Things To Do
Malcesine
Malcesine, a small medieval town on the shore of Lake Garda, is a gem. A colorful town with stunning views, and great shopping and dining. Every time we go to Lake Garda, we come here. We love strolling through the small cobblestone streets, look at some of the boutiques, have a coffee or ice cream. The castle (Castello Scaligero) on the lake is certainly worth a visit as well. There are numerous excellent restaurants for lunch & dinner, the best food we´ve had is Al Gondoliere. Malcesine is located very close to the hotels most guests will be staying in.
Monte Baldo
Monte Baldo is the mountain on the east side of Lake Garda offering all the stunning views from the lake and from the top, which is over 2.000M. If you have time, we recommend hiking it up for a full day trip. It´s not easy (Markus knows all about this...), but worth it! You can also take the cable car ride up and enjoy some easy hiking at the top. The views are unforgettable, we promise! The start of the cable car is right behind Malcesine.
Go exploring!
If you are comfortable on 2 wheels, make sure to rent a scooter and explore all the towns around the lake. Of course it´s possible by car too. The road directly around the lake is easy to manoeuver, there is no highway. Strada della Forra on the west of the lake is also called "the eight´s world wonder", and it´s tight mountain roads. It´s more difficult to drive but worth every effort. Generally recommend to go around the north, stop at the towns along the lake, perhaps even go see Lago di Ledrol, a small mountain lake. Limone on the west side is definitely worth a stop too. If you have time, make the whole trip around the lake! We have done it before, it´s really cool to see how you exit and enter the alps. Plan almost a whole day for this if you stop several times.
Rent bicycles
We love riding our bikes, and the east shores of lake Garda are the perfect place for it! You can ride north and south right along the lake for hours starting at the hotels we recommended. You will pass small towns, beaches, and have the most stunning views of the lake and the mountains.
Go swimming & relax
What´s even better than looking at a lake in the mountains? Go swimming in it! Looking around in the water at the mountains surrounding the lake is something you will never forget. You can jump in anywhere, but our favorite spot to enjoy a day in the sun is the grassy area in front of "Ristorante Pizzeria da Pedro 2". We are planning to spend the day there on Monday with everyone who is still at Lake Garda.
Kayaking on the lake
Where will you find the best view of the lake and the mountains surrounding it? Right in the middle of it all! Get a kayak and paddle out. It´s a feeling you cannot explain and pictures don´t do it justice. You can also try go to on some of the tiny islands just off the eastern shores. Last time we got ourselves some pizza and drinks and brought it all along with us to the tiny island south of Malcesine.
Wind and Watersports
What Lake Garda is actually most known for, is it to be the best inland wind and watersports spot in Europe. There are two very consistent winds, the "Pele'r" (morning) and the "Ora" (afternoon). On days with good weather, the wind blows from the north in the morning, then changes direction at noon and thereafter blows from the south. This thermal pattern is due to the temperature differences between the surface of the lake and the high mountains to the north. Over 40 years ago Markus mom and later family came here regularly to go windsurfing. With that scenery and the consistent winds, there is really no better place to surf! This makes the lake the perfect spot to try all kinds of wind-based activities: - Windsurfing - Kitesurfing - Sailing
Rent a Boat
Renting a boat gives you the great opportunity to see the lake from different angles because you can travel fast. You can even travel across the lake and stop at different towns for lunch and coffee. We have never done it, but it´s definitely high on the list!