Driving Tour of Italy’s Lake Garda
A Print-and-Take-Along Guide to the East Shore of Lake Garda
Colorful villages clinging to the shore, mountains reflected in the lake, medieval castles, Roman ruins, olive orchards and vineyards lead eastern Garda's must-see sights
Although it is easy to find your way around Lake Garda’s beautiful shore, knowing when and where to stop, and how to get to the little-known gems just off the route is not so easy. Print this driving tour and slip it into your guidebook to use on the road.
The total driving time, not allowing for traffic jams, is about 4 hours, but lakeside traffic is likely to make this longer, especially on the southern end of the lake. You can shorten the route by leaving out some of the little side detours, but to see everything you should plan on two days.
Desenzano del Garda to Sirmeone
Begin in Desenzano del Garda, at the southern end of the lake on the A-4 Autostrada between Milan and Verona, and head east along S-11 to Colombare, turning left to visit Sirmione. Cars are not allowed into town except with hotel reservations, so you’ll need to park outside and visit the castle on foot. A little train leads to the Grotte di Catullo, a first-century BC Roman villa, or you can walk.
Peschiera to Bardolino
Return to Colombare and continue on S-11 to Peschiera. Continue to follow the lakeshore, S-249, north to Lazise, a pretty little town with a 13th-century castle, and the larger Bardolino, also worth a stop. The Museo dell’Olio d’Oliva (Olive Oil Museum) is on the left as you enter town, a tricky turn, but well worth the stop. Drive past the town to park along the shore and walk back to see the 9th-century Carolinian church of San Zeno and the attractive waterfront lined with cafes. Bardolino is also known for its wines.
Garda and Monte Baldo Botanic Gardens
Beyond is Garda, with another café-lined promenade and harbor. Leave the shore here to follow the signposted road east to Caprino Veronese, then north to Spiazzi, where the sanctuary of Madonna della Corona overlooks the Adige valley. Continue to Ferrara di Monte Baldo to visit Orto Botanica del Monte Baldo (open daily May--mid-Sept), a garden of indigenous pre-alpine mountain plants, including edelweiss, alpine lilies and wild roses. Backtrack through this high valley to Garda
Torre del Benaco to Torbole
From Garda the road swings west to round the beautiful point of San Vigilio, turning north again to Torre del Benaco, where there is another small castle.A series of little settlements dot the shore to form Brenzone, theprettiest of which is easy to spot from S-249 by the little river that cascades through it. Parking is along the shore beyond it. Follow the shore walkway back to the beautiful little port where a charming group of brightly-painted houses, an arched bridge and a round stone tower surround the tiny boat basin, an ensemble that most tourists don’t know is there.
The road runs right along the lake for glorious views of the western shore and its steep mountain slopes. Park at the base of the funivia (cable car) on the right in Malcesine and follow its winding stone streets to a Medieval castle on a high point. If the day is clear, a detour to the top of Monte Baldo in the revolving cable car discloses stunning views of the lake and mountains. S-249 continues to hug the shore and after several tunnels goes through Torbole, where you are likely to see windsurfers, and on to Riva del Garda.
For a driving tour of western Lake Garda, forming a complete around-the-lake circle, click here.
