The north side of Lake Garda features a beautiful shoreline with candy-color buildings backing into a mountainous landscape. The towns here are built into the Alps, making it harder for swarms of tourists to overtake as in the south side of the lake (although you’ll still find plenty).

I recommend picking a town as a base to stay at least a few nights, allowing you to feel the convergence of the three regions of Trentino, Veneto, and Lombardy. Day trips are easy with ferry connections between the different towns.

Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda is situated in the Trentino region and the largest town on the north of the lake. As such, there are many charming attractions plus access to the agricultural region where olives and grapes for wine are cultivated.

Get lost in a mix of narrow alleyways, wide promenades, and church-lined piazzas before emerging at the Piazza III Novembre, adjacent to a picturesque waterfront and the ferry dock.

During the day there’s large public beach areas like Spiaggia Sabbioni where you can swim, rent boats, and try activities like windsurfing and stand-up paddleboarding.

I recommend staying in Riva if you’d like to be in the middle of the action and would like to explore the Trento region.

Top 5 things to do in Riva del Garda

• Visit Arco to the north or Torbole to the west (there’s easy biking trails)
• Have fun on the water
• Take a mountain e-bike up the Old Ponale Road all the way to Lago di Ledro
• Learn about the region with a guided tour of the fascinating hydroelectric plant or a visit to the MAG Museo Alto Garda
• Get dinner at a farm restaurant, then buy some local products to take with you

Where to stay in Riva del Garda

• $ Hotel Antico Borgo – Comfy rooms in the middle of the old town
• $$ Hotel Europa – Right on Piazza Catena with views from some rooms, plus free bike rentals
• $$$ Lido Palace – Luxury escape with landscaped gardens, an amazing sauna, and indoor and outdoor pools

Torbole

Torbole is a small former fishing village next to Riva del Garda with a small but charming waterfront. It’s easily to bike between the two, with the stretch in between known for windsurfing and sailing.

The pebble beach area is good for swimming and is just a few minutes walk from the town square where you can grab food, drink, and gelato.

It’s a favorite stop for mountain bikers and hikers given the trails nearby, many starting from the village of Nago to the north. It’s the most lowkey and perhaps the least touristic of this list.

Top 5 things to do in Torbole

• Walk around the harbor passing by Casetta del Dazio, the historic Austrian toll house
• Bike the easy trail to Riva del Garda to the east or Nago to the north
• Take an uplift shuttle to the Tremalzo Pass for mountain biking
• Challenge yourself with canyoning, via ferrata, or the ropes course at Busatte Adventure Park
• Pass by historical battlements from the world wars on a hike departing from Nago

Where to stay in Torbole

• $ Glocal Torbole – Comfy rooms in a laidback atmosphere with free bikes to explore
• $$ Goti Hotel – Spring for the affordable balcony rooms and visit the luxurious spa for an additional fee
• $$$ Hotel Lago di Garda – Waterfront views and a sleek spa make this one good for couples

Limone sul Garda

Limone is so named because of its history of citrus cultivation, so a visit wouldn’t be complete without trying any number of lemon-flavored treats like lemonade, spritzes, or gelato.

This charming town feels the weight of many tourists that come in and out through the ferries, so it’s necessary to wander past the touristic restaurants and shops on the long promenade and up into the quieter streets to discover hidden delights.

Staying in Limone is quite special when the day crowds empty out and you have room to breathe. The small beach can otherwise get quite overwhelmed. In terms of the ferry, you’re conveniently located between the Malcesine and Riva del Garda stops.

Top 5 things to do in Limone sul Garda

• Bike the Ciclopista (e-bike recommended)
• Savor lemon sorbet in a lemon cup from Scaloni 20
• Learn about citrus cultivation at the small but informative Limonaia del Castel
• Sunbathe or rent a motorboat by the hour (no license required!)
• Stroll around Parco Villa Boghi and learn about the history of fishing at the lake at Museo dei Pescatori

Where to stay in Limone sul Garda

• $ Hotel La Fiorita – Modern, affordable rooms at the edge of town
• $$ Casa L’Andrunèl – Comfortable and chic in a charming historic building
• $$$ EALA My Lakeside Dream – Took the words out of my mouth. See for yourself
• Hotel Atilius – You’ll get more bang for your back staying just outside of town and be can take their shuttle to visit Limone hasslefree.

Malcesine

Malcesine is a fortress city in the Veneto region, a former seat of power for the Lombards. It’s popular to take the gondola up Monte Baldo here for Nordic walking and e-biking trails.

There’s plenty to discover in the charming walled town, its narrow walkways punctuated by stately buildings. The Castello Scaligero is the main one, housing historical exhibits including one that documents the German artist Johann Wolfgang Goethe’s time on Lake Garda. Indeed there’s no shortage of German and Austrian tourists in Malcesine.

Another one of those stately buildings is the Palazzo dei Capitani, a former noble residence that’s now an enchanting setting for live music performances.

An interesting thing to note is Malcesine, located on the eastern side of the lake, enjoys a slightly longer day of sun than the other towns listed here as it does not sit in the shadows of the mountains to the west.

Top 5 things to do in Malcesine

• Bike on the easy Via Lungolago trail to Brenzone sul Garda to the south
• Take the Monte Baldo cableway up for incredible views and scenery
• Get views and learn about history at the Castello Scaligero
• Sail on a sunset cruise on the historic Siora Veronica (available in summer)
• Enjoy an evening performance at the Palazzo dei Capitani

Where to stay in Malcesine

• $ Hotel Europa – All rooms have balconies at this cheerful option just steps from the beach
• $$ Hotel Vega – Small but modern rooms with a killer waterfront location right in town
• $$$ Ambienthotel PrimaLuna – Ultramodern spaces with a beachside pool area, game room, and gym with lake views

Travel tips and FAQs

How do you get around Lake Garda?

The Garda ferry makes it extremely easy to get around the lake. The website makes it easy to explore timetables and book tickets in advance, but you can also purchase in person and the staff are quite friendly.

Boats start and end their trips in Riva del Garda. The route stops at Nago-Torbole, Limone, then Malcesine and further destinations (the opposite for returns).

Driving to destinations isn’t necessarily faster, and you’ll always have to plan ahead (and usually pay) for parking.

Can you bike from Limone to Riva del Garda?

You could, but the Limone Ciclopista has a dead end, although signs say they intend to continue construction – so hopefully, one day!

Biking from Riva del Garda to Limone is not advised for casual bikers with many inclines and tight switchbacks in some parts.

Can you bike from Riva del Garda to Malcesine?

The path from Riva to Torbole is quick, but once you leave Torbole you’ll be sharing the road with cars. It’s mostly downhill with some tunnels that seem to go on and on. As a casual biker using an e-bike, this was not a terrible experience for me. And worth it, as there are nice bike paths at water level once you get to Malcesine.

If you’re taking the route from Malcesine to Riva, it will be all uphill. To avoid this, you could take your bike back on the ferry (make sure it’s one that allows bikes) instead.