Bardolino
Eastern shore
Wine cellars, olive groves and the easiest lakefront stroll on the eastern shore
Lake Garda weather · April
Lake Garda Weather in April
April brings Lake Garda back to life: 19 °C days, the cable car and campsites open, and showers on about eight days.
April is the first month we would send a friend. The lake is open again, the hills are green and prices have not reached their summer level. The catch is the weather, which changes its mind more often than in any other spring month.
Is April a good time to visit Lake Garda?
Yes, for active holidays and sightseeing. Days average 18.7 °C and there are about seven hours of sunshine a day, but April ties with November for the most rainy days of the year, at just over eight.
The Monte Baldo cable car starts its summer season at the beginning of the month (4 April in 2026), the campsites are open and Gardaland's main season is under way. It is too cold to swim, with the lake at about 14 °C. We rate it 4 out of 5.
What's open in April
- Limited Ferries — Passenger boats are running again, on a pre-summer timetable. The 2027 spring timetable had not been published when we checked; the 2026 summer timetable began on 16 May.
- Open Gardaland — Main season. Check the park calendar for the days and hours of your visit.
- Open Monte Baldo cable car — Summer season started on 4 April in 2026. The 2027 date had not been published when we checked.
- Limited Lidos and beach clubs — Beaches are public all year. Staffed lidos and beach bars are seasonal businesses with no shared calendar. Some open at weekends in fine weather.
- Open Campsites — The large sites are open: Bella Italia from 20 March, La Rocca from 27 March.
Events in April
-
FSA Bike Festival Riva del Garda
The mountain bike season opener on Riva’s lakefront, with races, tours and a trade expo. The 2026 edition was the 32nd.
What to pack
- A light waterproof jacket you can stuff in a bag
- Jumper or fleece for evenings
- T-shirts for warm afternoons
- Walking shoes
- Sun cream: seven hours of sun a day adds up on the water
Where to base yourself in April
Bardolino and Lazise sit on the flat east-shore cycle and walking path, which is at its best before the heat. Riva is the base for mountain biking, and Malcesine has the cable car on its doorstep from early April.
Bardolino
Lazise
Eastern shore
Medieval walls, a working harbour and thermal pools, ten minutes from Gardaland
Riva del Garda
Northern tip
Cliff paths, a moated castle and the clearest swimming on the lake, where the Alps meet the water
Malcesine
Eastern shore
A castle on the water, a cable car to 1,760 m and the north shore's liveliest old town
What April feels like
Fresh mornings at 7–8 °C, warm afternoons, and a real chance of a wet day. Showers tend to pass, and the rainfall total (66 mm) is moderate, so April rain is more of an interruption than a write-off. Build one flexible day into a week.
The north is a few degrees cooler in feel than the south, because the wind is already working: the Pelèr in the morning and the Ora from around noon.
What to do
This is walking and cycling weather. The temperature is right for the climbs, and the paths are quiet. Start with our best Lake Garda walks and best bike rides, and see bike hire if you are not bringing your own.
Ride the Monte Baldo cable car on the clearest morning of your stay. It is far colder at the top than on the shore, so take a warm layer whatever the temperature in Malcesine.
Good to know
Is April a good time to visit Lake Garda?
Yes, for walking, cycling and seeing the towns without crowds. Average highs are 18.7 °C. The downside is about eight rainy days in the month and a lake too cold for swimming.
How much does it rain at Lake Garda in April?
About 66 mm over 8.4 days, on the 1991–2020 averages. That is the joint highest number of rainy days in the year, though the showers are usually short.
Can you swim in Lake Garda in April?
Not comfortably. North-shore readings put the lake at 14.2 °C in April. Hotel pools are the realistic option; our hotel guide notes which have them.
Is the Monte Baldo cable car open in April?
Yes, from the start of the summer season. In 2026 that was 4 April. The 2027 date had not been published when we checked, so confirm on the operator's site if you are travelling in the first days of the month.
Are Lake Garda campsites open in April?
The big ones are. Bella Italia in Peschiera lists opening from 20 March and La Rocca in Bardolino from 27 March. See our best Lake Garda camping for more sites.