Day Trip to Lake Garda: The Best Lake Garda Itinerary (+ Tips)

Where is Lake Garda?

Lake Garda is located in the north of Italy, between Milan and Venice. It is the largest lake in Italy and it is part of 3 regions: Lombardy (to the west), Veneto (to the east), and Trentino-Alto Adige (to the north).

How Much Time Do You Need in Lake Garda?

Technically speaking, you can drive around Lake Garda within 3-4 hours but there are so many beautiful towns and historic sites around the lake that you would need at least 4-5 days to explore most of them.

That being said, if you are short on time and only want to make a day trip to Lake Garda as part of your Italian itinerary, it is absolutely possible. But you won’t have the choice but to be strategic and focus on a specific area.

The best is to pick 1 or 2 beautiful towns located close to each other. You will find my recommendation below, so keep reading!

Torbole on Lake Garda

How to Get to Lake Garda?

Getting to Lake Garda is easy and straightforward because it is well-connected to major cities in northern Italy via an extensive network of railways and bus lines.

Find below how to get to Lake Garda from the biggest cities around. 

Day Trip to Lake Garda from Verona

Verona is the closest city to Lake Garda in the south. It is quite easy to get from Verona to Lake Garda for a day trip. The closest towns on Lake Garda to Verona are Lazise (30 kilometers away) and Sirmione (43 kilometers away). 

🚗 By car: traveling to Lake Garda from Verona by car is really convenient. And unless you are caught in rush hour traffic, it is pretty quick as travel times span 30 min to 1 hour 45 depending on your destination. Going to Lazise will take you only 30 min by car. 

A high-speed highway connects Verona to several towns along the southern lakeside. While there are tolls, you also have the option of choosing a toll-free route, which might take longer but offers an alternative. 

Get the best rates for car rental in Verona.

🚄 By train: the train proves to be both cost-effective and efficient in Italy and Verona city is well-connected. The major rail operators (Italo and Trenitalia) provide about 40 daily train services and there are departures roughly every half hour from Verona Porta Nuova station.

All towns in Lake Garda aren’t equipped with train stations though. You can reach either the town of Desenzano del Garda (23 min by direct train from Verona Porta Nuova) or Peschiera del Garda (13 min by direct train from Verona Porta Nuova).

If you want to reach other towns in Lake Garda, you should then consider taking the bus. For example, if you want to get to Bardolino, I would recommend taking the bus line 185 (45 min direct bus) instead of the train (1-hour train with 1 bus connection). So check out the travel times and convenience before choosing the train or bus. 

🚌 By bus: Bus is the cheapest option to get to Lake Garda. It is also the option that will take you almost wherever you want as all towns in Lake Garda have bus stations. Journey times span 30 min to 1 hour 15 approximately depending on your destination. 

There are several bus lines connecting Verona Porta Nuova Main Station and Verona Airport to Lake Garda. You can check the official timetables here.   

Best Lake Garda tour from Verona: Lake Garda Full-day Guided Tour: Bus + Boat from Verona

Day Trip to Lake Garda from Milan

Milan is located west of Lake Garda, about a 50-min train ride or 1.5-hour drive from Desenzano del Garda, which is the nearest city on Lake Garda to Milan.

🚗 By car: getting from Milan to Lake Garda by car is easy thanks to the modern high-speed toll highway, the fastest way being the A4 route. Yet, for a day trip to Lake Garda from Milan, it is better to head to the western or southern parts of the lake. This way, you can avoid an excessive drive and make the most of your time there.

Going to Desenzano del Garda will take you about a 1.5-hour drive, 1 hour 45 minutes drive to Salo, and 2 hours to get to Sirmione.  

Get the best rates for car rental in Milan.

🚄 By train: taking the train is the best option when coming from Milan. There are direct trains available from Milano Centrale and Milano Lambrate stations. 

You can reach either the town of Desenzano del Garda (51 min by direct train) or Peschiera del Garda (1 hour by direct train or 1 hour 15 with a change at Brescia), both located south of the lake. So you might need to take a bus when arriving there depending on your final destination. 

Ticket prices range from 10 to 30€, so try planning and booking your trip in advance to benefit from the best deals. Get your train tickets on Trenitalia.

🚌 By bus: going to Lake Garda from Milan by bus is really inconvenient and time-consuming, making it not the best choice for a day trip. Multiple bus transfers would be required, which could extend the travel time to over 2.5 hours, including significant waiting times. As such, I wouldn’t recommend this option.

Read next: Day trip from Milan to Cinque Terre

Riva del Garda

Day Trip to Lake Garda from Venice

Venice is located east of Lake Garda, on the Adriatic Sea, about 140 kilometers away from Lazise and Peschiera del Garda, south of the lake.  

🚗 By car: driving is the fastest and easiest option for a day trip to the southern shore of Lake Garda from Venice. The journey takes about 1.5 drive using the A4 high-speed toll highway to Peschiera del Garda or Lazise. 

Lake Garda’s farthest cities from Venice such as Riva del Garda (200 kilometers) or Limone sul Garda (211 kilometers) are approximately a 2.5-hour drive away. So, with a car, you will have a variety of lakefront towns to choose from.

Get the best rates for car rental in Venice.

🚄 By train: as said earlier, among Lake Garda’s towns, only Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda have train stations. The ride from Venezia Santa Lucia train station to any of these towns takes about 1.5 hours by high-speed train or fast regional train for about 10-20€ each way. Get your train tickets on Trenitalia.

To reach nearby cities such as Sirmione, you will need to catch a bus from any of these train stations. 

🚌 By bus: going to Lake Garda from Venice by bus is really inconvenient and time-consuming, making it not the best choice for a day trip. Multiple bus transfers would be required, which could extend the travel time to over 2.5 hours, including significant waiting times. As such, I wouldn’t recommend this option.

Best Lake Garda tour from Milan: Verona & Lake Garda Day Trip from Milan

Malcesine

Best Areas for a Day Trip to Lake Garda

There are many pretty towns around Lake Garda offering unique things to see and do.

If you are more into adventure and active vacation, then you might find the northern part of Lake Garda more appealing. Here you can do all kinds of water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing, or go hiking and mountain biking.

You should pick one or two of these towns:

• Limone
• Malcesine
• Riva del Garda
• Torbole

If you like a more relaxed vacation with beautiful beaches, pretty towns, and nice restaurants, then you should head to the southern part of Lake Garda where it is a bit warmer and generally less windy. In the south, the most beautiful towns to choose from are:

• Sirmione
• Lazise
• Bardolino
• Torri del Benaco
• Salo

I strongly recommend choosing to visit Sirmione for a day trip to Lake Garda. This pretty Italian town is big enough to keep you exploring it for the entire day, and small enough to be able to walk to all its main attractions on foot.

Discover below my recommended itinerary for a day trip to Lake Garda’s Sirmione. 

Lake Garda Itinerary: A Day in Sirmione

The old town of Sirmione is located on Sirmione Peninsula and is one of the most famous destinations on Lake Garda. 

If you come to Sirmione by car, you will have to park outside the historic center, because parking there is not allowed. Luckily there is a big parking slot just a few minutes walk to the old town of Sirmione.

If you don’t have a car, I recommend taking the bus line LN026 ‘Desenzano – via Masaccio, Stazione’ to Sirmione station. 

1. Scaligero Castle

Once you arrive at Sirmione’s old town, you will have to walk across a bridge spanning a moat to enter it. Then you will be greeted by Scaligero Castle, the symbol of Sirmione.

This 14th-century fortified castle is one of the best-preserved castles in Italy built in the Scaliger era. Surrounded by the crystal clear blue waters of Lake Garda, the area surrounding the castle resembles the famous Venice.

Today Scaligero Casltes is converted into a museum and open to visitors. The ticket costs 8 euros (price in 2023) and can be purchased directly at the entrance to the castle. Once you enter the castle, you will walk through the fort walls and climb the tower for great views over Sirmione. From the tower and fort walls, you have an awesome bird’s eye view of the town.

2. Explore Sirmione Old Town

After visiting the Scaligero Castle of Simione, you can stroll through the narrow old streets of Sirimone’s historic center full of authentic Italian cafes and restaurants, and boutique shops.

The old town is very small and it doesn’t take long to explore it all. But it gets easily crowded during the peak season. When wandering inside, you will discover beautiful flower-covered buildings, but also charming old streets from various centuries. 

It is the best place in Sirmione for a pit stop to try a yummy Italian Gelato or an Apreitiv or buy some souvenirs.

3. Tour the Roman Villa

After exploring the old town of Sirmione, walk about 15-20 min toward the north end of the Sirmione peninsula, where the remains of an ancient Roman villa are located, and make a scenic walk on sunny days.

The Roman Villa or Grotte di Catullo was built in 1st BC. This archaeological site covering 20,000 square meters (two hectares) includes the archeological museum of Sirmione, the remains of the Old Villa, and the thermal baths.

It will take you about two hours to explore the Roman Villa. You can buy the entry tickets directly at the entrance to the archeological site.

4. Relax at Jamaica Beach

Although it seems that Sirmione is primarily a place for long romantic walks and sightseeing, it is also a very pleasant place for sunbathing and even water sports. Situated on a peninsula in Lake Garda, the town offers several small pebbled and rocky beaches.

Sirmione peninsula

So after exploring the Grotte di Catullo, you can opt to go to Jamaica Beach located very close to the Roman ruins. The beach is covered with white flat rocks popping out of the water.

Here you can swim in the crystal clear waters of Lake Garda with Roman Villa in the background, or simply take awesome shots of the beach. 

5. Step inside the Church of San Pietro

Just a short walk from Grotto de Catullus is Sirmione’s oldest church, the church of San Pietro in Mavino. This medieval stone church is located on Mavino Hill surrounded by a beautiful garden with olive trees and cypresses.

The Church of San Pietro was built on the site of an ancient pagan temple in the 8th century, making it one of the oldest in Rome. Don’t hesitate to enter it to admire its magnificent 14th-century frescoes.

6. Take a Boat Tour

Another great way to explore Lake Garda and Sirmione is by boat. There are many boat trips available, most of them starting from the harbor next to Scaligero Castle.

They take you around the Sirmione peninsula and you can see the Roman villa and Jamaica Beach from a distance. There are also romantic sunset boat trips available making it a great option to finish your day trip to Lake Garda.

Lake Garda Day Trip with Kids: Gardaland Amusement Park

Lake Garda is one of the most popular destinations in Italy for families with kids. It offers a lot of activities and attractions suitable for families.

If you are traveling to Lake Garda with kids, you can visit Gardaland amusement park near Paschiera del Garda which is just 30 minutes drive from Sirmione or Verona, 1.5 drive from Venice, and 1 hour 45 drive from Milan.

Opened in 1975, Gardaland is Italy’s most popular theme park. It includes Gardaland Park, Gardaland Sea-Life, Legoland Waterpark, Gardaland Hotel, Adventure Hotel, and Magic Hotel. The park gathers more than 30 rides including roller coasters, historical reproductions, scenic trails, a haunted house, and water attractions. 

A day ticket to Gardaland Park costs 39 euros. If you want to enter also the aquarium also known as the Gardaland Sea Life, then the combined day ticket will cost you 45 euros per person. Note that children under 1 meter tall can enter the park for free.

If you choose to visit Gardaland Park, make sure to book your tickets here in advance to save time. 

Where to Stay in Lake Garda

Here are the best accommodations where to stay in some of Lake Garda’s most famous towns: 

• Best Hotel in Sirmione – Hotel Casa Scaligeri: an exceptional hotel located downtown close to the beach
• Best Hotel in Desenzano del Garda – Hotel Piroscafo: great 3-star hotel with a view on the docks
• Best Hotel in Peschiera del Garda – Cabanon Urban Apartments: nice and fully-equipped apartments in the city center
• Best Hotel in Lazise – Casa Beccherie: lovely and modern guest house with central location in Lazise’s old town
• Best Hotel in Bardolino – Bardoliners: beachfront property with outstanding staff and amenities
• Best Hotel in Salo – Hotel Spiaggia d’Oro: 4-star hotel with great value for money like no other 
• Best Hotel in Riva del Garda – Hotel Portici: amazing 4-star hotel at a very affordable cost in the old town

Compare accommodation prices in Lake Garda on Booking.com

Best Time to Visit Lake Garda

The swimming season on Lake Garda generally lasts between May and October. The weather during this period is usually dry and sunny.

July and August are the peak months on Lake Garda when the towns and beaches, especially in the southern part of the lake, get overcrowded. If you want to avoid the crowds and enjoy Lake Garda in a more relaxed atmosphere, you should avoid July and August.

That being said, the best months to visit Lake Garda are May, June, and September both for swimming and sightseeing. But if you can visit Lake Garda only in July or August, then you better head to the northern part of the lake where it is less crowded in summer compared to the south.

During the low season, April and October are the months on Lake Garda for hiking and sightseeing or wine tasting, and if you are lucky with the weather, the water in the lake might be warm enough for swimming.

Bardolino

FAQ About Visiting Lake Garda

Is Lake Garda worth visiting?

Yes, Lake Garda is definitely worth visiting! 

Lake Garda has always drawn vacationers due to its enchanting castles, picturesque villages, and hiking trails that follow one another along the lake with a Riviera allure. The lakeshore provides an array of activities suitable for all ages, set amidst stunning landscapes. So if you get the chance to explore this natural marvel, seize the opportunity without hesitation!

Is one day enough for Lake Garda?

Spending one day in Lake Garda can provide you with a glimpse of the beauty and attractions of Lake Garda, especially if you focus on specific areas or towns.

However, to fully immerse yourself in the experience and explore more of what the lake has to offer, extending your visit to 3 to 5 days would be recommended.