Where is the best place to stay at the guard? Holidays with children on Lake Garda in Italy. A visit to Villa Vittoriale requires several hours

When traveling with children, you definitely want to embrace the immensity: a rich cultural program, a carefree holiday on the beach, fun entertainment, not very tiring travel and, of course, a reasonable price. Italy corresponds to all these parameters perfectly.

And in continuation of the topic of holidays in Italy, I want to tell you about another place where you can have a wonderful holiday with the whole family - this is the stunning Lake Garda, by the way, the largest in Italy. Its area is 370 square kilometers, its greatest width is 17 kilometers, and its length from north to south is 51 kilometers.

The Lake Garda area, which is ideal for a comfortable family holiday, is famous for its beautiful Mediterranean landscapes, thermal waters and healing springs, as well as unique winds (moving from east to west), which attract windsurfers.

Climate on Lake Garda

Among the pre-alpine lakes of Italy, Garda is the southernmost in location. The high peaks of the Dolomites protect the lake from the northern winds. The weather here is very warm and comfortable.

In summer, due to the large mass of water and low location above sea level, these places do not have sweltering heat. Average summer temperature: +22°С, in the hottest month of summer – July: +29°С. In winter, the temperature does not drop below zero.

The natural landscapes of the lake are amazingly beautiful. In the north there are rocky mountains, covered in places with pine trees, in the south there are gentle green hills. Thanks to the mild microclimate in the lake area, Mediterranean plants grow in large numbers: many pine trees, palm trees, cypress trees, olive and lemon trees, vineyards, orchids and bergamots.

Due to the large number of lemon plantations, the coastal strip in the north-west is often called the "lemon coast". The eastern coast is called “olive” because of its extensive olive groves. The southern and southwestern coasts are completely covered with vineyards.

This is interesting: the most common trees on Lake Garda are cypress and olive (the latter was brought to these places in ancient times during the Etruscan era and became very widespread under the Romans).

Resorts of Lake Garda

There are a lot of small towns in the Lake Garda area (some of them have less than 500 inhabitants). Almost everyone has comfortable hotels, hotels and apartments. However, most often tourists stay in cities such as Desenzano del Garda and Sirmione. And this is due not only to the amazing beauty of these places and the large selection of housing, but also to the proximity of the highway, train and bus stations.

When going to Lake Garda with children, it is important to choose the right resort. Due to the large length of the coastline, the water warms up differently in different parts of it. If we compare the northern and southern coasts, the latter has warmer water and a milder climate. It has a more Mediterranean landscape and lush vegetation.

The western part of the coast is characterized by the location of hotels mainly on slopes some distance from the water with a narrow strip of beach (as on the Naples coast). The road for children, especially toddlers, is not very convenient and they do not always have enough strength to overcome the descent or ascent.

A beach holiday on Lake Garda is specific and somewhat different from a holiday on the sea coast. Beaches are usually not very wide and long. During the season, the water is quite warm, even on the northwest coast. The depth of the lake along the coastline is small. Suitable for babies. Sandy beaches are equipped with everything you need and almost all are free. Most of them belong to hotels.

The infrastructure of the resorts in the lake area is well developed, since many of them were created on the basis of long-existing towns with a developed network of shops, cafes and restaurants.

Sirmione

Sirmione – a small ancient town with well-preserved architecture (the 13th-century Scaliger Castle, the ruins of the villa of the ancient Roman poet Catullus).

This resort is ideal for those who want not only to relax, but also to receive medical treatment. At the end of the 19th century, quite by accident, one of the divers in Sirmione discovered a healing spring. Later a thermal center appeared here.

You can enjoy the benefits of hot springs in the pools of the Catullo Spa and Virgillio Spa complexes. Wellness procedures are especially useful for children with respiratory diseases and frequent colds.

Desenzano del Garda

Desenzano del Garda is a resort on the south-east coast of Lake Garda in a picturesque location where you can admire magnificent views of the lake along its entire length.

In addition, this resort is famous for its vibrant nightlife and entertainment.

This is interesting: The town has preserved a cathedral and a medieval castle of the 16th century, as well as ancient Roman ruins. The Cathedral of Desenzano del Garda houses the painting “The Last Supper” by the famous Italian artist Giovanni Battista Tiepolo.

Bardolino

Bardolino is a small resort town located 4 kilometers east of the lake. It is surrounded by olive groves, gardens and vineyards. Beautiful nature and ancient architecture add to the charm of the resort.

Malcesine

Malcesine is an ancient town, surrounded by flowers, located on a coastal hill. This is a beautiful place on the eastern coast of Lake Garda. The medieval Scaligero Castle in the city center completes the overall picture.

Limone

Limone is a west coast resort that was once a fishing village. Fans of yachting and windsurfing love to relax here. The hotels are located very close to the coast or a little higher with a beautiful panorama, from which you need to go down to the water.

Riva del Garda

The northern coast is a little more modest than the southern one, but with stunningly beautiful views. A striking example of this is the picturesque resort of Riva del Garda. This is not the most convenient place for a beach holiday. The resort is more suitable for relaxation or a short visit.

Hotels for families with children on Lake Garda

The hotels here are different: from inexpensive apartments to expensive five-star hotels, these can be both modern buildings and ancient villa-hotels.

The Park Hotel Paradiso & Golf complex is located two kilometers from the modern resort of Peschiera del Garda among picturesque nature. From here it is convenient to go on excursions to various places and take bicycle rides around the lake.

The complex consists of four ancient country houses from the 18th century, which have been restored while preserving the original architecture. They housed 4 hotels:

• Active Hotel Paradiso & Golf 4*
• Park Hotel 4*
• Residenza Golf 2*
• Residenza Eden 2*

The hotels operate on an all-inclusive system, specially designed for a carefree family holiday.

Hotel Leonardo Da Vinci 4* is located near the village of Limone sul Garda (20 minutes on foot or by free bus) in a huge park. It consists of several buildings, operates on an all-inclusive basis and is ideal for family holidays (children's meals, swimming pool with slide, children's and sports animation, trampoline, playground).

Activities and excursions on Lake Garda

A calm and measured holiday with children on Lake Garda, if desired, can be diluted with excursions to nearby cities. From Desenzano del Garda you can easily reach Verona (30 km), Venice (114 km), Brescia (25 km), Milan (125 km) or Genoa (230 km) by train or bus.

The whole family can recover on excursions and on the lake itself:

• The amazingly beautiful Grottoes of Catullus in Sirmione are one of the main attractions of Lake Garda. It will be interesting for everyone: both adults and children.

• Mount Baldo and the Scaliger Castle in Sirmione await lovers of history and nature.
• From Sirmione you can also take a short trip around the lake by boat, admiring the beautiful bay and the magnificent Borghese family castle in the center of the lake (the area is private and you cannot get there without prior reservation).

Lake Garda is also an ideal place for outdoor enthusiasts. Windsurfers and divers meet here every year. Anglers will truly enjoy their favorite activity. There are about 25 species of fish in the lake. In addition, there is everything you need for fans of horse riding, tennis, cycling and hiking along mountain trails.

For families with children in the Lake Garda area you can find a lot of entertainment: Gardaland, Aquaparadise, Natura Viva Park, Movieland, Sigurta Park (botanical paradise), a knight show, several natural parks and water parks. We will tell you about the most popular ones in more detail.

Gardaland

Gardaland is an amusement park. It is also called an analogue of Disneyland Paris.

The rides in this park are divided into 3 types: adrenaline, fantasy and adventure. However, most of the attractions are completely different from those already known.

Gardaland will make you plunge into the fairy-tale world of fantasy not only for your children, but also for yourself. You can arrange family excavations of Egyptian pyramids, become pirates, and ride in a “dead loop.”

Sea Life Aquarium

Next to Gardaland Park there is a huge Sea Life Aquarium, whose pools and aquariums are home to thousands of marine life.

Movieland Studios

5 kilometers north of Gardaland is Movieland with exciting attractions based on your favorite films.

This is a theme park imbued with the spirit of action movies. Here you will learn how films of this genre are made, see how stunts are performed and how stuntmen work. And most importantly, you can become the hero of a real film. Isn’t this what many adults and children dream about?

Movieland has its own water park, and in the evenings there are colorful fireworks shows.

Safari Park "Natura Viva"

Natura Viva Park is an amazing place where dozens of species of animals and birds coexist peacefully. Of course, everyone is in their own enclosure.

At the Natura Viva Safari Park you will find not only an exciting car safari, but also walking tours through the botanical garden and the Dinosaur Park.

Sigurtha Park

A visit to Giardino Sigurta Park will bring true pleasure to connoisseurs of untouched nature and endangered plants. Here you will find magnificent gardens, flower alleys, lakes and rare plants, most of which have healing properties.

Going through the labyrinth of “living” walls will be a real adventure for your family. And the final point in the form of a tower is the reward for the winner. It offers a beautiful view of the entire park and its farthest hidden corners.

One of the main attractions of the park is the centuries-old oak tree (the age of the mighty giant is more than 400 years) and the long alley of roses (its length is one kilometer).

Children will surely enjoy visiting the farm and meeting its inhabitants. Creative workshops and educational programs are regularly held in the park for children and their parents.

This green oasis and the most beautiful park in the world is huge. It is impossible to go around it all on foot. But you can use mini trains.

Knight Tournament (Medieval Times)

Medieval Times is a great, vibrant show. Thanks to the atmosphere, costumes and magnificent theatrical scenes from knightly tournaments, both adults and children will be able to fully immerse themselves in the Middle Ages.

A feast (included in the ticket price) in honor of the winner will make this show even more believable.

Park Jungle Adventure

If you are Mowgli at heart, this park is definitely for you. Bungee jumps, vines, rope bridges, traps and all kinds of obstacles await those who dare to challenge the real jungle.

Water parks

There are many water parks in the Lake Garda area: large and small, with restaurants and cafes. In many of them you can play tennis, football or volleyball, as well as go canoeing. One of the water parks houses a huge oceanarium.

The most popular of them:

• Aqua Paradise Park
• Picoverde
• Riovalli Parco Acquatico
• Altomincio
• Parco Acquatico Cavour
• Sea Life

In my opinion, the main task for a traveler is to properly plan and organize your vacation. Then you will definitely have a minimum of unforeseen situations and a maximum of positive emotions.

• If you have such an opportunity, it is better to rent a car. This way you will save a lot of time, which you will definitely find what to spend on. To use this service, you need an international license and a navigator with a map of Italy. You can book a car via the Internet. Your car will be delivered either directly to the airport or to the town where you plan to stay.
• It is best to stay in residences or apart-hotels. They always have a kitchen with all the necessary household appliances. You can easily cook something yourself. This is very important when you have small children with you. But if you wish, you can always order 3 meals a day at the hotel.
• To ensure a balanced vacation, it is best to use a “chessboard” travel plan: the first day is a relaxing holiday at sea or lake, the second day is an excursion to a theme park, the third day is a vacation at sea, etc. This way you will have time to relax and be able to replenish your collection of impressions.

And finally, one more recommendation: if you can’t wait to go with your whole family to Lake Garda, but you still have doubts or have any questions, contact the Tour Garda website. Charming Victoria will help you organize your trip: she will select accommodation, provide transfers, organize excursions for you, and also provide free advice on all issues related to your holiday on Lake Garda.

Rome, Florence, Milan, Venice and other popular cities in Italy are crowded with tourists from all over the world and their number does not decrease from year to year. But in this country, in addition to the rich architectural and historical heritage, there is more to see - there are many incredibly beautiful and amazing places, and in this article we will tell you about one of them.

Lake Garda

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Garda is the largest and most picturesque lake in Italy, located at the foot of the Alpine mountains. The lake shore is a favorite vacation spot for Italians and is becoming more and more popular among tourists.

There are many towns and villages around the lake. The most famous: Sirmione, Gardone Riviera, Limone, Riva del Garda, Torbole, Malcesine, Bardolino. There is a very short distance between the cities, sometimes up to several hundred meters, so if you stop in one place, you can easily explore the neighboring ones.

The easiest way to get here is from Verona; the distance between the city and the lake is only 44 kilometers, and the journey takes half an hour.

Leisure

Windsurfing

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In the small town of Riva del Garda, where geese, ducks and swans roam the streets freely and are not at all afraid of people, windsurfing is extremely popular. And this is where you should go for boarding and sailing. Rental companies provide all sports equipment. A set of equipment will cost approximately 100 euros per day, and classes with instructors will add another 40 euros to the cost.

On the promenade of Riva del Garda there are a large number of bars and cafes where windsurfers and young people relax. Therefore, for drive and party, come here.

Tracking

Photo: unsplash.com / @barchpou

Fans of mountain hiking here have an excellent opportunity to trek through the Alps. There are a huge number of routes in the mountains, from one-day to multi-day, from simple to very difficult. The route map can be downloaded in advance on the Internet (for example,), or purchased at the reception of any hotel located on the lake shore.

A large number of trekking routes begin in the village of Musaga, located a few kilometers from the shore of the lake. All routes are marked with signs, so it will be extremely difficult to get lost. The routes go through chestnut groves, where you can pick delicious chestnuts, and lead to alpine meadows, where cows that look like they came straight out of a Milka advertisement graze. And in mountain villages you can buy real Alpine milk and honey.

Cycling

Photo: Shutterstock.com

Mountain biking is very popular among tourists here. Depending on your level of physical fitness, you can go to the mountains, putting a fair amount of strain on your legs, or take a leisurely ride along the coast, driving around medieval towns and small villages with cypress and olive groves.

As with trekking routes, there are a huge number of cycling routes, a map of which can be purchased at any hotel.

The cost of renting a bicycle is: for an hour - 3 euros, for half a day - 10 euros, and for the whole day - 15 euros.

What to visit

Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown

Photo: Shutterstock.com

20 kilometers from Garda in the village of Spiazzi, in the recess of Mount Monte Baldo on a steep cliff there is a temple - the Sanctuary of Our Lady of the Crown. The temple was built in the 15th century on the site where a monastic hermitage was previously located. Pilgrims from all over the world come here and it is believed that here, in exchange for a promise or vow, the saints will help fulfill your desire. But if you break the vow, then misfortunes will haunt the violator all his life.

Inside the sanctuary, an exact copy of the Holy Staircase was built, along which Jesus ascended to his trial in the palace of Pontius Pilate, and on the path leading to the temple there are 14 halts, symbolizing the stops of Christ on the Way of the Cross.

Under the temple there is a corridor covered with millions of photographs of people who have passed on to another world. There is a belief that the Mother of God herself grieves over the souls of these people.

Scaliger Castle

Photo: Shutterstock.com

The Scaliger Castle is one of the best preserved castles in Italy, built by the Scaliger dynasty, who ruled Verona from 1260 to 1387. During the years of their reign, more than 40 castles were erected to protect their possessions, but to this day no more than ten have survived.

The Scaliger Castle is surrounded by a moat with water and high walls with battlements. The 47-meter medieval tower inside is a favorite place for tourists and also serves as an excellent observation deck. The fortress was the most important strategic point - the Scaligers kept their fleet on the lake, the base of which was in this castle. Now ships and boats also come here, fortunately, not military ones, but those on which tourists take cruises on the lake.

Gardaland Park

The fairytale country of Gardaland - the most famous park in Italy - was built by Italian millionaire Livio Farini after he visited American Disneyland in 1975 and was so impressed that he decided to build something similar in Italy.

The Garda coast was chosen as the site for construction, and just six months later the park received its first visitors. Over time, the park became larger, modernized, and now there are 40 attractions in six thematic areas: Sunken Atlantis, Ancient Egypt, Knightly Middle Ages, Hawaiian Islands, Outer Space, Cartoon Land.

Thermal springs

Photo: pointbreak / Shutterstock.com

There are several thermal springs on Lake Garda, which greatly adds to the attractiveness of this place. The most famous are in Sirmione and Lazise.

The first, in Sirmione, was accidentally discovered at a depth of 20 meters in 1889 by a Venetian diver. Ten years later, the Aquaria thermal center was built on this site, which is still in operation and is popular among tourists. Later, several more thermal centers appeared in the city, most of which operate at hotels. An adult ticket for the whole day costs 53 euros.

The second, in Lazise, ​​on the territory of the luxurious Villa Cedri, was discovered in 1989, when the owners of the mansion decided to dig a well. Hot thermal springs were discovered at a depth of 160 meters, after which the owners of the villa decided to turn this place into a thermal resort. Now on the territory of the park with an area of ​​16 hectares, surrounded by centuries-old cedars, palm trees and flowers, there are 2 swimming pools with thermal water, a grotto has been built and fountains work. Water from the springs can be drunk. A full day adult ticket costs 22 euros.

Olive Oil Museum

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Oddly enough, the first olive oil museum appeared relatively recently - in 1988. It was opened by the owners of a small olive processing plant in the town of Bardolino, which stands on the shores of Lake Garda.

Oil has been extracted on the coast of the lake for 2000 years: people began to cultivate olive trees among the first. The museum in 9 halls presents the entire process of extracting oil from olives from antiquity to the present day. But what tourists like most is that in the museum they can finally understand the intricacies of the taste of different varieties of olive oil - there is a tasting room here, and they also sell cosmetics with the addition of olive oil.

And we also have

1. Where to stay. We chose the town of Desenzano del Garda to stay because there is a train station there. There is also a station in the neighboring town of Peschiera del Garda, but based on reviews and photographs, I liked Desenzano more. Although it is more convenient to get from Peschiera to the Gardaland and Movieland amusement parks, there are free shuttle buses from the railway station.

Text and photo Lyudmila SERGEEVA

2. How to get there. We flew to Verona, took tickets for a direct flight with S7 airlines. If you take a non-refundable fare with cabin-sized luggage, you can save a lot. We took tickets at a refundable rate and normal luggage of 23 kg, plus hand luggage of 10 kg, but we chose departure on weekdays, it was cheaper. There is a shuttle bus from Verona Airport to the train and bus station. The ticket costs 6 euros, you can buy it in advance on the bus company’s website, luggage is included in the price, and there is a special compartment on the bus. There is an ATV ticket office in the airport and train station buildings. At the station we took tickets for the regional train to Desenzano, the cost of a one-way ticket was 4.40 euros. Tickets can be purchased from a machine or ticket office, payment by card or cash. There were machines that only accepted cards for payment. The train schedule can be viewed on the website. There are delays. The platforms in Verona and Desenzano are equipped with elevators and special paths for transporting wheeled suitcases. The landlady met us in Desenzano by car, but from the station you can get to the desired location by taxi or by local bus, if necessary.

3. Visa. The application was issued only to my mother through the Italy Visa Application Center; for residents of Moscow and the surrounding Moscow region this is not difficult. We made an appointment on the website, filled out a form there, and collected documents from the list. The visa was ready in three days.

4. Accommodation. We booked an apartment on the airbnb website, used this source for the first time, and we liked it. We were pleased with the housing - the location, the furnishings, and the comfort. From our accommodation it was convenient to get to the station, shops, the city center and the lake; the beaches were further away. If you choose housing near the beach, then it will be a long way to get to train stations - bus and railway, and large shops, it’s not close on foot, you need a car or a local bus.

5. Nutrition. Since we had our own kitchen, we cooked ourselves and bought food in the Italmarkt and U2 supermarkets - the latter is located in the La Vele shopping center. These stores were not far from our apartment, and there are several other large and small stores in the city. On Thursday there was a small food market in Piazza Garibaldi not far from our apartments, and on Tuesdays there is a large market in the Old Town, during which time public transport is closed on the embankment. There is also a large shopping center called La Leone, which is served by a free shuttle bus throughout the day. The city has a lot of different restaurants, cafes, snack bars, pizzerias for every taste and budget. We went to the Vivaldi ice cream parlor in the Old Town and the Al Fattore pizzeria restaurant.

Food prices

· Espresso – 1 euro.
· Cappuccino – from 1.5 to 2.5 euros.
· Cake – from 1 euro.
· Ice cream – from 1.5 euros per scoop (flavor), we took a portion of three scoops (flavor) at Vivaldi for 2.5 euros.
· Pizza – you can buy a slice from 2 euros, a whole pizza in a cafe or restaurant – from 5 euros. At Al Fattore pizzeria we took the “Four Cheese” pizza for 8 euros.
· Piadina – flatbread with filling – from 4 euros.
· Two pieces of fried fish at the market – 6.5 euros.
· Cherries on the market – 4.5 euros per kg.

Prices in the supermarket for some products, special offers were often taken
· Liter of milk – 0.59-0.93 euros
· Packaging of Philadelphia cheese – 1.99 euros
· Packaging of Gorgonzola cheese – 1.69 euros
· A pack of butter – 1.95 and 2.59 euros
· Hard cheese – 9 euros per kg
· A dozen eggs – 1.29 euros
· Red wine liter in a bag – 0.99 euros
· Assorted white bread – 2.99 euros per kg
· Macaroons – 0.99 euros
· Can of beer 0.5 – 0.45 and 0.58 euros
· Packaging of strawberries 250 grams – 1.98 euros
· Sliced ​​prosciutto – 2.39 euros
· Smoked sausage packaging – from 3 euros
· Tomatoes – from 1 euro per kg
· Large shrimp – 12 euros per kg

6. Attractions and entertainment. The city has several interesting ancient sites - a castle, a cathedral, ancient palaces, an old port, a Roman villa, and an archaeological museum. Various entertainment and sporting events are held, especially in summer. For example, since June, every Wednesday the city hosts the White Night festival. All information about the events of the city, maps, bus schedules, booklets can be obtained at the tourist center, which is located in the historical building of the Todeschini Palace, next to the old harbor. There are discount cards Garda Promotions Card and Verona Welcome Card, I read about them in other reviews, there are discount coupons, for example, for boat tickets. But unfortunately, I was unable to get them; the information center advised me to contact the hotels, but since we lived in private apartments, these coupons were not available to us.

7. Beaches. There are three of them in the city - Desenzano Beach, Spiaggia d'Oro and Porta Rivoltella Beach. We went to the first one and liked it the most. On the beach there is a cafe, pizzeria, free shower and toilet, wifi. You can rent a sunbed and an umbrella, or sit down with your towel in the free area, there is enough space for everyone, I’m talking about the month of June.

8. Public transport. We took the train to Peschiera del Garda to change buses to Malcesine, Verona and Milan. You can go directly to Brescia, and with transfers to Turin, Bergamo, Venice, Mantua. The bus station is next to the train station, but some routes have a stop at the port in the old town. But on Tuesdays it does not work, since public transport in that area is blocked during the market. We also traveled by bus to Sirmione, SalO, Gardone Riviera. Bus tickets in Desenzano were bought at tobacco kiosks; in Peschiera they used a special machine; you can also buy tickets from the driver. From Desenzano to the north of the lake there is a direct bus to Riva along the western coast of Garda. To drive along the eastern shore of the lake, you need to get to Peschierre and change trains. You can view bus schedules, where the websites of four bus companies are collected. It is important to pay attention to the abbreviations indicated in the schedule columns to understand when the bus runs.

FER6 (ferile)- on weekdays, including Saturday (FER5, respectively, excluding),
FEST (festivo)- on holidays and Sundays,
INV (Scol)- school time, “winter”,
EST (Fns)– school holidays, “summer”
ANN- daily, off-season.

Ticket prices
Train Desenzano – Verona – Desenzano – 8.80 euros
Train Desenzano - Milan - Desenzano - 18.40 euros
Train Desenzano - Peschiera - Desenzano - 4.40 euros.
Bus Desenzano – SalO – Desenzano – 6 euros
Bus Desenzano – Gardone – Desenzano – 7.5 euros
Bus Desenzano – Sirmione – Desenzano – 3.80 euros
Bus Peschiera – MalcesIne – Peschiera – 9.20 euros

9. Ships- another way to see how to get around the different towns of the lake, pleasant in good weather, but more expensive and slower (even if it is a high-speed boat) compared to the bus (although some buses stop at each pillar “on demand”). Schedules, routes, ticket prices can be viewed. We took a boat ride only once - when we were returning from Sirmione to Desenzano, instead of taking a bus, to get an idea of ​​these boats. The walk was short, but pleasant. And on this section of the route, unlike the bus, there were no intermediate stops. One ticket for a regular boat from Sirmione to Desenzano costs 3 euros.

10. What we visited in other towns on Garda:

Sirmione - Terme Sirmione - took the AQUARIA SHORT WEEKDAYS ticket, costs 15 euros, session 1.5 hours.

Palace of Maria Callas, where they watched a photo exhibition dedicated to the Mille Miglia motor rally ("Mille Miglia", "A Thousand Miles") completely free of charge.

Gardone Riviera - Andre Heller Botanical Garden, entrance ticket 11 euros.

Malcesine - we climbed Monte Baldo - a funicular ticket for me was 20 euros, for my mother, upon presentation of a copy of my passport, they sold it for 15 euros.

The routes for Verona and Milan were standard, from guidebooks.

Verona: City Museum of Castelvecchio – Piazza Bra – Arena Verona – Piazza Erbe – Juliet’s House – Verona Cathedral – Pietro’s Bridge – Observation Deck.

Milan: Via Monte Napoleone - Corso Vittorio Emanuele II - Galleria Vittorio Emanuele - Teatro Alla Scala - Duomo di Milano - Castello Sforzesco - Parco Sempione.

A few weeks ago we took a small but eventful trip. Without planning anything, without booking a hotel, without looking at the list of places we want to see, on Saturday morning we got into the car and drove to Garda, stopping wherever we wanted.
Definitely a great trip! In two days we saw so many beautiful places, drove for so long along the road with views of the mountains and the lake, that in the end we even got a little tired of the beauty. Everything needs to be in moderation :)

Some useful information:
There are several ways to get from Verona to Garda:
1) by bus from Verona, but it only goes along the eastern side of the lake (route Garda-Malcesine-Riva del Garda). I wrote a separate post about Malcesine and once again I note that the town is very beautiful.
2) by train to Peschiera del Garda and there you can get, for example, to Sirmione or another town by bus or train. If you need it in Sirmione, then you can take the direct bus “Verona-Brescia”
3) and, of course, a car and then you can go around the whole of Garda, and along the way you can also look at Lake Tenno (which is what we did)

Today I would just like to briefly tell you a little about the trip, show a few photos (I’m kidding, in fact there are a lot due to the fact that I simply can’t show enough photos).

We made our first stop in a town that has the same name as the lake itself.

The embankment, in principle, like the whole of Garda, is filled with tourists from Germany, and, to a greater extent, older people. There, tourists are not in a hurry, they don’t take hundreds of photos (it seemed like I was the only one) and you don’t see selfie sticks very often. The lake sets you up for a calm, measured holiday. We didn't stay there for long: about 30 minutes at most. That day the weather was changeable and there was a thunderstorm, so we hurried back to the car.

After visiting a few more places, we decided to stop for lunch at a German bistro restaurant . They cook incredibly tasty ribs there, but like many places on Garda you can only get there by car. Besides the delicious food, the restaurant's outdoor area is nothing short of amazing, with a fairytale house at the entrance, hedges of roses that decorate your meal, and just a beautiful view. There is a separate large playground for children.

After lunch, we firmly decided to continue on our way to Lake Tenno without stopping (which I would like to talk about separately), but literally 10 minutes later we stopped opposite an empty shore, with a pier and boats. Initially, our stop should take about 5 minutes, just to just look around. It turned out that just looking around is not enough. But sit on the pier, watching a lonely boat in the middle of the lake, dream about fishing, jump on rocks, soak your feet in the water and get stuck for a whole hour just looking left and right (don’t forget that there is beauty everywhere you look), in general , very much even enough.

It was sweet and unexpected to meet swans every time. It seemed that they decided to go around (in their case, swim around) the lake with us.

And here are the boats that will take you from one shore to the other. I would like to note that they are not cheap. A one-way ticket will cost around 9 euros, and the sail will take 5-10 minutes.

After our hour of doing nothing, we decided that we still needed to do something and went for ice cream, despite the fact that it was already hard to breathe after a hearty lunch.
Just a couple of minutes later we realized that this was a very right decision! You can't miss such views and such a charming town called Riva del Garda.

There is plenty of parking in Riva del Garda. You need to keep in mind that in Italy blue markings mean that parking is paid. In addition to the fact that it is paid, check the permitted parking time. You can easily find a parking lot where parking is allowed only from 12 at night. You, of course, can park your car at another time, but the Italian carabinieri supplement the city budget quite well through fines in the sense that they issue them very quickly.
If you suddenly see white markings, then, as a rule, such parking is free. There is also a shopping center in Riva del Garda where parking is free for the first two hours.

The lake is intended exclusively for tourists. Prices there are high: starting from food in supermarkets (a pack of coffee is 2-4 euros more expensive than in a regular store in Verona, cherries for 7 euros per kg, latte macchiato in a bar from 3.5 euros, and in the center of Verona you can easily find it for 1.5 -2) and ending with prices for hotels or apartments on airbnb.
If you are going to Garda not with the sole purpose of swimming (and I think that your goal will still not be to swim in cool water), then I would advise going in the following period: April-early June, September-October. Hotel prices drop by about 70-100 euros!
We booked accommodation during our lunch at a German restaurant and managed to find a room with a lake view including a good breakfast for around 80 euros. But there are a couple of points:
1) you can’t get to such a hotel without a car
2) there are no bars, restaurants, etc. You have to go by car to have dinner.
3) inside the room is nothing special
4) in July-August the same number cost 170 euros! I wasn’t lazy and took a look. The difference is obvious.

I didn't expect such a good breakfast at the hotel. Italians love to offer their guests their traditional breakfast in the form of brioche (croissants) and coffee. But, apparently, since the main flow of tourists in Garda is from Germany, the breakfast was good: scrambled eggs, bacon, prosciutto, muesli, cereal, cheeses, juices, fruits, fresh incredibly tasty croissants, etc.

Our view from the room! In the morning we woke up to the sound of waves (and there are waves on the garda), the chirping of birds and, unfortunately, the howling of a cold wind. Despite the not at all hot weather, early in the morning it was already possible to watch how surfers conquered the lake.
I think it’s worth finishing my already long story for now, but I hope that soon I will share with you description of two places that I would like to talk about separately.

Countless tourists flock to Italy just to look at the historical beauties of Rome and Florence. If you turn your attention a little further north, you can unexpectedly discover a beautiful region of mountain lakes that are worthy of a separate trip. For example, Lake Garda.

Now we will analyze in detail the holiday on this largest lake in northern Italy, we will work on issues of transport accessibility, attractions and features of the holiday.

It’s probably worth starting with this lake – Lado di Garda, since it is the largest lake (370 km2) in the northern part of Italy. It borders three regions at once - Trentino-Alto Alige, Veneto and Lombardi. The northern narrow part of the lake goes deep between two mountain ranges, which is why the landscapes here are somewhat reminiscent of the Norwegian fjords.

To begin with, I would like to suggest watching a video about a vacation on Lake Garda from my favorite channel “How are we doing there” (there are only 3 videos in the series, if you like it, look for the continuation):

Lago di Garda is located right in the middle between Milan and Venice, so it would be wise to stop here for swimming and sunbathing if you plan to travel between these cities. Nearest major city - Verona– located 40 km from the town of Garda. There is a very well-developed bus connection between them, so renting a car to get here is not at all necessary.

How to get to Lake Garda

The closest international airport to the lake is in Verona, so if the purpose of your trip is the lake, it would be wiser to fly to Verona. A ticket for the S7 plane Moscow – Verona at the end of August will cost 6,600 rubles. without luggage and 8700 rub. with luggage.

The distance from Verona to the nearest towns on the coast is about 30-40 km. But in order to plot the exact route, first decide which part of the lake you want to stop at and whether you want to go inland to see up close the shaggy mountains that start right from the shore. We will consider several route options.

Cities on Lake Garda

There are many picturesque towns around Lake Garda, and each of them has something to offer tourists. We will tell you about several cities that are the most popular among travelers and the most convenient in terms of transport accessibility.

Peschiera

How to get to Peschiera del Garda

From Verona: A train runs from Verona Central Station to Peschiera del Garda station several times an hour, travel time is 15 minutes, cost is 3.35 €.

From Milan: You can also arrive by direct train from Milan. Travel time is 1.5 hours, cost of the trip is 10.50 €.

Attractions of Peschiera

Peschiera del Garda is a charming town on the southern shore of the lake, and of all the above-mentioned towns it is closest to Verona. The central part of the town will appeal to lovers of nightlife - there are many cafes and restaurants that are quite crowded in the evenings.

Despite the fact that the city is very small (10 thousand people), there are also interesting sights here, for example, the old fortress, where military operations took place during the Austro-Italian War in 1848 - it is quite gloomy, but interesting from a historical point of view place. For one thing you can look at Porto Verona gate, which are almost 500 years old, or church Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Martino Vescovo.

Peschiera is an ideal destination if you are traveling with children, as Gardaland amusement park is nearby.

Gardaland

The Gardaland amusement park is located 2.7 km from the Peschiera del Garda railway station. This is one of the largest amusement parks in Europe, which secretly claims to be called “Italian Disneyland”. There really is a huge amount of entertainment here - a variety of attractions, slides and an aquarium. The area of ​​the amusement park itself is about 200,000 m2. It would be a great idea to go here with your children.

The photo shows a huge Blue Tornado slide:

The easiest way to get to the Gardaland amusement park from Verona is through Peschiera. Next, we take bus 164 near the Peschiera del Garda railway station and get off after one stop.

There is a shuttle from Peschiera del Garda station to Gardaland, free for hotel guests in the amusement park.

Check the website for current prices. There are family tickets to the park and aquarium at a discounted price of 33 € per person.

If you want to stay longer and try out all the attractions, for which one day, of course, is not enough, it is better to stay at the Gardaland Resort Hotel or Gardaland Adventure Hotel. If you book through Booking, a night in the first will cost from 138 €, in the second – from 155 € (prices at the beginning of September) for a double room. The second hotel will be most interesting for children - each room is themed in the style of the jungle, Arabian night, Arctic, etc.

If you are still in doubt, take a look at the map of Gardaland - there is definitely enough entertainment for everyone.

Address: Via Derna, 4, 37014 Castelnuovo del Garda VR, Italy

They also offer a variety of wellness treatments, including inhalations, massages, wraps, etc.

There are also several hotels in Sirmione with their own small thermal spa centers - Grand Hotel Terme, Hotel Sirmione, Hotel Fonte Boiola.

Working hours: July-August from 9 to 24, September-December - Mon-Wed, Sun - from 9 to 22, Thu - from 11 to 24, Fri-Sat - 9 to 24. The website also indicates the busiest hours, when the center is the busiest number of visitors.

Addresses: Terme Virgilio - Piazza Virgilio, 2 25019 Colombare di Sirmione, Terme Catullo - P.zza Don A. Piatti, 1 25019 Sirmione, Aquaria - P.zza Don A. Piatti, 1 25019 Sirmione.

Desenzano

How to get to Desenzano

Desenzano is also located on the southern coast of the lake and is adjacent to the cities of Sirmione and Peschiera, the latter is only 15 km away, there is a regular train, travel time is 8 minutes. You can also get to Desenzano from Verona - by train the journey takes 25 minutes, ticket 4 € (Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione station). As mentioned above, there is also a train service from Milan.

What to see in Desenzano

Despite the fact that Desenzano also has many historical attractions, for tourists the most interesting thing in Desenzano is, of course, the beaches. There are two of them here - Desenzano beach And Rivoltella beach.

The first one is located near the historical center and can even be seen standing at the port of Porto Vecchio. Since the beach is located near the center, it can be very crowded during the season, keep this in mind. The beach is pebble. There are toilets and a cafe on site, and you can rent a boat. The beach itself is free.

The second beach – Rivotella Beach – is located much further from the center (3 km from the railway station) closer to the town of Rivotella. You can walk, or you can take bus 22 right at the station and for 1.90 € (1.5 hour ticket) and 10 minutes get to the Rivotella Bar Serenissima stop right by the beach.

There are also several bars and cafes, amenities, and you can rent a boat. There are two small volleyball fields.

In the same area there are several hotels with access to the beach - Hotel Acquaviva del Garda or Admiral Hotel Villa Erme. On the map you can look for other hotels with a beach along the coast.

Garda

On the western coast of the lake, also near Verona, is the city of Garda. In itself, it is a very small city - the population is only 4 thousand people. There are wonderful panoramic views here, but there are no large beaches or attractions, so most often tourists come to this city to make a transfer and go further to Malcesine and other northern cities.

However, there is where to swim - along the clean and beautiful embankment Passeggiata Rivalunga There are several descents into the water, nearby there are several cafes and places for sun loungers.

How to get to the city of Garda

The easiest way from Verona will get to the town of Garda by bus 185 (50 minutes) or 163 (1 hour 15 minutes) for 4 € (tariff zone 5, ticket valid for 120 minutes). The ticket can be bought at the ticket office at Porto Nuova and Garda stations or online. There are three buses back – 163, 164, 185.

Buses depart from the central bus station Verona Stazione Fs - B3, which is located 300 meters from the Porto Nuova train station. The final stop is at the bus station in the center of Garda, there are hotels and supermarkets nearby, and the embankment is 300 m away.

You can also get here and from Milan: we take the train to Peschiera, and then change to bus 483.

Malcesine

How to get to Malcesine

Option one - take the above-mentioned LN026 at the bus station in Verona or take the train to Peschiera and at the Peschiera Porto bus stop change to bus 483.

Option two is to first get to the city of Garda by bus 185, from there take bus 484 to Malcesine.

Whichever option you choose, the travel time will be almost the same. The cost of the trip will be about 9€.

Attractions Malcesine

Due to the geographical features of the place, there are very few sections of the coast suitable for a beach. However, this fact is more than compensated by the picturesque views of the old Italian town against the backdrop of green mountains, the peaks of which disappear into the haze of clouds. If you are more interested in a mountain holiday than a beach holiday, Malcesine is for you.

If you really want to swim, you can go to the northern part of the city - opposite the Ambient Hotel PrimaLuna there is a place suitable for swimming.

As for attractions and entertainment, it has its own Sculliger Castle and the remarkably preserved Palazzo dei Capitani (free admission).

But the most attractive place for tourists here is mountain Monte Baldo, where the funicular goes regularly. A ticket for the funicular costs 20€, for children under 18 years old - 8€. Detailed information can be found, tickets can be purchased online.

When is the best time to swim - weather and water temperature

The best time for swimming on the lake is the summer months; in August the water warms up to 27°. The water temperature in September is already lower – a maximum of 22°.

The climate in the lake area is much milder than in neighboring areas, which sharply distinguishes Lago di Garda from other lakes. But the problem for those who like to swim is that the lake is replenished with cold water flowing from the mountain river Flume Sarca, which flows into the lake in its northern part in the city of Torbole. Therefore, if you are thinking about where it is better to swim, and if cold water is quite a significant problem for you, do not take risks and stop for a swim in the towns in the southern part of the lake, and you can go north just for beautiful views.