Lake Garda

Verona's Lake Garda is the East shore of Italy's largest lake: a 50 km stretch from the morainic hills of Peschiera up to Monte Baldo above Malcesine, where the Mediterranean climate meets turquoise waters and the villages still preserve almost intact Scaliger walls. It is the area most chosen by visitors from Germany and Central Europe thanks to its proximity to the Brenner–Modena motorway and the variety it offers within just a few kilometres.

From Peschiera to Malcesine, every town has its own identity: Bardolino and the DOC vineyards of the lake's most famous red wine, Lazise, the first free municipality in Italy with its Scaliger castle, Garda with its panoramic fortress and the Camaldolese Hermitage, Torri del Benaco with the castle housing the olive-oil museum, Malcesine with the rotating cable car to Monte Baldo. The hinterland completes the picture with San Zeno di Montagna (a balcony over the lake at 700 m), Caprino Veronese and the villages of Monte Baldo.

The 12 Verona towns of Lake Garda

This guide covers all the municipalities in the province of Verona that face Lake Garda or lie in its immediate hinterland: 7 along the coast (from Peschiera to Malcesine) and 5 in the hilly and mountain area of Monte Baldo. For each one you will find what to see, where to stay, where to eat and the experiences you can book.

When to visit

Lake Garda is enjoyable all year round, but every season has its highlights. April–June: blossoms, mild temperatures, lower prices, ideal for cycling and trekking. July–August: high season, busy beaches, evening events (Bardolino Grape Festival), top windsurfing in Malcesine. September–October: harvest time, still warm weather (water at 22 °C), fewer tourists. November–March: half-empty but liveable villages, the Cola thermal baths (Sirmione) and Aquardens (Pescantina) open year-round, skiing on Monte Baldo.

Getting there from Verona

By car: 25–30 minutes to Peschiera/Lazise (Peschiera A4 exit), 40–50 to Bardolino/Garda (Affi A22 exit), 1h–1h15 to Malcesine. By train + bus: Verona Porta Nuova station, ATV lines 162/163/483 for the lakeside towns (timetables at atv.verona.it). By boat: from Peschiera with Garda Navigazione (summer timetable: ferries to every town up to Malcesine; day ticket ~€22–28). From Catullo airport: ATV Aerobus to Verona FS, then Garda line, or car rental (recommended).

A typical Garda weekend — 2 nights

Day 1: arrival in Peschiera mid-morning, walk along the UNESCO-listed Venetian walls, lunch on the lakefront. In the afternoon move to Lazise (15 min), visit the Scaliger castle and have an aperitivo at the little harbour. Typical dinner with bigoli pasta and pike in salsa sauce.

Day 2: morning wine tasting at a Bardolino winery (Wine Museum or cooperative cellar). Light lunch, afternoon on the beach or stroll to the harbour of Garda. Sunset from the Rocca or from the Camaldolese Hermitage.

Day 3: ferry from Garda to Torri del Benaco (visit to the castle and olive-oil museum), then up to Malcesine and the rotating cable car to the top of Monte Baldo (2218 m). Lunch in an alpine hut, return to Verona in the afternoon.

Absolute must-sees

• Peschiera's UNESCO walls — the only Venetian lake fortress among the World Heritage "Bastions"
• Malcesine–Monte Baldo cable car — rotating cabin (10 min, 2218 m), 360° view over the lake
• Lazise Scaliger Castle — first free municipality in Italy (983 AD)
• Bardolino DOC wineries — Zeni Wine Museum, free tastings for visitors
• Punta San Vigilio (Garda) — one of the most romantic spots in Italy, accessible on foot
• Gardaland (Castelnuovo) — Italy's largest theme park, perfect for families
• Village of Campo di Brenzone — abandoned medieval hamlet along the lemon trail

Lake Garda with children

The Verona side of Lake Garda is one of the most family-friendly areas in Italy. Besides Gardaland and Movieland in Castelnuovo, we recommend: Parco Natura Viva in Bussolengo (safari park), Caneva Aquapark, the equipped beaches of Lazise and Bardolino with playgrounds and family-friendly restaurants, the easy walks along the lakefront (car-free, with a continuous cycle path).

Wines and gastronomy

The Verona shore of Lake Garda is the land of Bardolino DOC (a young red) and Bardolino Chiaretto DOC (rosé), produced in the municipalities of Bardolino, Lazise, Garda, Costermano, Affi, Cavaion and Caprino. The Garda DOP extra-virgin olive oil comes from olive groves reaching all the way down to the lake — Torri del Benaco has its own dedicated museum. Typical dishes: bigoli with sardella, pike in salsa, Valeggio tortellini (a Lake Garda tradition), polenta with venison on Monte Baldo.

Recommended beaches

The beaches on the Verona side of Lake Garda are mostly pebbles or stones, not sand. The most beautiful: Spiaggia d'Oro (Lazise, equipped sandy beach), Lido Mirabello (Bardolino), Spiaggia del Corno (Brenzone), Punta San Vigilio (Garda, stony but scenic), Val di Sogno (Malcesine, a delightful bay). Blue Flag 2026: confirmed for Bardolino, Lazise, Brenzone and Torri del Benaco.