Best towns and cities of east Garda and the Veneto region

Best towns to the North

Torbole, Riva del Garda, Arco

Torbole

Torbole, at the North of the lake is a holiday and sports town. Its a good start point for gentle bike rides along the Sarca river or along the lakeside to Riva del Garda. It has many bike shops and sports clothing shops with lively bars, mini-golf and a great hamburger and pizza restaurant.

Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda (Riva d.G.), at the North-West corner of the lake is a historical walled town with a history going back to Roman times. A popular holiday destination for centuries it has a very Austrian feel and great pedestrian shopping areas, bars and restaurants. It is a popular town throughout the year and a start point for many boat trips and ferries.

Arco

Arco, just to the North of Torbole, is a climber’s town as it offers easy access to many famous Dolomite climbs. Another ancient town with cobbled streets it also has a wonderful castle ruin on the mountain behind. A good walk up a path and a wonderful view.

Limone

Limone, on the other side of the lake from us is accessible by Ferry from Malcesine and can be a shopping, eating or biking adventure. Very sunny mornings but shadowed in the evening by the imposing mountain behind.

Best towns to the South

Torri del Benaco, Garda Town, Lazise, Bardolino

Torri del Benaco

Torri del Benaco was once the major town on the lake (known than as il lago di Benaco) and has the remains of an old wall. The historic centre has properties dating to the 1400s which are are still lived in.

Garda town

Garda town is a very popular holiday destination with large waterfront of hotels, restaurants and shops. Its set in a quiet bay with very little wind so is ideal for sunbathing.

Bardolino

Bardolino, near the south end of the lake is the home to an annual wine festival and is famous for its wines and good eating.

Lazise

Lazise, south of Bardolino, connects easily to Verona and has an old roman wall and excavations.

Best cities of the Veneto region

Verona, Mantua, Padua, Venice

Verona

Verona is a stunning city, full of suprises. The history and culture include 14th and 15th century buildings and statues but the piece-de-resistance is the roman arena which hosts concerts and opera. Many fans of Shakespeare and love will want to visit Juliet’s balcony and others will wander through the market squares gazing at ancient buildings still in use.

A stunning marble-paved shopping centre filled with shops and restaurants and the river area with its many ancient bridges and the Adige river. Behind on the hill is the church and of San Pietro.

Mantua (Mantova)

Riva del Garda (Riva d.G.), at the North-West corner of the lake is a historical walled town with a history going back to Roman times. A popular holiday destination for centuries it has a very Austrian feel and great pedestrian shopping areas, bars and restaurants. It is a popular town throughout the year and a start point for many boat trips and ferries.

Padua (Padova)

Arco, just to the North of Torbole, is a climber’s town as it offers easy access to many famous Dolomite climbs. Another ancient town with cobbled streets it also has a wonderful castle ruin on the mountain behind. A good walk up a path and a wonderful view.

Venice (Venezia)

Limone, on the other side of the lake from us is accessible by Ferry from Malcesine and can be a shopping, eating or biking adventure. Very sunny mornings but shadowed in the evening by the imposing mountain behind.