I’m so excited to share today’s post about Lake Garda. Last fall, I had the opportunity to visit Italy, and my boyfriend and I decided to explore places we’d never been before. We started our trip in Lake Como and then decided to venture to Lake Garda next. This guide includes everything about our experience and what to expect if you choose to visit.
Let’s get started!
Where Is Lake Garda?
Lake Garda is about three hours east of Lake Como—and it’s definitely a great option if you’re looking to experience the beauty of Italy’s freshwater lakes without the busyness and expense of Lake Como. The lake lies between the Garda Mountains, which are part of the Southern Limestone Alps in Northern Italy.
My boyfriend and I didn’t know much about Lake Garda, but once we saw pictures before booking our stay, we knew we had to go! The area’s beauty is impossible to capture in photos, though, so I hope the ones I’ve included in this blog post give you a good idea of what to expect!
Where to Stay
We chose to stay in Gargnano, which is located on the western shore of Lake Garda. More specifically, we stayed in Zuino, which to my fellow Americans would be like a suburb of a metro area. It was a really quaint place to stay, surrounded by stone-rustico homes and panoramic views of the lake. As I mentioned, we went into this trip knowing little to nothing about the area, but I’m so happy with our choice.
Our Airbnb was absolutely stunning. It truly felt like something out of a movie—plus, it made the rainy, misty days even cozier. Keep in mind that if you stay outside of the town of Gargnano in a more residential area like we did, it is NOT walkable. Don’t get me wrong, you can try, but the roads are very narrow and there are no sidewalks, so it’s just not safe. We rented a car and used it daily to get around, so keep that in mind if you’re thinking about booking a stay in this area!
What to Do
Back on the subject of renting a car, we wanted a convertible for this trip because we knew how often we’d be using the car and wanted to travel in style. One of the first things we did in Lake Garda was drive up the narrow, winding roads with the top down. We saw these enormous mountains all around us—it was such a surreal experience! And yes, I was white-knuckling it as the passenger the entire time! When I say the roads are narrow, I mean it. There are lots of blind corners, so if you do rent a car, make sure to choose the driver who’s most comfortable with that information!
Even though it was a bit misty during our time in Lake Garda, we made the most of it by going on a couple of picturesque hikes. We hiked the trails closest to Zuino, stopping for an Aperol Spritz at the roadside restaurants we stumbled upon along the way.
This was one of the first trips I’ve ever been on where I really just lived in the moment and embraced every opportunity that came our way—less planning, more enjoying the moment. Many of the trails we hiked were lined with olive trees. It was such a memorable experience that I even got an olive branch tattoo to commemorate the hikes!
Outside of hiking, we spent a lot of time walking around Gargnano. It’s not really a “shopping” destination, so the extent of my shopping was done in the pharmacy. Keep in mind that they take siesta very seriously here—nearly everything was closed from 12 to 3 p.m. every day, so if you needed something, you had to get it early or late!
We also took a day trip to Riva del Garda, which I’d say is the biggest tourist attraction in the area. It was by far the busiest place we visited. We walked around the city center, got a drink, and had a really yummy lunch with LOTS of delicious charcuterie. This part of Italy is known for its lemons, so you’ll see lemons emblazoned on just about everything.
Where to Eat
Gargnano had some of the best food we experienced on the trip. The area is known for dishes that incorporate fish from the lake, olive oil, and lemons, of course! One question people asked me when we got back was how difficult it was to find gluten-free options there. To be honest, I never had any issues finding food I could eat, and I never once had a stomachache from anything I ate there. They were really mindful of cross-contamination too, so if you also have a gluten allergy, just know that I had a great experience on this trip overall!
Here are my favorite restaurants we frequently visited during our four days in Lake Garda:
Well, that’s all I have for you! If you’re planning a trip to Italy, I highly recommend a pit-stop in Lake Garda—you won’t be disappointed!
Until next time!
