Top Things to do in Lake Garda
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What to do and see in Lake Garda, Lake Garda: The Best Things to do Good for Big Groups
The largest of Italy’s fresh-water lakes, Lake Garda is located in northeast Italy. Tourists traveling here will find plenty of excursions and activities to keep them entertained year-round—everything from visiting hilly wine regions to exploring 14th-century castles. The towns and communities surrounding Lake Garda offer easy day trips from Venice, easily accessible by car or train. Major sights include the towns of Sirmione (which attracts most Lake Garda visitors thanks to its historic Rocca Scaligiera castle) and Riva del Garda (for the Varone waterfalls located nearby), as well as the region’s hills, which offer numerous hiking trails for adventurous walkers.
Restaurants in Lake Garda
1. Onepio Winery
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 140 reviews
Do you want to know which is the secret ingredient? Only by drinking a glass of this collection, you’ll recognize the secret ingredient. Easy to guess…Love
Reviewed By D9266FRnicolah
We visited Onepio to do the gold wine tasting which was excellent and great value for money. Most importantly we tasted a number of great wines - we were allowed to pick which ones we wanted to taste from a selection so it can be tailored to personal preferences. We had some lovely local cheeses and other snacks to accompany also. Our hostess was really knowledgable taking us through each wine and how its grown and produced. She struck a great balance between talking to us and giving us time to just enjoy the wine. We stayed for a drink after in the sunshine and ordered a few bottles to be sent home also. Very glad we visited.
2. Lago di Garda
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,326 reviews
Lake Garda, unique for its enchanted villages, shopping and fun opportunities,is also the perfect setting for your activity and watersports holidays or week-ends. This is Lake Garda, the Essence of Italy!
Reviewed By Brian484950 - Liverpool, United Kingdom
What a beautiful place to stay for a late breakaway everything is so idyllic and laid back my wife and I enjoyed every minute so many places to eat you are spoiled for choice the place is absolutely clean and tidy,shopping centre is well worth a visit.
3. Grotte di Catullo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,926 reviews
Reviewed By irinak576 - Basel, Switzerland
As much as this archeological site is interesting as such, it boasts the lake views to come there for! It is easy to spend several hours here, even half a day if the weather is nice. The museum is surrounded by meadows with old olive trees, so you will always find some shade. Bringing your own lunch and enjoy it sinking in the lake views could be a good idea!
4. Ferry from Malcesine to Limone and Riva
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 924 reviews
Reviewed By 201stephenw - Stevenage, United Kingdom
Nothing special. Crew were helpful and the trip does not take long. No amenities on board. Crossing gives good views from the lake of both Malcesine and Limone and the spectacular mountains in the backdrop.
5. Il Vittoriale degli Italiani
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 3,682 reviews
Reviewed By steveandra - London, United Kingdom
On its own terms a lovely location. The history of Gabrielle is closely entwined with that period of Italian history and adds real depth to the visit.
6. Castello Scaligero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,572 reviews
Reviewed By rokznidar
For a very appropriate entrance fee (6e) you see a very well thought out presentation of history and natural habitat. Together with a beautiful view and a pleasant town, this is a great destination to see.
7. Cantina Zeni e Museo del Vino
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 692 reviews
The Zeni winery is located on the first hill beside the city center of Bardolino. From 1870 the Zeni Families have been dedicated in to the growing of the local vines and in to the production of the veronese classical wines. This wines are: Bardolino, Custoza, Lugana, Soave and Valpolicella, where inside the classical area the family has one more winery. From 1991 inside the winery in Bardolino is located the Wine Museum, a collection and proof of the local and ancient veronese wine tradition. The Wine Museum and adjacent Vinoteca are free entry for all individual visitors. For groups of 10 or more people the reservation is required. For both individual visitors and groups we required the reservation also for the visit of the entire winery. The Zeni winery is proud to present GO the olfactory gallery, a new eno-sensory tasting, which is the first of its kind in Italy.
Reviewed By franzxaverp - Duisburg, Germany
We got to know Cantina Zeni last year for the first time and already then we stopped by three times during our stay. This year history repeated and we spent three phantastic afternoons with Martina, Alessia, Chiara and Rado in the wine cellar of Cantina Zeni. We highly recommend to take sufficient time and enjoy the wonderful Zeni wines in the wine cellar. We have learnt very much about the local wines and have been treated extremely nice. To a certain extent this was potentially possible as the season neared the end and it was not too crowded. It is highly recommended to clarify, if a reservation is required. We are very much looking forward to see our Zeni friends again next year!
8. Castello Scaligero
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,522 reviews
Reviewed By X4948WLsteved - Birmingham, United Kingdom
Really good for seeing a historical building very well preserved Entrance cost €8 and we’ll w the money The view of the peninsula are amazing and well worth the climb to the top of the main tower Best time to visit is when it’s cool in the morning We visited about 9.30am before the tourists coaches
9. Monte Baldo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,046 reviews
Reviewed By Fritz_Oz - Sydney, Australia
Monte Baldo is a fantastic place to visit during a trip at Lake Garda. Easy access via Cable Car (you might want to buy your tickets earlier to jump the long queue at the ticket office) Fantastic views, great for hiking or just a little walk. You might want to consider renting a mountain bike or go for a paragliding tandem flight with one of the local professional tandem pilots.
10. Santuario della Madonna del Frassino
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 341 reviews
Reviewed By alessandrofL127YD - Milan, Italy
A tiny statue of Madonna with little Jesus appeared in the early 1500s among the branches of an ash tree, according to popular belief it was invoked by a shepherd who had just been bitten by a snake that did not die. In 1510 a first small church was created on the site of the discovery , then during many years and many miracles the church was enlarged. In 1518 was built a friars convent beside the church who it’s still active. Facade with frescoed portico , above the portico a beautiful rose window completed a very simple facade . Inside with one nave and five chapels for each side, the twos beside the central altar are bigger and protected by beautiful wrought iron gate, the one on the right contain the small statue of Madonna of ash tree with beautiful frescoe by Domenico Morone done on 16th century . Of the same period are the beautiful paintings done by Paolo Farinati and are in the three chapels on the left side, the fourth chapel on the left is decorated by a beautiful painting of Zeno da Verona depicting Saints Peter and John dated 1541. Unusual the central altar with beautiful pipe organ . From a door next to the Madonna’s chapel is possible to enter in the first cloister with frescoes dated 1653 by Pietro Muttoni , the second cloister is also frescoed and all over the walls you can see mani ex voto and pictures of miraculous people .
