Has anyone stayed at an agritourismo in Lake Garda? Would it be possible without having a car? We will be arriving from Venice by train and staying a few nights before flying out of Milan. If we decide on staying in a hotel the forum favorite seems to be Malcesine. Any other favorite towns for our base? This will be the end of a 2 week trip so counting on the lake stay to be more relaxing than the rest of the trip. How long do you recommend staying at the lake? Planning on September 2026.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16874 posts
It is unlikely you will be able to use an agriturismo without a car. An agriturismo is basically a farm that has been converted to accommodations for visitors (some of them are functioning farms, so that they can receive government subsidies). Being farms, they are usually located in rural areas, quite a distance from the closest town, or at least not at walking distance. So if you prefer that type of accommodations, I recommend a car. I've stayed at lake Garda, and usually not in town, but I always had a car.
Malcesine is a nice and popular destination, but anyplace on the northside of the lake (which is more mountainous and majestic) would do. Limone is a very popular town, but small (I like it however). Riva is also nice, a bit bigger town. Torbole is also cute. Salò is also quaint, more to the south, on the Lombardy (western) shore. Check where you can find accommodations. My rank would be Malcesine, Limone, Riva, just because of ferry options.
Posted by
Vermont
37 posts
We enjoyed our stays in Saló and Malcesine but Malcesine was much more crowded with tourists.
Saló was recommended by Italian friends and it was our favorite place on Lake Garda.
Posted by
3211 posts
We stayed three nights in Malcesine in June without a car. We were coming from the Dolomites and took the train to Rovereto. One thing I did not check before making reservation was the bus routes. Turned out the buses went to Riva de Garda and then had to take a different one to Malcesine. We ended up doing a private transfer because otherwise we would have had three buses and a train to get to Malcesine.
So my suggestion would be to figure out transportation before making a reservation.
We liked Malcesine but one thing I was disappointed in is that there didn’t seem to be anywhere to rent beach chairs, despite what it says on the town website. I really wanted a day at the beach after hiking. We ended up going to Limone to do so.