Free walking tours in Garda and what to see

Must-sees

Garda is a village on the eastern shore of the lake that bears its name, in the province of Verona. Its centre is an old fishing village with alleys that open onto the lakeside promenade and the small harbour. Along the shore you will see Venetian-style palazzi, such as the Palazzo dei Capitani, and in the village is the parish church, at the foot of the Rocca. The 18th-century Villa Albertini is surrounded by gardens.

The Rocca di Garda is the headland that towers over the village. A path climbs through the woods to the top, with views over the lake, passing close to the Camaldolese hermitage. To the north is Punta San Vigilio, with a small church, a tiny harbour and a Renaissance villa among cypresses. To the south, a lakeside path of about four kilometres leads to Bardolino.

Free tours and guided visits

Garda has no free walking tour. From the village there are boat trips on the lake and classical music concerts in the Palazzo Carlotti. Most options are day trips: to Verona, Venice or the Dolomites, plus transfers to see an opera at the Verona Arena festival in summer.

How long to spend

A few hours are enough for the village, the harbour and the promenade. With a whole day you can climb the Rocca and walk to Punta San Vigilio. If you stay two or three days, use the lake boats to visit other villages on the shore, such as Bardolino, Lazise or Sirmione, or pop over to Verona.

Where to stay

Staying in the centre or on the lakeside promenade lets you get around on foot and take the boat without a car. On the outskirts and in the hills there are hotels with pools, campsites and apartments, more convenient if you are driving. Bardolino and Costermano, very close by, are good alternatives when the village fills up in summer.