Lake Garda is such a breathtaking area with so many beautiful things to see, but it is important that you suss out everything you want to see or do before you go there to make sure you get the most out of it and have time to see all of the hidden gems!
Having said that, I have to admit, I went there on a whim with no plan whatsoever and still had an awesome time! I really enjoyed just walking until I found something cool to do, which was often, so if you have time to spare I recommend doing this!
Man made things to do
Gondola rides
These are located all around the lake. These are a good way to get up the cliffs without having to use all your energy up on hiking!
Little towns
Visiting all the little towns around the lake is definitely something to do; for more info on transport keep scrolling down.
Abandoned hotel
There is a super cool abandoned hotel/restaurant that has a cave and waterfall next to it; the water is very cold but it is beautiful and worth the visit! You can get access to this from private water transfers or with the road, however it’s much easier to get to the waterfall by going from the lake- otherwise if you’re feeling brave you can take a leap off the hotel into the water and swim to it!
Limonaia del Castèl, Limone
This is a super cute place filled with citrus fruits, especially lemons. It has been around since the 17th century and although there isn’t anything really to do when you get there, it is cool to see and super beautiful, not to mention the spectacular view of the lake. You can see a bit of it in the video below!
@arabellapoxon2 Watch till the end to see my new bestie, Mr Captain 👨✈️ #solotraveller #solowomentravel #italy #lakegarda #vacation ♬ Thinking with My Dick (feat. Juicy J) - Kevin Gates
Scaligero Castle, Sirmione
This is an awesome castle built in the 14th century and it is now a museum! It’s located right on the lake and is lovely to walk around, especially if you’re interested in history.
Archaeological ruins of Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione
These are ruins of a Roman villa that has magnificent views of Lake Garda; there is also the archaeological museum of Sirmione on the site which is super interesting to visit.
Natural things to do
Hiking up the cliffs
All around the lake are walks up the sides of the cliffs. It’s totally worth doing this to see the views once you get to the top of them, they’re truly magnificent! One I can recommend goes up to the Chiesa di Santa Barbra church.
Duck watching
All around Garda there are many different types of ducks dotted around the lake that you can see. Just be warned that some of the ducks can be aggressive when you feed them which is why it is not recommended. I actually ended up getting a duck tattoo because of all those little guys!
Have a swim in the lake
As I mentioned above it is super cold but this has many health benefits to it, like aiding circulation. Why not give it a go? There are also many water sports that you can do there such as kayaking, boating, windsurfing, kite surfing etc.. It’s also lovely hanging out on the beaches, the views are just stunning.
Must-do
Jump on that ferry and visit the different towns around Lake Garda, hike up the cliffs, visit the castle and make sure you say hi to the ducks!
Dining experience
Personally, as a vegetarian, I didn’t find much variety here, however I definitely managed to find some good places, here are my top 3:
- Winds bar in Nago Torbole- this place is where the majority of the younger people and sports people hang out at. It also turns into a ‘club’ at night which is good fun! They have a lot of healthy options and absolutely delicious pancakes in the morning.
- La Sciabola in Nago Torbole- there are a lot of food options here and I absolutely loved the staff members there. It’s also a great place to people watch and watch all of the posh cars go by!
- Ristorante Bar Pizzeria L’Agrumeto in Limone- I adored the vibe of this place, it was relaxed yet felt high class, it had one of the best views of the lake that I saw during the trip (from a restaurant) and they were very quick. It’s on the higher price end but I believe it’s worth it for the view.
Restaurants can get pretty busy, especially around 6:30pm-8:30pm. I would recommend making a reservation if there is somewhere specific you want to eat.
Where to stay
Below budget
It’s very hard to find places below budget that are right by the lake. These places are normally a bit further out. I would totally recommend looking before you leave just incase something pops up closer by the lake!
Within budget
- I stayed in Nago-Torbole in a wonderful place called Hotel Benaco. Everything about this place was perfect for the area as it was super close to the lake, the staff were really kind and helpful and even though the rooms were basic they were perfect. My room had a balcony with the lake view which was amazing to sit on! It doesn’t have any dates available very far in advance so I can’t say the prices for these dates*, however it is within budget. The video below is a small tour of the hotel!
@arabellapoxon2 Reply to @julia_xx16_ Here’s the tour! #hotelbenaco #lakegarda #solotraveller #italy #hotel ♬ original sound - Arabellapoxon2
- Hotel Aquavite, Maderno- good value for money, decent location, helpful staff, traditional and amazing food in restaurant, clean and comfortable rooms. Price per night* PER PERSON 181 EUR/155.68 Pounds/191.01 USD
No expense spared
- Hotel San Pietro, Limone Sul Garda- perfect location, one of the three pools has a view of Lake Garda, pet friendly, attentive staff, tidy and clean rooms, good quality breakfast, Jacuzzi, cheap shuttle bus to city centre. Price per night* PER PERSON- 309 EUR/265.86 Pounds/326.08 USD
- Hotel Lago Di Garda, Nago-Torbole – Great location, 24h helpful reception desk, restaurant, lovely spa, yummy breakfast, bar, free wifi, clean and tidy rooms, tour/ activity offers. Price per night* PER PERSON- 334 EUR/287.32 Pounds/352.33 USD
*Prices all vary on when you are going and what type of room you select. The dates that I have chosen to go off of are the 19th-22nd of May 2023
Transport
Transport is pretty good, although you don’t really need to use it much once you have arrived at Lake Garda. The main way I got around was by foot! Everybody loves going around on bikes there and they are also very convenient.
Taxis are expensive, so I would try to avoid these when possible.
Buses are pretty cheap and come around regularly so they are a very good alternative to jumping in a cab.
The ferries are cheap (ticket prices vary for where you are going to or from) and awesome. They aren’t the quickest but you won’t mind too much as the views are lovely. Regarding sea sickness, if you only have it mildly then you should be fine as the ferries don’t really rock, however, if you are super sensitive to motion then I would recommend taking some tablets before you board.
Key things to pack
Even in the hottest days of summer it can get very cold once the wind picks up around the lake, so always take at least one jacket with you.
Summer time suitcase:
- Lots of airy clothes,
- At least 1 swimsuit,
- Suncream- you get very easily burnt here!,
- A light jacket,
- Bright clothes,
- Night outfits aren’t really needed too much, but I would take a few just in case,
- An adaptor for 2 pin plugs (EU plugs),
- Sunglasses or a hat,
- Comfortable shoes!,
- If you are planning on having a proper dip in the lake, take some sea shoes,
- For my women- take emergency period stuff as its not good in the shops there… I learnt the hard way!,
- Bug repellent is needed as there are lots of mini flies there.
Winter time suitcase:
- Warm clothes,
- T-shirts too as the sun can be strong there even in winter, so layer up!,
- Bug repellent,
- A light sunscreen to protect yourself from UV,
- Comfortable shoes,
- Warmer night outfits,
- An adaptor for 2 pin plugs (EU plugs),
- Women products as mentioned in the list above!,
- Sea shoes if you are going to try to get in the lake even when it’s cold outside!
Need to know before you go
There’s not an awful lot to do there for a long stay unless you’re into water sports or cycling. You shouldn’t need more than 4-5 days there if you want to explore the sites I recommended above.
The best time to visit Lake Garda is definitely in the months around summer. I think May is the perfect time to go as it wasn’t too hot and it also wasn’t peak season meaning it wasn’t at all overcrowded. I can imagine it being very full during the main months of summer, as tourists flock there from the surrounding areas as well as abroad.
It’s safe for solo women travellers, at no point did I feel any actual threat from anyone or any kind of fear walking around on my own.
It’s pretty expensive for things like food and drinks, so I would always keep this in consideration and plan to go with a healthy budget.
Considering they are a really touristic place, the main language they generally know (other than Italian of course) is German! So don’t be surprised if you go to places where they won’t be able to say a word to you in English. I’m confident you will still manage – google translate is useful to have on your phone!
Staff everywhere in Italy can come across as rude, I think it’s just their manner and it’s not at all intended or personal towards you.
After my trip to lake Garda, I also visited Venice! Check out my Venice blog for more tips and advice from my experience there!
