Lake Garda with no car

[lightmywaters]

I am thinking of taking myself and my 2 teens to Lake Garda in the summer holidays. We have a few days in Bologna and then want to spend 10 nights somewhere on the lake. I know it'll be really busy but does anyone have any ideas for somewhere a little quieter (although not too quiet for teens) that I can get to without a car. Also can you swim in places? Thanks so much.

Desenzano is lovely and on the train line to Milan. There are swimming beaches and lots of places to eat. Easy to get ferries to Sirmione and up the lake. I much preferred it to Peschiera.

We were about 20 minutes walk along the lake from Peschiera and it was quiet with lots of swimming places along the lake side walk. Buses were good and the ferries are so lovely. We loved it.

Great - thank you.

I think cars are actively discouraged as the traffic can be horrendous. The north is quieter and lovely. Malescine and Riva and you can get boats across the lake.

I came on to say Desenzano. It's on the direct rail line, so you can visit Milan, Verona etc.
And use boats to get around the lake. I really wouldn't want to take a car around Lake Garda - you'd spend the whole time in traffic jams or looking for somewhere to park!

There are stations on the southern end of the lake at Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda and both nice places to stay in their own right. They are near to Sirmione which is lovely but gets very crowded. We have been to both Bardelino and Malcesine without cars though the latter is trickier to get to. You can visit other lakeside towns by ferry.

Try to build in a day trip to Verona as it is lovely.

You can definitely swim from little beaches up and down the lake and there are loads of water sports opportunities.

Peschiera Del Garda - lovely little town with a great train station / buses & so easy to get to Milan, Venice, Verona and loads of towns on the lake if you want to explore whilst there (plus easy bus / taxi to Gardaland which is fun for teens, if they like that kind of thing)

Agree Peschiera is great, 20min from airport, 15mins by train from Verona. Beaches, old town, you can take ferries from there plus close to Gardaland and Caneva (a water park which is so fun for kids).

Thanks so much for all these suggestions.

Another vote for Peschiera. I stayed there last year with two teens at Del Garda Village and we loved it. Walking distance to Gardaland and Peschiera town, where we got the boat to other lake towns and the train to Verona.

I went years ago and did quite a lot of cycling. The hotel lent us bikes. I am not a cyclist, but found it easy enough and enjoyable. Enjoy!

Thank you