So you’ve booked your flight, you’ve poured yourself a preemptive Bellini and now there’s just one last job to do… find the perfect Lake Garda accommodation! But deciding where to stay in Lake Garda can bring on a headache before any Bellini hangover sets in. Which town? Which side? Which type? Garda Lake is HUGE and there are so many options!
Wondering what is the best part of Lake Garda to stay in is a conundrum we were faced with a few months ago. But, having just returned from a week on the beautiful shores of Garda, and having travelled the entire circumference, we felt it was time to write a post with some helpful tips on how to choose the best place to stay at Lake Garda.
Where To Stay In Lake Garda?
Obviously, we will all be wanting different things from our Lake Garda Holiday… are you taking the kids? Will it be a romantic break? Doing Lake Garda without a car? All these things will influence the final decision on the best place to stay at Lake Garda for you. But where do you start?
What To Expect From Lake Garda, Italy…
The circumference of Lake Garda is approximately 90 miles and the terrain is quite different depending on your whereabouts.
Lake Garda’s southern shores are flat and you can expect the towns to be laid out in the standard fashion – a network of streets, easy to access, and often pedestrianised areas around the prettier lake-side spots. The Lake is also wider at the southern end so there is more of a seaside feel in that the mountains are only just visible further north over a great expanse of water.
The further north you travel up the lake the more aware you are of the imposing mountains, the alps to the west and the Dolomites to the east. Garda Lake is narrower at the northern end so if the weather is clear the views are incredible. Lush green slopes with snow-topped peaks behind. Some towns have developed in flatter sections but many towns cling to the slopes and the network of streets can be quite steep.
The Lake Garda map below nicely illustrates the terrain…
When deciding where to stay on Lake Garda you may want to consider some factors:
- Do you prefer the sun in the morning or the evening?
- The further north on Lake Garda the more temperamental the weather.
- What kind of scenery do you prefer – lake views or mountains, or both!?
- Do you want easy access to other places, ie. Venice, Verona, Milan?
- Are you visiting Lake Garda without a car and reliant on public transport?
- How quiet a town would you like?
Depending on your answers we would like to make some suggestions on each section of Lake Garda with a few pros and cons of each place. In some places we can make some hotel recommendations too.
The Best Places To Stay – Lake Garda, Italy
WHAT IS THE MAIN RESORT IN LAKE GARDA?
MALCESINE.
Why? Located in the perfect sweet spot, Malcesine is a beautiful renaissance town on the north-eastern shores of Lake Garda. Compared to other lakeside towns on the east side, Malcesine is larger and has several popular tourist spots. Castello Scaligero di Malcesine is one of the main tourist attractions on Lake Garda and the cobbled pedestrianised streets are a joy to wander.
But another reason many choose Malcesine as their Lake Garda base is because of direct access to incredible hiking trails in the Monte Baldo mountain range that looms over Garda. There is a cable car a 5-minute walk from the centre.
PROS…
- It’s the best town to stay in Lake Garda if you want to hike in the mountains but also explore the other lake towns too.
- If views from your hotel are important, they don’t come much nicer than Malcesine because you’re closer to the opposite side of the lake.
- If you’re taking a romantic break in Lake Garda and want to stay in one place, Malcesine has enough going on that you could easily spend a few days there. There are several tourist attractions.
- It has easy access to the opposite side of the lake via the ferry which docks here.
CONS…
- It’s very busy!
- Many other popular spots on Lake Garda are over an hours drive away.
Our Malcesine Hotel Suggestion…
Eco Hotel Ariston has incredible views from every balcony as a result of its ideal location. We also love the fact it’s an eco-friendly hotel and has a hot tub. We took a look and are considering booking here for a future weekend romantic break on Garda.
BEST PLACES TO STAY ON LAKE GARDA WITHOUT A CAR (ARRIVING BY TRAIN)
If you’re deciding on the best place to stay in Lake Garda without a car, you should probably consider a town along the southern edge near one of the train stations. The towns of Desenzano and Peschiera both have excellent transport links to Milan and Verona airport via train and day trips to major cities, including Venice, are very easy to achieve. From these towns you can also hop on and off the local buses to many other lakeside towns.
Desenzano would definitely be our top choice out of the two. Its historic centre and neat little port are so picturesque and we loved getting lost in the winding streets of the old town. It’s known as the Gateway to Garda and in view of that there are plenty of lovely accommodation options and so many lovely bars and restaurants – the town really comes alive at night!
Friends of ours live in Desenzano and they highly recommended the Park Hotel, they’ve had many family members stay there and we think the reviews speak for themselves. It’s a 15 minute walk to the train station and a 5 minute walk to bus stops if you’re visiting Lake Garda without a car. Plus, who doesn’t love a rooftop pool!?
PROS…
- Only 23 minutes by train from Verona.
- Gateway to both the east and west of the lake, either by car or public transport.
- A beautiful medieval old town
CONS…
- Harder to find hotels with lake views as the town is set back from the Lake in many respects.
- The sun sets behind you so evenings can be chilly.
- It can get VERY busy!
WHERE TO STAY AT LAKE GARDA FOR A ROMANTIC BREAK
As I mentioned earlier, we already have Malcesine earmarked for a future visit based mostly on the prospect of some romantic walks in the peaks of Monte Baldo. However, another town I would definitely consider for its romantic location is Sirmione. It’s probably the Bellagio of Garda and thankfully the day visitors eventually leave and only locals and loafer-wearing holiday-makers remain! Traffic-free and laden with bougainvillea and citrus trees, a romantic stroll around the tangled streets of Sirmione is a delight and a pace that would suit me on a dreamy weekend away in the Italian lakes. Dare I say it might even rival my beloved Bellagio!
PROS…
- Exclusive! And once the day visitors have left it can feel like you have the place to yourself!
- Manicured and aesthetically pleasing.
- Has a very romantic feel to it.
- There are 4 Michelin starred restaurants in Sirmione! (Other restaurants try to keep their standards up too)
CONS…
- More expensive accommodation than other Garda towns.
- Cars have to be parked outside of the peninsula.
- The hotels with lakeside views get booked up quickly.
One of the most exclusive resorts on Lake Garda is the 5-star Malcelsine hotel ‘Villa Cortine Palace‘ tucked away in its own Italian piece of paradise. I’m saving up for this one! (or maybe we could just sell one of the kids?)
However, probably a bit more affordable (and ensuring we have the most amount of offspring available to care for us in our decrepit years) is the very chic, adult only, Hotel Ocelle Thermae and Spa. It has a private beach, a thermal pool and is right next to Sirmione Castle.
WHERE TO STAY IN LAKE GARDA FOR A WATER SPORTS HOLIDAY
Whether it be paddleboarding, sailing, windsurfing or just a morning swim in the lake, Garda Lake has it all! The northern tip of the lake is more geared up for all of the above, with the most popular resorts being Riva del Garda, Torbole and Malcesine.
Torbole and Riva are adjacent to each other so either would be a good choice if you were needing to hire equipment. Riva however is much larger and has more facilities so would be a better choice in the high season.
White water rafting is available in the Trentino mountain range and there are tours that leave from Riva daily.
Riva is the gateway to the hills and many other activities like mountain biking, hiking and canyoning are accessible from this town so it really is the best place to stay on Lake Garda for adventurists.
PROS…
- At the top end of the lake the scenery is SO beautiful!
- Easy access and rental facilities for all sorts of adventure activities, not just water sports.
- Riva is a very large town so you have all of the amenities that go along with that.
CONS…
- Immediately outside of the town the roads are winding and not for the faint-hearted.
- Not the ideal location if you are wanting to explore other lake Garda towns.
- The weather can be cooler and breezier.
We would recommend Oasi Hotel Wellness and Spa because not only is the owner happy for you to leave all of your equipment at the hotel but it has the added advantage of the spa facilities to soak your aching muscles at the end of the day. It’s a beachfront hotel, perfect for a morning dip, and has the most amazing views from the communal terraces.
WHERE TO STAY AT LAKE GARDA WITH KIDS
Lake Garda has a lot going on and take it from us it makes the perfect holiday destination for families. Water sports, sightseeing, theme parks, beaches and hiking are just some of the most popular things to do with kids on Lake Garda.
We think basing yourself on the south eastern shore of Garda, somewhere between Garda town and Peschiera del Garda is the best idea. This area of Lake Garda has theme parks, an Aquarium, waterparks, markets and other tourist spots. There are a host of camping sites with facilities for families and more hotels geared up for children.
The towns of Garda, Lazise and Bardolino are particularly beautiful and all have promenades away from busy roads. Imagine yourself at a table with lakeside views and a drink of Aperol whilst the little ones play next to you in the piazza. Grab a gelato from any of the vendors and slowly saunter back to your hotel along the shoreline with the sun setting on the opposite side of the lake. Are you with us?
PROS…
- Get the best sunsets on Lake Garda and longer sunshine hours.
- Probably the most accessible area, within an hour’s drive to all of the best towns in Lake Garda and only 30 minutes to Verona airport. Only 1.5 hours to Venice and the Dolomites too.
- These towns are definitely quieter than some of the lakes larger towns.
- Close to GardaLand, Movieland and some Aqua-parks.
CONS…
- The SR249 can get very busy in peak season due to high traffic from the theme parks
We stayed at Residenza Olivo in Garda town and would go back in a heartbeat! Stylish apartment suites with all the facilities you would need for a week’s holiday. Our apartment had 2 bedrooms and slept up to 6 people if you used the double sofa bed in the lounge. There was a gym, large pool and jacuzzi, a rooftop BBQ-ing area with incredible views, and several mini supermarkets and coffee shops and gelaterias within 5 minutes walk. There were lots of excellent well-priced restaurants nearby too and it was only 5 minutes to walk to the centre of Garda. It’s the perfect spot for Lake Garda family holidays. For the best prices at the Residenza Olivo hotel, click here.
What we loved about this area was the fact you had easy access to a lot of places. Most lakeside towns were only half an hour away and we made day trips to Verona and Venice too. Garda town itself isn’t too busy and it has a lovely relaxed feel to it in the centre. Plenty of shops, bars and restaurants and every evening we took a walk along the promenade. Locals were friendly and it felt much more chilled out than some of the other more touristy towns.
So there you have it – our Lake Garda ‘Best Places To Stay’ list, whether you are looking for an adventure holiday, one with the family, or just a quieter break to enjoy the scenery of the striking Italian Lake Garda. We have visited most towns on Garda so if you have any questions feel free to drop us an email.
As usual, we would like to say a big THANK YOU for helping us out – every time you click through to a link for a hotel from our page we make a small commission (at no extra cost to you) which all goes towards the upkeep of this blog. We truly appreciate it.
GREAT BLOG… Thank you… Me and my wife are looking to go (without the kids 4 & 7) for 3-4 days in June so we need to get booked asap. Will be for a 10 year wedding anniversary!
Ideally we want somewhere romantic but want to do some exploring also. We would love to hire a moped for the day and explore some of the lakeside towns. You mention Malcesine is nice and Romantic. Would this be a good base for exploring some of the other towns via moped.
Also do you have any recommendations for moped hire?
Malcesine or Sirmione would be my top choices for romance, definitely Sirmione if the budget stretches. Although Garda and Bardolino are sweet too. Great choice of destination though – all of Lake Garda is pretty romantic 💕 I have no experience with mopeds though, sorry 🫣 Have fun!
Hi. This has all been very helpful! We are planning a week at the lake after a short stay in Rome. We have 2 teenagers and we’re hoping to avoid hiring are car. Do you think this is too ambitious?!
This really depends on whether you want to venture beyond Desenzano up the west side or up to Riva or other places in the north. The east coast however is very well catered for with buses.
Hi, I’m planning a trip Verona (one night stop over) then head to Lake Garda with two teenagers and my husband- is Bardolino a good base choice? We would like to explore the other areas of the Lake such as go up the cable cars, go to Sirmione, Marcelino. Would you recommend a car? It’s incredibly confusing where to stay! We love walking, great views hiking, beaches etc!
Bardolino sounds like the perfect plan. The right side for Verona and the cable cars and hiking. It is possible to reach the rest of the lake by public transport but I recommend hiring a car to reach the north and west sides, it will be more convenient. There is a regular bus route that travels up and down the east coast though.
Would you recommend a ferry ride to the other areas? Is that accessible from Bardolino or is best to stay at Garda I think it is?
Thank you!
It’s definitely doable but the ferry is very slow. If I remember correctly it’s almost 2 hours from Bardolino to Riva. If you want to see the north and west I would definitely recommend hiring a car.
Okay thank you! Is it easy to drive to other areas? Or is it best to stick with public transport with the kids?
I think it’s easy, yes. I’d always prefer to hire a car over taking public transport but it was so easy to catch the bus up and down the east side of the lake we often left it at the hotel so that we could have an Aperol or two 😉
Hello,
Your blog has been really helpful, thank you. We have booked a week in August 2024 that is my husband and two teenage girls age 15 and 17 years, we’ve booked an air b and b about 10/15 mins walk from Garda town and we don’t have a car, I’m just wondering if you think it would be better fun and easier to get around if we were down in peschwiera or Desezano, we’re flying into Verona, or would these places be madly busy in August ? Thank you
Thank you for your message. I haven’t personally been in August myself but Garda town definitely has enough restaurants and bars and atmosphere if that’s what you mean by fun. If you were just sticking to the lake for day trips you can access everywhere from Garda town, even if it means changing in another town, however if you are wanting to venture out from the lake to say Venice or Verona I would recommend Peschwiera to cut down on travel time. Hope this helps and have a fab time!!
Dear Alex
Thank your for this helpful article. I planning a surprise trip to Lake Garda for my husbands 60th. We will fly into Verona and collect a hire car, I’m going to book hotels via booking.com
I’m thinking on starting our holiday in Riva del Garde booking 3 nights, then 3 nights in the south – would you recommend Malcesime, Sirmione or Desenzano? I’m hoping to finish with one night in Verona.
Before I book do you have any advice? Does this sound a good route to see both ends of the lake ? Thank you so much in advance , I really appreciate any help.
Well that sounds like a fabulous trip, I’m a little jealous! Malcesine, Sirmione and Desenzano are all wonderful in their own right but with Malcesine being higher up the lake I think you could easily pull that in as a day trip from Riva. Sirmione will always be my favourite, it’s a really special place, but Desenzano has a lovely ‘Italian’ feel to it, as in, once you are away from the water the narrow alleys and squares are typically Italian rather than ‘touristy-beautiful’ (I hope I’m making sense). But really, you can’t go wrong with either and wherever you end up choosing you can easily visit the other.
And, one night in Verona is fine – it’s not a massive city.
Have a great time!
Ps. If you click through to Booking.com from any of our links (regardless of whether you are choosing that specific hotel) we will earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Alex, your articles are really helpful (I also read Lake Garda with Teens) – thank you! We hope to visit next summer with the kids (12 & 14) but not take a car. Does Garda town have as good transport links as Peschiera and Desenzano? That is, trains to Verona & Venice, and bus services to other towns on the lake?
Many thanks
Thank you for your comment – so pleased they’ve been useful. If you stayed in Garda town and wanted to get to Verona and Venice you’d need to take the bus to peschiera to catch the train. Peschiera is more lively than Garda, so it really depends on how busy you want your base to be.
This is really helpful and insightful. I’ve booked a holiday to Venice/Lake Garda in Septmeber. We’ll be spending 2 days in Venice and then getting a train to Sirmione where we’ve currently booked a hotel for the remaining 8 days. My original thinking was to base ourselves here and to travel around the lake (via Taxi) from Sirmione but I’m now wondering if this is the best options. We really want to visit Verona, Malcesine, Limone and Riva De Garda etc. However, these places are distributed quite sparsely and I’m wondering if it’s better for us to book another hotel somewhere more central e.g. Malcesine, for the last 4 days of the trip to make it easier for us to travel the north of the Lake. What would you recommend?
Yes I think that sounds like a good idea. The journey from the top to the bottom of the lake takes approximately 1 hour so Malcesine would be a good base to travel to Riva, Garda, and even Limone via a ferry if I remember correctly. Sirmione is also perfectly placed for the rest of your day trips. Have a great time!