Lake Garda Towns

Southern shore

A moated castle, Roman ruins and thermal water at the tip of a four-kilometre peninsula

12 things to do

Southern shore

The lake's biggest town: a Venetian harbour, Roman mosaics, a Tuesday market and the best nightlife

12 things to do

Southern shore

A UNESCO fortress town on canals, with a train station, ferries and the Mincio cycle path

12 things to do

Southern shore

A hilltop fortress, a monthly antiques market and quiet Lugana country, ten minutes inland from Desenzano

12 things to do

Southern shore

Gardaland's home town, with quiet beaches, Custoza vineyards and Peschiera and Lazise either side

11 things to do

Eastern shore

A castle on the water, a cable car to 1,760 m and the north shore's liveliest old town

12 things to do

Eastern shore

Wine cellars, olive groves and the easiest lakefront stroll on the eastern shore

11 things to do

Eastern shore

A wide, sheltered bay, a proper old town and the best headland walk on the eastern shore

11 things to do

Eastern shore

Medieval walls, a working harbour and thermal pools, ten minutes from Gardaland

12 things to do

Eastern shore

A small harbour town with a castle on the water, a 1760 lemon house and the lake's car ferry

11 things to do

Eastern shore

A string of fishing hamlets, empty pebble beaches and Monte Baldo trails starting from the door

11 things to do

Eastern shore

Chestnut woods, Monte Baldo trailheads and the best sunset view on the eastern shore

12 things to do

Western shore

Lemon houses, a cycle path bolted to the cliff and the best ferry links on the west shore

11 things to do

Western shore

The longest lakefront on Garda, a proper old town and the best shopping on the western shore

12 things to do

Western shore

Grand hotels, a poet's eccentric estate and the best gardens on the lake

11 things to do

Western shore

A limestone headland with the best view on the lower lake, wild bays and an island you can wade to

12 things to do

Western shore

A valley of ruined paper mills, the widest beaches on the west shore and the car ferry across

12 things to do

Western shore

Lemon houses, a tiny harbour and grand villas on the quietest stretch of the western shore

12 things to do

Western shore

A plateau of stone villages 400 metres above the lake, reached by one of Italy's great roads

10 things to do

Western shore

The boat to Isola del Garda, a fishing harbour at Portese and olive groves running down to quiet bays

12 things to do

Western shore

The home of Chiaretto rosé, with a lived-in castle, a fishing harbour and pebble beaches under the Valtenesi hills

12 things to do

Western shore

A walled hilltop castle, a marina beach and the first Valtenesi vineyards, ten minutes from Desenzano

12 things to do

Western shore

A cliff-top sanctuary, five stone hamlets and the widest view on the lake, 500 metres above the water

11 things to do

Western shore

A fjord-green reservoir, five stone hamlets and a mountain road that was Austria until 1918

11 things to do

Western shore

Thatched hay barns, a high meadow plateau and the quietest walking on the whole lake

10 things to do

Northern tip

Cliff paths, a moated castle and the clearest swimming on the lake, where the Alps meet the water

12 things to do

Northern tip

Windsurf on the afternoon Ora, walk the cliff staircases to Tempesta and eat pizza by Goethe's harbour

11 things to do

Northern tip

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

11 things to do

Northern tip

A turquoise mountain lake, a medieval stone village and a waterfall in a gorge, all above Riva

11 things to do