Limone Sul Garda is an incredibly beautiful little town northwest side of the largest lake in Italy: Lake Garda. It is one of the best places to see in North Italy and the perfect spot for a long weekend away or even longer. The lake is packed full of cute towns and villages, and incredible mountain views of the Dolomites mountains. Plus, some wonderful spots for watersports or to simply sip on a glass of wine.

We have visited a lot of different spots in Italy, and have to say Lake Garda is one of our favourite places that we have visited. 

Limone Sul Garda, a comune in Brescia, has just 1,000 inhabitants. However, despite its small size, it is often labelled as one of the prettiest towns around the lake (and we have to say, we agree!). There are also plenty of things to do in Limone sul Garda. So, let’s dive into our guide on the top Limone sul Garda things to do.

Fun fact: Despite lemon meaning limone in Italian (and the town being involved of the growing of lemons) the town’s name actually comes from the Latin word ‘limen’ which means border, as this was a border area with the region of Trento.

Limone Sul Garda Italy Everything You Need To Know

Is Limone sul Garda worth visiting?

Limone Lake Garda is one of the most picturesque towns in Lake Garda and is certainly worth a visit. It is also a great base for exploring and enjoying the lake with its rocky cliffs and postcard-worthy town. If you’re planning a trip to Lake Garda then make sure that you include Limone in your itinerary!

How long should I spend in Limone sul Garda, Italy?

You can easily explore the little town in one day. However, if you want to enjoy it at a more relaxed pace and really take in the atmosphere then we recommend at least 2-3 days here. That way you can also take a day trip to some other nearby towns.

Where is Limone Sul Garda?

Limone sul Garda (Gardesano: Limù) is a town and comune in the province of Brescia, in Lombardy (northern Italy), at the western bank of Lake Garda. It is the northernmost town on the Brescia side of Lake Garda and is nestled in the mountains, immersed in the lush Mediterranean landscape.

How to get to Limone sul Garda

Travelling to Limone is easier than you might think. We have written a whole blog post on getting to Lake Garda that you can read here. But, if you’re short on time, here is what we advise to travel to Limone, Lake Garda, Italy.

Plane: Verona, Milan and Bergamo are the easiest and closest airports to fly into to get to Lake Garda. From there, you head to Limone by car or bus.

Travel times from each of the nearby cities are as follows:

Verona – 1hr30, 95 km

Milan Bergamo – 2hr, 120 km

Milan Linate – 2hr20, 150 km

Bologna – 2hr20, 219 km

Venezia Treviso – 2hr30, 225 km

Milan Malpensa – 2hr40, 203 km

Public Transport: Unfortunately, there is no train station in Limone. The closest train station is Desenzano del Garda in the south of the lake making it not very convenient if you are travelling to Limone. Depending on which airport you are flying into it might be possible to get a bus to Limone via Desenzano Del Garda-Sirmione. From here you can catch the ID 8018 which takes around 70 minutes to make the journey around the lake.

Boat: You can also get to Limone by boat from Sirmione, Malcesine, or Riva del Garda. Depending on which town you can travel to from the airport.

Hire Car: We arrived at Verona airport and drove around the lake to Limone. The drive takes approximately 2 hours in total and is a beautiful drive around the east side of the lake. You can also easily drive from Milan airport to Limone. Car hire is also relatively cheap in Italy (we paid £22 per day from Verona airport), and you can get a great hire car here beforehand.

How to get around Limone sul Garda

The two most popular ways of getting around the small town are walking and cycling. Limone is fairly small so it’s easy to walk around most of it, just be prepared for a few hills here and there. Cycling is also very popular. Limone has the longest cycle track in Lake Garda, it is 2 km long and is magical to cycle around. You will not need a car to drive around Limone. However, if you do want to spend some time exploring the other nearby villages and towns on the lake then a car is certainly the easiest way to get around.

When should I visit Limone sul Garda?

As with most spots in Europe we recommend visiting Limone during shoulder season. We visited in April and everything was pretty close to perfect. It was 25-28 degrees, not too busy, and everything was open. Prices were also very reasonable. Car hire was not too expensive neither were hotels.

Places to stay in Limone sul Garda – hotels we recommend:

Best budget: Hotel Rosemarie

This is where we stayed when we were visiting Limone. The views were wonderful, breakfast homemade and filling and the rooms were clean and semi-modern with a lovely balcony. It’s a great option if you’re looking for somewhere to stay on a tighter budget just outside of the centre.

Best luxury: Park Hotel Imperial

A wonderful 5-star hotel with a swimming pool, jacuzzi and hot tub. Each room has a balcony overlooking the swimming pool or with a partial lake view. The hotel is set back and is a 15-minute walk from the historic centre for ultimate peace and relaxation.

Best view: EALA My Lakeside Dream

An exceptionally modern, adults-only hotel sat right beside the lake. The Limone sul Garda hotel offers an infinity pool, rooms overlooking Lake Garda, and a free shuttle service to the Lake Garda Limone centre. The views really are incredible and some of the best that you’ll find around Lake Garda.

The top 11 things to do in Limone sul Garda

The best things to do in Limone Sul Garda

Cycle (or walk) along Ciclopista del Garda

As mentioned Limone sul Garda has the longest cycle track in Lake Garda. Ciclopista del Garda is currently 2.5km long and connects Limone del Garda to Capo Reamol. But, the path is still being built to extend it to 140 kilometres. The start of the current track is tough beginning with steep short climbs at the beginning leaving Limone Centre but after that, it’s a flat and beautiful cycle route. It is one of the top things to do in Limone sul Garda.

San Giovanni stream

We accidentally stumbled upon this little spot and were so glad that we did. It is one of the most beautiful places in Lake Garda. To find San Giovanni stream, if you’re coming from the main town, then on your way along the beach head up through the gardens up to Via Benedetto Croce and you’ll see it in front of you. If heading here from out of town then you’ll walk across a little bridge and see San Giovanni stream on your left from above. But, on your right, you’ll see a set of stairs with a signpost directing you to the beach. Head down these stairs and you’ll reach San Giovanni stream.

Wander around the streets of Limone sul Garda

One of the best things to do to discover the beautiful town is to stroll along the small winding pathways with a backdrop of lemon trees and olive groves. The streets are beautiful and there are plenty of little Riva del Garda shops, restaurants and cafes to explore. The old houses are also gorgeous and so full of life, covered in flowers and citrus trees.

The Limone sul Garda shops are packed full of souvenirs, Limoncello, olive oil from the wonderful olive groves and other little Italian gifts. It’s well worth spending some time wandering around them and see what’s on offer, even if you don’t intend to buy anything.

Relax on the beach

Not far from the town center is a free pebble beach in Limone, which is rare in Lake Garda. The beach has public toilets and restaurants along it and is just off to the side of the main promenade. There are also a lot of options to take part in some water sports here if that’s what you enjoy.

Can you swim in Limone sul Garda?

You can! The water here is safe to swim in, so if you’re feeling warm then take a dip, the water is also incredibly clear!

Take a boat trip to Malcesine

If you have a bit of spare time in Lake Garda then we really recommend taking a boat trip across the lake to the town of Malcesine. The boat costs €9 for a round trip which you can book here. Malcesine is a colourful town that is quite a bit bigger than some of the others. It is certainly worth a visit if you have more than 2+ days in Limone sul Garda, Italy.

Visit the market in Limone

Running every Tuesday from 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. is the Limone sul Garda market. The market sells a selection of locally grown fruit and vegetables and is a lovely way to spend a morning, especially if you are visiting Limone sul Garda, Italy for an extended amount of time and can cook up the fresh produce that you buy. A lovely thing to do in Limone Lake Garda Italy.

Enjoy a Limoncello spritz with views of the harbour

Limone sul Garda is known for its lemon growing so it’s no surprise that it makes some incredible Limoncello. There are plenty of cute little bars to enjoy a spritz along the waterfront – the perfect afternoon activity after exploring the town. You really can’t visit the town without enjoying one of the top things to do in Limone sul Garda!

Visit the lemon museum in Limone (Castèl lemon house)

Speaking of lemons, one of the most cultural things to do in Limone is learn about the lemons! Limone means lemons in Italian and growing them has always been a huge part of the town’s history. Castèl Lemon House is an open-air museum where you can learn more about the techniques used to grow lemons in the area. The structure of Castèl lemon house was built in the early eigh­teenth century and was renovated in 1995 by planting over a hundred citrus trees. Now it is owned by the town and has fifty citrus fruit trees including lemons, citrons, grapefruits, tangerines, clementines, bitter oranges, and kumquats.

Find out more about Castèl Lemon House here.

Stroll along the promenade around the lake

The views around the lake are breathtaking. One of our favourite things to do was to walk along the promenade and just take them all – with the glistening lake in front of you and the Dolomite mountains behind. There are also some lovely restaurants along the promenade where you can sit and enjoy some pizza, pasta or a spritz.

Visit the Tourism Museum of Limone sul Garda

The tourism museum shows the history of Limone through the ages. It’s a great place to come to learn a little bit more about the area, it traces the history of the town since the 1900s with photographs and period documents. It’s free to enter so is a great alternative thing to do if you would like to know a little more about the town or you need to escape the town!

Enjoy dinner in one of best restaurants in Limone sul Garda

Limone sul Garda restaurants are some of the most beautiful restaurants that we have seen. You’ll be spoilt for choice when deciding where to visit. We recommend visiting Hostaria al Buongusto for some fine dining and inside one of the most beautiful restaurants that we have ever seen.

We hope that this guide will help you plan your trip to this breathtaking little town in the North of Italy. Hopefully, you’ll have plenty of things to do in Limone sul Garda, Italy!

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about Limone sul Garda, Italy