Hi I've done a search for past threads about this and found quite a few... However none very recent.
Looking at holiday options for this summer and Lake Garda caught our eye.
However there is quite a bewildering array of places to stay so I'm looking for some recommendations. Either just a location, or a specific hotel.
Family of 4, 2 kids who will be 13 and 15 when we travel. We'll probably do 10 days.
We like doing generally active/outdoorsy stuff such as paddle boarding, going for walks in the mountains, lake activities such as wake boarding, hiring a boat for the day etc etc.
Probably not too fussed with traipsing around towns, however it might be nice to go to Venice for a day.
I hear there is some great MTB in the area. It would be nice to be able to hire a bike for 1 or 2 days but that's not the focus of the trip so it's a nice-to-have really.
Looking at past threads on here, the places that seem to come up as recommended are
Garda or Bordelino in the south-east (seems less mountainous - but possibly with more activities?)
Limone, Malcesine, Riva, Torbole all being more northern and closer to the mountains.
Can we go wrong with any of those?
Malcesine is great. Beautiful town, Monte Baldo cable car, ferries to other towns. For me you need to be at the northern end as the scenery is spectacular.
Sirmione.
Hotel Grifone.
2* prices with 5* views. Leave the kids elsewhere.
I stayed in Salo which was lovely.
like wait4me says the scenery at the Riva end is fantastic and I remember there being lots of MTB hire places there
Malcesine or Torbole would get my vote. Stayed in Navene ( between the two). Easy walk or cycle to Malcesine. RYA sailing / windsurfing/ SUP centre in the village.
Probably worth taking a coach trip to Venice.Plenty places to book this.
Easy access to the cable car at Malcesine too and uplift options from Torbole as well.
Been three times over the years. Will go again before long I’m sure.
Thanks I should probably also add to the requirements: local places to eat out and buy basics also important. We'll probably do either b&b or half board.
If you are planning to travel by bus Garda itself is a good base as its one of the main bus stops and has buses going both directions as far as I remember
I've been twice. Once to Bardolino and last time to Riva del Garda. Definitely preferred Riva. Nice resort without being commercial. The old town was stunning. Scenery much better at that end of the lake. Plus that's where the biking centres around. The restaurants were some of the best I've ever been to
Have stayed in Gargnano, Villa Giulia, there is biking from the village, via ferrata nearby (and Riva) and we hired a day boat (yacht) from the marina in Bogliaco.
Garda is steep on the west side and easier gradients on the east side. So all the cycling steep on the west, easier on the east side. Camping is all on the east side i think. Traffic gets very congested going around the lake in the summer (
).
Yeah northern has a great vibe. Riva del Garda and torbole. Very sporty.
Or Malcesine is nice as describe.
They are the 2 best options I reckon.
I have stayed further south a few times, bit more Italian and relaxed with a drive tonthe good stuff.
Hook up with Michael Cycle (Shield) if you need a guide.
I want to go there now...
We have had to postpone our trip for the last two years, fingers crossed we will be out at the end of June.
Going in the camper and stopping in Torbole. Not been before but the campsite and the town has been recommended so should be OK
Gargnano and Villa Gargnano are amongst the last unspoilt places to stay at Garda, mainly because the road up the west side is such a pain in the bum. Limone very pretty but the amount of visitors really spoils the experience.As the lake gets narrower the water becomes a lot colder for swimming in.
Camping wise we've usually stayed at the Bellavista in Torbole; they're a bit snooty about keeping the riff-raff out but this does keep the noise level down and being straight onto the lake is a huge plus.
Riding wise, if you're after flowy loam look elsewhere as this is batter, batter, batter riding and it can get a bit wearing. An hour north of Riva is Paganella bke park which has a great reputation.
Walking wise, we got a jeep taxi up into the Brenta Dolomites from Dorsino (again about an hour to the north), had two overnights in huts and walked down to Moveno. The Brenta is totally stunning and has a fraction of the amount of visitors compared to the Eastern Dolomites bacause there only cable cars on the west flank of the range.
<img src="http:// <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-2iDlilzyq9wKN0m-d2NDDuKsynPXluhv8_8Fo22edyy49xC4iHpLnsPJ8ESjsGLUb8_YZaAesvMbXHIZQYw7GLn1pOCH4b0-lPEpjFJEfUE7-gnDiNOpde-ASkvsI3nQyOQhYeSifQ=w600-h315-p-k" /> " alt="Brenta walking" />
Thought I had picture posting sussed 🙂
Great thanks all - very helpful
Been to Riva before and loved it. Defo the place to go for sporty stuff. Can highly recommend it.
However it is a long drive if you're going from Verona airport.
Limone and malcescine and lovely and well worth visiting.
Going this year and staying at Bella Italia apartments in pescheria at the South end.
I think I've found a bit rental place that will be able to provide me an e-mtb for a couple of days. It looks like I might be able to get a bus to the nearest hill for a day out, or I might be able to two them up for a shuttle service. But more research needed yet though!
Garda is ace.
Heading there in May. Found a fab small hotel in Bardolino. Near station so seems a good place for a base for a week.
We went to Garda for the first time last year (day trip from Verona). Pleasantly surprised it was less expensive that I expected.
been a few times but not mountain biking - last time was 2017 at Eurocamp near Bardolino which was excellent, kids were 5 and 7, nice pool and right on the lake front, about a mile along path to Bardolino itself, hired a bike which I used to pootle up and down lake and to pick up shopping at big supermarket there. Lake Garda is a great place to go
https://www.eurocamp.co.uk/campsites/lakegarda/il036-serenella/ataglance.html
Also need to factor in if you plan any sightseeing further afield.
We holidayed in Limone - trips to Verona & Venice meant a bit of a trek to get to the top of the lake and travel East.
There’s a good hydrofoil service ferrying you around the lake to see other towns.
Also had to postpone for 2 years, hoping to get there this August.
Stayed in Riva the first time we went and loved it.
This time were due to stay at the Eurocamp site on the the end of the lake Altimicio I thinks it's called. Looks like a site with plenty to do, we booked direct with the site owners and saved a bit.
Still weighing up taking my roadie out and trying to get some rides in....
We did 10 days in Garda in summer 2019, and are off to the same place again this August.
We stayed in Peschiera del Garda on the southern coast and thought it was fabulous.
We actually drove to Italy so had the car to get around but you could do perfectly well without it it.
we did day trips out to most of the towns on the bottom 50% of the lake, and went up to Monte Baldo which was stunning.
we stayed here - https://www.camping-bellaitalia.it/en/ and are staying in the same place in an air conditioned bungalow this summer.
Top tip - you can book directly with the sites rather than through Eurocamp - this will typically save 30% off your accommodation.
@freeagent that's where we're going 👌
Been to Garda before so know the obvious tips like limone, Monte baldo, verona etc.
Any good recommendations though? Particularly good food, unmissable days out etc? Will have a just turned 6 yr old with us.
And have you heard of/used these guys? https://velolake.com/rent-bike.html
Any good recommendations though? Particularly good food, unmissable days out etc? Will have a just turned 6 yr old with us.
It'll have been 3 years this summer since we've been there so a little hesitant to recommend restaurants but we very much enjoyed - https://bellavistaristo.it/en/home-2/ in Peschiera and http://www.lidopaina.it/ in Malcesine.
https://www.highroadbike.com/ is walkable from Bella Italia and very helpful if you need anything - they replaced a spoke for me same-day last time.
Bardolino and Lazise both beautiful.
We've booked tickets to see Carmen in Verona - this is a late evening performance in the Roman arena and looks fantastic.
On our hit-list for this year are Sirmione, Salo and hopefully a trip up to Riva del Garda/Torbole
I'm taking my road-bike (not much MTB at the bottom end of the lake) - the roads are quiet and easy to ride if you're up early - but the traffic builds up rapidly from 9.00 onwards.
Have been to Garda a few times but not since my daughter was three, 16 years ago.
My ex father in law had an apartment in Malcesine, I'd say that Malcesine is/was a fantastic place to base yourself in. From there you can take the ferry up and down the lake and if it gets too hot there's always Monte Boldo
Like everywhere in Italy you'll be warmly welcomed especially your kids
We’ve booked tickets to see Carmen in Verona
We saw 3/4 of Carmen when we went- rain stopped play (in July) and they were 2 hrs late starting due to rain.
If they don’t start, you can get a refund, but if they play 1 note and stop, nothing due. So if the weathers iffy, they’ll hold of starting until they get a break. Umbrellas & cushions are a must. As is wine, salami & cheese while you wait.
We saw 3/4 of Carmen when we went- rain stopped play (in July) and they were 2 hrs late starting due to rain.
Lucky you.
My ex dragged me to the Verona opera festival. I'm a huge music fan, but the sound of female opera singers is (for me) the worst sound in the history of sounds. The most miserable few hours of my life enduring that.
