Lake Garda towns, shore by shore
All 29 towns around Lake Garda with what’s on and what to do in each — from Riva and Torbole in the north to Sirmione and Desenzano in the south.
North shore
Riva del Garda
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 17,787 residents
Trentino's lake capital at the northern tip: sailing and windsurf clubs, the Ponale trail to Ledro, lakefront promenade and a busy base for bike and climbing trips.
Arco
- Inland
- 17,750 residents
Inland from Riva in the Sarca valley: a world-famous sport-climbing destination (Rock Master festival, hundreds of crags), via ferratas, MTB trails and a castle above a spa-town old centre.
Nago-Torbole
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,788 residents
Torbole is Europe's classic windsurf village: a row of surf, wing and sailing schools on the beach at the mouth of the Sarca, plus MTB and climbing on Monte Baldo's northern flank.
Tenno
- Inland
- 2,002 residents
Hill village above Riva with the turquoise Lago di Tenno, the medieval hamlet of Canale and the Cascata del Varone waterfall at its foot.
Ledro
- Inland
- 5,317 residents
Valley and lake above Riva (reached via the Ponale trail) with beaches, SUP and kayak, a pile-dwelling museum and MTB/hiking toward Tremalzo.
Dro
- Inland
- 5,009 residents
Sarca-valley village north of Arco with the Marocche rock-slide landscape, crags, the Sarca river for canoeing and access to Lago di Cavedine.
East shore
Malcesine
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 3,603 residents
Scaliger castle town at the foot of Monte Baldo: rotating cable car to 1,760 m, tandem paragliding, Baldo hiking and downhill MTB, and windsurf/wing centres on the lake.
Brenzone
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,451 residents
A string of quiet hamlets (Magugnano, Porto, Castelletto, Assenza) below Monte Baldo with pebble beaches, windsurf spots and mule-track hikes to old villages.
Torri del Benaco
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,927 residents
Scaliger castle and harbour town, terminal of the car ferry to Maderno, with rock-carving trails, diving sites and small beaches.
Garda
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 4,143 residents
The town that gave the lake its name: a bay-side promenade, Punta San Vigilio and Baia delle Sirene beach, Rocca di Garda hike and plenty of boat and bike hire.
Bardolino
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 6,919 residents
Wine town of the eponymous red and Chiaretto rosé: wineries, wine museum and the autumn Festa dell'Uva, lakeside cycle path and beaches.
Lazise
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 6,852 residents
Walled harbour town on the south-east shore, next to Movieland, Caneva Aquapark and the Terme di Colà thermal park; many campsites and beaches.
Costermano
- Inland
- 3,974 residents
Hill village above Garda with the Ca' degli Ulivi golf club at Marciaga, horse riding and olive-grove walks.
South shore
Peschiera del Garda
- On the lake
- Train station
- Ferry stop
- 10,961 residents
UNESCO-listed Venetian fortress town where the Mincio leaves the lake; start of the Peschiera–Mantova cycle path, railway station and close to Gardaland.
Sirmione
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 8,248 residents
Peninsula old town with the Scaliger castle, Grotte di Catullo, Aquaria thermal spa, Jamaica Beach rock slabs and boat trips round the point.
Desenzano del Garda
- On the lake
- Train station
- Ferry stop
- 29,106 residents
Largest town on the lake: old harbour, nightlife, ferry hub and main railway station, lidos and sailing (Fraglia Vela Desenzano).
Castelnuovo del Garda
- Inland
- 13,184 residents
Home of Gardaland, Italy's biggest theme park, and Custoza wine hills just south of the lake.
Valeggio sul Mincio
- Inland
- 15,943 residents
Mincio-valley town of tortellini, the medieval mill hamlet of Borghetto and Parco Giardino Sigurtà, on the Peschiera–Mantova cycle path.
West shore
Padenghe
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 4,828 residents
Valtenesi village with a castle, a large marina and pebble beaches, close to the Gardagolf course.
Moniga
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,614 residents
Valtenesi village known for Chiaretto rosé wineries, a medieval castle-village and a small harbour with beaches.
Manerba
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 5,377 residents
Rocca di Manerba nature reserve, clear-water beaches (Porto Dusano, Pieve Vecchia) and SUP/kayak trips to Isola San Biagio; many campsites.
San Felice del Benaco
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 3,461 residents
Portese harbour and the Isola del Garda boat trips; quiet beaches and Valtenesi wine country.
Salò
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 10,417 residents
Elegant gulf town with the lake's longest promenade, rowing and sailing clubs, boat hire and a lively old centre.
Gardone Riviera
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,626 residents
Belle-époque resort of the Vittoriale (D'Annunzio's estate) and the Heller botanical garden, with lidos and hiking into the Alto Garda park.
Toscolano-Maderno
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 7,546 residents
Maderno's car-ferry pier to Torri, long beaches, the paper-mill valley hike and the Bogliaco golf club nearby.
Gargnano
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,680 residents
Lemon-house village and home of the Centomiglia regatta (Circolo Vela Gargnano); olive groves and hiking into the Alto Garda park.
Tignale
- Above the lake
- Ferry stop
- 1,154 residents
Plateau villages high above the west shore with the Montecastello sanctuary viewpoint, hiking and MTB in the Alto Garda Bresciano park.
Tremosine
- Above the lake
- Ferry stop
- 2,066 residents
Cliff-top plateau reached by the Strada della Forra gorge road, with hamlet Campione del Garda below: the lake's main kitesurf spot and a sailing centre (Univela).
Limone sul Garda
- On the lake
- Ferry stop
- 1,130 residents
Lemon-house village below sheer cliffs, the cantilevered Garda by Bike cycle path, MTB routes up to Tremalzo and boat trips across to Malcesine.