Lake Garda in Northern Italy, is truly massive, completely diverse, and oh-so scenic! This (somewhat phallic shaped) lake is Italy’s largest at 143 square miles, and borders on three different provinces: Verona, Brescia, and Trentino.

The lake (Lago di Garda in Italian), covers a lot of diverse terrain, offering a little something for everyone. At the southern, wider portion of the lake, the terrain is quite flat, and the atmosphere takes on more of a Mediterranean vibe.

As you travel further north along the lake, you’ll soon find yourself in a valley between some dramatic cliff faces at the base of the Alps – creating a completely different setting. Due to its varying terrain, Lake Garda is an outdoor enthusiasts dream come true. Wind surfing, sailing, hiking, mountain biking, climbing, horseback riding, water sports – all the things!

And if the stunning terrain and outdoor sports isn’t enough, dotted around this crystal-clear lake are more than 20 charming historic villages, each offering a little something different for its visitors. You could very easily spend a month around the lake and see something different every day. So it’s no wonder that Lake Garda is a VERY popular tourist destination. Attracting hoards of people to its shores in the summer months.

Lake Garda in the Off Season

“Off season” for Lake Garda starts around the end of September and goes through May. Visiting in the off season means that the weather can be crappy (chilly and rainy). And, since it is a resort area – many shops, hotels, and restaurants will be shut down for the season. BUT visiting in the off season definitely has some advantages! There are FAR less tourists. You can score some discounted prices at hotels and shops. And there’s pretty fall colors to liven up your photos! So, if you find yourself at Lake Garda in autumn, throw some rain gear in your suitcase and get out there!

Only have a few days? Here’s what to do to get the most out of your visit:

Visit Sirmione

Situated on a narrow peninsula that extends 4 km out from the southernmost bank of Lake Garda, this picturesque village is not to be missed! Steeped in history, and chock full of gardens, pebbly beaches, and winding alleyways, Sirmione is one of Lake Garda’s most popular tourist destinations.

Even if you’ve only got a day, you can still get to Sirmione’s main attractions:

• The Grotte di Catullo – ruins of a great Roman villa, situated in an olive grove at the tip of Sirmione’s peninsula, dates from the 1^st century BC
• The Scaligero Castle – an impressive 13^th century fortification that appears to “float” in the lake, Italy’s best preserved medieval castle
• Terme di Sirmione – a wellness spa that utilizes the natural thermal waters of Sirmione’s ancient hot springs – a great place to relax and watch the sunset!

Thousands of visitors swarm to Sirmione in the summer. But visiting in the off-season means you’ll be able to stroll Sirmione’s narrow alley ways in peace. And actually find a parking spot nearby!

Take a cable car to Monte Baldo

With its highest peak Cima Valdritta at 2218m (7277 ft), Monte Baldo is the highest mountain range on Lake Garda.  Offering endless trails for hiking, mountain biking and Nordic walking, this mountain range is very easily accessible by taking a cable car from the village of Malcesine on Lake Garda’s eastern shore.

The cable car Funivia Malcesine Monte Baldo runs from March to mid-November and will deposit you within 15 minutes at Tratto Spino at 1720m (5774 ft) on Monte Baldo. The ride itself offers some pretty spectacular views! But from the base at Tratto Spino, there’s many options for exploring the mountains.

For a quick and easy (but breathtaking!) hike, try the Ring of Colma trek from the cable car station. This 3.8 km (R/T) trail offers spectacular 360-degree views of the lake and surrounding snow-capped alps. Be sure to keep an eye on the weather, in autumn at the higher elevations, it can turn nasty real quick. It started spitting some sleet on us towards the end of our hike!

For a cozy place to eat, or grab a drink (and warm respite from the chilly mountain air) check out La Capannina just a short walk from the cable car station, near the termination of the Colma trail.

Go horseback riding

A great way to explore the lake and surrounding area in cooler temps is on horseback! Head up to the north side of the lake to the village of Arco, to go trekking on horseback with Horse Trekking Dolomiti & Alta Garda. The guide Simone offers treks of varying lengths and riding ability. So no matter what your skill level is, you can still get some time in the saddle.

We opted for a 2 hour ride which took us up to some gorgeous views of the lake. Then meandered through the valley below. Passing through endless apple orchards, vineyards, olive groves, kiwi vines (yes kiwi!), and along the Sarca River. It’s a relaxing way to explore some gorgeous scenery! Simone and his trekking dog Jenni were wonderful guides, with great responsive horses, and a professional facility.

Bike (or hike) the Old Ponale Road

The Strada del Ponale was carved into the cliffs above Lake Garda’s northwestern shore in the 19^th century. Clearly visible from the beaches of Torbole and Riva del Garda, this well-known panoramic trail offers some amazing views of the lake! This is an adventure not to be missed.

We opted to rent some mountain bikes from Mandelli Bike in Torbole. Then ride along the lake shore to the beginning of the Ponale Road in Riva. About 5km. We were told this was something we wouldn’t have been able to do in summer due to the crowds of people at the beaches along the way. Yay for off-season!

Once reaching the Ponale Road, we rode about 2.5 km along the lake to the point where it turns west to connect with the Ledro Valley. The gravel trail climbed steadily uphill the whole way. This made it a somewhat challenging ride on a bike for us tired travelers. But it would have been a fairly easy hike.

Once we turned around to return, coming down was a blast! OMG, the views! Thank God for the newly added guard rails, there were some sheer cliffs… The whole excursion from Torbole up the Ponale Road and back took around 3 hours, and was totally worth it!

Check out our Youtube video of the ride! Don’t worry, it’s only minute long, just a taste!

Peep’s Pointers

Where we stayed

When looking for a base to stay at Lake Garda, there were so many possibilities! We finally settled on Torbole at the north end of the lake, to be closer to the mountains and outdoor activities.

• Torbole Holiday House – Offering incredible off-season deals, this apartment’s location can’t be beat! Directly on the Sarca River and within walking distance of Torbole’s city center, this place was a bargain! The host Fabio was super helpful and the rental even included a free breakfast at the nearby Hotel Santoni.

Where we ate

Although a lot of cafes and restaurants were closed for the season, we did manage to eat very well around Lake Garda. Here’s a few recommendations:

• OsteRiva
  

  The grappa menu at OsteRiva

  – A charming osteria in the historic center of Riva del Garda. Fresh fish from the lake and homemade pasta. And an extensive grappa menu for after dinner.

• Ristorante Pizzeria 600 – Located in Torbole, one of the few restaurants open! But good food for great prices, and friendly locals who let us sample a bunch of local grappas…..hmm this might be a theme with us… 🙂
• Bar Pasticceria Maroni – A cafe in Riva del Garda. Good for a panini, a coffee, and some great people watching!