Travel tips for your holidays: least windy canary island, playa d'en bossa or san antonio, where to stay in Italy for vacation...

Search This Blog ⤵️

TO KNOW: if you do not see, in my articles, the banners with Booking last minute offers, remove the AD blocker and update the page. The script of the various locations will show you the accommodations that apply last minute promotions UPDATED from week to week (prices and map).

08/09/2019

Which is the BEST TOWN to STAY in LAKE GARDA?

Which is the best town on Lake Garda? What is the prettiest town on Lake Garda? Where should I stay in Lake Garda? What is the main town in Lake Garda? 

Main tourist villages to stay in Lake Garda, Italy:

  • Sirmione
  • Salò
  • Peschiera
  • Lazise
  • Desenzano
  • Riva del Garda
  • Garda city

These are the best places to stay in lake Garda for a long or short breaks.

LAKE GARDA BEST RESORT TO STAY
Lake Garda best resort to stay

Map Lake Garda Italy


best places lake garda
best places lake garda

Let's start our trip...

Is lake Garda in Lombardy?

Lake Garda, is the largest lake in Italy, and is located between the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino Alto Adige.

 Lake Garda holidays

Hi I'm Moira, I was born and grew up in Italy about 100 km from Lake Garda. Today I'll talk about one of my favorite lake in Northern Italy where to go to spend weekend: lake Garda.

In the image below, you can see the entrance to access the Sirmione peninsula: one of the most beautiful villages on the lake, a must see.

which lake garda resort
Sirmione, Italy

Best resort in Lake Garda


✅ The best resorts to stay in Lake Garda is Desenzano. It is perfect place to stay as a base for visiting the lake and going out in the evenings. It is the sunniest and warmest resort on Lake Garda in the center of the most tourist area.

The best village to stay in Lake Garda in summer to sunbathe and swimming in the lake, is Manerba del Garda. In the evening, in this seaside resort, there is little to do but you can easily travel by car to visit more lively centers such as Salò and Desenzano (a few km away by car).

Apartment in 👉 Manerba del Garda Lido (beachfront) or Camping.

Latest deals. The price is for 7 nights, per accommodation NOT per person. If you are looking for other dates, click the blue button "See all deals" and enter the desired period. 
Booking.com
Is lake Garda worth a Visit?
Manerba del Garda, Italy

Can you swim lake Garda?

Of course! You can swim in lake Garda, even children, and for those who want you can rent a boat, a pedal boat...

The beaches are pebbly, free or with the possibility to rent sunbeds and deckchairs, there is a kilometer walk along the coast and on the other side there are all the residences and campsites full of tourists.

Can you swim lake Garda?
Lido Manerba del Garda, Italy

Also nice to visit the "island of rabbits" (San Biagio island): an island far 200 meters from the coast can also be reached by walking through the stretch of water that separates it from the mainland. To do during the low tide.
 
Where should I stay in Lake Garda
San Biagio Island

In the picture below, I was in the middle of Lake Garda just near the island of San Biagio (image above). From here you can see a wonderful sunset.

can you swim lake garda
Manerba lake Garda


Is lake Garda worth a Visit?

Lake Garda is certainly worth a visit. You will thank me for directing you to this location: I have been going there for many years and I have not yet grown tired. In summer there are many events, castles to see, festivals, some of the most beautiful villages in Italy. You can visit the lake comfortably by ferry and, if you like, also by bicycle.

Main towns Lake Garda
Trekking lake Garda

When to visit lake Garda?

The best time to visit Lake Garda is in the spring. July and August are very crowded. The most tourist areas in summer are those of Manerba del Garda because there is a long beach surrounded by camping and tourism purely made up of Germans and Dutch people. 

Desenzano and Sirmione are very visited, especially in the evening. Here are excellent restaurants, shops, ice cream and private clubs.
The tourist season begins at Easter and lasts until the end of October. There are also tourists on Christmas and New Year.

Which part of lake Garda is best?

In my opinion, the best part of Lake Garda is the Southern area, which is the largest and most touristy and sunny part and includes the cities of Manerba, Sirmione, Desenzano, Lazise and Peschiera del Garda.

Where to stay in lake Garda?

For those who prefer a lively and a romantic place, the most beautiful village to stay in Garda lake is Sirmione. 

Sirmione

Sirmione is as fascinating as it is crowded with tourists. One of the most famous and visited places of Garda thanks to its peninsula, the castel, Aquaria Thermal SPA with its outdoor swimming pools heated in winter.

In the evening Sirmione lights up like a little Paris, there are numerous restaurants and bars for all tastes so if you want to stay in a lively center, even if small, I suggest you stay here. In summer it is very crowded especially on weekends. 

👉 If you want to stay between the castle of Sirmione and the Aquaria / Catullo spas, stay in this hotel. Affiliated parking outside the walls, the hotel, which has an electric car, accompanies guests and carries their luggage, both at check-in and at check-out.
is lake garda worth visiting
Castello Scaligero, Italy


If you are traveling in the summer, I suggest you to stay in this Holiday Village near Sirmione where the parking space is included in the price and you can enjoy a beautiful swimming pool.

Staying in the center of Sirmione is not comfortable, the area is a ztl (Limited traffic zone).
Better to stay just outside the Scaliger castle or in neighboring towns like Colombare and Lugana, it is less expensive. 

To know: There is a convenient shuttle bus service that from Colombare takes you directly in front of the Sirmione castle gate. The cost is € 1 each way per person (simple travel ticket can be purchased on the ground for € 1.00 or € 1.50 if you buy the ticket on board the bus).

Desenzano


There are a few beaches in Desenzano and rather small. The most comfortable equipped with a bar and a sunbed and deck chair is located just outside the historic center and it is called "Desenzanino Sea side resort".

The local market takes place every Tuesday morning along the street overlooking the lake in the downtown core.
Along the coast there are also the most popular discos, pubs, clubs... for nightlife lovers.

I always stay around "Desenzanino resort beach" in one of the many apartments in this area because there are convenient parking lots (free in low season ) and a short walk to get to the city center. Accommodation recommended in the map below ⇩:


Booking.com




Lake Garda with family

Lazise and Peschiera

Lazise and Peschiera are the best towns to stay with family. These villages are very close to the amusement and water parks of the Garda area like Gardaland (located in Ronchi in the town of Castelnuovo del Garda) to Movieland (Lasize), Caneva world aquapark (located in Pacengo, fraction of Lazise). A few kilometers away from each other, as you can see in the map below.


Booking.com



Both in Peschiera and Lasize you can find a corner where you can lie down to sunbathe but if you really want to suggest the widest and longest beach area, choose, without a doubt, Peschiera del Garda.
garda where to stay
Garda

Well, my tips are finished. I guided you to discover the most popular villages of Garda where to stay.
Whatever your choice, I'm sure you'll be fine because they are wonderful places.
If you have found and useful tips, in this article, a sharing is always welcome thanks. Thank you.
Updated April 2022
by Moira Tips
Yandex.Metrica