Good To Know

More and more people are drawn to beautiful Lake Garda, and not only for holidays. Many even decide to rent long-term or buy property, making Italy’s largest lake their permanent second home or, ultimately, their chosen place of residence.

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Its privileged geographical location between the Alps and the Po Valley makes Lake Garda a truly attractive place to live. The northern shore is framed by mountains over 2,000 meters high, such as Monte Baldo, and is well known and loved by athletes of all kinds. The southern shore lies in the plain, surrounded by gentle hills covered with vineyards, olive groves, and cherry orchards. From here, the famous cultural cities of Venice and Mantua, as well as Italy’s fashion capital Milan, are easily accessible by car or train. Day trips to the seaside resorts of Rimini, Riccione, or Cesenatico in summer, and to the Puster Valley or the exclusive ski resort of Madonna di Campiglio in winter, are also possible without difficulty.

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The sub-Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild, relatively dry winters, makes Lake Garda a popular year-round destination. Average annual temperatures range between a pleasant 13 and 15 °C. Water sports enthusiasts particularly appreciate Lake Garda for its constant winds, the “Ora” and the “Peler.” Ora is a south wind that blows from midday until early evening, while Peler is a north wind that rises in the second half of the night and continues until late morning.

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One Lake – Three Provinces

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What many do not know is that Lake Garda is divided into three provinces: the northern tip belongs to Trentino, the eastern shore from Malcesine down to Valeggio sul Mincio is part of Veneto, and from Sirmione in the south up to Limone in the northwest belongs to Lombardy.

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Trentino Alto Adige
Only a small part of the northern shore belongs to Trentino. Riva del Garda and Torbole, two beautiful towns directly on the lake, are popular with surfers, sailors, mountain bikers, climbers, and motorcyclists. The northern tip of Italy’s largest inland lake is an ideal spot for active people. The pleasant climate also attracted many famous German poets in the past, who came here to relax. Numerous splendid villas from the Austro-Hungarian era still bear witness to this tradition.

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Veneto
From Malcesine to Peschiera, the coast is affectionately called the “Riviera delle Olive” – and rightly so, as the silvery olive groves stretch far up the hillsides. The beautiful hinterland is home to a variety of grape varieties that produce fruity and refined wines. The wine regions of Valpolicella, Bardolino, Custoza, and part of the DOC Lugana belong to Veneto. Picturesque villages line the eastern shore, such as Torre del Benaco, Bardolino, and Lazise. Another advantage is the proximity to Verona, the provincial capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site.

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Lombardy
The largest share of Lake Garda belongs to Lombardy. The region begins in the mountainous Limone, stretches along the Lombard mountains to the bay of Salò, and then borders Veneto at Peschiera. The small towns along the western shore, especially Salò, Gardone, Toscolano Maderno, and Gargnano, impress with magnificent Belle Époque buildings and beautiful lemon gardens. Along the southern shore, popular bathing resorts such as Manerba, Moniga del Garda, and the largest town on Lake Garda, Desenzano, can be found. In the hilly hinterland of Valtènesi, wine and olive cultivation is a long-standing tradition.

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Mobility

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Admittedly, taxis are scarce and expensive at Lake Garda, and public transport often leaves much to be desired. On the other hand, the lake is easily accessible via the major motorways A22 Brenner–Modena and A4 Milan–Venice. There are several nearby airports with low-cost flight connections, and especially the southern part of the lake benefits from a well-developed railway network. Many towns are also connected by frequent ferry services. From Torri del Benaco and Malcesine, as well as from Toscolano-Maderno and Limone sul Garda, even car ferries cross to the opposite shore.

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The Gardesana Lakeside Road
Almost all towns around the lake are connected by the Gardesana lakeside road. On the eastern shore, the Gardesana Orientale (SS 249) runs from Peschiera del Garda to Riva del Garda, where it merges into the Gardesana Occidentale (SS 45 bis), which continues along the western shore to Salò. The southwestern shore is not reached by the Gardesana; here the SS 572 runs from Salò to Desenzano del Garda and the SS 11 continues to Peschiera del Garda. In recent years, a parallel cycle path project has also been under construction. Large sections, especially the panoramic route between Riva del Garda and Limone sul Garda in the northwest, have already been completed and are very popular.

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Motorways
The A4 “Serenissima” motorway, running east–west south of the lake, can be accessed via Peschiera del Garda, Sirmione, and Desenzano del Garda. The A22 “Autobrennero” motorway runs east of the lake from the Brenner Pass to Modena and connects to Lake Garda via the Affi and Rovereto Sud exits.

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Airports
The Verona–Milan railway line runs along the southern shore of Lake Garda, with stations in Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano del Garda. Verona’s “Valerio Catullo” airport is about 18 km east of the lake, and Brescia’s small “Gabriele d’Annunzio” airport is only about 17 km from Desenzano. Bergamo’s increasingly important “Orio al Serio” airport, about 80 km west of the lake, offers many flights to Germany. Venice’s “Marco Polo” airport is also only about an hour’s drive from Lake Garda and provides numerous national and international connections.

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Train Stations
Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda, and Lonato del Garda in the south all have train stations. Desenzano and Peschiera are particularly well connected, with direct trains to Milan, Venice, and nearby Verona. Austria’s ÖBB Nightjet also stops in Verona as well as in these two towns. Rovereto station, on the other hand, is the best option for reaching the northern tip of the lake, with Trentino Trasporti buses directly connecting Rovereto to Torbole, Riva, and Arco.

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Cycling Routes
While the southern part of Lake Garda offers numerous family-friendly cycling tours, the northern area is known for its panoramic trails, mainly suited to mountain bikers. Classic cycle paths for everyday mobility are still relatively rare in the Lake Garda region. However, for several years work has been underway on the “Anello del Garda,” a closed cycling ring of about 140 km around the entire lake. Since this ambitious project stretches across three provinces and some areas are difficult to access due to natural conditions, progress has been slow. Currently, only individual sections are accessible. Once completed, the cycling ring around Lake Garda will certainly be one of the most beautiful and spectacular cycle paths worldwide, taking mobility at Lake Garda to a whole new level.