Travel to LAKE GARDA, Italy: Why This Italian Lake Might Surprise You

Having a home near Lake Como makes me wildly biased, I’ll admit it upfront. But even my hubby and I had to ask ourselves: Is Lake Garda the unsung hero of Italy’s lake district?

The welcoming Lake Garda, Italy

We decided to see what all the fuss was about, trading in Como’s old world elegance for a road trip to Salò, perched on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda. With its staggering size (2.5 times larger than Lake Como), Garda wins the “biggest lake in Italy” title, and with that, an abundance of waterfront towns just waiting to be explored.

Let’s just say: one night was not enough.

Our beige but brilliant base in Salò

We closed our road weary eyes at Bellerive Lifestyle Hotel, a bit of a beige box quite frankly. Although, had we scored a lake-facing room, we’d have had plenty of blue reflections in our colour palette. (Thanks, booking.com, for the back-row seat.)

Still, I thoroughly enjoyed it. The pool was spot-on, the breakfast hearty, and the location ideal. You could walk straight out onto Salò’s charming promenade and land yourself at Naturall Garda Bistrot, which, thank goodness, serves something green and protein-packed.

Their vegan bowl, with added roast veg, is the culinary equivalent of a long exhale after days of pasta and pizza. Trust me, your digestive system will thank you.

Gardone, grandeur and a man with a lot going on

Heading north along the lake’s western shore, we stopped in Gardone Riviera, home to Le Vittoriale degli Italiani—the rather extravagant estate of one Gabriele D’Annunzio. War hero and poet—pick a lane.

The grounds are vast, the views fantastic, and if you want to see the wildly eccentric interiors—crammed with statues, books, paintings, tapestries, exotic artefacts, all chosen by D’Annunzio to evoke a specific emotion or philosophical idea—make sure to book the group tour.

There’s also a much-raved-about botanical garden in town. We, however, wilted under the day’s sweltering sun before we made it there. One for the next visit.

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Gargnano’s chilled vibe and the best vegan gelato

Further up, Gargnano won us over with its calm, understated charm and public lakeside bathing spots. But let’s talk gelato. Specifically, Alberto Gelateria. Their vegan peanut caramel, dark chocolate and fruity scoops are everything you want in a holiday treat, rich, creamy, and just the right amount of sweet.

A cliffside drive, 11 tunnels and the lemon mystery

Past Gargnano, the road clings dramatically to the mountainside with a steep drop to your right, rugged rock to your left, and eleven tunnels carved with scenic arch cut-outs just to keep things interesting (and your knuckles white at times).

As we neared Limone sul Garda, we spotted mysterious stone ruins built into the mountainside. Vast pillars and walls, dramatic yet silent. Ancient temples? Ruined villas?

Nope, lemon groves.

Ancient lemon grove structures

We pieced it all together at the Limonaia del Castèl, a humble museum that turned out to be a highlight. Lemons came to the Garda area in the 13th century, but it was in the 1600s that citrus became a full-on industry. That is, until disease and competition from the south brought the boom to a bitter end. Today, the surviving structures stand as living relics of an agricultural past.

If you’ve a soft spot for slow stories of human ingenuity, natural beauty and a dash of architectural drama, this is your place.

Limone’s old town: tourist charm, citrus overload

The waterfront is beautiful—there’s no denying that. But venture into Limone’s old town, and it’s lemon-themed merch as far as the eye can see. Think lemon candles, lemon magnets, lemon underpants… (OK, maybe not the underpants, but you get the gist.)

Tip: if you’re after a proper cappuccino, head for the upper streets, away from the souvenir crush.

Why Garda deserves a longer stay

From the ease of ferry hopping to the length of its scenic promenades, Lake Garda really does have its own charm. And if you’re coming from Milan or Verona, you’ll land in Desenzano del Garda — a lively base with good transport links and plenty to see.

Would we go again? Absolutely. But next time, we’re giving it four nights, not one.

Because as much as we love Como (and we really do), Garda offers a generosity of space—more open, more expansive—and a laid-back ease that even the most loyal Lake Como diehard might find hard to resist.

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