Nearest Airports to Lake Garda: Everything You Need To Know (2024)
You’re planning a trip to Lake Garda and wondering what is the nearest airport to Lake Garda. We’re here to break it down for you.
There are a lot of airports near Lake Garda which can make it hard to decide which one. Choosing the right one can help you travel quickly and stress-free (plus, it might even save you money!) to Italy’s largest lake.
Lake Garda or Lago di Garda as it is known in Italy, is the largest lake in Italy and can be found in the North of the country home to pizza, pasta and gelato.
With its mountain backdrop, glistening lake and quaint towns it is a picture-perfect destination (we should know, we took over 2000 photos whilst visiting!) It’s no wonder that 22 million people visit Lake Garda each year. Despite this, during our visit in April 2024, we found the place incredibly relaxing and fairly quiet compared to other Italian destinations that we have visited.
So, you might be wondering:
“Which airport is nearest to Lake Garda?”
“How long does it take to get to Lake Garda from Verona?”
“Which is the closest airport to Lake Garda?”
To help you plan your trip as smoothly as possible we have put together our guide to help you find the nearest airport to Lake Garda.
Which airport is nearest Lake Garda?
Verona (VRN) is the closest main airport to Lake Garda. Verona airport is 34.6 km (21.49) from the town of Garda. It takes just half an hour to drive from Garda to the southeast corner of Lake Garda, Verona is by far the most popular spot to fly into for those visiting Lake Garda.
Which other airports are near Lake Garda?
Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY)
After Verona, Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) is the second closest airport. Milan Bergamo Airport is 100 km (63 miles) away from Lake Garda and it takes approximately 1.5 hours to drive between the two. Note that this airport isn’t actually in Milan but, instead, next to the beautiful town of Bergamo. However, it isn’t far from Milan – one of Italy’s major cities.
Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
The third closest airport to Lake Garda is Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP). Approximately 179.4 km (111.47 miles) away from Verona, Milan airport is a great choice if you want to pair it with a few nights in Milan. Or, if the flight times work better for you. The drive from Milan airport to Verona takes around 2 hours 15 minutes.
Venice Marco Polo Airport (VCE)
Venice Airport is a good choice to travel to Lake Garda, if you are visiting the southern part of Lake Garda, such as Garda town. The Airport is approximately 190 km (118 miles) from Lake Garda.
What airport do you fly to for Lake Garda?
The best airport due to its close proximity to Lake Garda is Verona, the drive connecting the two spots only takes around 30 minutes. However, if you plan on visiting the northern side of Lake Garda then Milan Bergamo Airport might be best for you.
How do I get to Lake Garda from the UK?
Multiple flights leave every day from The UK into the airports near Lake Garda. For the quickest and most convenient way, we recommend flying into Verona airport and then hiring a car at the airport to drive to the lake. This is the option that we went for and it was convenient and budget friendly (we paid £22 per day for car hire plus fuel).
How long is the transfer from Verona Airport to Lake Garda?
The transfer time between Verona and Lake Garda depends on which part of the lake you are visiting as well as how you are travelling between the two places. If you are staying in Garda and driving from the airport in Verona then the transfer time will take around 30 minutes. If however, you are getting public transportation then this can take closer to 2 hours.
How to travel from Verona (VRN) to Lake Garda via public transport
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Verona Airport, take the shuttle bus which connects the airport to the Verona Porta Nuova train station at regular intervals throughout the day.
From the train station, you can travel directly to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two of the most important towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Once there, you can use the buses and ferry networks connecting the different lakeside towns and villages. Some buses connect the Verona Porta Nuova train station to different towns on the shores of Lake Garda allowing you to travel directly to them without the need to take a train first.
To reach the northern towns of Lake Garda you can get a bus or a ferry from either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda. Alternatively, you can travel by train from the Verona Porta Nuova train station to the city of Rovereto. Once there, you can take a bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns.
How to travel from Milan Bergamo Airport (BGY) to Lake Garda via public transport
To reach Lake Garda from the airport via public transport, begin by taking the shuttle bus from Verona Airport to Verona Porta Nuova train station, which operates regularly throughout the day.
Upon arrival at the train station, you can board a train for either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda, two of the main towns found along the southern shores of Lake Garda. Both trains go directly to the towns. Upon reaching one of these towns, you’ll find convenient networks of buses and ferries interlinking the lakeside towns and villages.
Where is Lake Garda train station?
If you are getting a train from one of the main cities to Lake Garda then you might be wondering where Lake Garda train station is. There are actually 3 stations around the lake, these are
Peschiera Railway Station, Desenzano Railway Station and Rovereto Railway Station. These are dotted around the eastern side of the lake making it convenient to access the whole lake combining trains and boats on Lake Garda.
How to get around Lake Garda without a car
Lake Garda is fairly well connected with bus routes around the lake.
You can find the current timetables of the bus lines around the lake shores and connecting Lake Garda to the nearby large Italian cities and towns can be found here.
You can also find boats around Lake Garda connecting the larger towns. These are mainly foot passenger boats, however, there are a few between the larger towns which also take cars. You can find the boat timetable here.
What is the best place to stay in Lake Garda without a car?
The town of Garda is a great place to stay in Lake Garda without a car. It is well connected to Verona airport using public transport or is only a 30-minute drive with a hire car. Peschiera is also a wonderful little town on the southern shores of Lake Garda that is well-connected. If you are happy to travel a little further than any of the towns on the eastern shores is convenient to travel to.
If you’re wondering where to stay we have written a post about the best areas and hotels that you can read here.
Conclusion on the nearest airport Lake Garda
We hope that this guide will help you plan your trip to Lake Garda. It should help you discover the closest airport to Lake Garda, how far Lake Garda is from Verona and the best place to stay in Lake Garda without a car. Lake Garda is absolutely gorgeous and we had the best time when visiting. So, we hope that you do too!
