How to Spend 3 Days in Lake Garda
When it comes to Italian Lakes, Como tends to get all the attention. Granted, it is beautiful, but it’s also quite busy and expensive. So much so that instead of staying there, I decided to go to Lake Como as a day trip from Milan. However, there’s another (even bigger) lake in Italy that is also worth a visit: Lake Garda.
Located in the northeastern side of the country, Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake. It has a fascinating history, especially during WWI when the eastern side of the lake was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, today the interest lies in the adorable villages, mountain scenery, local food and wine, and of course, the beautiful lake itself.
Here’s my take on how to spend 3 days in Lake Garda.
When to Go to Lake Garda
While many locals live around Lake Garda, as a tourist, you are best to go during the spring, summer, or early fall. It is considered a seasonal tourist destination with some hotels, attractions, and restaurants closing outside of the busy months. It can get incredibly busy in the summer. No matter what you may hear, it’s not ‘undiscovered’. It’s just not as popular with North American tourists, but there are plenty of European and even local Italians who vacation here. I visited in late April and, while it wasn’t warm enough for swimming yet, it wasn’t crowded and the weather for walking around and exploring the cute towns.
How to Get to Lake Garda
Lake Garda is easily accessible by train. The town of Desenzano, located at the southern lake, has a train station with connections to multiple major Italian cities, including Rome, Florence, Bologna, and Verona. Depending on where you are coming from, if possible, you may want to spend the money on the fast train rather than the regional one to avoid transfers and save time. Alternatively, if you are renting a car, then you can easily drive to Lake Garda.
Where to Stay in Lake Garda
If you have a car, then you can stay in any of the towns on the lake. If you are using public transit, then I suggest Desenzano since it is easiest with the train. This is where I stayed, and I actually loved it. Compared to nearby Sirmione, Desenzano was much less touristy and had more of a local and authentic feel to it. There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, and bars for dining out as well as a couple of grocery stores and laundromats if needed.
It’s a main stop on the ferry line, which makes it easy to access several of the other towns on the lake. That being said, it is on the southern end, so if you do want to go north, it will take a few hours. I found it best to stick to the southern end of the lake and plan on visiting the northern end at another time. There was more than enough to keep me busy exploring Lake Garda for three days in the south.
If you are using public transit and really have your heart set on staying elsewhere, you can always bring your luggage on the ferry or hop a bus from Desenzano once you arrive by train.
For those looking for a recommendation on where to stay in Desenzano, I stayed at Hotel Giardinetto. It’s an older hotel but the rooms are very spacious, especially by European standards. It’s about a 10-minute walk from the train station and another 5-7 minutes to the waterfront. It’s nothing fancy, but it is run by a local family and has a really homey feeling, which, for me as a solo female traveller, was especially nice. I would definitely recommend it. If you prefer something closer to the waterfront try Admiral Hotel Villa (has a pool and close to the beach) or Hotel Piroscafo.
How to Spend 3 Days in Lake Garda
My suggestions for the Lake Garda Guide are based on my own experience using Desenzano as a base. Again, I visited in mid-April, which was too early for swimming, but some of the towns (including Desenzano) do have beaches to visit and swim, so keep that in mind if you are visiting in the summer.
With that being said, here’s my suggested itinerary for 3 days in Lake Garda.
Day 1: Sirmione & Desenzano
Sirmione is perhaps the most popular town on Lake Garda. Known for its picturesque castle, it’s a favourite among tourists, so I suggest you start your day there to avoid most of the crowds. It’s just a 15-20-minute ferry ride from Desenzano making it easy to hop over to. If you like castles, you can tour the castle here. Otherwise, enjoy wandering through the narrow streets and popping into the different shops. There’s a walking trail along the shoreline, and at the tip of the island you can find some catacomb ruins. If you prefer, you can also take a boat tour. It’s about 20 minutes and takes you around the island, offering some beautiful views.
Spa lovers may also be interested in reserving a time slot at theSirmione Terme thermal spa. Make sure to reserve well in advance as it does fill up rather quickly. I didn’t get a chance to go to this one but I have visited the Terme Spa in Milan, and it was fantastic.
In the afternoon, head back to Desenzano. Grab a gelato and take a stroll down the waterfront area or have an afternoon glass of wine or cocktail at one of the bars. I found Desenzano to be significantly less expensive than Sirmione and more local and, because of that, I preferred to spend my evenings here people-watching. Alternatively, you can take a sunset boat cruise.
Day 2: Garda & Bardolino
Located on the eastern side of the Lake, Garda and Bardolino are two more beautiful towns. It’s about an hour by ferry to Garda, so I suggest starting there. There isn’t necessarily much to ‘do’ here other than walk around and explore, but it’s very picturesque. You can then either take the ferry, take a bus, or walk along the waterfront about 45 minutes to the next town, Bardolino.
Bardolino is known for its wineries and there are a few that offer tours and tastings (make sure to check ahead of time- most will only offer these tours if booked in advance). A couple to check out include:
Day 3: Isola del Garda OR Salo/Gardone
For your third day in Lake Garda, I suggest trying to get a ticket out to Isola del Garda. It’s the only private island on the lake and it houses a beautiful historic villa with both English and Italian Gardens. The Island is owned by 7 siblings, 3 of whom still live here, and they open it up 5 days a week to pre-booked tours. Tours leave from different towns depending on the weekday so it will take some advance planning to time your visit accordingly. The trip includes round-trip boat transportation to the island as well as a guided tour including some light refreshments. The villa is beautiful and I really enjoyed my visit here, so, if you can make it work, I recommend it. You can book tickets and learn more here.
If not, consider heading to the west side of the lake. The towns of Salo and Gardone came highly recommended.
If You Have More Time
Three days in Lake Garda is a great little break, but if you want to spend longer, you absolutely can. There are plenty of towns along the lake to visit and you can even switch up where you stay to have easier access to different parts.
Alternatively, Lake Garda makes an easy base for a day trip to another Italian city such as:
- Verona (guided day trip option)
- Brescia
- Venice
- Milan
- Bergamo
Insider Tips
- Some of the towns on Lake Garda have a weekly market. It’s on Tuesdays in Desenzano, so, if possible, try to time your visit to coincide with that. The market is quite large and you an easily spend an hour or two browsing. There is everything from food and drink to clothing, leather goods, kitchenware, linens, and more. Some of it is junky but there are also some fun finds as well. I got a super cute ceramic, hand-painted octopus serving tray.
- As always, try to find restaurants and bars away from the waterfront and main square areas. These tend to be the most expensive ‘tourist trap’ type places. Sometimes the food is delicious, but it still tends to be more expensive. A few spots I loved in Desenzao include: The Cave, Caffe Italia (yes, it’s on a square), and Dom Caffe (cheapest spritz I could find!)
- If you have a ticketed event somewhere, like for Isola de Garda or a winery visit, make sure to go early. Sometimes the ferries can be late or even not run in the case of bad weather. It’s better to be early than miss your activity!
- If you are hoping to get photos without the crowds, head out early. Lake Garda is slow to get started and while a few things will open around 9am, most open closer to 10am.
I loved my three days in Lake Garda! It was a perfect spot to relax and unwind for a few days and enjoy some beautiful scenery. I highly recommend a visit on your next trip to Italy.
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Airalo: download the app, pick what country you want an esim for, and after you purchase it follow the installation instructions. You can use promo code HANNAH3326 to save $3USD on your next esim purchase.
Truely: This one is easier in that it’s a one-time download instead of downloading an esim for each country. It also allows you to hotspot and tether- which not all esims do. Check out options here.
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