A 4-day getaway to Lake Garda

It has been a scorching hot summer and just like last year in August; we decided to escape the city heat and spend a few days around Lake Garda.

We wanted to keep this trip relaxed, spending the day by the lake and visiting nearby towns. We based ourselves in Peschiera del Garda and visited the beautiful towns of Lazise, Torri del Benaco and Malcesine. There are so many gorgeous towns around the lake. Have a look at my previous Lake Garda blog post to discover more.

This is what we got up to in Lake Garda!

1. Peschiera del Garda

Get ready to be swept away by the sheer beauty of Peschiera del Garda! Nestled along the southern shores of Lake Garda, we thought this would be the perfect place to base ourselves for our trip. Picture-perfect streets adorned with vibrant flowers and pastel-coloured houses that create a whimsical atmosphere. The crown jewel of the town is its 16th-century fortress, a UNESCO World Heritage site, which stands as a testament to its rich history.

1.1 getting there

We drove but you can get the train from Milano Centrale. You can get a one-way ticket for approx. 12 euros with Trenord which takes around 1 hour and 32 minutes or 23-27 euros with Italo or Frecciarossa which takes just under an hour. You can get your tickets from the station or online via Trainline.

2. Lazise

Lazise is the oldest municipality in Italy and is surrounded by the Scaliger walls (open 24h) which are incredibly well preserved; you can walk along them for free, and it takes around an hour to complete the tour. Overlooking the lake and port is the castle of Lazise which is now a private residence.

Every Wednesday morning until around noon, there’s a local market where you can buy local products such as wine, cheese and olive oil. If you’re around, don’t miss it.

Something that I love about Lake Garda is the amount of cycle paths there are. I think it’s a great way to visit towns whilst enjoying the lake. The cycle path that connects Lazise – Bardolino – Garda, is about 13 km (8 miles). There are kiosks along the way in case you want to buy food or a drink or you can pack your own and enjoy a picnic at one of the small pebble beaches.

If you’re staying in Lazise and want to do a day trip, you can get the ferry boat to Sirmione which is an incredibly beautiful place with a castle and gardens filled with flowers and a little beach area where you can swim in crystal clear water.

2.1 Getting there

From Peschiera del Garda it’s a 20-minute drive. If you’re taking public transport, jump on the 164 bus towards Garda at Peschiera Stazione Ferroviaria and get off at Lazise. You can also get the ferry, just make sure to check the timetables in advance.

3. Torri del Benaco

We stopped here by chance and what a great little town. As it was Ferragosto, there were live bands playing in the streets and lots of little stalls selling jewellery, art and other handmade items, it was wonderful.

3.1 Getting there

Torri del Benaco is just 10 minutes on the bus from Garda and 20 minutes on the ferry. From Lazise to Torri del Benaco it’s 44 minutes on the ferry as it stops in Garda first.

4. Malcesine

Malcesine is a beautiful town with a castle, Castello Scaligero (6€ – open Monday to Friday 09:30 – 18:30) that offers spectacular views of the lake. The cobbled streets and colourful houses of Malcesine reminded me of Bellagio but less crowded. It’s a great place to spend the day. If it gets too warm you can sit at one of the cafes or at a gelateria and enjoy a bit of people watching whilst you cool down.

Another great activity for when it’s not too hot is to cycle along the north-eastern cycle path of Lake Garda. The path is around 40km long, round trip. It is completely flat and suitable for everyone. From south to north it passes through 10 villages, all located in the province of Verona: Castelletto di Brenzone, Marniga, Magugnano, Porto di Brenzone, Assenza di Brenzone, Cassone, Val di Sogno, Malcesine, Campagnola, Navene.

We had dinner at a restaurant called Garden, right on the lake. If you ever find yourself here, order the grilled octopus with caramelised onions, tarali and mashed potato; it was delicious. We saw the most amazing sunset just before the darkest clouds swooped in and the skies roared with thunder and lightning.

From Malcesine, you can get the boat to Riva, Limone and many other towns around the lake.

4.1 Getting there

The drive to Malcesine from Peshiera del Garda took us around an hour. If you’re taking the bus, you can get the bus to Bardolino (visit the town, get some Bardolino wine) and then get the bus from there to Malcesine.