Nestled in the picturesque embrace of the Italian
Alps, Lake Garda stands as a shimmering gem, beckoning travellers
from around the world with its unparalleled beauty and a wealth of
enchanting experiences.
As the largest lake in Italy, Lake Garda boasts a
diverse and captivating landscape, offering a delightful blend of
natural wonders, historical charm, and vibrant culture. Whether
you're an adventure seeker, a history buff, a foodie, or simply in
search of a serene escape, Lake Garda has something to offer
everyone.
Narrowing it down to 10 was difficult but here are the top
10 things to do in Lake Garda by Holiday Homes in Italy:
1. Take the ferry
- the best way to see Garda is to go from
town to town on the ferry. The coastal road is beautiful but the
traffic can be intense in high season, so jumping on a ferry is a
great escape offering unobstructed and fantastic views of most of
the lakeside towns, many of which are simply not possible in a
car.
2. Try water
sports - For the
water sports fanatics or even beginners looking to take lessons,
Riva in the north offers some of the best windsurfing activities on
the lake of Garda. You can also rent sailboats, kayaks and canoes.
Neighbouring Torbole also offers a great selection of activities to
keep you busy!
3. Have a beach
day - People don't
naturally think of Lake
Garda as
beach destination but the Lake is very clean and perfect for
swimming. There are beaches in all of the towns around the lake,
some with pebbles, others with cute platforms or jetties and many
offering a wealth of water sport activities. The beauty of the
beaches here is the scenery; calm, clear waters and a backdrop of
mountains or hills with Mediterranean foliage, lemon trees and
olive groves. If you want something more lively and cool, Garda is
setting the trend with beach clubs like Coco
Beach.
RELATED ARTICLE: 'Everything
you need to know about a holiday to Lake Garda'
4. Visit the
wineries - Bardolino in the south is
vineyard territory and perfect for an afternoon visit, where you
can taste the delicious local red wines in many of the 50+
vineyards in the area. There is even a wine museum. The town also
houses a number of artisan shops and some pretty churches and
historic remains.
5. Wander in the serene
gardens and parks - Como may
steal the limelight with its gardens but Garda is sadly often
overlooked and underrated. It offers some fabulous gardens in and
around the lake, perfect for a relaxing stroll. The beautiful
botanical gardens in Gardone
Riveria
offer over 2000 species of plants from all over the world; the
public gardens in Riva are
delightful and the gardens on Isola Garda are stunning. Parco
Giardino Sigurta close to Peschiera is considered to be in
the top five in the world and if you are looking for bigger expanse
of space, Parco Natura Viva, which is east of Lazise, offers a 40
hectare park with plenty to do for the family. Spoilt for
choice!
6. Go Biking
- Lake Garda is a paradise for
cyclists. You can rent bikes in most of the resorts and ride along
the cycle paths around the lake or cycle in the countryside
villages to the south of the lake. A fabulous way to explore the
area! For the more adventurous, you could hire mountain bikes and
attempt the mountains to the north of the
lake.
7. Relax in a
square - whether you
are in the centre of Salo', Riva or Limone, you will find
the perfect square to relax in and watch the world go by. This is
classic Italy; grab a cappucchino, gelato or aperitivo (the locals
love a 'Spritz', which is made from Prosecco, sparkling water and
Aperol) and soak up the atmosphere.
Fantastico!
8.
Visit Sirmione in the south
- A difficult choice just to choose one as we love Riva, Garda, Limone and so many more
but Simione is wonderful. It has
been favoured by artists and poets over the centuries for its sheer
beauty and offers a medieval centre, dominated by a large castle.
The town is also known for its thermal bath resorts.
9.
Visit Verona - we wouldn't
normally suggest leaving your holiday destination to venture
further afield but the beautiful City of Verona, with its
magnificent Roman ruins and medieval and Renaissance buildings is
literally on its doorstep. The Roman amphitheatre is the third
largest building of its type and the best preserved and boasts the
City's culture status with plays and grand operatic performances
under the stars. It's also a great City for some retail
therapy.
10.
Visit Gardaland for the kids!
This is as far removed from traditional Italy as you can get but
Gardaland is the largest amusement park in Italy. For a day away
from the scenery and a great number of rides, you can't beat this
park. There's a free shuttle bus from the Pescheria train station as well
as a Gardaland bus running from quite a few of the towns around the
lake.
Self-catering accommodation in Lake
Garda
It's not in the top 10 but we think taking a holiday rental in
Lake Garda will make your stay even more perfect; space, privacy
and the ability to try both restaurants and relax with some home
cooked food from the local markets or simply having a capucchino or
breakfast on your own terrace or balcony - fantastico! Holiday Homes in Italy offer a wide range of
apartment and villa rentals in Lake Garda, click here to browse
accommodation.
If you need any guidance finding your dream Italian villa,
contact us at info@holidayhomesinitaly.co.uk and
one of our Italy specialists will be more than happy to
help!
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