Things To Do

Local Towns On Lake Garda:

Salò

Salò will impress you with its alluring lanes and piazzas, elegant shops, and Old World atmosphere. There are plenty of trattorias and cafes, pretty palaces, and a botanical garden. There are some great beaches right there in town, not to mention a hopping Saturday market to enjoy. Outdoors enthusiasts can partake of hiking, fishing, surfing, canoeing, sailing, tennis and more. Culture seekers wlll like the palaces and churches. (5 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Limone Sul Garda

Located on the western side of the lake, Limone is famous for its Lemons, where you can admire the various types of citrus fruits grown, its fine olive oil, thanks to the numerous olive groves and for the longevity of its inhabitants. (30 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Desenzano del Garda

Desenzano is one of the most important municipalities of Lake Garda, and also one of the richest in history, life and places of interest: this town is also known as the capital of Lake Garda. Desenzano is located on the south-western side of the lake, is easily reachable by train or by car, and it is the starting point of many tours of the lake: from here you can easily reach the eastern coast of Lake Garda, towards Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, or Torri del Benaco. Desenzano extends over a fairly large area, that includes beaches, parks, a Roman Villa and shopping centers; the well known hamlets of Rivoltella and San Martino della Battaglia are also part of the Municipality of Desenzano. (30 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Peschiera del Garda

Peschiera del Garda is one of the most beautiful small towns of the lake, with Unesco Heritage sites, canals, bridges and Roman ruins. And that’s just the city center! The area surrounding it has so much more to offer, with multiple amusement parks, natural sites and amazing landscapes. (40 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Riva del Garda

On the north tip of Lake Garda is Riva del Garda, the main centre of Trentino’s Garda region, at the foot of the Brenta Dolomites. A favorite destination those who love sailing, windsurfing, hiking, cycling and climbing, Riva del Garda also boasts a long history, which has given us many places of artistic interest such as fortifications, religious architecture and museums. (40 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Punta San Vigilio

If you are looking for an unforgettable sunset, you can’t miss Punta San Vigilio. Considered the Portofino of Lake Garda for its refinement and frequentation, the peninsula and the nearby Sirens Bay are part of a private family heritage, but open to visits, with a ticket to enjoy the beach of the Bay. The sunset from this strip of land is fabulous, and here is a truly recommended walk for those who love romantic landscapes and enchanting sceneries. This is the reason why, all over the centuries, this place has seen the presence of many famous guests: writers, royalty, heads of State and, in these times, actors and actress, sportsmen and sportswomen. Admission is subject to a fee, but at sunset and in the low season you can also get in for free. Surely a placenot to be missed! (40 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Sirmione

One of the most beautiful places on Lake Garda is the Sirmione peninsula, a very thin strip of land that extends from the middle of the southern coast of the lake. The village Sirmione is a perfect starting point for boat trips on the lake, for short excursions as well for longer to place like Isola dei Conigli or Salò. Those who love walking, cannot miss the panoramic road that starts next to the Castle and runs along Lake Garda, offering truly unforgettable views, while bike lovers can take a nice itinerary discovering the countryside and pedaling through the vineyards. An absolutely unmissable place is the Scaligero Castle, dating back to the 13th century and one of the best preserved in Italy. Those who want to relax will also have the opportunity to do it during the day, sunbathing in one of the many beautiful beaches, such as Jamaica Beach, or in the evening, when Sirmione lights up like a little Paris, with night clubs and bars for all tastes. (50 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Lazise

Lazise is a picturesque town that overlooks the south-eastern shore of Lake Garda, on the Veronese side of the lake. It is well known for its charming landscapes and its important artistic and historical value, but also as a destination for those seeking a moment of relaxation and recreation on Lake Garda. Lazise hosts Villa dei Cedri, a suggestive thermal park with a wide offer of treatments and accommodations. Looking for fun and adventure? Lazise won’t disappoint you: the amusement parks Caneva Aquapark and Gardaland are just around the corner. (50 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Bardolino

Bardolino is one of the best-known of the Lake Garda resorts, mainly due to the Bardolino wine made from the grapes grown in the vineyards on the surrounding hillsides. Bardolino is the most representative wine of Lake Garda. It is made from Corvina, Rondinella and Molinara grapes, which grows on the hills of the eastern coast. The soil and climate of the lake make Bardolino a fresh and pleasant red wine. It was awarded DOC (Designation of Origin Controlled) status in 1968, the first of the Veneto wines. (55 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Malcesine

The "Pearl" of Lake Garda, charming old town with medieval streets, a beautiful harbor, lots of shops, stores & cafes. (60 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Restaurant Reccomendations:

Ristorante Pizzeria Nablus

Great restaurant serving pizza, seafood, pasta, steak, risotto, etc with incredible views. (Gardone Riviera)

Ristorante La Taverna

A must stop when you are in the area. Excellent quality of dishes, accurate service in a small and quiet family-run restaurant where you can feel the passion for the work and the care taken in the choice of raw materials. (Gardone Riviera)

Il Fiore di Zucca

Roman Restaurant. (Gardone Riviera)

A Casa Mia Pierolì

Experience Italian grigliata (barbecue) with red local wine like groppello. The T-Bone steak is amazing, and owner Oscar’s warm and genuine hospitality makes this a special and authentic Italian trattoria. (Gardone Riviera)

Ristorante il Giglio

Specializing In Seafood. (Gardone Riviera)

Balí

Elegant Seafood Restaurant. (Gardone Riviera)

Il Fagiano - Grand Hotel Fasano

This is the flagship restaurant of one of the most beautiful hotels of Lake Garda, Grand Hotel Fasano. 10 tables are set indoors, with customary lakefront terrace seating outdoors. The chef, Maurizio Bufi, formerly at Villa Giulia, knows how to celebrate local ingredients and traditions without relinquishing his roots (he is from Puglia). The menu is eclectic – from pike cartellata with smoked potatoes, capers and olives, to lamb, ramen, asparagus and fava beans, to risotto with lemon, burrata and liquorice. As a bonus, star bartender Rama Redzepi has an infinite list of gin and tonic variations, while vegetarian tasting menus are also available. One Michelin Star☆ (Gardone Riviera)

Lido 84

Once you’ve left your car in the car park, a slight descent leads to this small corner of paradise boasting one of the most beautiful views of Lake Garda. Run by two brothers (one in the kitchen, the other front of house), this elegant restaurant is striking for its many decorative details. The cuisine here is full of flavour, with generous portions that give the impression that every meal at Lido 84 is Sunday lunch – joyous, festive and served in a relaxed and informal atmosphere. There’s also plenty of contact with the chefs, who often bring the dishes to the tables themselves. For a special occasion, we recommend booking the table in the small stone building in the splendid garden, with its classic decor and breathtaking views. One Michelin Star☆ (Gardone Riviera)

Ristorante Osteria Felter alle Rose

An interesting pairing is the key here: Matteo Felter, one of the few great local chefs, and Antica Trattoria alle Rose, a staple of the region for many decades. The restaurant is charming, and the local chef was onto something just a few months after taking on the new role, having left Fagiano at Grand Hotel Fasano. The menu follows two parallel directions: on one hand the highest attention to local ingredients (see freshwater fish), on the other his signature dishes. (Salò)

Osteria Di Mezzo

Traditional and local cuisine restaurant with fresh fish dishes from Lake Garda, meat from local farms & homemade pasta. (Salò)

QbDuePuntoZero Ristorante

On the lakefront facing the small port, this modern, simply styled restaurant has a pleasant area for summer dining. Contemporary cuisine made from carefully selected produce. (Salò)

Al Vecchio Fontec

Delicious Dishes & Welcoming Atmosphere. (Limone Sul Garda)

Cartapaglia Pizza & Gin

Contemporary Pizzeria With Great Cocktails & Local Beer. (Desenzano)

La Speranzina Restaurant & Relais

A romantic, Mediterranean-style restaurant in the heart of Sirmione, La Speranzina has an elegant and minimalist-style decor in which light, discreet colours dominate in the comfortable dining room, while in summer the terrace boasts spectacular views of the lake and castle (a few of the tables stand right over the water). Whether you choose fish, meat or vegetables, Fabrizio Molteni creates dishes with excellent technique and precision, as you would expect from one of master-chef Gualtiero Marchesi’s last students (Marchesi himself is mentioned in some of the dishes). There is also an option to head into the kitchen, where you can watch the chefs prepare either your main course or dessert. A superbly stocked wine cellar, with an excellent choice of champagnes and renowned labels, and three stunning panoramic suites complete the picture. One Michelin Star☆ (Sirmione)

Trattoria Da Nonna Pina

Traditional Italian Trattoria With Casual Atmosphere. (Malcesine)

Pergolo

Hiding in a small street, this restaurant has everything from a cozy environment and polite staff to amazing dishes and wines. If you are looking for something modern and different, this little restaurant will be a perfect choice. Having won the Travelers Choice 2022 award from TripAdvisor, Pergolo stands out with its offer, and that is confirmed by numerous good customer reviews. Pergolo restaurant offers a variety of Mediterranean and Italian meals like Italian tapas, pasta, fish, and sweet desserts. (Lazise)

Ristorante Locanda Al Cardellino

Tradition of Verona cuisine is perfectly combined with modernity in their courses. All the ingredients they use are local and carefully selected for you. Meat, homemade pasta and desserts are only a few of their specialties. (Bardolino)

Villetta Annessa

A charming annexe to the Villa Miravalle hotel on the edge of Riva’s historic centre, this restaurant boasts a warm atmosphere and a pleasant outdoor space for summer dining. The regional, seasonal dishes served here are listed on a blackboard brought to your table, while the house speciality is undoubtedly the meat cooked over the sizzling grill – the first sight to greet you as you enter the dining room. (Riva Del Garda)

Osteria Rivelin

This little restaurant may be near the shores of Lake Garda, but they bring the flavors of Veronese cuisine to the area. Their philosophy is to recreate the feeling of eating in your grandmother’s kitchen– that is, your Northern Italian grandmother. (Peschiera Del Garda)

Local Attractions:

Gardaland Resort

This is basically the Italian Disney World. Best for visitors with kids who have some free time in the days leading up to the wedding weekend, or afterwards. Gardaland is one of the leading Amusement Resorts in Europe located on the shores of Lake Garda. Gardaland Park contains nearly 40 different attractions to explore, including thrilling roller coasters, water rides, live shows, themed areas, shops, restaurants, and three onsite-themed hotels. (45 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Parco Natura Viva

The Natura Viva Park is located in Pastrengo, also in the province of Verona, and is a zoological garden with more than 1,500 animals of 200 different species from all continents. A perfect place where to learn about all the different animal species of the world. But it’s not a simple zoo: the park hosts a center for animal protection, research and conservation, and includes the Safari Park with African mammals and birds, a water terrarium and an area completely dedicated to dinosaurs. Info: www.parconaturaviva.it/.

Lefay Resort & SPA Lago di Garda

For those looking to completely relax and unwind in the days leading up to the wedding, or following, we could not recommend LeFay Resort & Spa more highly. They have been coined one of the best spas in the world and when you visit you will see why. The views alone will make your heart skip a beat! (25 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Wine Tasting

Thanks to its closeness to regions where excellent wines are produced, it is not difficult to find opportunities to taste a good wine during a trip to Lake Garda. Bardolino, Amarone, Valpolicella, Soave are just some of the excellent wines that can be tasted in the area. There is a wide choice of tours to discover and taste them in Lazise, Bardolino and Salò. The hinterland of Sirmione is the Lugana wine production area. So, if you are nearby, you can find there numerous wineries where it’s possible to take guided tours with tasting. The Veneto region is the home of Prosecco, the most famous Italian sparkling wine, and another great experience could be to taste it on a cruise on the lake, even watching a romantic sunset from the boat!

Franciacorta

If there’s a wine gem that’s just waiting to be widely discovered, it’s Franciacorta. A world-class metodo classico, or bottle-fermented, sparkler, it boasts pedigree and style, yet remains largely unknown outside of Italy. For years, Franciacorta has been compared to Champagne, because the two wines use the same bottle-fermentation method and primary grape varieties—but the comparisons end there. A combination of avant-garde winemakers, a growing focus on organic viticulture, the reduction (or elimination) of dosage and promising experiments with a recently revived native grape has yielded stunning, terroir-driven sparklers that should be on every wine lover’s radar. ● La Montina, https://lamontina.com/en/visits-to-the-winery/ ● Bellavista, https://www.bellavistawine.it ● Contadi Castaldi, https://www.contadicastaldi.it/it/cantina/ ● Ca’ del Bosco, https://www.cadelbosco.com/it ● Berlucchi https://www.berlucchi.it/en/cellar-and-visits/

Conti Thun (Winery)

A family-run Boutique Winery that in the heart of the Valtènesi, a few steps from Lake Garda, is dedicated to the production of long-lived, quality wines with the aid of technological and professional excellence. (20 Minutes From Gardone Riviera).

Costaripa di Vezzola Mattia (Winery)

Costaripa is a family-run winery located in western shores of the lake in Valtenesi owned by winemaker Mattia Vezzola, who is passionate about maximising the potential of indigenous grapes such as Groppello and Marzemino. A visit to the tasting room allows guests to taste award-winning Valtenesi wines, including the wildly popular RosaMara Chiaretto made using the ‘tear drop’ method, as well as Lugana and metodo classico Garda DOC. (20 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Pratello (Winery)

The 1860s farm is run by the Bertola family and is located one kilometre from the lake along the southwestern shores in Padenghe. Pratello primarily produces Lugana, and Valtenesi, Chiaretto di Valtenesi, as well as a metodo classico Garda DOC which spends five years on lees. Pratello is also an agriturismo, where most of the gastronomic experiences, including their extra virgin olive oil, come from the farm and nearby producers. Alpacas, chickens, donkeys and ducks live among the meadows and olive groves. Accommodation is charming and comfortable, with amenities that include dining, swimming, and a natural pond for soaking into deeper bliss. (25 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Le Morette - Az.Agr. Valerio Zenato (Winery)

Originally a farm specialising in producing vine cuttings, the Zenato family now also operates over 30 hectares in the Lugana DOC production area in the quaint town of Peschiera del Garda. Tended by third-generation brothers Fabio and Paolo, they are passionate about their territory, always ensuring to protect the environment. Along with Lugana wines, Le Morette produces Bardolino, Chiaretto, sparkling wines, as well as passito, grappa, olive oil and honey. (40 Minutes From Lake Garda)

Azienda Agricola Quintarelli Giuseppe (Winery)

This eponymous vineyard is located in the province of Verona, within the large Veneto region. Headed up by the late Giuseppe Quintarelli, also known as Bepi, Quintarelli was an influential character in Italy’s wine revival, post-war and was famed for introducing Valpolicella to the world wine stage. Thankfully the family continue with surprises after the demise of this legendary figure, and our in-the-know friends at Aqva cite Quinterelli as having a full-bodied wine that’s ‘as good as it gets’, with its crème-del-crème Amarone Riserva and even their Valpolicella Classico Superiore, which is aged for a character-building seven years in large Slavonian oak casks, packs a punch on the palette. To have a try of these special, heavy-weight wines, a wine tasting is a must and booking advised. (1 Hour 15 Minutes From Gardone Riviera)

Nearby Destinations:

Verona

Best known for its Shakespeare associations, Verona attracts a multinational gaggle of tourists to its pretty piazzas and knot of lanes, most in search of Romeo, Juliet and all that. But beyond the heart-shaped kitsch and Renaissance romance, Verona is a bustling centre, its heart dominated by a mammoth, remarkably well-preserved 1st-century amphitheatre, the venue for the city's annual summer opera festival. Add to that countless churches, a couple of architecturally fascinating bridges over the Adige, regional wine and food from the Veneto hinterland and some impressive art, and Verona shapes up as one of northern Italy's most attractive cities. And all this just a short hop from the shores of stunning Lake Garda. (1 hour from Lake Garda)

Bergamo

Towers, historic villages, churches, funicular railways, stairways climbing through greenery and unexpected views of the surrounding plains and mountains: Bergamo, one of the most popular cities in Lombardy. (1 Hour Away From Lake Garda)

Milan

Known as Italy’s cosmopolitan design center — not to mention the economic capital of Italy and second only to Rome for its cultural and political life — Milan has a lot to offer. While tourists often pass through town on their way to the next Italian destination, Milan is worth a visit. It boasts important works of art like “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci and the notable structures such as the Duomo, the third largest Gothic cathedral in the world. And then of course there is the unrivaled shopping — all the Italian and international haute-couture designers have their mega-stores in the Fashion Quad — and the vibrant nightlife. Despite its centuries of history, Milan has a thoroughly modern feel. (1 Hour 30 Minutes from Lake Garda)

Lake Iseo

Lake Iseo is the fourth largest lake in Lombardy, fed by the Oglio River. It is locatd in the north of the country in the Val Camonica area, near the cities of Brescia and Bergamo. Lake Iseo retains its natural environment, with its lush green mountains surrounding its crystal clear waters. Iseo village is the most lively place of the area, where you can find any kind of restaurants and bars where to taste delicious food and wonderful wines. It is also the starting point of most of the ferries that can take you around to visit the amenities of the lake. A mountainous island in the middle of Lake Iseo with a village of the same name, Monte Isola is considered one of the most beautiful fishermen villages in Italy. You can reach it by public ferry from Iseo or the village of Sulzano. https://www.barcaiolimonteisola.it (1 Hour 20mins From Gardone Riviera)

Lake Como

Like something out of an Italian romance novel, Lake Como makes you swoon with its stately villas, sprawling gardens and sparkling sapphire waters.With the Italian and Swiss Alps as a backdrop and myriad olive groves and lemon orchards providing pleasant shade, it's no wonder the massive body of water (the third largest in Italy) has starred more than once on the silver screen. (1 Hour 45min from Lake Garda)

Venice

Venice's biggest claim to fame — along with its past as an independent republic, its extraordinary art and its historical naval abilities — is that it was built on water. Don't expect cars here. Instead, all traffic is by foot or boat—right down to the ambulances. The canals are atmospheric and enchanting, plus there's always the opportunity to get off the beaten path. Venice is divided into six quarters. While most people sightsee and stay in the quarters of San Polo or San Marco, some of the best food, shopping, and atmosphere in the city lies in lesser-known quarters like Cannaregio and Dorsoduro. Meanwhile, other islands in the Venetian lagoon, like Burano, Murano and Torcello, have their own special brands of charm and beauty. (2 hours from Lake Garda)

Parma

Considered by many to be a little Paris because of its refined appearance, Parma is not only a city of culture, theatre and music, but also a UNESCO Creative City for gastronomy in Italy and the capital of the Food Valley from which products of Italian industry leaders originate around the world: Prosciutto di Parma and Parmigiano Reggiano, to name but a few ! (1.5 Hours from Lake Garda)

Modena

Modena, located in the heart of northern Italy's Emilia-Romagna region—an area famous for its rich cuisine—is best known for its barrel-aged balsamic vinegar and fine cheese. (1 Hour 45min from Lake Garda)

Bologna

Located about halfway between Florence and Milan, Bologna is the capital of the Emilia-Romagna region in northern Italy. Bologna is the center of Italian Cuisine...Lasagna, Tagliatelle al Ragù (Pasta Bolognese), Salami, Mortadella, Tortellini, etc. to name a few ! (2 hours from Lake Garda)