Sirmione: Things to Do, Castle, Grottoes and Boats

The Main Things to Do at a Glance

The table compares the main activities in Sirmione by cost and booking rule. Ticket prices and hours come from the Ministry of Culture museum pages. Boat prices are the current prices of the tours on this site.

Free Things to Do

Walking the old town costs nothing. A scenic boardwalk runs around the peninsula. The church of San Pietro in Mavino dates from Lombard times, AD 765, and its Romanesque bell tower from 1070.

Inside are frescoes from the 12th to 16th centuries. Sirmione is also known for its thermal baths, a different kind of afternoon if the weather turns.

Tickets and Hours

The full ticket is $11.13 (€10). EU citizens aged 18-25 pay $2.23 (€2), and visitors under 18 enter free. The ticket includes the keep, the castle's main tower.

The Ministry page lists the castle as open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:30-19:15. It is closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December. The ticket office closes 45 minutes before closing time, so arrive well before that. Hours can change by season, so check the Ministry page on the morning you go.

What You See Inside

Building began in 1277 under Mastino I della Scala. The walls carry Ghibelline swallowtail merlons, three corner towers, a moat and two drawbridges. Then walk on to the 25-minute boat tour, which leaves from the small harbor right in front of the gate.

Tickets, Hours and Payment

A full ticket to the Grottoes and the archaeological museum costs $11.13 (€10). EU citizens aged 18-25 pay $2.23 (€2). Payment at the site is cashless, so bring a card.

The Ministry page lists Tuesday to Saturday 8:30-17:00 and Sunday 8:30-14:00. The site is closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December. Last entry is 40 minutes before closing. On a Sunday that leaves you a short morning, so do the Grottoes first and the castle in the afternoon.

The Combined Ticket

One combined ticket covers the Scaligero Castle, the Grottoes of Catullus with the museum, and the Roman Villa in Desenzano. It costs $22.26 (€20) full price and stays valid 7 days. It suits anyone staying on the south shore for a few nights, since the Desenzano villa is a 20-minute ferry ride away.

What the Site Looks Like

The villa had a rectangular plan of 167 by 105 metres. Several boat trips pass below the ruins, including the 25-minute peninsula cruise, so you can see the walls from the water as well.

Boat Trips Compared

The table compares the boat trips around Sirmione by price, length and who they suit. Prices are per person unless the row says otherwise.

Renting Your Own Boat

Boats up to 40 HP can usually be driven without a licence around the peninsula. Larger motorboats need a licence or a skipper. Many renters in Sirmione offer both kinds.

On small 40 HP boats, fuel is usually extra, while third-party insurance, a sun awning, a Bluetooth radio and a GPS locator are included. Expect a cash deposit of $333.90 (€300) for the propeller on small boats, so carry cash. The Fiat 500 boat rental is the licence-free option on this site, $143 per boat for 1 hour.

Fares From the South Shore

The table compares one-way ferry fares into Sirmione from the Navigazione Laghi fare sheet. Return tickets cost double, and fast services add a supplement.

Timetable and Season

On the summer timetable, from 16 May to 4 October, the ordinary ferry from Desenzano reaches Sirmione in 20 minutes. Buy at the ticket office, since tickets bought on board cost $1.11 (€1) extra per passenger. The surcharge does not apply when the office is closed.

The autumn timetable runs 5 October to 1 November, and the spring one 13 to 25 March. From 2 November to 12 March there are no passenger boats on the lake at all. The only service is the Torri-Maderno car ferry. In those months, reach Sirmione by road and plan the boat trips for spring.

The ZTL Rule

The summer ZTL in the historic centre runs from 23 March to 13 October. Every vehicle needs prior authorisation, plates are registered in advance, and there is a single electronic entry point. Driving in without a permit carries a fine of $92.38 (€83) to $370.63 (€333).

If your hotel is inside the old town and has booked private parking, ask it to register your plate before you arrive. Everyone else parks outside the centre.

Pedestrian Days and Bikes

On 31 pedestrianisation days in the season, the centre closes to all traffic from 14:00 to 19:00, including cars trying to leave. Cyclists must push their bikes by hand between Largo Goethe and Piazza Piatti. On holidays and the days before them, from 1 April to 30 September, a traffic filter at La Bagnera also applies.

The ferry from Desenzano avoids all of this.

By Road and on a Tour

From Verona airport the drive to Sirmione is about 30 kilometres, but traffic makes 45 minutes a realistic minimum. Because of the ZTL, a taxi or transfer saves you the parking hunt. Without a car, a guided day is simpler.

The Lake Garda tour from Verona covers Sirmione, a cruise and Lazise. The day trip from Milan adds Verona to Sirmione in one long day.

Around the Lake

Navigazione Laghi ferries link the villages around the lake, with free-circulation tickets for one or three days. For a wider plan of the lake, see visiting Lake Garda.

Crowds and Timing

The old town is very touristy, with high visitor numbers even in shoulder season. Most people come only for a day. Use that.

Arrive when the castle opens at 8:30, see the Grottoes before noon, and keep the boats for late afternoon. Avoid Mondays, when both paid sights close. On a Sunday the Grottoes shut at 14:00, so go there first.

How Much Time You Need

One full day covers the castle, the Grottoes and a boat trip. Add the Sirmione sunset boat tour, 45 minutes on the water, or a Lugana wine tasting near Sirmione, $39 for 1.5 hours. For a second day, compare the other towns on the lake garda homepage, or read Lake Garda vs Lake Como if you are still choosing a lake.