The Best Places to Visit in Lake Garda, Italy

If you are looking for the best places to go, things to do, and food to eat in Lake Garda you have come to the right place!

Lake Garda, in my opinion, is a totally underrated lake in the northern region of Italy called Eastern Lombard. It is located between Venice and Milan and next to Lake Como, its luxurious and more famous smaller sibling. While Lake Garda does not have the same luxury as Como it has the same (if not, more) awe inspiring beauty and charm and so much to do. We mainly stayed in the northern part of the 32 mile (51.9km) lake where you are surrounded by tall, rocky mountains, clear blue water and all the pasta you can eat. Keep reading for all you need to know about the north of the lake and get ready for an unforgettable trip.

Malcesine

Our first stop was Malcesine on the north eastern part of the lake. It is a cute old town with the stunning Scaliger castle built onto the edge of it. The castle dates all the way back to the last centuries of the first millennium B.C. so it is quite old and has certainly been destroyed and pillaged over the years. The current museum within the castle was refurbished in 2008 and it is a must see as you can reach the top and get an incredible view of Malcesine, Limone, Riva, Torbole and all the mountains surrounding you. This is one of Malcesine’s main attractions as well as the beautiful Monte Baldo which you can see in the background of the photo above. There is a cable car to take you up to the top where there are hiking trails galore! You can also hike up, take the cable car up and mountain bike (there are mountain bike rentals at the bottom), or take the risk and tandem paraglide like we did with Tandem Paragliding Lake Garda. They were incredible and it was an experience like no other, I would highly recommend it.

Give yourself a few days in Malcesine. Underneath the castle there is a lovely pebble beach within walking distance to the town, the water, while chilly, is clear and stunning and a perfect break from a hot summer day. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to discover in the old town and Malcesine is a great jumping off point to head up to Torbole, Riva, or Limone on the efficient network of ferries found here.

Where to stay in Malcesine

There are a good bit of hotels in the area, not many are incredibly luxurious as the town is more outdoorsy oriented but they get the job done and the owners or managers tend to be very kind and accommodating.

1. Hotel Castello Lake Front – this hotel is right on the little pebble beach directly underneath the castle in Malcesine. It has a stunning, unobstructed view of the mountains and the crystal clear lake waters and is a super easy walk into town.
2. Eco Hotel Ariston – this hotel is on a lovely green property and has incredible castle, lake and mountain views, the rooms are very basic but have everything you need.
3. Hotel Capri – I booked very last minute and this was one of the only hotels available, it is very cute, though quite dated. The rooms are updated but tiny. The breakfast overlooks the lake which is lovely and the staff was so incredibly accommodating it felt like a 5 star hotel. This hotel is a bit of a walk from the town center but if you don’t mind a little stroll it’s worth it, especially for the price and free parking!

Where to eat in Malcesine

As a rule of thumb when I travel to Europe I avoid the restaurants on the main strips, which is why I like to wander so much. I find that the best restaurants are usually the ones that are empty, have only 10 tables (more or less), no water view, and are closed midday.

1. La Bottega del Vino – this was by far my favorite spot that we ate at probably for the whole trip. Wandering up the small corridors of Malcesine we stumbled upon this hidden gem, it is absolutely adorable inside and the food was incredible. It actually made me like pizza and I am a big pizza hater (sorry, not sorry). This restaurant deserves 12 stars, everything was to die for.
2. Al Gondoliere – another must visit with a beautiful atmosphere and delicious traditional meals.
3. Ristorante Paradiso Perduto – perched high overlooking the lake, this is yet another spot with a beautiful atmosphere and some of the best pasta and limoncello around.

Limone sul Garda

We took the ferry from Malcesine to Limone, it was 9 euro for a return ticket (round trip) and was so beautiful. There are multiple ferry companies and the ferries do not book up so you should not have a problem getting a ticket whatsoever. Of course, sit on the top of the boat if you can to take in the breathtaking mountains surrounding you. Limone is a charming little old town built right onto the side of the mountain. Its mesmerizing winding alleys and lemon tile house numbers will force you to get a little lost in this beautiful town.

Both Limone and Malcesine have a good amount of inclines if you are strolling around the town (Limone more so) so keep that in mind for anyone with accessibility issues, strollers, and for footwear purposes. One of Limones main attractions besides the charming town and the endless lemon themed everything are the old churches. The Church of San Rocco dates back to the 16th century and is perched at a lovely lookout point of Limone and the Church of San Pietro dates back to the 6th century, a little piece of history frozen in time. The beach in Limone is adorable, it is pebble as with all the beaches in the north so keep that in mind, and the food and limoncello (of course) is some of the tastiest.

Where to stay in Limone

While we did not stay in Limone there are a few places within and right outside of the town that look amazing.

1. EALA – My Lakeside Dream – if you are looking for luxury look no further than this breathtaking 5 star hotel just north of Limone. It is a significantly pricier option than most other hotels on the lake but it is, by far, worth it. I prefer something within the towns but if you don’t mind being a bit outside and want to splurge on your room, this is for you!
2. Hotel Splendid Palace – just a short walk into town this 4 star hotel has a lovely view of the entire town of Limone. I’ve found that it is hard to tell what rooms look like from online as there are usually photos of beautifully renovated rooms and photos of not so beautiful rooms. We hope for the best in every scenario.
3. LLAC Living Nature Hotel – located right in the town of Limone this cute, new hotel has a stunning view, modern rooms, a nature centric focus and breakfast included (my absolute favorite thing to see).

Where to eat in Limone

This is yet another town that you are going to have to wander around to find some of the best spots, chances are they are on an uneven alleyway in the most unassuming spots.

1. Al Veccio Fontec – we stumbled across the place while we were meandering through the town and it is absolutely adorable. It’s this tiny courtyard with maybe 8 tables outside and a few tables inside. It is at the bottom of the stairs of a beautiful old home and you feel like you’ve been taken back in time. The bathroom is adorable and the indoor seating is surrounded by wine and exposed brick. The food was absolutely delicious, this is definitely worth a stop.
2. Il Cortiletto – is similar to Al Veccio Fontec in that it is nearly inside someones home and a bit difficult to find but it is an excellent lunch spot in Limone with the cutest atmosphere!
3. Osteria Da Livio – a bit off the beaten path from the center of town, we missed this spot but hear it is amazing. The vibe looks a bit dated but with lovely lake views and some incredible pasta dishes you really can’t go wrong.

Riva del Garda

The last place we stayed was Riva del Garda or just Riva. This town at the northernmost part of the lake definitely requires at least a two day stay in my opinion. This was a pitstop for us before heading back down south and it was so adorable. There is an old castle surrounded by a mote at the edge of town right on the lake which is a lovely spot to catch the sunset or see if the organization that maintains Rocca castle is putting on any shows on the green. There is a museum inside and this is where ferries and boat tours disembark from. You can go up to Bastione di Riva, which is where the above photo is taken, to get a full view of the town and the lake from the side of the mountain that shadows over Riva. Just head to the edge of town and take the glass lift up, make sure you have time to grab a drink or some snacks at the restaurant at the top, Bastione lounge. Riva is filled with beautiful views, cute shops, delicious restaurants, and all the gelato you could dream of.

Where to stay in Riva

I booked a hotel super last minute so the spot that we stayed in wasn’t the best in the area but nevertheless I will add it to the list!

1. Grand Hotel Liberty – this spot was pretty decent for a last minute hotel. The rooms were definitely very dated but the windows opened to get a nice breeze coming in off the lake which I am always a big fan of. The common areas; the breakfast area, the pool, the spa, and the lounge areas were actually quite lovely and were definitely nice for the price of the hotel (love a “breakfast included”). It was right on the main street which wasn’t great noise wise but it was a super easy walk into town and parking was included. I would recommend if you don’t mind a slightly dated spot!
2. Lido Palace – a more expensive option but an absolutely lovely stay with modern rooms, beautiful lake and mountain views, if you’re a pool person, a lovely pool overlooking the best views and incredible service.
3. Hotel Bellavista – if you’re looking for something right within the town, Hotel Bellavista has a lovely old charm to it, beautiful patios and is in the center of the old town. Do keep in mind that if you have a car this hotel is within the ZTL (zona traffico limitato), it’s limited to certain cars with permits to drive in the old town so you will have to find parking outside of the town and walk in.

Where to eat in Riva

Riva and the surrounding area is packed with good restaurants. There honestly weren’t a ton of really good ones right in the town center as a lot of them were just very tourist centric but a small drive outside of Riva there are some amazing spots.

1. Aqua Ristorante, Torbole – we went here for a special dinner, it is in Torbole, one of the neighboring towns and it is a Michelin star restaurant right on the lake. The views were gorgeous and the food was amazing. It is a five course dinner you can choose ahead of time or at the restaurant and it is meant to be enjoyed slowly with some incredible wine and the best company. For a Michelin star restaurant, the price tag really was not too astronomical.
2. Ristorante le Berlera – a little ways out of the town center is this lovely spot carved out of rock in a beautiful old Italian building. The outdoor seating is incredibly rustic and charming and the indoor seating is like something you’ve never seen before. It is a fine dining restaurant but it is absolutely worth a little extra money as the experience is so special.
3. Al Volt – right in the town center, this is another slightly pricier one but also very worth it. The restaurant is very old and tight, you are squeezed with other people but it just makes the atmosphere that much better. The food is a contemporary spin on traditional Italian dishes and they are a work of art.

Lake Garda was a lovely trip, it was budget friendly as opposed to Lake Como, had plenty to do and see, and was incredibly easy to navigate around whether you’re using public transport or your own transport. The only issue you may run into is parking and a ton of bicyclists. It is absolutely worth a visit even if it is just a quick stop over, the views are like something I’ve never seen. Enjoy!