Things to Do in Lake Garda

With its drawbridge entrance over a medieval moat, the 13th-century Scaliger Castle, set on the southern shore of Lake Garda, looks like something out of a fairytale. Climb the ramparts and main tower for sweeping views, and visit the collection of artifacts at the nearby Roman Grottoes of Catullus.

The Scaliger Castle (Castello Scaligero or Rocca Scaligera) guards the entrance to the medieval town of Sirmione, which is set on the tiny Sirmione peninsula that juts out into Lake Garda and has been a popular resort town since the first century BC, thanks to its natural hot springs. Today, the Scaliger Castle is one of the most popular sights on Lake Garda; it’s a highlight of day trips from Milan or Florence, which often include stops at the Church of San Pietro in Mavino and the Grottoes of Catullus Roman ruins. A particularly picturesque way to see the castle is by boat on a Lake Garda mini-cruise or sunset cruise. 

Sirmione is located in the province of Brescia, about halfway between Milan and Venice. The train stops in the lakeside town of Desenzano del Garda; from there, take a local bus that stops on Piazza Castello, right near the castle. The easiest way to visit, however, is by joining a tour that includes transportation.

Northern Italy's lakes, including Garda, Como, and Maggiore, are particularly crowded in summer, so the best time to visit is in the spring and fall when the weather is mild but sights like the Scaliger Castle are less crowded.

Verona's powerful Scaliger (also known as Della Scala) dynasty had the fortress built to protect the town from attack, and its crenelated towers and fortified walls dominate the sheltered harbor once used by the Scaliger fleets. The castle changed hands over the centuries, but was still used as a garrison until the 19th century; it lost its strategic importance only after the unification of Italy.

Italy often shakes, rattles, and rolls with seismic activity from volcanoes and earthquakes. This geothermal energy has formed countless hot springs, many used as natural thermal spas since ancient Roman times. One of the most famous is the Garda Thermal Park (Parco Termale del Garda), part of the 18th-century Villa dei Cedri estate near Lake Garda.

The Garda Thermal Park includes two thermal lakes with several swimming pools fed by underground hot springs that maintain a soothingly warm water temperature, as well as fountains, waterfalls, and massage jets to loosen aching muscles. The main lake is the warmer of the two, but both thermal water lakes are lit after dark, making for an especially relaxing soak by night. The surrounding 13 acres (5.3 hectares) of grounds and the winter garden glass pavilion are furnished with sun beds, ideal for lounging before and after bathing.

The aristocratic Villa dei Cedri overlooking the park is now a hotel, but you don't need to be a guest to use the thermal pools inside the estate's unique natural spa: you can purchase a full- or half-day entry ticket that includes use of all the park's lakes and pools. For an extra fee you can book massages and other spa treatments, and use the Turkish bath (steam bath), sauna, mineral water hot tub, and fitness room, in the indoor wellness center.

The Garda Thermal Park is located on Piazza di Sopra in the Veneto town of Colà di Lazise,  about 3 miles (5 kilometers) from Lake Garda and 15 miles (25 kilometers) from Verona. The easiest way to reach the thermal park is by car; there is parking on the grounds.

The park is open daily year-round, but is most crowded during the summer months, when the best time to visit is on a weekday. The park stays open until 1am on Saturday night, which is a fun option for a nighttime soak.

If you are traveling with kids, consider combining a visit to the thermal park with a stop at the nearby Gardaland amusement park, about 10 minutes away by car.

If you are touring Italy with kids who have had their fill of majestic churches and Roman ruins, a day at Gardaland may be in order. This landmark amusement park sits on the eastern flanks of Lake Garda and is the country’s most popular family-oriented resort, with more than 30 rides, musical performances and light shows, and an aquarium.

Offering everything from dizzying drops on Space Vertigo to the very gentlest of carousels for toddlers, Gardaland theme park will keep the whole family happily entertained all day. Between the Jungle Rapids water ride, the San Andreas 4-D adventure, the spectacular musical and light shows in the Gardaland Theatre, and the thrilling roller coasters—the most popular are the Black Hole, Italy’s first “dive” roller coaster, and the Blue Tornado, a hair-flipping inverted coaster—there’s something here for children of all ages.  

Gardaland is hugely popular in Italy and very crowded from mid-June to mid-September, when schools are closed for the summer. Booking skip-the-line entry tickets is a good idea any time of year, but imperative during the summer months to avoid long waits at the ticket office.

Gardaland is located in Castelnuovo del Garda, on the eastern flank of Lake Garda in northeast Italy. To reach Gardaland from Milan or Verona, take the train to Peschiera del Garda; there is a free shuttle bus from the station to Gardaland Park. If driving, take the A4 motorway to the Peschiera del Garda exit.

Gardaland Park is open from April through October, and is most crowded from June through August. From mid-June to mid-September, the park closes at 11pm, giving you even more time to enjoy the rides. There are also select December dates when certain areas of the park reopen for winter festivities.

Combine a ticket to Gardaland with entry to Sea Life Aquarium, where you’ll see sharks, manta rays, and turtles; observe shark-feeding sessions; and discover the underwater mysteries of Lake Garda.