Italian lakes / Verona / Venice

[Atissue123]

Looking to book an 8 day trip in mid August and wondering what would suit best for a family with DC's ages 12 and 9.

We can get cheap / good flights into Verona and Venice and I am wondering whether to 'just' do Verona and a lake (if so which one with this age kids?) or also try and tag on Venice too. We could extend to 8-9 days.

Has anyone done this sort of trip? Kids will just want lakes, swimming, cycling and some walks but I do think they'd love to see Venice if it's not going to be so horribly hot we can't stand it. Has anyone been in August? is it unbearable? We will have a car but had thought of dropping that in Verona and getting the train into Venice for our last night but DH thinks it might be too much / too hot.

Garland is fab if you want to go something different for a day

Arriving in Venice by train would be fun for the dc - literally out of the station front and onto the water. Friends stayed on a campsite just outside Venice, with pools etc, which they enjoyed.

We did it in reverse one summer, few days in Venice, then train to Verona for the day (put luggage in the left luggage store), then train onward to lake Garda.

Perhaps fly to Verona, have a couple of days there the go to Lake Garda (you would need a car or bus for this leg). Bardolino is very nice and there are plenty of activities for DC including Gardaland Legoland Waterpark. You can also use the ferries to visit other towns on the lake. Have a few days or a week there then train to Venice and fly home from there. I went to Venice in September and it was not overly hot.

Actually I think you can get the train from Verona to Lake Garda so you probably wouldn't need a hire car at all.

Thank you - we have got to do it that way around I think (not Venice first) due to the flights and most accommodation being Sat-Sat from what I can see.

You can do Venice for a day from Lake Garda. The bottom of the lake has good beaches and train links, the top better for watersports and more mountain scenery. Take the cable car from Malcesine up Monte Baldo for walks, summer toboggan run, mountain biking etc.

We stayed at a hotel on Lake Garda and did day trips to both Venice and Verona. Public transport is good in Northern Italy, or if you prefer driving the roads are good just busy, nowhere near as crazy as Rome/Florence/Naples.

There's loads to do around Garda and lots suitable for children. I would definitely recommend it.

There's lots to do in and around lake Garda.
Venice is worth its own trip, maybe when your kids are a little older - we went in a February half term when it was cool and not too crowded. The October half term can also be good for sightseeing in Italy.

We went to lake Garda for a week last year and did not fit Verona in as there was so much to do and see around the lake. Teenage ds loved it. We did fly into Venice and then hired a car. It was a really good trip.

We used the buses around lake Garda last time much cheaper and quicker than the ferries so you got longer at places.

@mumonthehill sorry to hijack but I'm going to Lake Garda with two teens this summer - what kind of things did your teenage DC enjoy there, any recommendations...?

I follow this lady on SM. Her recent trip to Lake Garda might give you some useful information.

https://www.northeastfamilyfun.co.uk/2024/06/del-garda-village-and-camping-lake.html

Thank you for all these tips. I have managed to book. Now just need to decide whether to drive (from Venice to Lake Garda and then back) or use public transport. Cost wise driving is cheaper as there are 4 of us, but I am worried driving in Venice might be hard?! Anyone experienced it? We could hire the car from Venice airport, head to Lake Garda and then on the way back drop it in Verona and get the train into Venice but not sure if that's a good plan? Can anyone advise? It will be my DH driving, he's competent but likes to avoid the stress if he can do! Thank you

We’ve done this trip. Stayed at Del Garda as the lady above. Walked to Peschiera Station about 12 mins and then got train to Venice, no cars in Venice. Not sure where you would park!

It’s super hot in Venice but you can stroll round the shops, visit the Basilica. DH and I have done Verona before and decided not to this (last July) as way too hot and humid. Kids prefer pool/beach etc.

Thanks @AutismHelp1980 , the hotel I have found is quite a way from Peschiera but I can cancel it so may look if I can swap to be nearer there for ease.

Good tip on Verona. My plan is 6 nights on the lake / lake area and then 2 nights in Venice, I know it will be hot but I feel like it's too good an opportunity not to take the kids there! I thought by doing 2 nights we could just take it easy and soak it up a bit rather than rushing about sightseeing. Just need to work out the car element! Maybe just leeave it in Lake Garda I guess and get the train to Venice on the way back.

Hire your car from Venice airport and return it there and use public transport to get from the airport into Venice itself.

Returning your car to a different location hikes the price.

We stayed at lake garda last year in August- bottom end of lake within about 30 min walk of pescheira. Ferry port there to go across the lake, as well as train station. We got train from there for day trips to both verona (was about 30 mins), and Venice (about 90 mins). Would recommend getting tickets to Venice a day or 2 before travelling as when we got to station there were queues for ticket machines and ended up getting the 12.30 train so couldn't spend too long in Venice. Just long enough to do outside sights, and water taxi from the main square back to train station. Was very hot - especially waiting to go into amphitheatre in verona. Lots of ice cream was eaten!
We did movieland - was a good day - and recommend the stunt truck ride and log flume if you go.

Thank you - do you think staying in Venice itself is worth it for 2 days? I was planning 6 nights on the lake (or 5) and 1 or 2 nights in Venice before our flight home. I thought 3 hours on a train in one day plus sightseeing might be a bit much for the kids.

I’d risk a stay in Venice proper, I know people say it can be hot and smelly in August but I’ve done it a few times in high summer and it’s been fine. Not been in 16 years but it’s one of my favourite places, staying there will allow you to amble around and take in the atmosphere. If money’s no object you could try the Hilton Molino Stucky, which has a pool (not been there myself) which could be useful if it does get very hot. Or you could stay on the Lido and have access to the beach (but no canals).

Following with interest as we’re off to the lakes ourselves soon!