—All day
Sirmione
- On the lake
- Nearest train: Desenzano del Garda, 7 km
- Ferry stop
- 8,248 residents
Good for Thermal spaHistorySwimmingCouplesWineDay trips
Sirmione sits on a narrow peninsula that runs about 4 km into the southern end of Lake Garda, splitting the shore in two.
The old town fills the tip: you cross the moat beside the Castello Scaligero, a Scaliger fortress with a walled dock for boats, and lanes lead on past Santa Maria Maggiore to olive groves and the remains of a large Roman villa known as the Grotte di Catullo. Car access stops at the castle, so most visitors park at Piazzale Monte Baldo and walk in.
Sulphurous thermal water rises from a spring beneath the lake and supplies the town's spas, including the Aquaria SPA & Thermal Garden in the centre. For swimming, the limestone slabs of Spiaggia Giamaica lie below the Roman ruins, and lidos such as Lido delle Bionde and Lido Galeazzi line the peninsula.
The rest of the municipality, Colombare, Lugana and Rovizza, is flatter and lies in the Lugana DOC white-wine area. Sirmione suits day-trippers, spa guests and couples.
Events in Sirmione34
Filter →Today · Sunday 27 September1
Monday 28 September2
08:30
20:30
Tuesday 29 September1
14:30
Friday 2 October2
08:00
20:45
Saturday 3 October1
20:45
Sunday 4 October1
21:00
Monday 5 October1
08:30
Tuesday 6 October1
14:30
Thursday 8 October1
20:00
Friday 9 October2
08:00
20:45
Saturday 10 October2
09:30
18:30
Sunday 11 October2
09:00
10:00
Monday 12 October1
—All day
Thursday 15 October2
16:30
18:00
Running all through1
18 Jul
What to see
Castello Scaligero
The Scaliger moated castle at the entrance to the old town, with a fortified dock and a tall keep you can climb for views.
Grotte di Catullo
Remains of a Roman villa (late 1st century BC–1st century AD) covering the tip of the peninsula, with an archaeological museum opened in 1999.
San Pietro in Mavino
One of Sirmione's oldest churches, dating from the 8th century, on the hill between the town and the Roman villa.
Santa Maria Maggiore
The main church of the old town, a short walk from the castle.
Aquaria SPA & Thermal Garden
The Terme di Sirmione spa in the historic centre, over 10,000 m² of thermal pools, saunas and lake-view relaxation areas fed by the Boiola spring.
Beaches
Spiaggia Giamaica (Jamaica Beach)
Flat limestone slabs below the Grotte di Catullo, in full sun at midday.
Lido delle Bionde
An east-facing lido on the peninsula that catches the sunrise.
Spiaggia Brema
A west-side beach known for sunsets.
Lido Galeazzi
A public lido that also hosts water-sports events such as rowing races.
Getting there and around
- By car
- By car, leave the A4 at the Sirmione exit.
- Train and bus
- Sirmione has no railway station: the nearest are Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda on the Milan–Venice line, from where Arriva buses or taxis cover the last stretch. Navigazione Laghi boats link Sirmione with Desenzano, Peschiera and the rest of the lake; the nearest airport is Verona (Valerio Catullo).
- By boat
- Sirmione is one fare section from Desenzano on the Navigazione Laghi network; there is no car ferry, and bicycle carriage is limited here.
- Parking
- Vehicle access to the historic centre is restricted from the Castello Scaligero onwards. The main car park for the centre is Piazzale Monte Baldo; a car park at Colombare has a summer shuttle to the castle. Taxis may enter the restricted zone.
Things to do in Sirmione12
Aquaria Thermal SPA – Terme di Sirmione
Thermal spas, Yoga & wellness
Thermal spa in Sirmione's old town with sulphurous thermal-water pools, saunas and treatments.
Spa & saunas 5-hour entry from €58 (Fri–Sun)
Bertoldi Boats
Boat tours
Sirmione motorboat operator offering peninsula tours and private excursions on Lake Garda.
Ca' dei Frati
Wine tasting
Family winery in Lugana di Sirmione known for Lugana DOC white wines made from Turbiana.
Cascina Maddalena
Wine tasting
Lugana winery in Santa Maria di Lugana (Sirmione) in operation since 1924.
Garda Hotel San Vigilio Golf
Golf
27-hole golf resort with hotel and spa in the moraine hills of Pozzolengo, a short drive south of Sirmione.
E.T. Bike
E-bike rental, Mountain bike & rental
Bike shop in Sirmione selling and renting regular bikes and e-bikes.
Garda Rent Bikes
E-bike rental, Mountain bike & rental
E-bike and city-bike rental in Sirmione with hotel delivery and suggested cycling itineraries.
Garda Tours (Consorzio Motoscafisti Sirmione)
Boat tours, Boat rental
Sirmione motorboat cooperative running short scheduled peninsula tours from Piazza Carducci plus private tours and boat rental.
Peninsula tour about €10 pp (per search listing)
Lido delle Bionde
Beaches & lidos, Stand-up paddle, Kayak & canoe
Beach with bar and restaurant below the Grotte di Catullo, renting sunbeds, pedal boats, canoes and SUPs.
Sirmione Tour
Boat tours
Motorboat operator running boat tours of the Sirmione peninsula and the wider lake.
takeit.bike
E-bike rental, Mountain bike & rental
Sirmione rent shop with city bikes, children's bikes, child seats and e-bikes.
We Float Sirmione
Boat tours
Boat tour operator departing from Sirmione's Piazza Castello for peninsula and lake tours.
Sirmione climate by month
| Month | Day | Night | Rain days (≥1 mm) | Rain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 8° | 2° | 7 | 48 mm |
| February | 11° | 3° | 7 | 65 mm |
| March | 14° | 5° | 9 | 66 mm |
| April | 18° | 9° | 10 | 90 mm |
| May | 22° | 14° | 17 | 161 mm |
| June | 28° | 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
Is Sirmione's old town car-free?
Largely yes: vehicle access is restricted from the castle onwards, so visitors park at Piazzale Monte Baldo and walk; taxis and authorised vehicles can enter.
Is there a train station in Sirmione?
No. The nearest stations are Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda on the Milan–Venice line; continue by Arriva bus, taxi or boat.
Can you swim in Sirmione?
Yes, from Spiaggia Giamaica's rock slabs and lidos such as Lido delle Bionde, Lido Galeazzi and Spiaggia Brema. Dogs on a lead may swim at all Sirmione beaches.
Did the poet Catullus really live at the Grotte di Catullo?
Probably not. The villa was built after the poet's death; the name comes from 15th-century travellers who took the overgrown ruins for caves.
Nearby
Researched from: visitsirmione.com, visitsirmione.com, visitsirmione.com, visitsirmione.com, visitsirmione.com, visitsirmione.com · checked 2026-09-26.