I recently was staying in Verona and had the opportunity to spend a day exploring Lake Garda. This beautiful lake is a perfect getaway from the city and a great way to connect with nature. The top places most people visit on Lake Garda are Peschiera, Lazise, and Bardolino.

Getting There:

In my opinion, the best way to get to Lake Garda from Verona is by train. There are multiple stops around Lake Garda, but I got off at Peschiera del Garda. From here, I was able to walk downtown and find a bike to rent. To get around the towns and around the lake, it is very popular to rent a bike and ride around!

First Stop: Grab a bite to eat

When I arrived, I walked through the beautiful downtown of Peschiera del Garda, catching my first glimpse of the iconic Lake Garda. There are tons of restaurants and cafes in the area that you can checkout and grab a coffee, bite to eat, or have an aperitivo drink. I stopped at Feliz Cafe for a coffee and omelet to fuel me up for a day of exploring.

Second Stop: Rent a bike to get around

Biking is a popular means of transportation around Lake Garda, and you can rent a bike for just €10 all day. There are a ton of shops that will rent the bikes so you can just show up in town and walk around until you find one.

Third Stop: Sirmione

I had very limited time to explore Lake Garda, so I took my bike and rode 10km each way to Sirmione. Sirmione is a comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy, with its historic center located on the Sirmio peninsula in south Lake Garda. The Scaligero Castle is the main sight on the peninsula, acting as an access point to Sirmione. You can explore the fortress, eat at one of the restaurants, wander the shops, and even take a boat out onto the lake.

Alternate Ideas

Ride to Garda – I didn’t have a chance to bike this route, but the rental shop owner told me this is a more scenic route with view of the lake and less traffic. This is about an 18km ride one-way, so schedule at least half a day so you can take stops and enjoy the scenery. Garda is a less exciting destination than Sirmione, but the ride is nicer.

Get on a boat – This is something I would love to do when I come back, but I didn’t have a chance to get out on the lake during this visit. There are lots of options to rent boats or take tours that you can check out through Airbnb, TripAdvisor, or Get Your Guide.