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One Day on Lake Garda

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We are staying in Peschiera del Garda for three nights, arriving from Milan by train early afternoon. I thought we would walk around Peschiera the first half day and get settled in. We will not have a car. So that gives us two full days. We want to take a day trip to Verona for one of those days. What I am puzzling to figure out is what to do with our one full day on Lake Garda. I was hoping to take a ferry to Malcesine, (read that it is the most beautiful part of the lake) or Riva del Garda, but I see that will take 2 hours each way. We like natural beauty, history, good food and wine. Sirmione looks interesting, but some believe it is too touristy, including RS. If we went to Sirmione, what could we do to make it special (not just another town)? I see there are some wineries there, but I'm not clear if we would need a car (or a taxi?) to get to them.

If you have any suggestions for places to see or eat in Peschiera, please share them.

This will be in mid-October (ferry schedule is still not out). After that, we will go onto Venice.

Thanks as always for your time and shared experiences.

Posted by
16284 posts

I would go north and visit Malcesine and Limone. You don’t need to take the ferry, or at least not both ways or all the way. The lake is long and is served by buses on both shores, which are probably faster than the boat. If you want you could take a bus to Garda (town) then proceed by ferry (or the other way around). The link you posted refers to a tour that is limited to the southern half of the lake, but I think the northern more mountainous half is more scenic.
Sornione is a pretty town albeit crowded with tourists in summer and weekends. If you don’t go there in summer or weekends it’s not overcrowded. If it were an ugly place, nobody would go there, so if it’s crowded with visitors there is a reason.

Posted by
16284 posts

Ferries.

https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/en/tickets-and-timetables-lake-garda/

Click the + next to TIMETABLES to download the PDF for the ships to Riva.

Note that the town of Garda is a major hub for both buses and ferries, so you could split your trip and do half by bus and half by (slower) ferry. You could also take the bus all the way to to Malcesine and limit the boat to visit nearby Limone across the lake from Malcesine by boat. Besides the regular ferries there are plenty of private boat tours that do that for reasonable price.

In my opinion the northern half of the lake is more beautiful.

Posted by
34 posts

Hello, Roberto. Thank you for your detailed replies. I'm thinking that we will take the bus from Peschiera to Malcesine (1.5 hours). Spend 2-3 hours there. I would like to then take the ferry to Limone. Spend an hour or two there and then take the ferry to Peschiera. My concern is that we are going to get stuck in the north and not be able to get back to our home base. Is this a valid concern?

Perhaps we should take the bus to Malcesine and then take the ferry to Bardolino or another eastern shore town. Then get a bus or a ferry from there to Peschiera. I would like to visit at least two of the towns on the lake that day. Is it realistic to do Malcesine and Limone on the same day using public transport?

It appears that the ferry schedule still stops at Oct. 8. I will keep checking for the updated schedule.
Their website says that we can purchase our tickets on the boat. Is there any downside to doing that? Can we also purchase the bus ticket on the bus?

Grazie

Posted by
16284 posts

You won’t get stuck if you are on time to catch the last ferry. Buses run till later in the evening. I see the last bus departing Malcesine at 22:49 and arriving at Peschiera after midnight. If you need to stay later you can always take a taxi or even a water taxi.. It will cost you a bundle but you won’t be stuck. I don’t know if you can buy tickets on board. Often times in Italy you buy the tickets on the ground then simply validate it at the machines on board (insert in the slot and date stamp it). The ATV website says you can buy them on line or also at the automatic machine at the Peschiera station, at the Malcesine bus station and in Garda

Posted by
80 posts

For restaurants in Peschiera, I really like Osteria Rivelin. On the hillside just above the fortress.

Posted by
34 posts

Thank you, Roberto and k2wilde, for your replies. I'm looking forward to our time on Lake Garda.
k2wilde, the restaurant you recommended is close to where we are staying. We will definitely check it out.
Thanks again!

Posted by
34 posts

I have a couple more questions.

Is there an app for the bus schedule and ferry schedule on Lake Garda?

Where would you recommend that we have lunch in Malcesine?

Thank you!

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