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No bikes, sadly.
2 of us, we're looking for a beach or suchlike to sit on and relax in the sun whilst also having the option to walk into the hills or explore the local area. We're open as to whether it's Garda, Como or somewhere else, but wherever it is, we'd like to be able to sit by the lake and swim in it as we see fit.
Thanks all.
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I've been to Garda and loved it, would go back no question. Stayed in Riva, nice place, lots to do and access to all the other resorts via ferries. It's at the mountainous end of the lake, but for that reason it takes a long time from the airport. If we went again, we'd probably stay in Malcescine, it's more central. Very picturesque and there's a cable car up Monte baldo, lots to do. Limone is very picturesque, but as it's on the "wrong" side of the lake, it loses the sun a lot earlier! Bike hire is very easy, you could do half day ride if you can't get permission for a full day, and you can take bikes up the cable car.
Garda, the Northern End. The sporty town is Torbole: https://goo.gl/maps/7BwyjYSthx42
Plenty to do.. windsurfing, boating, hiking, cable car to mount baldo, swimming, hire a (some?) bike? 😉 there's mtbing to be had in the hills behind. https://bikemagic.com/mountain-bike-trails/mtb-travel-guide-lake-garda-italy.html
Get a boat to other towns on the lake, Limone is Gorgeous and at the southern end desenzano and sirmione with a lovely big castle. desenzano is the biggest town and has a railway station. You can do something different every day, day trip to Verona and *dun dun daaaaa* Venice. Mosy hotels will have tour companies come by on coaches to pick you up or you can drive if you have a car.
The water is a little cold for loads of swimming, but you know, it's not too bad, best to get a hotel with a pool though. It's a lovely area.
This was my go to camp site for Italy
[url= http://www.campinglidomonvalle.it/chisiamoing.html ]Lido di Monvalle[/url]
really, really relaxing and the lake is bath water temperature at about 5pm
Arona, bottom end of the lake, is beautiful to walk around in the evening with a Gellato.
We stayed on a lake side campsite in Torbole (actually Linfano), right by a kitty litter beach and large grass area (most sun bathers and picnickers seemed to prefer the grass). was great for after bike ride relaxing.
There was also a nice beach (I think with sand) at Largo Di Ledro in the hills not far away.
North end - is where all the Brits go. That's why we went to Bardolino, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
Garda. As a watersports (sailing) lover its one of the world's outstanding venues with good breeze every day in a most wonderful natural arena. I have always stayed in Malcesine (nice little town) as we where sailing from that club but plenty of events up in Torbole. Malcesine has the cable car. What I don't know if whether there are some nice hotels with pools, the little one we stay in (Ariston) has a nice garden and a so-so pool but we don't care as we are on the water every day anyway. Plenty of boats to criss cross the lake on.
My impression of Como is a bit more "upmarket" and really was put on the map when George Clooney bought a villa there (sold it now I believe).
My understanding is sailing/windsurfing mostly in the North and the water skiing/wakeboarding is in the South where there is less wind.
EDIT Garda is about 100m deep and is filled from the mountains - as such it can be a refreshing swim 😉 The little beaches are plesant enough but a pool is a nicer swim fyi
Awesome ideas all, thanks.
Just got back from 10 days at Garda. It was hot, Sirmioni was lovely, didn't swim in the lake though. Day trip to Venice was brilliant. I'd go back again next year. Garda seems to have lots of campsites around it so maybe it's not as posh as I'd imagined, which was no bad thing tbh.
Garda at the Riva end is a good base for stuff. We climbed at Arco then met up with mates who were racing RS Europeans (sailing). Arco is is the nicer town, but Riva is bigger with more facilities and therefore more rowdy and boozy (that may have been my mates though..).
Watching
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Just got back from a week in Como, stayed in a village called Argegno which was gorgeous... As with everywhere on Como, you have to decide which part of the day you want the sun! We had it in the morning which was great for breakfasts on the terrace and some sunbathing before it got too hot.
I've done Garda (Bardolino) a few years ago, as someone mentioned, there are more camp sites around Garda... Como is a bit more s****y, towns like Belagio are gorgeous but it's consequently a bit more expensive.
Had a drive up to the Madonna del Ghisallo in the hills above Belagio - quite an interesting diversion for a cyclist on the only overcast day we had!
If I was going back, I'd choose Como over Garda any day - it's simply stunning everywhere you look. Loads to do such as visiting Villa Balbianello (pic below) where they filmed Casino Royale and one of the Star Wars films...
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Nobeerinthefridge - Member
North end - is where all the Brits go. That's why we went to Bardolino, I'd go back in a heartbeat.
The north is full of Germans and Austrians, I don't think we heard any British voices in the 10 days we were there, other than a group of 4 girls on the beach and possibly a group of lads at a bike shop. I'd probably suggest that there are far more Brits go to the south, mostly blue rinsers on coach and package holidays.
I've done Garda twice (Limone without bikes) Torbole with bikes. Riva - also north end is a bit German looking compared to the other towns but the north end is definitely preferable if you're an outdoorsy kind of person. Loads of stuff to do.
Also done Como on a motorbike. Gorgeous setting and everything but far too touristy and blingy for me. I preferred the friendliness of Garda. If you do go to Garda, make sure you get the ferries about the lake as there's so much to see. Day trips to Venice and Verona are also highly recommended.
Michael Cycle on here guides out of Torbole and can arrange bike hire for the day etc. I think he's back working now - he had a tumble recently.
Got a week booked at the Maroadi campsite in Torbole looking at riding for 3/4 days so info on day trips would be great! Heading to the Dolomites before hand any ideas on family friendly campsites
Postierich - whereabouts in the Dolomites?
The north is full of Germans and Austrians, I don't think we heard any British voices in the 10 days we were there, other than a group of 4 girls on the beach and possibly a group of lads at a bike shop. I'd probably suggest that there are far more Brits go to the south, mostly blue rinsers on coach and package holidays.
It's only an 8 hour drive from Munich, so pretty much all of Garda is German tastic. Spent a couple of days in malcesine, and heard lots of British accents, maybe we were just unlucky!. I like to go where the locals go on hols, but failing that, I'd go where the Germans go, tend to have quite high standards.
Riva is, as others have said, a bit more out of the way at the top end of the lake. Lots of shops, restaurants and walking. However, if you want to venture into the Dolomites properly, you are closer in Rova than elsewhere.
We go to Malcesine. It is very German but more central if you want to take a day away somewhere and the mountains are easily accessed via the cable car. Queues tend to get very long as the day goes on though!