Wandering Around Lake Garda

There is a paved road around the lake, and in some parts a cycling and hiking trail. The lake is 160 km long, which means there's plenty to do for several days. The lake's popularity among visitors is already reflected in its history, as visitors have been coming to the southern part of the lake since the time of the Romans. The remains of the thermal baths are still there to this day.

An ideal climate

The lake's climate makes it appealing to visitors in all seasons. In the summer, it can get quite hot, and the lake is perfect for cooling off. In the southern part of the lake, however, the water can be much warmer than in the northern part. There are plenty of sunny days all year round, even in winter, and temperatures never drop so low that they would keep visitors away. There are also many visitors in winter. The lake is surrounded by plantations of lemons, tangerines, oranges, olives and other Mediterranean plants. Lemons are the most favoured, and are used to make a wide variety of products, such as liqueurs, sweets, jams and even soap.

Sports activites on and by the lake

Lake Garda is famous for many sports enthusiasts. The lake offers a wide range of sporting activities, such as swimming, surfing, kite-surfing, windsurfing and even scuba diving. The area around the lake is popular for cyclists, hikers and climbers. In 2018, an interesting cycling and hiking trail was opened above the surface of the lake. The trail winds along majestic cliffs with magnificent views. The plan is to create a trail around the entire lake. The northern part of the island is the most popular with climbers and hikers. The mighty mountains with their gorges are perfect for adrenaline adventures. Winter sports enthusiasts can also enjoy their own activities. On the mountains above the lake, you can ski down the well-maintained ski slopes in winter, while enjoying beautiful views of Lake Garda. Paragliders also enjoy the beautiful views, and their favourite place to descend is from Monte Baldo (2218 m). Monte Baldo can also be reached by gondola.

Sirmione

Sirmione is located on the southern end of the lake and is considered one of the most popular spots for visitors. This is reflected in the large crowds of tourists that come to this popular peninsula. The first traces of people gathering here go back a long way, to the time of the Romans, when they enjoyed the thermal baths, the remains of which can still be seen today. The small town, with its old town square and walls, is located on a long, narrow peninsula. The most magnificent view of the peninsula is from the walls, which are truly worth the climb. The narrow streets are lined with cafés and interesting shops.

Malcesine

Malcesine is one of those places by the lake, that makes sense to visit them. Small narrow streets and a magnificent castle are big attractions. The mighty Monte Baldo rises above the town, and it is possible to reach Malcesine by cable car.

Riva del garda

This medieval town in the far north of Lake Garda is of strategic importance, with a large harbour and a number of cafés. A hill with a restored 16th-century fortress rises above the town and offers a beautiful view. It is a pleasant 20 minutes walk to the fort. Nearby, there is another attraction that should not be overlooked. It is the Parco Grotta Cascata Varone cave. A mighty waterfall falls over a part of the cave that you can visit. It can be accessed in the lower part or the upper part of the waterfall. The view of the mighty waterfall in the cave, surrounded by reflectors of different colours, is truly breathtaking. Before reaching the cave, you can walk through the botanical garden, which is very nicely landscaped.

Activities for children

Who doesn't know about park Gardaland located nearby? By far the biggest attraction, especially for children and youngsters, but far too crowded and, by the way, completely overpriced. The lines to the main attractions are long, with many requiring additional payments. Nevertheless, once on Lake Garda, the kids just can't pass up a visit to Gardaland. But just a 15-minute drive from Gardaland is a much more interesting and enjoyable attraction. The Safari Park, Parco Natura Viva, which can be visited in two ways. In the first part, you drive in a car (or even a campervan) among wildlife from different parts of the world. It's really interesting when a giraffe looks into your car, a hyena runs near it, or wildebeests have a big feast on the delicious grass right next you. After about an hour of driving among the animals, we set off to see the other part of the park on foot. Besides plenty of different animals, there is also a large playground. A truly unique experience for children and everyone else.

There's plenty to do on Lake Garda at any time of the year. We visited outside the main tourist season, in late autumn. We enjoyed the sun and the pleasant 15 degrees and did all the things we could have done in summer, we just didn't go swimming.