One lake, thirty towns, a thousand stories
Lake Garda is surrounded by dozens of towns that climb onto promontories, stretch along the shores, or hide in the hilly hinterland. Each has its own character, shaped by geography: the north is alpine, vertical, swept by winds; the south is gentle, Mediterranean, dotted with vineyards and olive groves. These are the 10 most beautiful towns of Lake Garda, chosen for their history, atmosphere, and authenticity.
1. Sirmione: the peninsula between the waters
Sirmione is the most famous town on Lake Garda and deserves its reputation. A 4 km peninsula that cuts through the southern lake, with a Scaliger castle reflected in the water and the Roman ruins of the Grotte di Catullo at its tip. The historic center is pedestrian, squeezed between narrow streets and shops. The thermal baths with sulfurous water at 69°C complete the picture. To enjoy it at its best, visit off-season or early in the morning.
2. Malcesine: beneath Monte Baldo
Malcesine sits on the Verona shore, dominated by the Scaliger Castle where Goethe was arrested in 1786 on suspicion of espionage while sketching the fortress. From here, the cable car departs for Monte Baldo (1,760 m), with rotating cabins offering a complete panorama during the ascent. The old harbor with fishing boats is the heart of the town. Walking north, you reach the mouth of the stream with turquoise waters.
3. Limone sul Garda: where lemons grow
Does Limone owe its name to lemons? Partly. The name probably comes from “limen” (border), but the limonaie—the stone-pillared greenhouses where citrus fruits were cultivated from the 13th century—are real and can be visited. The Limonaia del Castel is the oldest on the lake. The town is squeezed between the mountain and the water, crossed by the spectacular lakeside cycle path suspended over the lake, opened in 2018 and already one of the most photographed in Europe.
4. Gardone Riviera: the Vittoriale and the gardens
Gardone Riviera has two souls. The Belle Époque one along the lakefront, with grand Art Nouveau hotels and the Hruska Botanical Garden (now the André Heller Foundation), and the D’Annunzio one of the Vittoriale degli Italiani, the citadel-museum where Gabriele d’Annunzio lived from 1921 until his death in 1938. The Vittoriale receives over 200,000 visitors a year: the Prioria, the Puglia ship embedded in the hillside, and the amphitheater are must-see stops. Full ticket 18 euros for the complete route.
5. Lazise: Italy’s first free commune
Lazise was the first free commune in Italy, with a charter granted by Emperor Otto II in 983. Today it’s a walled town with entrance gates, a small harbor where boats dock, and a Venetian customs house recalling centuries of rule by the Serenissima. The lakefront promenade with plane trees is perfect for an evening stroll. The Wednesday morning market is one of the most popular on the lake.
6. Torri del Benaco: the lemon grove inside the castle
Torri del Benaco is less known than neighboring towns, and that’s part of its charm. The Scaliger Castle houses an ethnographic museum and, in the courtyard, a still-functioning lemon grove. Olive trees grow right into the town center. From here, boats depart to reach Toscolano-Maderno on the Brescia shore—a useful connection for those wanting to cross the lake without driving all the way around.
7. Garda: the town that gave the lake its name
Garda gave its name to the entire lake (which the Romans called Benacus). The gulf it overlooks is one of the widest and most sheltered on the eastern shore. Punta San Vigilio, just to the north, is one of the most beautiful spots on Lake Garda: a 16th-century villa, a park with centuries-old cypresses, and a small bay accessible for a fee. From the Rocca di Garda, you can climb on foot in 30 minutes to the Camaldolese Hermitage, with a view embracing the entire lower lake.
8. Gargnano: D.H. Lawrence’s retreat
Gargnano is the most authentic village on the Brescia Riviera. Life here has not bowed to mass tourism. The houses overlook the water directly, the small harbor is tiny, and the church of San Francesco has a cloister with small columns carved with lemons-one of the artistic rarities of the lake. D.H. Lawrence lived here in 1912-13 and wrote some pages of “Twilight in Italy.” Villa Feltrinelli, where Mussolini was confined during the CSR, is a historic building that bears witness to that period.
9. Riva del Garda: between mountains and wind
Riva del Garda is the gateway to Trentino. Squeezed between the walls of Monte Rocchetta and the lake, it has a strong identity: austere squares, the 13th-century Apponale tower, the MAG—Museo Alto Garda with art and archaeology collections. But Riva is above all about sports: the Ora wind blows every afternoon with regularity, making this area a paradise for sailors and windsurfers. The Sentiero del Ponale, carved into the rock above the lake, is one of the most famous walks in Trentino.
10. Bardolino: wine and lakefront
Bardolino is the wine town. The moraine hills behind it produce Bardolino DOC and Chiaretto, a fresh rosé perfect for summer. The Bardolino Wine Route touches wineries, olive mills, and vinegar cellars. The lakefront is one of the most beautiful on Lake Garda: wide, tree-lined, with ice cream shops and bars without the crowds of more touristy towns. The church of San Zeno, from the 9th century, preserves rare Carolingian frescoes. In October, the Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival attracts thousands of visitors.
How to get around between Lake Garda’s towns
The most practical way to visit multiple towns is to combine car and boat. Navigarda connects all the towns on both shores with ferries and hydrofoils. The car ferry between Toscolano-Maderno and Torri del Benaco cuts across the lake, saving hours of driving. If you prefer cycling, the eastern lakefront cycle path connects Peschiera to Garda on a flat and scenic route.
Each town deserves at least half a day. But the beauty of Lake Garda is precisely this: you can visit two or three in a day, moving from one to another with a change of boat and a change of scenery.
Explore all the Lake Garda destinations and find the perfect itinerary among our walking routes and cycle paths.
