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Scenic view of Lake Garda surrounded by the Italian Alps with lush greenery.

Northern tip · Trentino

Best Things to Do in Arco

A castle on a rock, Habsburg gardens and Italy's best sport climbing, ten minutes inland from the lake

Shore
Northern tip · Trentino
Best for
Climbers, cyclists, walkers, anyone who wants a town without the lakefront crowds
Best time
March–June, September–November
How long
1–2 days, a week if you climb

Arco does not sit on the lake, which is the first thing to understand about it. It lies 5 km up the flat Sarca valley behind Riva, in a bowl of limestone cliffs with a ruined castle stuck on a needle of rock in the middle. In the 1870s the Habsburgs turned it into a winter health resort, and the palm-lined avenues, the casino and the arboretum all date from then. Today the Belle Époque villas share the streets with climbing shops and cafes full of people in approach shoes, because the crags around the town are among the best-known in Europe.

We like it as a base for anyone who wants to climb, cycle or walk without paying lakefront prices, and as a half-day trip from Riva or Torbole for everyone else. The old streets are compact and a bit more Italian in feel than the towns on the water, the olive oil is good, and in winter it is one of the few places on the lake that stays fully open. This guide covers the castle, the crags and walks, where we eat, and the practical side of buses and parking.

Things to do in Arco

  1. Breathtaking view of a lake with majestic mountains under a cloudy sky.

    01 Sightseeing

    Climb up to the Castello di Arco

    • Path starts from Via Castello, behind the Collegiata church
    • 1.5–2 hours
    • €5 adults, €3.50 reduced, under-12s free

    The castle that Dürer painted in 1495 is still the shape you see from every street: a spine of walls and towers on a 120 m rock above the town. A paved path zigzags up from the old centre through olive groves in about 20 minutes, and inside there are ruined halls, a tower with a lookout over the whole valley to the lake, and a room of 14th-century frescoes showing knights and ladies playing board games. Open every day, with shorter hours in winter.

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  2. Go sport climbing at Massone or the Climbing Stadium – Arco

    02 Outdoors

    Go sport climbing at Massone or the Climbing Stadium

    • Massone crag, 3 km north; Climbing Stadium, Via Pomerio
    • Half a day
    • Guided half day €80–120 per person; gear hire €15–25

    Arco has hundreds of bolted routes within a short drive, from the roadside slabs at Massone, 3 km north, with dozens of easy grades in the shade, to the steep overhangs at Nago and Baone. Complete beginners can book a half-day with one of the guiding outfits in town, which supply shoes, harness and a patient instructor, while the Climbing Stadium on the edge of the centre has an outdoor competition wall and a bouldering area. Shops on Via Segantini rent and sell gear.

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  3. Wander the Arboreto and the Habsburg villas – Arco

    03 Family

    Wander the Arboreto and the Habsburg villas

    • Via Lomego, 5 min walk from Piazza III Novembre
    • 1 hour
    • Free

    Archduke Albert of Austria built his winter villa at Arco in the 1870s and planted its park with cedars, sequoias, palms, bamboo and citrus from all over the empire. The arboretum is now a free public garden with labelled trees, shaded gravel paths, lawns for children to run on and benches with a view up to the castle. Walk back along Viale delle Palme past the old Kurhaus and the casino to see what the resort looked like when the aristocracy came for the mild winters.

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  4. Scenic view of Lake Garda with surrounding mountains and lush green trees in the foreground.

    04 Outdoors

    Tackle the Colodri via ferrata and come down through Laghel

    • Start from Via Foci, north edge of the old town
    • 3 hours
    • Free; via ferrata kit hire €15–20

    The Sentiero Attrezzato Colodri climbs the cliff directly above the town on a cabled route with a few ladders, about 45 minutes of easy but exposed scrambling to the cross on the summit at 400 m with the lake glinting to the south. You need a helmet, harness and via ferrata set, all hireable in town. The descent is a gentle path down the Laghel valley past the little church of Santa Maria and a line of chapels back to the castle path. Route notes are in our pick of the best Lake Garda walks.

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  5. Cycle the Sarca valley to the Marocche di Dro – Arco

    05 Outdoors

    Cycle the Sarca valley to the Marocche di Dro

    • Path along the river below the old town; Marocche 8 km north
    • 2–3 hours
    • Bike hire €15–30 a day

    The traffic-free path along the Sarca river runs south from Arco to Riva del Garda in 7 km and north through vineyards and plum orchards to Dro, where the valley floor is covered by the Marocche, a field of house-sized boulders left by prehistoric landslides that looks like the surface of the moon. A signed loop through the reserve has boards on the geology and the dinosaur footprints found nearby. All flat, all easy for kids; more ideas in our pick of the best Lake Garda bike rides.

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  6. Walk the old quarries of Bosco Caproni – Arco

    06 Outdoors

    Walk the old quarries of Bosco Caproni

    • Start from Massone, 3 km north of Arco
    • 2 hours
    • Free

    Above the hamlet of Massone a marked path climbs through pine and holm oak woods to a set of abandoned 19th-century quarries, where the soft oolitic limestone was cut into blocks for the villas of Arco and Riva. The cathedral-sized galleries are open to walk into, First World War trenches run along the ridge, and the loop back down passes a scatter of stone sculptures left by artists’ workshops. It is shaded, quiet and rarely busy even in August.

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  7. 07 Food & wine

    Eat Trentino cooking in a palazzo courtyard at Alla Lega

    • Via Vergolano, old town
    • 1.5–2 hours
    • €30–45 a head with wine

    Arco eats like the mountains rather than the lake: canederli in broth, strangolapreti with sage butter, polenta with local cheeses and mushrooms, and carne salada with beans. Ristorante Alla Lega has served this in the arcaded courtyard of a 17th-century palazzo in the old town for decades and is where we take first-time visitors. There is good olive oil to buy too: the groves around Arco are the most northerly commercial ones in Italy and the Agraria cooperative in Riva sells the local pressing. See our pick of the best Lake Garda restaurants for more.

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  8. 08 Evening

    Have an aperitivo on Via Segantini

    • Via Segantini and Piazza III Novembre
    • 1–2 hours
    • €4–6 a drink

    Arco’s evenings are gentle. The bars along Via Segantini, the shopping street named after the painter who was born here, and around Piazza III Novembre fill from 6pm with climbers comparing skin damage and locals walking the dog, and a spritz or a glass of Trentodoc comes with enough snacks to spoil dinner. It is not a nightlife town; for that you head to Riva or the beach bars in Torbole, listed in our pick of the best Lake Garda bars.

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  9. Browse the Christmas market from late November – Arco

    09 Markets & shopping

    Browse the Christmas market from late November

    • Old town streets and Piazza III Novembre
    • 2 hours
    • Free entry

    Arco’s Mercatino di Natale is one of the biggest in Trentino and runs on weekends and holidays from around the 20th of November to early January, with wooden chalets through the old town selling carved toys, felt slippers, speck, strudel and mulled wine, plus a skating rink and a nativity trail. It is the one time of year the town is truly crowded, and it is an easy add-on to a winter walking or climbing trip because the crags stay dry and mild.

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  10. Watch the world's best at Rock Master – Arco

    10 Culture & history

    Watch the world's best at Rock Master

    • Climbing Stadium, Via Pomerio
    • An evening
    • Free to €15 depending on the session

    Since 1987 Arco has hosted Rock Master, the oldest invitational climbing competition in the world, at the Climbing Stadium on the edge of town. Over a weekend at the end of August or start of September the top lead, speed and boulder athletes compete under floodlights in front of a few thousand people, and the town fills with brand tents, film screenings and free try-out walls for children. Tickets for the finals are cheap and the atmosphere is like a small music festival.

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  11. Beautiful view of turquoise lake and rugged mountains in Italy, perfect for travel inspiration.

    11 Sightseeing

    Drive up the Valle dei Laghi to Castel Toblino

    • Sarche, 15 km north via the SS45bis
    • Half a day
    • Free; tastings €15–25

    Fifteen minutes north of Arco the road passes a string of small lakes, and at Sarche the 16th-century Castel Toblino sits on a spit in the water surrounded by cypresses, with a restaurant in the castle and a path around the shore. The valley is the home of Nosiola, Trentino’s white grape, and of Vino Santo, a sweet wine made from grapes dried until Easter; several family wineries around Sarche and Padergnone do tastings. We include one in our pick of the best Lake Garda vineyards.

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Our picks in Arco

Places in Arco that made our ranked Lake Garda guides.

Getting there

By car

We leave the A22 at Rovereto Sud / Lago di Garda Nord and follow the SS240 towards Riva (about 17 km), turning off for Arco after Nago; from Riva it is a ten-minute run up the flat Sarca valley. The old town is a ZTL, so we use the AMSA car parks around it: Foro Boario and Piazzale Carmellini cost €1.50 an hour, 08:00 to 21:00 daily, while the orange zone (Viale delle Magnolie by the Casinò, Largo Arciduca Alberto, Piazzale Schotten, Via Pomerio) is €1.50 an hour only 08:00–12:00 and 14:30–19:00 Monday to Saturday, first hour free from 1 October to 31 March. Rates rose from €1 in 2026.

By ferry

Arco has no pier. The nearest Navigazione Laghi stops are Riva del Garda and Torbole, a quarter of an hour away by bus or bike path, with boats on to Limone and Malcesine from mid-May to early October (none from early November to early March).

By bus and train

Rovereto station, on the Verona–Brennero line, is the railhead. Trentino Trasporti B332 runs roughly hourly from the station via Torbole and Riva to Arco bus station in about 55 minutes; Riva to Arco alone is about 12. B205 links Arco with Trento via Dro and Sarche, and urban lines 1, 2 and 3 loop between Riva, Varone, Arco, Torbole and Bolognano.

Checked against the operators’ own websites on 28 September 2026. Timetables and prices change every season: confirm times with Navigazione Laghi and the bus operator before you travel.

Good to know

Is Arco worth visiting?

Yes, especially as a half-day from the northern shore. The castle climb is the best short walk in the Riva area, the old town and arboretum are a pleasant contrast to the lakefront towns, and if you climb or cycle it is one of the best places in Europe. It is not on the water, though, so if a lake view from your balcony is the point of the trip, stay in Riva or Torbole and visit Arco by bike.

Is Arco good for families?

Good for active ones. The castle is an adventure for children, the arboretum has lawns and shade, the river path is a safe flat cycle and the guiding schools run climbing tasters for kids from about six. Arco also has several large campsites with pools along the valley, which is why Dutch and German families love it; see our pick of the best Lake Garda camping. There is no beach, but Torbole is 15 minutes by bus.

Do I need to be a climber to enjoy Arco?

No. Climbing is the town's identity, but most visitors never touch a rope; they walk up to the castle, cycle the valley, eat well and use it as a quieter base for the lake. That said, if you have ever wanted to try, this is the place, with schools that take total beginners out on the easy slabs at Massone for half a day with all the kit provided and no prior fitness required.

How long should I spend in Arco?

A full day covers the castle, the arboretum, a wander through the old town and lunch; add a second for the Colodri ferrata or the Marocche bike ride. Climbers routinely stay a week or more, and the town is set up for it with apartments, campsites and gear shops. As a base for the whole northern lake it works for four or five nights, with Riva, Torbole and Tenno all within 15 minutes.

Can I visit Arco without a car?

Easily. Trentino Trasporti buses (B332 and urban lines 1, 2 and 3) run regularly between Riva, Arco and Torbole, the B332 reaches Rovereto railway station in about 55 minutes, and the flat cycle path to Riva takes 25 minutes on a hired bike. The castle, crags at Massone and the Colodri route are all walkable from the centre. You would only miss a car for the Valle dei Laghi and the mountain villages such as Tenno.

Where do you park in Arco?

Aim for the AMSA car parks on the edge of the old town: Foro Boario and Piazzale Carmellini, or the orange-zone lots near the Casinò on Viale delle Magnolie, Largo Arciduca Alberto, Piazzale Schotten and Via Pomerio, all €1.50 an hour (2026) and a few minutes' walk from Piazza III Novembre; the seasonal Linfano car park by the river is €2 an hour or €10 a day from 15 March to 15 October. Parking is far easier than in the lakefront towns and usually free of stress, except during the Christmas market weekends, when the town lays on shuttle buses from car parks outside the centre.

When is the best time of year to visit Arco?

Spring and autumn. From March to June and again from September to November the crags are dry, the temperatures are ideal for walking and climbing, and the town is busy with outdoor people but not overrun. July and August are hot in the valley bowl, often over 32°C, and most people climb in the shade or head to the lake. Winter is mild and sunny, the Christmas market runs from late November, and many crags face south and stay climbable.

Arco or Riva del Garda: which is the better base?

Riva if you want the lake on your doorstep, boats, beaches and a bigger choice of restaurants and evening life. Arco if you are here to climb or cycle, want lower prices and a campsite or apartment with a pool, and do not mind cycling ten minutes to swim. The two are linked by a flat car-free path and regular buses, so either way you will use both; read our guide to Riva del Garda before booking.

Where should I eat in Arco?

The old town has a good cluster of trattorie and pizzerias between Via Segantini and the Collegiata church, and prices are a notch below the lakefront. Alla Lega is our pick for a proper Trentino meal in a courtyard, and the bakeries on Via Segantini do strudel and apple cake that show the Austrian past. For fish and a lake view, drive or cycle to Riva; our pick of the best Lake Garda restaurants has several within 20 minutes.

When is market day in Arco, and what events are worth planning around?

Arco's weekly market is on Wednesday mornings in the streets around the centre, with food, clothes and household stalls until early afternoon; it is smaller than Riva's but easier to park for. The two big dates are Rock Master, the international climbing competition over a weekend in late August or early September, and the Christmas market on weekends from around the 20th of November to Epiphany, when accommodation in town fills fast.

When is Arco castle open and how much is it?

In 2026 the castle is open every day: 10:00 to 19:00 from 1 April to 1 October, 10:00 to 17:00 for the rest of October, and 10:00 to 16:00 from 2 November to 6 January 2027, with last entry an hour before closing in winter. Adults pay €5, ages 12–18 and over-65s €3.50, under-12s go free, and the Garda Trentino Guest Card gives free entry (2026 prices). The Prato della Lizza garden below the walls is free.

Is parking in Arco cheaper in winter?

Yes, a little. In the orange-zone car parks (Viale delle Magnolie, Largo Arciduca Alberto, Piazzale Schotten, Via Pomerio) the first hour is free from 1 October to 31 March; otherwise all the AMSA car parks in town cost €1.50 an hour (2026 tariffs).

Photo credits

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