Where to Stay on Lake Garda: Best Areas, Villages and Types of Stays

Lake Garda has plenty of bases to choose from. Riva del Garda suits a stay on foot in a pedestrian zone, Limone sul Garda sits next to the ferry port, Sirmione has hotels with spas, and Castelnuovo del Garda puts families close to the theme parks. The lake is shared by three Italian regions, Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino, and Garda Trentino alone lists over 500 verified accommodations, so the village you pick shapes the whole trip.

At a glance

• Regions around the lake: Veneto, Lombardy and Trentino
• Garda Trentino: over 500 verified accommodations
• On foot in Riva del Garda: a hotel in the pedestrian zone, a few minutes’ walk from the information point
• Spa: hotels with spa areas in Sirmione
• By ferry: Limone sul Garda, 650 feet (200 meters) from the port for Malcesine and Riva
• Tourist tax in Garda Trentino: €1.00 to €3.00 per person per night

The best areas to stay on Lake Garda

Riva del Garda: for a stay on foot by the lakeshore

Riva del Garda is described as lifestyle on the lakeshore. One of its hotels, with 32 rooms and apartments and a spa, stands in the pedestrian zone, a few minutes’ walk from the information point. It suits travelers who want to leave the car parked. Riva is also one of the two ferry stops reached from Limone.

Sirmione: for spa hotels and ruins

Sirmione has hotels with spa and wellness areas. On the peninsula, the Castello Scaligero rises on water, with walls built in the 13th century to defend the village and port. At the tip are the Grotte di Catullo, the ruins of a Roman villa from the 1st century BC. Palazzo Callas, an 18th-century building on Piazza Carducci, has hosted exhibitions and events since 2002.

Malcesine: for castle streets and Monte Baldo

The Scaligero Castle dominates Malcesine and is the symbol of the town. 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, so a mountain morning is easy to add to a lake stay.

Limone sul Garda: for ferry days

A family-run hotel stands in the center of Limone sul Garda, 650 feet (200 meters) from the ferry port for Malcesine and Riva.

Arco: for climbers

Arco is known as the climbing capital. It belongs to Garda Trentino, whose localities are described as towns, villages and hamlets.

Castelnuovo del Garda: for families and theme parks

Gasparina Village is a holiday village directly on the lake in Castelnuovo del Garda. It is a few steps from the main theme parks and near the most characteristic villages, which makes it a natural base for families.

Where to stay on Lake Garda with kids, as a couple or on a budget

• Family: Castelnuovo del Garda · holiday village on the lake · a few steps from the theme parks
• Couple or splurge: Sirmione or Riva del Garda · hotel with a spa · Riva’s hotel sits in the pedestrian zone
• Without a car: Limone sul Garda · family-run hotel in the center · 650 feet (200 meters) to the ferry port
• Budget: Garda Trentino · campsites, farm stays, hostels or bed & breakfast · over 500 verified accommodations to compare

What is the best area to stay on Lake Garda?

For a trip built around the water, Limone sul Garda is the sensible base. The ferry port for Malcesine and Riva is 650 feet (200 meters) from a family-run hotel in the center, so day trips by boat start with a short walk.

Hotel prices and when to book on Lake Garda

Garda Trentino charges a tourist tax of €1.00 to €3.00 per person per night, depending on the type of lodging. A 5-star hotel pays €3.00. A 4-star or 4-star superior pays €2.50, and a 3-star or 3-star superior pays €2.00. A 2-star, 1-star or unclassified hotel pays €1.50, as does any non-hotel accommodation. Campsites, farm stays and mountain huts also pay €1.50, and tourist-use accommodation pays €1.00.

The tax is charged per person and per night, so it adds up for groups. A family of four spending three nights in a 4-star hotel pays €2.50 per person per night in tourist tax. The tax funds the beach surveillance service from Lake Garda to Lake Ledro and Lake Tenno. Check whether a quoted rate includes it before comparing prices.