Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake; a body of intense blue water surrounded by the stunning landscape of the morainic hills. Situated in the north of the country, The lake straddles the border of two of Italy’s most beautiful regions: Lombardy and Veneto, the northern part of the lake is entirely surrounded by mountains, which create a mild microclimate that allows mediterranean foliage to grow all around, only adding to the beauty of this magical location.
The shore of the lake is dotted with quaint towns and villages. As far back as Roman times, this area has been used as a peaceful and luxurious summer getaway. * The lake was carved into the mountain by glaciers during the last ice age. * Salo, a town on Lake Garda, is allegedly where the modern violin was first invented by Italian musician Gasparo De Salo.
The southern part of the lake is an open, rolling landscape with several medium sized towns offering accommodation to visitors. Lake Garda stretches to the north, where the terrain becomes more mountainous and the shoreline more fjordlike. Most of the towns and villages at the lake’s edge are excellent places to stay, and well connected by buses and boats. Most visitors will end up in Desenzano del Garda at some point during their stay. Although not the prettiest town to bed down in, it is certainly the most practical; the ‘capital’ of the lake’s settlements with great transport connections for exploring the region. At the northern end of the island, Riva del Garda is a small, pleasant town with a few shops, boasting a wonderful view to the south over the lake. On Lake Garda’s western shore, the town of Gardone Riviera is one of the region’s most beautiful, with a magnificent castle and a cable car leading up into the mountains.
The natural beauty of the region is the number one attraction at Lake Garda, taking a relaxing swim in the clear waters, or a peaceful walk in the surrounding hills are the main reasons people come here. There is plenty more on offer though, including some fascinating history to explore. Take a boat out to Isola del Garda, this island was a private retreat for Italy’s elite for centuries and hosted the likes of St. Francis of Assisi and Benito Mussolini to name but a few. The area also has many Medieval Castles, including Castell Degli Scaliger, one of Europe’s best preserved moated castles. Several of the town’s have cable cars to take you high into the mountains, the Monte Baldo cable car, which begins in the town of Malcesine on the eastern shore of the lake, offers some of the most incredible views over the whole region.
Lake Garda is a dream destination for foodies. The mediterranean microclimate is ideal for growing all sorts of foods. Some of the world’s finest olive oil is produced in this region and it is at the heart of Italy’s wine country. Visitors can take a tour of an olive mill and do plenty of tasting along the way. You’ll be able to find some fantastic food whichever town you’re in: The locals are proud of their produce and love to share it with visitors. The region is dotted with ‘agriturismo’ - Italian farms which provide guest house/restaurant service, eating at one of these is a great opportunity to try some real traditional Italian cooking: look out for the signs as you make your way through the countryside. The Lake Garda region produces some exceptional wines, sit and sip a glass in one of the lovely small town squares, or take a tour of a wine cellar if you’re really keen!
Lake Garda’s public transport system is pretty useful; the towns are small enough to walk around and there are bus and ferry services running regularly between most of them. Most visitors find the ferry service more convenient and a nicer way to travel; day tickets are available for travel around the entire lake, or just for the upper/lower sections. As with most rural areas, however, to really get the most out of it you need to get your own transport; cars can easily be rented at Brescia Airport or in any of the larger town. Exploring the region by bike is also an excellent option, if you can handle a few uphill sections. Airports in Brescia and Verona are both within 30 minutes’ drive of the lake, with easy public transport available. Desenzano, Rovereto and Peschiera all have train stations with services running all around the region.
Wimdu is Europe's largest marketplace for private accommodation. With over 300,000 lettings in more than 150 countries, you're sure to find the perfect place to stay.