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).
Showing posts with label Garda lake. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Garda lake. Show all posts

11/06/2022

BEST LAKESIDE CITY IN NORTHERN ITALY

Lakeside city in northern Italy, Which is the nicest lake in Italy?

Which is the nicest lake in Italy?

Lombardy, with its renowned water mirrors reflecting beauty at every corner, is the region of lakes par excellence.

Lakeside city in northern Italy


Here in Northern Italy lies Lake Garda, a lake that boasts the best microclimate in Europe and is the perfect destination for a slow paced-holiday, under the banner of wellness, fine food and a magnificent and unspoilt nature. 

garda lake

sirmione

BEST LAKESIDE CITY IN NORTHERN ITALY

sirmione italy

Salò 

The stretch of Riviera nestled between Salo' and Limone sul Garda is indeed spectacular. Take a tour and it will almost seem like being on the Amalfi Coast everywhere you can see olive and lemon groves on terraces overhanging the lake. 

Tremosine sul Garda

And look who beautiful are the hamlets you go through, from Gargnano, still inhabited by the last fishermen who supply the area's restaurants, to Tremosine sul Garda, which has been acknowledged as one of the most beautiful hamlets in Italy and where dwellings are nestled between knolls, hillocks and plateaus covered with olive trees, lawns and fir trees.

Sirmione

Not to be missed: a visit to the Grotte di Catullo, a famous Roman Villa of Sirmione and the Italian Viittoriale of Gardone Riviera, the famous citadel donated to Italians by the poet D'Annunzio.

Lake Maggiore


And what about Lake Maggiore, whose breathtaking landscaped have always struck a chord with artists, literati and poets? Ernest Hemingway, or instance, was so impressed with Luino that he mentioned it in his celebrated work "Farewell to Arms". Visit it too, and you will be pleasantly surprised by this pictoresque hamlet stretched on the shores of the lake.

Or go to Laveno Mombello, where you can breathe a fairy tale atmosphere, enclosed between blue sky and green hills. You will be charmed!
Not to be missed: a visit to the Rocca Borromea of Angera and to the Santa Caterina del Sasso Hermitage.

Lake Iseo


One cannot certainly miss an excursion or a few day's stay on Lake Iseo, a gem of rare beauty with a myriad picturesque villages overlooking its banks, such as Iseo with its restaurants overlooking the lake, ideal for a romantic dinner and Lovere, whose magnificent palazzos, built with harmonious architectural sense, have for centuries framed the harbour piazza, one of the most beautiful among Lombard lakes.

Montisola


In Iseo do not fail to take the boat that in about twenty minutes takes you to Monteisola, the largest lake island in Europe. Once on the island, you can walk or cycle round it along a picturesque circular route, to explore its most enchanting corners.
Not to be missed: a visit to the ancient hamlet of Pisogne and a dinner in Clusane di Iseo, the queen of local fine dining, in whose trattorias you will be able to taste specialities such as baked tench.

Lake Como


Lake Como has been one of the most famous lakes of Lombardy since ancient times and is a concentrate of pure beauty, where you can have glimpses of water and sky, mountains and cliffs and precious villas, whose beautiful parks overflow with wisteria and rhododendrons.

And if in the past the likes of Ugo Foscolo and Lord Byron would lean on the balconies of Villa Pliniana in Como and Alessandro Manzoni and Giuseppe Mazzini would usually stay at Villa Balbianello in Lenno, today top entertainment celebrities may be spotted in the lakeside villas, so much so that VIP-watching has become one of the favourite activities of both residents and visitors to the area. With a bit  of lucky you may even happen to spot George Clooney, either jogging or darting through on one of his Harley's. 

Bellagio


And if the lake has struck a chord with him, who is always surronded by so much beauty, rest assured it will struck a chord with you too!
Not to be missed: a visit to Bellagio, the Saint Tropez of Lario and to Varenna, picturesque hamlet where you can spend a pleasant evening in one of the lake-view establishments.
On Lombardy lakes you can relax, do sports or spend the evening to dine in a fairy tale setting. A real paradise, definitely worth exploring.

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

22/09/2016

SIRMIONE WHERE TO STAY?

BEST AREA SIRMIONE where to stay


WHERE TO STAY IN SIRMIONE?

I suggest you to choose an accommodation with parking included otherwise you will have to pay a parking space in this area and they are quite expensive. 

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. However, if you want to experience the magic of staying in the center of Sirmione, prefer this structure where you can park in the backyard, for free: ⇨ stay in Sirmione peninsula.

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).


WHERE TO STAY IN SIRMIONE
SIRMIONE

Lake Garda is also one of the most famous. It's an extremely popular destination for tourists specially in summer.

Reasons for choosing the Lake Garda



  • Sunbathing and swimming,
  • Water sports, 
  • Have fun in the various clubs, 
  • Enjoy Italian cuisine, 
  • Shopping and visiting the beautiful and picturesque villages. 

If you travel with your children you can plan some day trips to three popular parks in the area:


  1. Gardaland with the numerous attractions for everybody. Gardaland is located in Castelnuovo del Garda around Peschiera.
  2. Movieland in Lazise, where you can relive the scenes of several famous films 
  3. CANEVA in Lazise a beautiful water park.


HOW TO REACH SIRMIONE 

and other destination on the Garda lake



BY CAR:
  • Italy Highway A4 
Exit Brescia East if you want to reach the towns of Salò, Gardone, Toscolano, Gargnano, Tignale, Tremosine, Limone.
Other exits are Desenzano, Sirmione and Peschiera to reach the mentioned towns.
  • Italy Motorway A22 
Exit To Rovereto Sud / Lago di Garda Nord if you want to reach the towns of Torbole, Riva del Garda, Malcesine, Limone, Tremosine;

Exit Affi / Lago di Garda  if you want to reach the towns of Garda, Torri del Benaco, Bardolino, Lazise, Peschiera.

BY TRAIN: 
Railway stations are in Peschiera, Desenzano and Rovereto; from here, with buses, you can reach the various places of the lake.

Nearest airport to Garda lake:


  • VILLAFRANCA AIRPORT  (VERONA) 20 km away.
  • MONTICHIARI AIRPORT  (BRESCIA) 30 km away.
  • ORIO AL SERIO AIRPORT  (BERGAMO) 80 km away.
From these airports, there are bus service or transfer services for the city centre or railway station.

A TRIP TO SIRMIONE


Medieval town Garda lake
Sirmione

Sirmione is a beautiful village located on the south of the lake on a strip of land that juts out like a promontory. Beginning of the village you will find the famous castle / fortress, visited for a fee.




Parking of car in small towns near the Lake


Public Car Parks in Sirmione: 

I suggest you to park a few kilometres far away from Sirmione in a free car parking near bus stop and take public bus called BUS NAVETTA. Even rent a bike could be more convenient.

CAR PARKING in SIRMIONE:  you can leave your car outside the old town in the various paid car parking (about 1,80 - 2,10 per hour) and walk to the village centre. It'a an old town with narrow streets full of shops, bars, restaurants, ice cream parlors. 


Here is a beautiful spa where you can relax and regenerate. (SPA CENTRE ACQUARIA open from March to December, from 14.00 to 22.00 on Monday, from 20.00 to 22.00 from Tuesday to Thursday, and until 24.00 on Thursdays). To get there just go to the north starting from the ferry dock and after about 600 meters you get there.



WHAT TO SEE in Sirmione


GROTTE DI CATULLO:

Archaeological site of a Roman villa of the fifteenth century. Paid entrance. 
Opening times: 

Winter from Tuesday to Saturday: 8.30 to 17.30; 
Sundays and public holidays: 8.30-14.00. 

In summer, from Tuesday to Saturday: 8:30 to 19:30; closed on Mondays.
Sundays and public holidays 9:30 to 18:30; 
To reach them, starting from the ferry dock to continue heading north and after about 800 meters you arrive.

AQUARIA SPA: 

Aquaria offers you everything to be rejuvenated in Sirmione. The Spa and Wellness Centre has indoor and outdoor thermal pools. More than 10,000 square meters of thermal spa including a few swimming pools, whirlpools, Kneipp, relax areas...

Take a walk discovering the promontory tasting a delicious ice-cream.


WHERE TO EAT in Sirmione:


TRATTORIA LA FIASCATypical cozy restaurant on a side street off the main square, which offers customers traditional dishes prepared with local produce.

TRATTORIA LA SPERANZINAa stone's throw from the castle away from the lakefront chaos. Possibility to eat outside in the shade of olive trees offers dishes including fish from the lake and other tasty dishes.

Sirmione study in deep:

Beaches,
Camper Areas,
Events,
Markets,
Car parkings,
Bycicle rides... 

I hope the information is helpful, if so, please, share it. Click your preferred social buttons under the article. Thank you! ^ _ ^

October 2018
Moira R.J.