Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, 51.60 km from the flat south to the mountain north, and its towns are tied together by ferries that stop running from 2 November to 12 March. Decide which shore to base yourself on, how to move between the towns, and which tour is worth booking.
Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, 369.98 km2 and 51.60 km long, split between Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino. The wide south has the only two railway stations, Desenzano and Peschiera, plus Sirmione. The narrow north sits under the mountains at Riva del Garda, Torbole and Limone, with wind sports and hiking. Passenger ferries tie the towns together in season and stop from 2 November to 12 March.
Key takeaways
Prices are per person unless a card says per boat. The booking platform handles payment and cancellation, free up to 24 hours before on most listings, so read each card for its terms. The grid mixes Sirmione boat trips, lake cruises, a self-drive boat rental, wine and food experiences, day trips to the lake from Verona and Milan, day trips from the lake to the Dolomites and Verona, and Gardaland tickets.
A short and cheap 25 minute loop around the Sirmione peninsula with captain narration, run by the operator based at the castle harbor.
Guided Sirmione walk plus a boat crossing to Lazise, with free time in both towns and an optional Catullus caves add-on.
A long day combining three hours in Verona with a private boat cruise around Sirmione, with lunch and entry tickets included.
A short, low-cost 45-minute sunset boat loop around Sirmione with a glass of Prosecco, no full-day commitment.
A four-hour guided Lake Garda cruise with a two-hour free-time stop in Sirmione, photo stops along the shore and a guide in English or German.
A 2-hour sailing cruise on a historic Lake Garda sailboat from Malcesine, with views of the La Forra waterfalls near Tremosine.
A short private 1.5-hour boat circuit around Garda Island and Sirmione with a guide and Prosecco included.
Self-drive a Fiat 500 style boat from Sirmione with no license, for up to four people on one hourly rate.
A 1.5 hour family winery visit above Bardolino tasting 5 local wines and self produced olive oil, limited to 10 people.
A short 1.5 hour vineyard and cellar visit with three Lugana area wines and local food pairings, close to Sirmione, in groups of up to 15.
A sit-down tasting of six wines with salami, cheese and olive oil at a family vineyard in Lazise, $47 for 2 hours, group up to 16.
A small-group pasta and Tiramisu class in Garda with wine, apron, recipe book and hotel pickup included, capped at 12 people and adults only.
A long 10-12 hour coach day from Lake Garda to Pordoi Pass and Ortisei with an optional €28 cable car, from $95 per person.
A coach day trip from Lake Garda resorts to Verona with a 1.5-hour guided walk and free time, from $73 per person.
Official fixed date entry to Italy's top theme park at $50, with 40 rides, full day access and a free shuttle from Peschiera del Garda station.
Each price, duration and start point below comes from that tour's own listing. Boat trips stay near Sirmione while day trips run to the Dolomites and Verona. Figures current in Q4 2026.
| Tour | Type | Price | Book | Length | Starts in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sirmione Boat Tour | Boat trip | $13 | Details | 25 minutes | Sirmione |
| Verona Tour with Cruise | Day trip | $123 | Details | 7.5 hours | Verona |
| Day Trip from Milan | Day trip | $115 | Details | 11 hours | Milan |
| Sirmione Sunset Boat Tour | Boat trip | $34.21 | Details | 45 minutes | Sirmione |
| Boat Cruise to Sirmione | Cruise | $61 | Details | 4 hours | Two start points |
| Malcesine Sailboat Cruise | Cruise | $45 | Details | 2 hours | Malcesine |
| Isola del Garda Boat Tour | Boat trip | $496.04 per boat | Details | 1.5 hours | Private, not stated |
| Fiat 500 Boat Rental | Boat rental | $143 per boat | Details | 1 hour | Sirmione |
| Bardolino Wine Tasting | Wine tasting | $40 | Details | 1.5 hours | Bardolino |
| Lugana Wine Tasting | Wine tasting | $39 | Details | 1.5 hours | Santa Maria di Lugana |
| Lazise Wine Tasting | Wine tasting | $47 | Details | 2 hours | Lazise |
| Cooking Class with Dessert | Cooking class | $111 | Details | 3 hours | Garda |
| Dolomites Day Trip | Day trip | $95 | Details | 10-12 hours | 17 pickup points |
| Verona Day Trip | Day trip | $73 | Details | 8-10 hours | 10 pickup points |
| Gardaland Park Tickets | Theme park | $50 | Details | 1 day | Castelnuovo del Garda |
If you only have a few hours in Sirmione
Take the Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula, 25 minutes and $13 per person.
If you want to choose a base town first
Compare the shores in pick your shore before booking a hotel.
If you plan to see several towns by water
Read the ferry guide for times, zones and the $43.96 (€39.50) day pass.
If you arrive without a car
The getting there guide shows the two stations and the airport links.
If you travel between November and March
Check best time to visit first, because passenger boats stop from 2 November to 12 March.
Every trip to this lake comes down to six choices, and each one has a short answer with a number behind it.
Most travelers start with a boat. A 25-minute loop of Sirmione costs $13, while the historic sailboat from Malcesine gives you 2 hours on the water for $45. Pick by time and budget, not by shore.
SHORTEST CRUISE: 25 MINUTES
The summer ferry timetable runs 16 May to 4 October and all passenger boats stop from 2 November to 12 March, so timing decides how you move. Outside those dates only the Maderno-Torri car ferry runs. Sunset cruises make the warm months worth it.
BOATS OFF: 2 NOVEMBER TO 12 MARCH
You can see the lake without flying in from far away. A day trip from Milan runs 11 hours for $115 and one from Verona covers Sirmione, a cruise and Lazise in 7.5 hours for $123. Both are rated 4.8 and 4.7.
MILAN DAY TRIP: 11 HOURS
Wine tasting is the cheap pleasure here, from $39 near Sirmione to $47 in Lazise. A private Isola del Garda cruise with Prosecco sits at the other end at $496.04. Same lake, two budgets.
CHEAPEST TASTING: $39
Families should look at Gardaland, a full day with 40 rides for $50 and a free shuttle from Peschiera station. Cooks and couples do better with the pasta and Tiramisu class in Garda, 3 hours for $111 and rated a full 5.
GARDALAND: 40 RIDES
The lake pairs well with the mountains. A Dolomites day trip from here runs 10 to 12 hours for $95, and Verona is closer still at 8 to 10 hours for $73. Book one day away from the water and keep the rest for boats and wine.
DOLOMITES TRIP: 10-12 HOURS
Ordinary one-way ferry fares are set by route zone from the fare matrix: zone U EUR 1.50, zone 1 EUR 3.50, zone 2 EUR 6.00, zone 3 EUR 7.50, zone 4 EUR 11.50, zone 5 EUR 14.00, zone 6 EUR 16.00, zone 7 EUR 17.50. A return ticket is double.
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
The whole-lake day pass costs EUR 39.50 adult, EUR 31.60 reduced and EUR 20.00 for children 4-11, with a 3-day pass at EUR 79.00 adult. It is the only pass that includes fast services.
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
Tickets bought on board carry a EUR 1.00 surcharge per passenger, bag or vehicle, not applied when the ticket office is closed.
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
From 2 November 2026 to 12 March 2027 the only service on the lake is the Torri-Maderno car ferry, with no passenger boats on the rest of the lake.
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
Scaligero Castle in Sirmione costs EUR 10 full and EUR 2 reduced for EU citizens aged 18-25, free under 18. It opens Tuesday to Sunday 8:30-19:15 and closes Mondays, 1 January and 25 December.
Source: museilombardia.cultura.gov.it
The Grottoes of Catullus cost EUR 10 full and EUR 2 reduced for EU citizens aged 18-25, with cashless payment at the site. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 8:30-17:00 and Sunday 8:30-14:00, closed Mondays. A combined ticket with the castle and the Roman Villa in Desenzano is EUR 20, valid 7 days.
Source: museilombardia.cultura.gov.it
The summer ZTL regulation for Sirmione historic centre applies from 23 March to 13 October 2026. Vehicles need prior authorisation and violations carry a fine of EUR 83 to EUR 333.
Source: comune.sirmione.bs.it
The Malcesine to Monte Baldo cable car summer season runs 4 April to 1 November. The adult return to the top station costs EUR 30.00 at the ticket office or EUR 28.00 online, and children up to 1.20 m travel free with a free ticket.
Source: funiviedelbaldo.it
Cascata del Varone near Riva del Garda costs EUR 7.00 per individual, with family tickets at EUR 19.00 (2 adults plus 1 child), EUR 24.00 (2+2) and EUR 28.00 (2+3). Tickets are sold on site only and the site is open every day except 25 December.
Source: cascata-varone.com
Lake Garda runs 51.60 km north to south across 369.98 km2 and three regions. The shore you pick decides the trip more than the hotel.
The south shore is wide and low, with the lake's only two railway stations at Desenzano and Peschiera. The north is a narrow fjord under the mountains, made for wind sports and hiking. Sirmione sits on a peninsula in the south. The table matches each traveller to a base, with the nearest station or airport from the official tourism sources.
Without a car the south is easiest, since the Milan-Venice line stops at both Desenzano and Peschiera. For the north, trains reach Rovereto and buses continue to Torbole and Riva.
| You are | Base | Why | Nearest station or airport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Travelling without a car | Desenzano or Peschiera | The lake's only two railway stations, on the Milan-Venice line | Desenzano or Peschiera station |
| First visit with 2 days | Sirmione | Castle, Grottoes of Catullus, boat trips from the harbor | Desenzano or Peschiera station, then ferry zone 1 or 2 |
| Wine and food | Bardolino or Lazise | Vineyard tastings, ATV bus 164 to Verona | Peschiera station, then bus 164 |
| Hikers and wind sports | Riva or Torbole | The Ponale path and wind sports on the north shore | Rovereto station plus a Trentino Trasporti bus |
| Views and the cable car | Malcesine | Monte Baldo cable car to 1,760 m and the castle with the 31 m tower | ATV bus lines 483 and 484 |
| Villas and quiet | Gardone Riviera | Il Vittoriale, open all year | Desenzano station, then ferry |
Navigazione Laghi, the state ferry company, runs the passenger boats. In the summer timetable (16 May to 4 October) the towns tie together well, but the whole lake takes time. An ordinary boat needs close to 5 hours from Peschiera to Riva, while a fast service (SR) covers Desenzano to Riva in under 3 hours.
Fares go by zone.
| Between | Ferry time in summer | Fare zone | One-way fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desenzano to Sirmione | 20 minutes | Zone 1 | $3.90 (€3.50) |
| Peschiera to Garda | 1 hour | See the fare table | See the fare table |
| Malcesine to Limone | 20 minutes | Zone 3 | $8.35 (€7.50) |
| Malcesine to Riva | 65 minutes | Zone 4 | $12.80 (€11.50) |
| Desenzano to Riva, fast boat | Under 3 hours | Zone 7 | $19.48 (€17.50) plus a $6.68 (€6) fast supplement |
| Peschiera to Riva, ordinary boat | Close to 5 hours | See the fare table | See the fare table |
The Maderno-Torri car ferry crosses the lake in 30 minutes. It is also the only boat service on the lake from 2 November to 12 March, when no passenger boats run at all. In the winter timetable the first ferry leaves Maderno at 8:10 and the last leaves Torri at 18:40, and the service does not run on 25 December.
Sources: Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi.
Twelve towns share 158.40 km of shoreline between the flat south and the fjord-like north. Each links to the others by ferry or bus, and the table above shows the fares.
Sirmione sits on a peninsula on the south shore. Its summer ZTL restricts vehicles in the historic center from 23 March to 13 October, with fines of $92.38 (€83) to $370.63 (€333). Two sights anchor it, the Scaligero Castle at $11.13 (€10) and the Grottoes of Catullus at $11.13 (€10), covered together with the Roman Villa in Desenzano by a combined $22.26 (€20) ticket valid 7 days.
Boats leave from the harbor in front of the castle: Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula costs $13 and loops the peninsula in 25 minutes, and in the evening the Sirmione Sunset Boat Tour runs 45 minutes with a flute of Prosecco for $34.21. You can also drive your own boat with the Fiat 500 Boat Rental, $143 per boat for up to 4 people for 1 hour, no license needed, plus a $333.90 (€300) cash security deposit refunded after the boat is checked. Desenzano is 20 minutes away by ferry in zone 1.
Stay here on a first short visit.
Desenzano has one of the lake's only two railway stations, which makes it the natural base without a car. It is a ferry hub too: it is zone 1 with Sirmione, a 20-minute run in summer, and in zone 7 with Riva, a long crossing that only the fast boats make sensible, under 3 hours with a $6.68 (€6) supplement. Desenzano also shares the Ministry combined ticket with Sirmione: $22.26 (€20) covers the Grottoes of Catullus, the Scaligero Castle and the Roman Villa here, valid 7 days.
The Navigazione Laghi Garda office is in town, phone +39 030 914 9511. Choose Desenzano if trains matter more than beaches.
Peschiera is the second railway station, at the south-east corner of the lake. In summer the boat leaves here at 8:00 and calls at Lazise 8:28, Bardolino 8:45 and Garda 9:00, so the whole east shore hangs off this stop. Gardaland sits nearby at Castelnuovo del Garda with a free shuttle from Peschiera station, and Gardaland Park Tickets cost $50 for a full day with 40 rides, non-refundable.
Peschiera to Sirmione is zone 2, $6.68 (€6) one way. Base here for the park, the train line and the east-shore ferries.
Lazise is the first stop up the east shore from Peschiera, reached in 28 minutes on the 8:00 summer boat. Sirmione to Lazise is zone 4, $12.80 (€11.50) one way, and ATV bus 164 links the town with Garda, Bardolino, Peschiera and Verona. Wine is the draw: the Lazise Wine and Food Tasting in the Vineyards sits at a family vineyard and pours at least 6 local wines with salami, cheese and Garda olive oil for $47 over 2 hours, groups up to 16, rated 4.9.
Pair it with Bardolino if food and wine lead your list.
Bardolino gave its name to the red and Chiaretto wines of the east shore, and the tastings here are the reason to come. The Bardolino Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting runs 1.5 hours at $40 per person above the town, limited to 10 people, with 5 wines, self-produced olive oil and local cold cuts. The 8:20 summer boat from Desenzano calls at Bardolino at 9:20 after Sirmione, and Garda to Bardolino is only zone 1, $3.90 (€3.50).
Bus 164 runs to Verona. The town charges a tourist tax of $1.67 (€1.50) to $2.78 (€2.50) per person per night, children up to 14 exempt. Stay for wine and easy lake evenings.
Garda is a practical hub: the boat arrives at 9:35 from Desenzano and Sirmione, Sirmione to Garda is zone 4 at $12.80 (€11.50) one way, and bus lines 164 and 484 both pass through. For food, the Lake Garda Cooking Class with Dessert runs here, 3 hours of homemade pasta and Tiramisu with wine, hotel pickup included, $111 per person, capped at 12 people and rated a full 5. Malcesine to Garda is zone 5.
Base in Garda for a quiet east-shore week with good connections.
Malcesine climbs from the water up to Monte Baldo, and the cable car rises to 1,760 m in about 20 minutes, return $33.39 (€30) at the office or $31.16 (€28) online. It closes for maintenance from 2 November to 25 December. In the old town the Scaligero castle holds a natural history museum and a Goethe room, its tower 31 m high and about 70 m above the lake, a national monument since 1902.
Hours shrink in winter: daily to 31 October 9:30-18:00, then weekends only in November, daily again 5 December to 6 January, then weekends from 9 January. The ferry to Limone takes 20 minutes in zone 3, $8.35 (€7.50), and Riva is 65 minutes in zone 4. On the water, the Malcesine Historic Sailboat Cruise sails a roughly 100-year-old boat for 2 hours at $45.
Stay for views and the cable car.
Limone sul Garda has a lemon house, the Limonaia del Castèl. It opens daily 10-18 in April, May and October and 10-22 from June to September, with no ticket price published on the official page. The ferry ties it to both sides, Malcesine in 20 minutes in zone 3 at $8.35 (€7.50) and Riva in zone 2 at $6.68 (€6).
On the summer timetable the boat from Malcesine reaches Limone at 9:15 and Riva at 10:00, and a fast boat passes through at 11:50. Come for the lemon house.
Riva del Garda sits at the north end of the lake. It has no railway station: the nearest is Rovereto, served by Trenitalia, ÖBB and DB, with Trentino Trasporti buses on to Torbole, Riva and Arco, and bus tickets cannot be bought on board. Hikers come for the Ponale path, 6.4 km and about 3 hours with 736 m of climb, an alpine trail with rockfall risk, bus 214 back from the Pregasina junction.
The Cascata del Varone waterfall lies near town, $7.79 (€7) on site. Ferries reach Torbole in zone 1 at $3.90 (€3.50), Limone in zone 2, and the fast boat from Desenzano takes under 3 hours in zone 7. Base here for mountains, wind sports and hiking.
Torbole is the first stop on the summer boat after Limone, reached at 9:45 with Riva 15 minutes later at 10:00. Riva to Torbole is zone 1, $3.90 (€3.50) one way, and Malcesine to Torbole is zone 3. Torbole is a base for sailing and windsurfing.
Trentino Trasporti buses link Torbole with Riva, Arco and Rovereto station, the railhead for the whole north shore. Choose Torbole over Riva if you want sailing and windsurfing at the door.
Gardone Riviera is on the west shore and its main sight is Il Vittoriale degli Italiani, the monumental home of the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio, open all year. Tickets are sold only through the official online shop. Check the site for the price before you go.
In summer the ordinary boat from Peschiera to Riva calls at Gardone at 11:22 and the fast boat from Desenzano at 10:33. Stay for the villa and a car-free week on the western shore.
Salò anchors the west shore between Desenzano and Gargnano, and the ferries treat it as a proper stop: the boat arrives at 11:08 from the south-east, the fast boat at 10:21, and Desenzano to Salò is zone 4, $12.80 (€11.50) one way. It has no railway station, so come by boat from Desenzano or by road, and continue north to Gardone and Il Vittoriale, one stop away on the same boats. Base here for a calm west-shore stay with reliable boat links both ways.
Source: Navigazione Laghi.
Navigazione Laghi is the state ferry company and the company that runs the scheduled passenger boats on the lake. Fares go by zone, from zone U up to zone 7.
The fare sheet sets one-way prices by route zone, and a return ticket costs exactly double. Children aged 4 to 11 pay half, seniors, residents and groups pay the reduced fare. Fast services (SR) add a supplement on top and carry no reductions.
The whole-lake run, Desenzano or Peschiera to Riva, is zone 7. Zone U covers the shortest hops.
| Zone | Full fare | Seniors, residents, groups | Children 4-11 | Fast-boat supplement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U | $1.67 (€1.50) | $1.67 (€1.50) | $1.67 (€1.50) | No fast boats |
| 1 | $3.90 (€3.50) | $3.90 (€3.50) | $3.90 (€3.50) | $2.78 (€2.50) |
| 2 | $6.68 (€6) | $5.34 (€4.80) | $3.90 (€3.50) | $3.34 (€3) |
| 3 | $8.35 (€7.50) | $6.68 (€6) | $4.23 (€3.80) | $4.45 (€4) |
| 4 | $12.80 (€11.50) | $10.24 (€9.20) | $6.46 (€5.80) | $5.01 (€4.50) |
| 5 | $15.58 (€14) | $12.47 (€11.20) | $7.79 (€7) | $5.56 (€5) |
| 6 | $17.81 (€16) | $14.25 (€12.80) | $8.90 (€8) | $6.12 (€5.50) |
| 7 | $19.48 (€17.50) | $15.58 (€14) | $9.79 (€8.80) | $6.68 (€6) |
Day passes beat single fares fast once you hop between towns. The whole-lake pass costs $43.96 (€39.50) for an adult, $35.17 (€31.60) reduced and $22.26 (€20) for children 4 to 11, and a 3-day version is $87.93 (€79). It is the only pass that includes the fast services without an extra ticket.
The Alto lago and Basso lago passes cost $30.05 (€27) a day, while the four zone passes, Nord, Centro, Ovest and Est, cost $26.16 (€23.50), all valid one day only. Families do well with the Happy Family offer: two full-price day tickets bring free day tickets for up to 2 children aged 4 to 11, so a family of four pays $87.93 (€79) for the whole lake in a day.
The season decides everything on Lake Garda. The summer passenger timetable runs 16 May to 4 October, with the fullest service. An autumn and spring timetable covers 5 October to 1 November and 13 to 25 March.
Between 2 November and 12 March no passenger boats run at all on the lake: the only service is the Maderno-Torri car ferry, a 30-minute crossing, first departure Maderno 8:10, last from Torri 18:40, and it does not run on 25 December. Plan a winter trip around buses and the car ferry, not the boats.
Cyclists pay a bike fee by zone, from $3.90 (€3.50) in zone 1 up to $7.68 (€6.90) in zone 7, and fast (SR) boats carry no bicycles at all. The captain can limit bikes on any crowded run. Buying on board costs extra: a $1.11 (€1) surcharge per passenger, bag or vehicle, though it is not applied when the ticket office is closed.
Tickets are valid only on the day of issue, so a pass bought for Tuesday cannot roll over. For questions the Garda office sits in Desenzano, phone +39 030 914 9511, freephone 800-551801 in Italy.
Sources: Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi.
Pick the town before the hotel. The south has the trains and Sirmione, the east the wine towns on bus 164, the north the mountains, the Ponale path and the cable car.
Links open a hotel search for that town on Booking.com through Stay22. Prices and availability are shown there.
Olive oil, local wines and home cooking can all be tasted on short tours.
Olio Garda DOP has held protected status since 1997. The main cultivars are Casaliva, Frantoio and Leccino, and every stage of production happens in the municipalities around the lake. It turns up on the tasting boards of nearly every wine tour listed here.
The Bardolino Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting pours five wines led by Chiaretto and Bardolino, with olive oil and local cold cuts, $40 per person for 1.5 hours. Near Sirmione, the Lugana Wine Tasting near Sirmione costs $39 for 1.5 hours and covers two Lugana wines plus a red, with salami and DOP cheeses. In Lazise, the Lazise Wine and Food Tasting in the Vineyards serves at least six wines including white Garganega and Chiaretto with bread, cheese and olive oil, $47 per person for 2 hours.
In the town of Garda, the Lake Garda Cooking Class with Dessert teaches homemade pasta with two typical sauces and Tiramisu, with the meal and wine included. It runs 3 hours at $111 per person, capped at 12 people, with hotel pickup included.
Lake Garda sits between Milan and Venice, and neither city has the edge by distance: Milan's airports and Venice are both about 100 km away, while Verona-Villafranca airport is only 15 km from the shore.
Verona is the closest airport and Brescia the next. Bergamo and Bologna work too, with a short train or bus leg at the end. This table shows the official distances from VisitGarda and how each airport connects onward.
| Airport | Distance to the lake | Onward link |
|---|---|---|
| Verona-Villafranca | 15 km | Aerobus every 20 minutes to Verona Porta Nuova station. From about June to September the public bus to Garda stops at the airport. |
| Brescia-Montichiari | 30 km | Aerobus link to Brescia railway station. |
| Bergamo Orio al Serio | 80 km | Shuttle to Bergamo station, then trains to Desenzano del Garda, Verona, Trento and Rovereto. |
| Milan Linate/Malpensa | about 100 km | Trains and buses reach Desenzano and Peschiera. A coach day trip also runs from Milan city. |
| Venice | about 100 km | Trains toward Verona connect with the lake's stations. |
| Bologna | 150 km | Direct train to Rovereto, then a 17 km Trentino Trasporti bus to Riva del Garda. |
Only two stations sit on the lake: Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda, both on the Milan-Venice line in the flat south. Riva del Garda has no station. The nearest is Rovereto, served by Trenitalia, OBB and DB, with regular Trentino Trasporti buses to Torbole, Riva and Arco.
You cannot buy those bus tickets on board, so get them before boarding. Coming from the south you can alight at Desenzano, Peschiera or Verona and continue by ATV bus. For a guided day from the cities, see the Lake Garda Day Trip from Milan and the Lake Garda Tour from Verona with Cruise.
ATV Verona runs line 164 between Garda, Bardolino, Lazise, Gardaland, Peschiera, Castelnuovo and Verona. Lines 483 and 484 serve the east shore: Malcesine-Garda-Peschiera, and Riva-Torbole-Malcesine-Brenzone-Torri-Garda. Check current times on atv.verona.it before you travel.
Sirmione's historic center is a ZTL, a restricted zone, with summer regulation from 23 March to 13 October. Vehicles need prior authorisation and registered plates, and there is one electronic entry point. Fines run $92.38 (€83) to $370.63 (€333).
The season also has 31 pedestrianisation afternoons from 14:00 to 19:00, when all transit is banned, including exits. Bicycles must be pushed by hand between Largo Goethe and Piazza Piatti. Tourist coaches need a booking for the Monte Baldo car park, with a filter at La Bagnera on holidays and pre-holidays from 1 April to 30 September.
Sources: ATV Verona, Sirmione Municipality.
The fixed costs of a Lake Garda day are low and officially published. The hotel bill is the real variable, and it swings with town and season.
These figures come straight from the ferry operator, the culture ministry, the cable car company, the waterfall park and the Comune di Bardolino. The ferry choice and the hotel set your budget.
| Item | Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ferry Desenzano-Sirmione, one way | $3.90 (€3.50) | Fare zone 1, ordinary service. |
| Whole-lake ferry day pass | $43.96 (€39.50) | Desenzano or Peschiera to Riva. The only pass that includes fast services. |
| Scaligero Castle, Sirmione | $11.13 (€10) | Reduced $2.23 (€2) for EU citizens aged 18-25, free under 18. Closed Mondays. |
| Grottoes of Catullus | $11.13 (€10) | Reduced $2.23 (€2) for EU citizens aged 18-25. Payment at the site is cashless. |
| Combined ticket: castle, grottoes, Desenzano Roman villa | $22.26 (€20) | Valid 7 days. |
| Monte Baldo cable car return | $33.39 (€30) | $31.16 (€28) online. |
| Cascata del Varone | $7.79 (€7) | Family tickets $21.15 (€19) to $31.16 (€28). On site sale only. |
| Bardolino tourist tax | $2.78 (€2.50) per night top star | $1.67 (€1.50) for 1-3 star. Children up to 14 exempt, maximum 20 nights. |
| Cheapest boat tour listed | $13 | 25 minute Sirmione peninsula loop, per person. |
Hotel prices vary by town and by season. The hotels section above compares the towns. Several big sights cost nothing for children: under-18s enter the Scaligero Castle free, and children up to 1.20 m ride the Monte Baldo cable car free.
The waterfall park sells family tickets from $21.15 (€19) for two adults and one child, and the ferry operator gives free day tickets to up to 2 children aged 4-11 when two adults buy full-price passes.
Sources: Navigazione Laghi, Musei Lombardia, Musei Lombardia, Funivie del Baldo, Cascata Varone, Bardolino Municipality.
Three days cover the south, the east shore and the northern fjord, tied together by ferries in summer. Every leg here uses a published timetable or fare.
Walk the Scaligero Castle and the old town, then take the Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula, 25 minutes from the castle harbor for $13. The castle opens Tuesday to Sunday 8:30-19:15.
See the Grottoes of Catullus, $11.13 (€10) with cashless payment, or buy the $22.26 (€20) combined ticket valid 7 days. Book the Lugana Wine Tasting near Sirmione for the afternoon, $39 for 1.5 hours.
Catch the fast boat from Sirmione at 9:10, reaching Malcesine at 10:55 on the summer timetable. Fast services carry a supplement on top of the zone fare.
Ride up from Malcesine to 1,760 m in about twenty minutes. The return costs $33.39 (€30), or $31.16 (€28) online. Check the day's timetable with the operator before you go.
Take the boat from Malcesine to Limone, 20 minutes on the summer timetable, $8.35 (€7.50) one way. Continue to Riva, 65 minutes from Malcesine, $12.80 (€11.50) one way.
See Riva's old town, then the Cascata del Varone, $7.79 (€7), open daily except 25 December. From 2 November to 12 March this whole plan needs a car or buses, because no passenger boats run.
Before you book, here is what these trips will not do for you, with the limits written plainly.
4.7/5
★★★★★ ★★★★★
3,582 reviews on GetYourGuide for Sirmione: 25 Minute Boat Cruise around the Peninsula
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Very sweet ride around the peninsula. Lovely calm day. Worth the small price for the experience
Ella · October 26, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Excellent trip. Definitely recommend. A must when visiting Verona. A day filled with historical information as well as free time to explore at leasure.
carol · October 27, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Lake Garda Tour from Verona with Cruise
★★★★★ ★★★★★
The trip was amazing and Katia our guide was the reason! She was kind,smiling all the time and helpful I totally recommend
Ghufran · October 18, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Lake Garda Day Trip from Milan
★★★★★ ★★★★★
It was a great trip lovely views from the water and good commentary. the only issue was the guide was a little hard to hear outside over the engine noise, but was fine when we sat inside.
Karen · June 14, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Lake Garda Boat Cruise to Sirmione
★★★★★ ★★★★★
We had an amazing afternoon. The sun was shining. We had the sails put up which was lovely to see. Staff very accommodating. Drinks were brought to us. Spotlessly clean. Friendly staff. Beautiful views
Barbara · June 5, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Malcesine Historic Sailboat Cruise
★★★★★ ★★★★★
excellent experience! loved it! Guys were super helpful. absolutely recommend this.
Lydia · October 28, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Sirmione Fiat 500 Boat Rental
★★★★★ ★★★★★
We had the time of our lives! Couldn’t recommend it more. A short drive away from the town, our guide was so welcoming and happy to answer any questions.
Lucy · August 29, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Bardolino Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting
★★★★★ ★★★★★
Really good experience the tour guide was amazing!
Teddy · September 22, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Lugana Wine Tasting near Sirmione
★★★★★ ★★★★★
We had an amazing time at LeGinestra, all the wines were exceptional (as well as the olive oil). Extremely friendly staff and we had a very knowledgeable young sommelier.
Javier · October 19, 2026
Review on GetYourGuide for Lazise Wine and Food Tasting in the Vineyards
Reviews, ratings and counts are the platforms' own, shown as published for each listing. They are not reviews of this site.
Three videos to watch before you go: the main places around the lake, a three-day route, and the ferry across the north basin.
Ten places around the lake, south to north.
Video: Warsaw DaytripsA three-day route around the lake.
Video: TraveLikeThe ferry between Limone and Malcesine across the north basin.
Video: 4K Travel with SaeidThird-party videos, embedded from YouTube. This site did not shoot them and has no relationship with the creators.
Lake Garda is Italy's largest lake, 369.98 km2, stretching 51.60 km north to south and up to 17.20 km wide. It reaches 346 m deep, has 158.40 km of shore and its surface sits at 65 m above sea level.
Lombardy holds the west shore, with Desenzano, Salò, Gardone and Limone sul Garda. Veneto holds the east, with Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Torri del Benaco and Malcesine. Trentino takes the narrow north tip around Riva del Garda and Torbole. Where you sleep decides a lot of the trip. The table sums up the split so you can match a shore to what you want to do.
The lake looks small on a map. It is not. End to end takes close to 5 hours by ordinary boat, so one hotel base will not cover the whole shore in a day of relaxed exploring.
| Shore | Region | Main towns | Character |
|---|---|---|---|
| South | Lombardy and Veneto | Desenzano, Peschiera, Sirmione | Flat, beaches, both railway stations |
| West | Lombardy | Salò, Gardone Riviera, Limone | Hilly, quiet, lemon houses |
| East | Veneto | Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Malcesine | Wine hills, walled towns |
| North | Trentino | Riva del Garda, Torbole | Narrow, mountainous, wind sports |
The south is ringed by moraine hills left by the retreating ice, low and rolling, with the easiest road and rail access. In the north the lake narrows into a fjord shape under high mountain ranges. The water evens out the climate, giving a mild Mediterranean character at the foot of the Alps, which is why olives, palms, cypresses, lemons, oleanders and oranges grow here.
Three practical facts set Lake Garda apart from most Italian lakes. In summer the passenger ferries tie the two shores together, so you can eat in Malcesine and sleep in Sirmione without touching a car. The trains reach only the south: Desenzano and Peschiera are the only stations, and Riva del Garda has none, with Rovereto the nearest.
And the wine hills, Bardolino and Lugana country, sit on the south and east shores, which is where most of the tastings on this page happen. Plan around those three and the lake falls into place.
The big sights split between the south shore castles and the north shore mountains, with boats and wine in between. Tickets and hours below come from the official operators.
The Scaligero Castle, a moated medieval fortress at the town gate, costs $11.13 (€10) full, $2.23 (€2) reduced for EU citizens aged 18 to 25, free under 18. The Ministry lists hours Tuesday to Sunday 8:30-19:15, closed Mondays, 1 January and 25 December, ticket office closing 45 minutes earlier. The Grottoes of Catullus, the ruins of a Roman villa at the peninsula tip, cost $11.13 (€10), and payment there is cards only.
Hours there run Tuesday to Saturday 8:30-17:00, Sunday 8:30-14:00, closed Mondays, last entry 40 minutes before closing. Check before going, since the Ministry page does not say whether these are summer or winter hours. A combined ticket of $22.26 (€20) covers castle, grottoes and the Roman Villa in Desenzano for 7 days.
From the harbor, Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula shows the castle from the water for $13, and Sirmione Sunset Boat Tour adds Prosecco at $34.21.
The cable car climbs from Malcesine to 1,760 m on Monte Baldo in about 20 minutes. An adult return costs $33.39 (€30) at the ticket office or $31.16 (€28) online, one way $24.49 (€22) or $22.26 (€20) online, and juniors born 2012 or later pay $20.03 (€18) return. Children up to 1.20 m ride free with a ticket from the office.
Departures run every 30 minutes, weather permitting. It closes for maintenance from 2 November to 25 December and reopens for the winter season from 26 December. Check the day's timetable on the funiviedelbaldo site before planning your descent, especially the last ride down.
The Castello Scaligero di Malcesine stands about 70 m above the lake, its tower 31 m high, declared a national monument in 1902. Inside are the Monte Baldo and Garda Natural History Museum and a room dedicated to Goethe. Hours shrink with the season: every day to 31 October 9:30-18:00, last entry 17:30, then Saturdays and Sundays only in November 10:30-17:00, daily again 5 December to 6 January, weekends from 9 January and through February.
No ticket price is published on the official page, so expect to buy on site. Pair it with the cable car.
Il Vittoriale degli Italiani is the monumental estate the poet Gabriele d'Annunzio built on the Gardone hillside, and it is open all year round. The foundation sells tickets only through its official online shop at bottega.vittoriale.it. Check the shop for the current price and the day's hours.
Phone +39 0365 296511 for anything unclear. Summer ferries stop at Gardone on both the ordinary and fast runs.
The Varone waterfall is near Riva. An individual ticket costs $7.79 (€7), sold on site only, with family tickets at $21.15 (€19) for 2 adults and 1 child, $26.71 (€24) for 2 plus 2 and $31.16 (€28) for 2 plus 3. Hours change by month: 10:00-17:00 in January, February, November and December, 9:00-17:00 in March and October, 9:00-18:00 in April and September, 9:00-19:00 May to August, closed only on 25 December.
Allow at least 20 minutes inside. It pairs well with the Ponale path or a morning in Riva.
The Sentiero del Ponale is the north lake's classic hike, 6.4 km one way with about 3 hours of walking, 736 m of climb and 272 m of descent, topping out at 532 m. The road was begun in 1851, held Austro-Hungarian fortifications from 1860, closed to traffic at the end of the 1980s and became a hiking path in 2004. The tourism board lists it as easy but its own safety section calls it an alpine trail for experienced hikers, prone to rockfall, so treat the warning seriously and check conditions.
Bus 214 brings you back from the Pregasina junction on the road above. The belvedere refreshment stop opens in summer only.
Limonaia del Castèl is Limone's lemon house. It opens every day 10-18 in April, May and October, and 10-22 from June to September. In the other months, information and bookings go by phone during office hours at +39 0365 954008.
No ticket price is published, so ask on site. From Limone the ferry to Malcesine takes 20 minutes in zone 3, $8.35 (€7.50).
Beyond the public ferries, bookable trips fill the gaps. In Sirmione the Sirmione Boat Tour Around the Peninsula loops the point in 25 minutes for $13, and the Lake Garda Boat Cruise to Sirmione runs 4 hours with a stop in the town for $61. From Malcesine the Malcesine Historic Sailboat Cruise sails a roughly 100-year-old boat for 2 hours at $45, and the private Isola del Garda Private Boat Tour circles the island for $496.04 per boat.
For wine, the Bardolino Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting costs $40, the Lugana Wine Tasting near Sirmione $39 and the Lazise Wine and Food Tasting in the Vineyards $47.
Gardaland sits at Castelnuovo del Garda, just inland from Peschiera on the south-east shore. Gardaland Park Tickets cost $50 per person for one full day with 40 rides, non-refundable, rated 4.6 from 3,102 reviews. Food and drink are extra inside the park. The park keeps seasonal and event openings, so check the calendar on its own site for the exact dates before you travel.
The ATV bus 164 between Verona, Peschiera and the east-shore towns stops at the park.
Sources: Musei Lombardia, Musei Lombardia, Funivie del Baldo, Il Vittoriale, Cascata Varone.
The season decides almost everything at Lake Garda. Between early November and mid March there are no passenger boats at all, and several sights drop to weekend openings.
The table lines up the three services that shape a car-free trip: the passenger ferries, the Monte Baldo cable car and Malcesine castle. Figures come from Navigazione Laghi, the cable car operator and Visit Malcesine.
| Period | Ferries | Monte Baldo cable car | Malcesine castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 May to 4 October | Summer timetable, full network | Open, departures from 8:30 every 30 minutes | Daily 9:30-18:00 |
| 5 October to 1 November | Autumn timetable | Open, check the day's timetable | Daily 9:30-18:00 to 31 October |
| 2 November to 25 December | No passenger boats, car ferry only | Closed for maintenance | November weekends only 10:30-17:00, daily from 5 December |
| 26 December to 12 March | No passenger boats, car ferry only | Winter season to 21 February | Daily 10:30-17:00 to 6 January, then weekends |
| 13 March onwards | Spring timetable | Check the day's timetable with the operator | Check with the castle |
From 16 May to 4 October the whole ferry network runs, including fast services and the full length of the lake. This is also Sirmione's regulated season: the ZTL applies from 23 March to 13 October, with 31 pedestrianisation afternoons from 14:00 to 19:00 and coach bookings required. In Limone, the Limonaia del Castèl lemon house opens 10:00-22:00 from June to September, and 10:00-18:00 in April, May and October.
From 2 November to 12 March no passenger boats run on the lake. The only water link is the Maderno-Torri car ferry, a 30 minute crossing with the first departure 8:10 and the last 18:40 from Torri in the winter timetable. Buses and trains fill the gap on land.
The Cascata del Varone waterfall stays open 10:00-17:00 in the winter months, every day except 25 December. Sirmione's Scaligero Castle closes Mondays all year, plus 1 January and 25 December, and Malcesine castle keeps its December daily spell from 5 December to 6 January.
Sources: Navigazione Laghi, Navigazione Laghi, Funivie del Baldo, Cascata Varone.
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It is Italy's largest lake at 369.98 km2, up to 51.60 km long, with a fjord-like mountain north and a mild Mediterranean south where olives and lemons grow. See the towns shore by shore.
The flat, wide south has the beaches, the wine and the two railway stations at Desenzano and Peschiera, while the narrow mountain north around Riva and Malcesine suits hikers and wind sports. Compare them in pick your shore.
Neither by distance: Milan's airports and Venice are both about 100 km away, while Verona-Villafranca airport is just 15 km from the lake. The getting there guide has the full table.
The fixed costs are low: a Desenzano to Sirmione ferry costs $3.90 (€3.50) and Sirmione's castle $11.13 (€10), so hotels set the budget. The breakdown is in what a day costs.
Yes in season: Desenzano to Sirmione takes 20 minutes, Malcesine to Limone 20 minutes, and the whole lake close to 5 hours on an ordinary boat. Times and fares are in the ferry guide.
Three days cover the south, the east shore and the north with ferries in summer, and a worked plan is in the 3-day itinerary.
No passenger boats run from 2 November to 12 March, when the only service is the Maderno-Torri car ferry. The opening calendar is in best time to visit.
Lake Garda Travel Guide
