Italy / Milan, Turin, the Lakes & Verona / Lake Garda (Sirmione)Lake Garda (Sirmione)
Italy's Biggest Lake: Castles, Lemon Gardens and Ferries
Italy's largest lake, between Milan and Verona: Sirmione on its peninsula with the Scaliger castle and the Roman Grotte di Catullo, Malcesine's cable car up Monte Baldo, Limone's lemon houses, and the Gardaland theme park for families. Trains stop at Desenzano and Peschiera, 10-20 minutes from Sirmione. Easy as a stop between Milan and Verona or Venice.
Highlights
- Sirmione's Scaliger Castle
- Grotte di Catullo Roman villa
- Monte Baldo cable car from Malcesine
- Lake cruise to Limone
- Gardaland with children
- Thermal spa in Sirmione
Things to do
- Sirmione castle and Grotte di CatulloMorning · 3h
- Ferry cruise to Malcesine and LimoneMorning · 6h
- Monte Baldo cable carAfternoon · 3h
- Gardaland theme parkApr–OctMorning · 7h
- Thermal spa afternoonAfternoon · 3h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – October
Worth knowing
August Peak: Italians on Holiday
August, and the week of Ferragosto (15 August) above all, is the busiest time on the coasts, lakes and islands: rooms cost the most of the year and sell out, beaches and beach clubs fill, ferries and trains to the coast are booked solid, and roads jam. Book rooms, ferries and trains months ahead, or come in June or September.
- Arena di Verona Opera Festival — Open-air opera (Aida, Carmen, Turandot and others) in the 2,000-year-old Roman arena, from June to early September, starting after 21:00. Stone-step seats are cheap; book the numbered seats months ahead, and take a cushion and water.
- Ferragosto — The Assumption holiday and the peak of the Italian summer holiday: beaches, lakes and islands are at their fullest and dearest, many city shops and restaurants close for the week either side, and there are fireworks and beach parties on the coast. Book everything well ahead.