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Lake Garda

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We are planning to have 7 or 8 days on Lake Garda. We have been to Lake Como and always stayed in Bellagio because it was so easy to take ferries across to Varenna and Menaggio.

We will have a car. I am trying to work out my schedule. There will be four of us - all adults in our 70's.

We want to see Sirmione but do not want to stay there. From everything I have read, my focus has been on Malcesine, Limone, Bardolino and Riva. Riva would be our last stop as we are then heading to the Dolomites for a few days.

My personal preference would be to stay in one spot and either ferry or drive to other locations. I had been thinking Malcesine or Limone. We prefer to stay somewhere that is easy to get around on foot - walk to restaurants, shopping, sites, etc.

Also, I have been wondering if it is easier to drive on one side of the lake as opposed to the other.

We could always take a ferry when it is available to visit a site.

Is the Isola del Garda worth spending half a day on?

Sorry for so many questions. I have booked numerous hotels trying to decide which way to go. I am not opposed to staying in two different locations splitting the time if that makes more sense.

Thank you for your help. We are going in May 2024

Posted by
2421 posts

hey hey jacque_smithiii
so much to think about plus much to do on lake garda.
we went to their annual wine festival (festa del uva late sept/early oct) several years ago in bardolino, staying at hotel nettuno. was fabulous and loved the gorgeous lake, views and small villages.
you've have many days to explore and have fun, i would go again in a minute and spend a week.
rossiwrites.com/best towns lake garda
lots of info about the different towns/villages on the lake
lakegardatravel.net
palio del chiaretto (visitbardolino.it may 31 to june 2, 2024)
wine festival for rose wine. food/wine/music/dragon boat races, fireworks on sunday night on the waterfront. bring cash euros, at the festival we went paid 15E for a wine glass necklace to hold our glass of wine while roaming around. so much fun
earthtrekkers.com/best things to do on lake garda
rove.me/italy/santuario basiica madonna della corona
church built into the mountainside in spiazzi northern lake garda
getyourguide.com/lake garda
look and see if anything "whets your whistle"
wine & food tasting in the vineyards
boat tours on the lake
funiviedellbaldo.it/cable car
thecrowdedplanet.com
things to do on lake garda
don't forget your IDP (AAA.com/IDP) for driving in italy for each driver.
maybe stay few days south and few days north on the lake. good luck and have fun
aloha

Posted by
171 posts

We stayed in Desenzano del Garda last Fall, and easily visited some beautiful towns on the southern part of the lake (Lazise, Sirmione, Bardolino, Garda) by ferry from there.

Posted by
171 posts

I should have also noted that if you stay on the southern part of the lake, ferry connections are not that easy or practical to reach towns on the northern part of the lake (at least not for day trips). Maybe stay a few days farther up the lake as long as you'll have a car, and then a few days at the southern end and use the ferry from there.

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