08:00
Manerba
- On the lake
- Nearest train: Desenzano del Garda, 10 km
- Ferry stop
- 5,377 residents
Good for FamiliesBeachesHikingStand-up paddlingKayakingCampingArchaeologyNature
Manerba del Garda is spread over several hamlets on the Valtenesi coast, and its landmark is the Rocca: a limestone headland topped by a cross and the ruins of a medieval castle, dropping in cliffs to the lake.
Since 2016 the Rocca, the Sasso cliffs and the surrounding shore have formed the 114-hectare Riserva Naturale della Rocca e del Sasso, with dry meadows, wild orchids and more than 60 bird species, plus an 84-hectare protected lake zone where motorboats and fishing are restricted.
The Museo Civico Archeologico della Valtenesi at the foot of the Rocca tells the story from the Bronze Age pile dwellings at San Sivino, part of a UNESCO site, to the medieval castle.
The coast is lined with beaches and small harbours, from Porto Dusano to Porto Torchio, where taxi boats cross to the Isola San Biagio. Many campsites make Manerba a favourite with families, swimmers, hikers and paddlers.
Events in Manerba5
Filter →Friday 2 October1
Sunday 4 October1
06:30
Friday 9 October1
08:00
Saturday 10 October1
09:30
Running all through1
24 Sept20:30
What to see
Rocca di Manerba
Cliff-edged headland with a summit cross, castle ruins and wide views over the southern lake, reached on footpaths through the nature reserve.
Riserva Naturale della Rocca e del Sasso
114-hectare reserve (since 2016) with five habitats, native orchids and over 60 bird species; CAI trail 801 runs from the church of San Giorgio to the Sasso cliffs.
Museo Civico Archeologico della Valtenesi
Two-floor museum with finds from the Bronze Age pile dwellings at San Sivino (UNESCO) and from the medieval castle on the Rocca.
Isola San Biagio (Isola dei Conigli)
Small island off Porto Torchio, reached by taxi boat or, when the water is low, on foot across the shallows; open in summer with an entry fee.
Porto Dusano
Old fishing harbour and ferry landing with a south-east-facing beach looking towards Sirmione and Monte Baldo.
Beaches
Spiaggia Dusano
Recently enlarged free beach without sunbed hire, next to the Porto Dusano harbour.
Spiaggia Pisenze
One of the Manerba beaches listed by the town's tourist office.
Spiaggia San Sivino, Scasöla, Zocco
Stretch of shore below the Rocca, near the site of the San Sivino pile dwellings.
Spiaggia Romantica, Torchio e Porto Torchio
Beaches around Porto Torchio, where the taxi boats to Isola San Biagio leave.
Getting there and around
- By car
- By car, leave the A4 at Desenzano and follow signs via Padenghe and Moniga; from the Brenner (A22) the exits are Rovereto Sud or Affi.
- Train and bus
- The nearest station is Desenzano del Garda, where Arriva buses leave from Via Masaccio just outside; the R-Link RL204 Desenzano–Salò runs every 30 minutes, and lines LN007 and LN009 also serve Manerba. Verona airport is about 50 km away.
- By boat
- Summer stop at Porto Dusano with a few boats a day towards Sirmione, Desenzano and Peschiera and across to Lazise and Salò.
- Parking
- For Spiaggia Dusano there is paid parking on Via Torquato Tasso and on the Porto Dusano square; in high season arrive early, as spaces fill up.
Things to do in Manerba8
Cantina Avanzi
Wine tasting
Family winery and oil mill since 1931 offering 90-minute tours of the cellar and tunnels with a seated tasting of three wines.
Tour and tasting €20 pp (90 min)
Diving Center Sivinos
Diving, Stand-up paddle, Kayak & canoe
SSI dive centre at the San Sivino glamping site offering courses, guided dives on the San Sivino wall and Salò wrecks, and SUP, kayak and pedalo rental.
Season: Apr–Oct (daily mid-Jun to mid-Sep)
Garda Bike Center
E-bike rental, Mountain bike & rental
Manerba e-bike shop renting e-MTB, e-road and e-city bikes, with repairs and service.
E-MTB/e-road €50–65/day; e-city €35–45/day
Garda Boat
Boat rental
Self-drive boat rental in Manerba with a 40 HP licence-free boat and a 90 HP licensed boat.
Licence-free boat from €130; licensed boat from €170
Good Food Good Mood
Cooking classes
Hands-on Italian cooking classes, including homemade pasta, held in a country house among olive trees on Lake Garda near Manerba.
La Basia (Azienda Agricola)
Horse riding, Wine tasting
Farm, agriturismo and FISE-recognised riding centre in Puegnago in the Valtènesi hills, offering riding lessons and countryside rides and its own Garda Classico wines.
Pasini San Giovanni
Wine tasting
Organic family winery in Raffa di Puegnago, just inland of Manerba, offering cellar tours with Lugana, Chiaretto and Valtènesi tastings.
English tour and 3-wine tasting €20 pp
SUP Garda
Stand-up paddle, Kayak & canoe, Windsurfing, Yoga & wellness
SUP school on Pisenze beach in the Rocca di Manerba reserve offering SUP lessons and tours, windsurf, kayak rental and SUP yoga.
Manerba climate by month
| Month | Day | Night | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 1° | 7 | 48 mm |
| February | 11° | 3° | 7 | 65 mm |
| March | 14° | 5° | 9 | 66 mm |
| April | 18° | 9° | 10 | 90 mm |
| May | 21° | 13° | 17 | 161 mm |
| June | 27° | 19° | 11 | 104 mm |
| July | 29° | 21° | 11 | 103 mm |
| August | 29° | 21° | 10 | 114 mm |
| September | 24° | 17° | 10 | 120 mm |
| October | 19° | 13° | 10 | 108 mm |
| November | 13° | 7° | 10 | 104 mm |
| December | 9° | 3° | 7 | 71 mm |
Averages 2016–2025 from reanalysis data (Open-Meteo); a single year can differ a lot.
Questions visitors ask
How do you get to Isola San Biagio (Rabbit Island)?
Taxi boats leave from the Porto Torchio pier every 15–30 minutes, and when the lake is low you can wade across the shallow strait. The island is open roughly from 1 May to 15 September and charges an entry fee (€10 when checked in 2026).
Can you walk up the Rocca di Manerba?
Yes, footpaths cross the Riserva Naturale della Rocca e del Sasso to the summit cross and castle ruins, and CAI trail 801 continues from the church of San Giorgio to the Sasso cliffs. Motor vehicles are not allowed in the reserve.
Are dogs allowed on Manerba's beaches?
Not during the day in bathing season: at Spiaggia Dusano dogs are banned from 9:00 to 19:00 and allowed, supervised, from 19:00 to 9:00.
Nearby
Researched from: visitmanerba.it, visitmanerba.it, visitmanerba.it, visitmanerba.it, visitmanerba.it, visitmanerba.it · checked 2026-09-26.