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Original poster

calling Lake Garda experts!

46 replies

FoamyMilk · 04/07/2019 18:26

I feel like every thread about holidays has people raving about here. DH is keen and the prices were surprisingly reasonable!

We're going to stay in Garda itself, for a week. DC are 7 and 10, generally placid and really looking forward to the pool.

Sooooo

we're not fussed about the theme park, could be swayed on the waterpark- would you recommend? All of us are big scaredy cats and don't really do rides.
we'd like to take the DC to Venice (and get some culture into them come hell or high water), is it worth it?

And any other tips would be fab.

OP posts:

Verite1 · 04/07/2019 20:55

Sorry - highjacking your thread again. We have choice to stay in riva del Garda or Bardolino. Or split it and stay in both. Any views on which is better? We would have a car.

Also - we have been to the other lakes (Lugano/como). Is Garda lots hotter?

Original poster

FoamyMilk · 04/07/2019 20:56

Hmmm, we're not generally susceptible. Always worth it just in case, I suppose.

OP posts:

Original poster

FoamyMilk · 04/07/2019 20:56

Hijack away!

OP posts:

MrsBertBibby · 04/07/2019 20:57

I would second just staying at the lake, it's a long ride to Verona, even more to Venice, and there's so much to do at the lake without losing all that time travelling.

TapasForTwo · 04/07/2019 21:02

We intended visiting Verona, but it was too hot. Verite1 which airport are you flying to? If it is Verona the transfer time to Bardolino is much shorter, and you can always visit Riva while you are there.

tisonlymeagain · 04/07/2019 22:16

My children were younger than the OPs children when we went to Verona and Venice and they absolutely loved it. Depends on the kids I guess!

NormHonal · 04/07/2019 22:18

Do Venice! Ours were younger when we went and the train ride from Garda is easy.

TapasForTwo · 05/07/2019 12:30

"the train ride from Garda is easy."

Garda is an hour away from the nearest train station by bus.

laplage · 05/07/2019 12:58

Can I just add that when we stayed in Peschiera for 10 days, four years ago, we spent a day at Movieland. Didn't have huge expectations of it, but it was the best day of the holiday! DS was 14 and we still talk about it.

Also had day trips by train to Verona and Venice which were great too but tiring.

We loved the whole area though, and the food and the Aperol spritzers

ShatnersWig · 05/07/2019 13:18

Another who adored Lake Garda. Stayed at Sirmione which was ideal for a day trip to Verona (which I actually found disappointing bar the arena) and another day trip to Venice (stunning), both by rail. Sirmione itself was stunning, great base, great restaurants, gelato, thermal spa overlooking the lake, the grotto di catullo ruins.

Liked Bardolino and popping around by boat. Malcesine is as north as went and never went to the east side of the lake at all. Definitely want to go back to do the east and more mountainous north.

Astonished anyone could find it dull. The only thing we found a little bit of a shame public transport in the evenings was very limited, even by boat.

Went late September and the temperature was perfect and it while Sirmione was heaving by day it was lovely and quiet by night. Venice was busy but not too bad. Fabulous storm one night and was great watching it over the lake.

PoptartPoptart · 05/07/2019 13:18

Shamelessly hijacking the thread... where is the best place to stay if we wanted to be near the water park and theme park (assuming they are near each other?)
What accommodation is best? Hotel or villa?

Shutityoutart · 05/07/2019 13:25

I'm here at the water park today! We've been staying at the Eurocamp just down the road . We flew into Verona and didn't bring a car, so we jumped on the bus today. We are going to do the cable car tomorrow.
There's lots to do here, movie land and Garda land are next door to the water park and you can get special deals so you can get tickets for 2 parks in a day or 2 parks over 2 days.
Walking by the lake on an evening is gorgeous. It's really hot here so the water park is a must today!

Freshlysteamedvajayjay · 05/07/2019 13:40

I’ve been about 8 tines, haven’t been back for about 5 years- it’s definitely worth it!

Verona is a nice size for a day trip, but it was very hot each time I’ve been.
Venice is worth a trip, but not this time of year as it’s hot, overcrowded and a long, early start so wouldn’t be much fun with kids- this is what the crowds are like www.google.co.uk/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/cities/2019/apr/30/sinking-city-how-venice-is-managing-europes-worst-tourism-crisis

You won’t need a car if you’re in Garda, as it has a good ferry schedule and there are frequent buses to get up and down the east side of the lake where you will be.
Some towns have more ferry services than others, so you do need to plan your trip to make sure you aren’t stuck at the smaller villages for ages before the next one arrives.
Garda and Bardolino are near each other, quite similar and plenty happening. Lazise is also nearby, a bit quieter so nice for a relaxing afternoon and it had some good shops.
Sirmione is a walled town, much quieter and worth visiting.
Malcesine has gorgeous cobbled streets, though quite steep. The cable car up to Monte Baldo is a must do, but you do need an extra layer at the top as it is chilly.
Riva at the top of the lake has a beach, though I found the tourists there tended to be older and it is windier.
Desenzano has a different atmosphere, it’s on the Milan side of the lake so lots of people watching at the weekend when the glamorous people arrive from the city for the weekend.

TapasForTwo · 05/07/2019 16:21

"The only thing we found a little bit of a shame public transport in the evenings was very limited"

We found that we had enough restaurants where we stayed so didn't feel the need to leave the area for elsewhere in the evening.

All this talk about lake Garda makes me want to go back. I'm still reeling at the idea that someone finds it dull
Although if you prefer an Ibiza style holiday maybe that's why?

BentBaastard · 05/07/2019 16:22

You need to walk the alpacas in Monte Baldo

Original poster

FoamyMilk · 05/07/2019 16:32

Oh wow. Loving the alpacas

Preliminary itinerary is

one day in Venice
one day in Malcesine, with alpacas!
one more day trip- either Riva or Verona.

This leaves us 3 full pool days.

Thank you all so much for your help. Hope you have lovely holidays

OP posts:

IsFuzzyBeagMise · 05/07/2019 16:35

Mind your valuables if you are traveling into Venice on the tram. My DH got robbed; his wallet was pick-pocketed and it was upsetting. Otherwise we had a great time and loved the area; Sirmione, Peschiera, Verona, Venice and Gardaland.

TapasForTwo · 05/07/2019 16:35

When you go to Malcesine make sure you don't get the ferry that stops at every town on the way back. We made that mistake and it took over 3 hours. I hadn't taken my mobile with me and DH was getting worried.

sneakypinky · 05/07/2019 18:01

If you're in Malcesine for dinner try and get into el capitanos (sp?) and have the enormous langoustines! Gorgeous restaurant with cheeky waiters who take the piss out of English people, but it's amazing.

And do wear insect repellent. Our whole family are fine but I always get bitten to fuck. So worth it though.

sneakypinky · 05/07/2019 18:04

@TapasForTwo we did that! DP was enormously hungover from the "vagabondo" cocktails in Malcesine that they don't have a recipe for and puked in the boat captains toilet.

God that took hours and we were so sunburned.

I'm outrageously jealous of anyone going this year.

Anyone remember the beer and snack boat that comes in to Malcesine lake front every couple hours to sell beer to the sunbathers? Can't remember what the boat guy is called, but I loved him.

AlwaysOnAbloodyDiet · 06/07/2019 14:05

I would recommend spending a day doing the entire lake tour.

We did it from Peschiera, we booked an excursion. We travelled by bus and ferry. The bus stopped in Lazise (for the market, beautiful town), malcesine, Riva, and from there a ferry to Limone.

Each town is more beautiful than the next

We went to Gardaland at night. It is open until 11pm, if I recall correctly.

It was too hot to go to Venice or Verona, but we have gone there before from Lake Garda.

You will just love it

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