Lake Garda

See if you can make it work.

Train timetable:
http://www.trenitalia.com/tcom-en
Bus and cablecar timetable:
http://www.atv.verona.it/flex/cm/pages/ServeBLOB.php/L/EN/IDPagina/1032
Ferry and boat timetable:
http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/g_areadown.asp

Not sure if you can make that all work on public transportation. Also, if you don't get up to Monte Baldo first thing in the morning, the lines will be extremely long (if you are traveling in peak season). We were given this information by the owner of the hotel where we stayed in Malcesine. Alternatively, if you aren't able to do that, you could climb to the top of the castle instead. The views from the top looking out over the lake are very nice. I definitely prefer the northern end of the lake but the southern end is also nice albeit more crowded and touristy. We stayed in Sirmione for one night and liked it but liked a Malcesine and Limone better. good luck. I hope you're able to make it happen via public transport. By the way, you might look into the cost of a driver (especially if there are several people in your party). We have successfully used drivers in different parts of Italy and while it was expensive, it definitely made various day trips doable and less stressful than it would have been using public transportation. Just a thought.

Not sure if you can make that all work on public transportation. Also, if you don't get up to Monte Baldo first thing in the morning, the lines will be extremely long (if you are traveling in peak season). We were given this information by the owner of the hotel where we stayed in Malcesine. Alternatively, if you aren't able to do that, you could climb to the top of the castle instead. The views from the top looking out over the lake are very nice. I definitely prefer the northern end of the lake but the southern end is also nice albeit more crowded and touristy. We stayed in Sirmione for one night and liked it but liked a Malcesine and Limone better. good luck. I hope you're able to make it happen via public transport. By the way, you might look into the cost of a driver (especially if there are several people in your party). We have successfully used drivers in different parts of Italy and while it was expensive, it definitely made various day trips doable and less stressful than it would have been using public transportation. Just a thought.

In 2015 I tried to plan a day trip from Verona to the north side of Lake Garda via public transportation and couldn't make it work. We ended up taking the train to Desenzano and catching a bus to Sirmione. Honestly, the best part of the trip was the train ride. Sirmione is nice, but I think we would have been better off enjoying Verona for another day. We were there in May, right before the ferries changed to their more frequent summer schedule.

This summer we took a day trip from Verona to Sirmione. Even though it sounded simple, it ended up being a very long day. We took the train from Verona to Desenzano then waited for the ferry to Sirmione. Sirmione was very crowded with tourist when we arrived. The return trip was very long because we had to wait an hour for the ferry from Sirmione to Desenzano, then a very hot hike up the hill to the train station. Then we waited another 2 hours in the hot, little train station because the train was late. We wished we had stayed in Verona for the day.

I've always been to the Lake Garda with my car, but I think your plan is doable by public transportation too.
You just have to start early and go to the farthest point (Limone) first. Then you work your way down.
So first go to Limone (via bus Verona-Garda-Malcesine then boat, or also via train to Peschiera, then boat).
After Limone return to Malcesine. Go immediately to Monte Baldo.
Make sure you are back down to Malcesine before 6:45pm (the cable car ride is 15 min).
Just know that the last bus back leaves Malcesine at 7:02pm. If you are on that bus, it goes all the way to Peschiera and it takes about 1h20min to Peschiera.
Once in Peschiera, there are trains to Verona till very late at night (last train from Peschiera to Verona leaves 2 min before midnight).

Is this day trip possible from Milan? I don't mind getting a super early start to maximize the day. What would I be able to see in a day? I could possibly rent a car as well, but I can see an issue with getting to opposite sides of the lake (unless of course I use the ferry).

Gabriel.
My first comment has the link to all means of transportation including trains from Milan.
Check trains from Milano Centrale to Peschiera.
Then check the bus schedule from Peschiera to Malcesine and back (also linked).

Thanks Gabriel I got the links but I can’t understand them well enough to apply them. I would like to leave Verona Porta Nuova around 8:30 and I thinkI from what others have said I should go to in Malcestine but leave immediately by ferry to visit Limone. Then return by ferry to Malcesine ‘ take cable car to Monte Baldo return to Malcesine and then head back to Verona. Can you help me figure this out using the timetables? I’d so appreciate it! There’s a stop on the train called Peschiera Garda. Is that where I need to go? Is it faster to take train or train and bus or only bus? Donna