In Sirmione the Castello Scaligero rises from the lake, in Malcesine the Scaligero Castle dominates the town, and Desenzano has its own castle above the old center. Start with those three towns, add the Roman ruins at the tip of the Sirmione peninsula, and take the cable car from Malcesine up Monte Baldo.
At a glance
- Top sights to see first: Castello Scaligero and Grotte di Catullo in Sirmione, Scaligero Castle and Monte Baldo cable car in Malcesine
- Main access: boat and rapid services on Desenzano-Peschiera-Riva
- Local buses: R-link 204 between Desenzano and Salò, Sirmione ShuttleBus
- Car ferry: Maderno-Torri-Maderno carries vehicles
What are the best things to do on Lake Garda?
Sirmione: Castello Scaligero and Grotte di Catullo
The Castello Scaligero has embattled walls erected on the water. It was built in the 13th century to defend the village and its port. At the tip of the peninsula, the Grotte di Catullo are the ruins of a Roman villa from the 1st century BC. Palazzo Callas, an 18th-century building in Piazza Carducci, has hosted exhibitions and events since 2002.
The Sirmione ShuttleBus runs daily from 10 a.m. to 12:40 a.m., with departures every 15 to 20 minutes.
Malcesine: Scaligero Castle and Monte Baldo
The Scaligero Castle is the symbol of Malcesine and dominates the town. The cobblestone streets below it hold shops and historical palaces. A panoramic cable car climbs from the town to the peaks of Monte Baldo in a few minutes.
The short ride means Monte Baldo fits into the same day as the castle and the old streets.
Desenzano: Roman villa, castle and pile dwellings
Desenzano has a Roman villa, the most important example in Northern Italy of the great late Roman villas. Desenzano Castle overlooks the nearby town and is used for exhibitions, conventions and musical events. In the Desenzano area, the Palafitte del Lavagnone is a prehistoric pile-dwelling site on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
The R-link 204 bus runs every 30 minutes from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day between Desenzano and Salò.
Garda: museum, palaces and park
Garda has the Museo Territoriale del Lago di Garda and the Chiesa di S. Stefano. Three palaces stand in town: Palazzo dei Capitani, Palazzo Fregoso Boccali and Palazzo Carlotti. The Parco degli Albertini is also here.
The Garda tourist office sells tickets for lake tours and boat tours. Buy one there when you arrive and add a boat outing to a day of walking the old streets.
Limone sul Garda: museums and the lemon house
Limone sul Garda has a Tourist Museum in the former Municipal Office at Via Comboni 3, a Fishing Museum, the Limonaia del Castèl, the Centro Comboniano and Villa Boghi. A trail from the town leads to waterfalls, woods and ancient testimonies.
Bicycles can be rented in Limone.
Tremosine and Torri del Benaco
Tremosine has the Strada della Forra, the Church of San Zenone in Prabione, the Sanctuary of Madonna di Montecastello and the St Michael Hermitage. Torri del Benaco has the Scaligero Museum, and a guided tour covers its historic center.
The Maderno-Torri-Maderno ferry carries vehicles, so Torri del Benaco is a natural stop if you’re driving the lake.
When is the best time to visit Lake Garda for sightseeing?
In January highs reach 45°F (7°C) with lows near freezing, so winter days suit castles and museums, and boats follow a separate timetable from October 5 to March 25. April brings highs of 66°F (19°C) and nine rainy days. May warms to 75°F (24°C), which makes walking the old streets comfortable. June reaches 83°F (28°C), and July highs of 87°F (31°C) with five rainy days suit early starts and long lake breaks. A car is useful if you want the car ferry, and buses and boats cover the main towns.
Beaches and outdoor things to do on Lake Garda
Wind brings the sports crowd. The LN027 bus line takes you to the beaches loved by kitesurfers, and Campione del Garda is a wind surfing spot. The official tourism site lists beaches among its holiday ideas.
On the water, a canoeing tour runs from Garda to Punta San Vigilio, and stand-up paddling at sunset is offered on the lake. Bird watching on Lake Garda and a half-day rock climbing outing near Garda are also on the list. The sunset paddle suits the end of a warm day.
Cyclists can follow a bike itinerary among the most beautiful places of the lake. At Reamol begins the Lake Garda cycle path suspended along the cliff, and bikes can be rented at Limone.
Wine and olive oil have their own outings: the Bardolino route runs between the lake and wineries, and the Olio Viola mill offers a guided tour and tasting.
Day trips from Lake Garda
Day trips run on public transport. Boats and rapid services link Desenzano, Peschiera and Riva, and the Maderno-Torri-Maderno ferry crosses with vehicles.
- Desenzano to Salò: R-link 204 · every 30 minutes, 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily · for bus travelers
- Desenzano, Peschiera and Riva: boat and rapid services · winter timetable from October 5, 2026 to March 25, 2027 · for travelers without a car
- Maderno to Torri del Benaco: ferry · carries vehicles · for drivers
R-link 202 runs every 30 minutes on weekdays and every 60 minutes on bank holidays. Without a car, pick the boat or the buses. With a car, the Maderno-Torri ferry saves a drive around the lake.
Things to do on Lake Garda at night
DiVin Ottobre in Riva del Garda runs October 12 to 31, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. The Month of Taste has 13 dates in Riva del Garda and across Garda Trentino, until November 8.
Late October brings the Chestnut Festival in Drena and the Lomaso Potato Festival in Lomaso, both on October 24 and 25. In early November, Autumn Alchemies is in Santa Massenza on November 7, and Open Olive Mills in Alto Garda and the Walnut Festival in Cavrasto both run November 7 and 8. In Sirmione, the ShuttleBus runs until 12:40 a.m.
Things to do on Lake Garda with kids
The cable car up Monte Baldo takes only a few minutes, and the castles at Sirmione and Malcesine give plenty of walls to explore.
On foot, the easy ‘Alte Handwerke’ trail in the Alto Garda Park (0.9 miles, 1.4 km) suits short legs. A trail at Limone sul Garda leads to waterfalls and woods. Pick the cooler part of the day for the longer walks.
Sources
- venetoaroundme.regione.veneto.it (https://venetoaroundme.regione.veneto.it/en/places/iat-garda-ufficio-informazioni-e-accoglienza-turistica), checked 2026-10-30
- ncei.noaa.gov (https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/products/wmo-climate-normals), checked 2026-10-30
- trentino.com (https://www.trentino.com/en/calendar/details/month-of-taste/), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/en/tourism-museum), checked 2026-10-30
- arriva.it (https://arriva.it/app/uploads/sites/6/2026/06/Brochure-Garda-2026_web.pdf), checked 2026-10-30
- in-lombardia.it (https://www.in-lombardia.it/index%2Ephp/en/tourism-in-lombardy/tourism-brescia/terme-di-sirmione), checked 2026-10-30
- navigazionelaghi.it (https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/avvisi/informativa-relativa-alle-modifiche-del-servizio-attualmente-in-vigore/), checked 2026-10-30
- visitparcoaltogarda.it (https://www.visitparcoaltogarda.it/de/category/sentiero-tematico), checked 2026-10-30