amazing place where you can see how years of erosion have shaped the rock, creating deep and narrow incisions.
The roar of the water here is quite powerful and magnificent, filling the air with a constant mist, creating a surreal and magical atmosphere.
The tour starts with a walk into the lower cave and then continues to the upper cave, which can be reached through a fifteen-meter-long tunnel winding through the cave.
The waterfalls and the cave are surrounded by lush gardens rich in floral and tree species.
To make the most of your visit to Parco Grotta Cascata Varone, make sure you wear comfortable shoes as the trails can be damp.
*Fun Fact – The gorge extends 55 metres into the Lower Cave and reaches a depth of 73 metres near the Upper Cave.
- Getting there: You can get to the waterfall by driving along State Road 421 in the direction of Ponte Arche.
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Enjoy Some Wine Tasting
For an avid wine lover, wine tasting around Lake Garda is a fantastic activity.
Not only does Lake Garda’s rich history, beautiful landscapes, and vibrant culture provide a picturesque backdrop for your wine experience, but it also offers delicious local wines like Lugana white, Bardolino red and Valpolicella wines.
Here, you can tour vineyards, learn about the winemaking process from generations of local families, and enjoy tastings paired with regional foods and cheeses.
Many family-run wineries offer deep dives into their winemaking traditions, providing tours of the vineyards and cellars with insights directly from the winemakers.
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Walk or Bike the Insanley Scenic Ponale Path
Located north of Lake Garda, you can find one of Europe’s most famous trails, connecting Riva del Garda to the Val di Ledro -The Ponale Road.
The iconic trail features tunnels, panoramic views, bends and heart-racing cliffside stretches. It can be traversed on foot, taking approximately three hours one way, or by bicycle.
There are plenty of places to rent bikes around Lake Garda, with several in Riva del Garda, on the northern side of the lake, alone.
Along the way, in addition to beautiful lake views, you can also visit the Tagliata del Ponale rampart built by the Austrians in 1860, catch a glimpse of the Sperone aqueduct and visit the Ponale Waterfall.
Before embarking on this journey, it is advisable to check that the trail is open and accessible.
*Good to know – This path is open to bikes as well: be careful on the narrow parts, where there is reduced visibility on corners and in the tunnels.
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Now, over to you!
Have you ever been to Lake Grada? Let us know in the comments!
Let us know if you are planning a visit to Lake Garda and have travel-related questions
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