The Best Places to Stay on Lake Garda (Hotels & Towns)

You’re wondering the best places to stay on Lake Garda? You’re in the right place!

We recently visited Lake Garda and completely fell in love with it. With its crystal clear water, quaint towns and mountain views it quickly became one of our favourite spots in Italy. But, figuring out where to stay in Lake Garda was tricky. With so many towns to choose between when visiting Lake Garda it can take a lot of work to decide the best places to stay on on the lake Garda. So, we’re here to help.

Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, found in the north of the country. It is located between Verona, Milan and Venice and sits nestled in the shadows of the magnificent Dolomite Mountains. If you’re wondering how to get to Lake Garda then we’ve put together a helpful guide that you can read here.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxing trip lazing on the beaches, diving into the town’s rich history, discovering the many vineyards dotted about or would just rather spend your time devouring some of the wonderful Italian food. Let’s dive in and discover the best Lake Garda hotels and the best campsites in Lake Garda.

Where to Stay Lake Garda Italy Best Hotels and Resorts

Let’s face it, the whole of Lake Garda is beautiful. You just need to decide if there is a specific area where you would like to stay on Lake Garda (more on that in a bit). Or, if the hotel on Lake Garda is more important to you than the area. Here are our favourite hotels in Italy Lake Garda. Read on to help you decide where to stay when visiting Lake Garda. Dive into the best places to stay on Lake Garda!

Hotel Madrigale – Most relaxing Lake Garda hotel

Tucked away on the hilltop near Lake Garda town is Hotel Madrigale. One of the most beautiful hotels that we have stayed in with panoramic views over Lake Garda, two swimming pools, a spa to relax in (complete with the option for a couples massage with the most epic view), a bar serving delicious aperitifs and a wonderful restaurant to enjoy exceptional local dishes in.

If you’re looking for a spot to relax in during your time in Lake Garda then Hotel Madrigale is that. This whole hotel feels intimate and private with tons of different areas for you to relax in.

⁣Hotel Madrigale comes with the option of opting for breakfast or half board you’ll enjoy a 4-course menu whilst watching the sunset. We also recommend enjoying a cocktail or two at the ‘Mad Bar’ their cocktails are amazing and the view is wonderful. They also have live music on certain nights.

⁣Hotel Madrigale also has a Spa complete with a relaxation room, sauna, ice fountain, jacuzzi and steam room. Plus, two outdoor swimming pools, one being an infinity pool overlooking the lake and one a wonderfully warmed pool, perfect for visiting during shoulder season.

Rooms start at £177/per night. We stayed in the beautiful Dolce Vita Suite with the most amazing balcony with stunning lake views, a kitchen area and a lounge to relax in and enjoy your chosen Lake Garda hotel. Hotel Madrigale is one of the luxury hotels on Lake Garda, however, there are also plenty of other hotel in Italy Lake Garda in the town that are suitable for every budget.

Hotel Meandro – Hotel with stunning lake views over Lake Garda

On the edge of the lake nestled amongst the lemon groves, just outside of the town of Garganono is Hotel Meandro a gorgeous hotel with the most incredible views overlooking Lake Garda. The hotel is family-run run which gives it a wonderful family feel, it is also complete with huge gardens to relax in and a restaurant serving local food whilst you enjoy the views, which are, quite literally, right in front of you.

The hotel prides itself on being a place of history, traditions, places and local flavours. Hotel Meandro overlooks the idyllic landscapes of Benaco and enjoys a view of Villa Feltrinelli. We are close to the quiet heart of Gargnano, the largest locality in the Brescia area of Lake Garda, and the least inhabited.

Rooms start from £122/per night for an economy double/ twin.

Hotel Villa Dirce – The most beautiful hotel in Limone sul Garda

Limone sul Garda was our favourite spot on Lake Garda, it’s one of the larger towns but it still manages to retain a small, picturesque feel. Hotel Villa Dirce is the perfect place to stay during your visit and is one of the best resorts in Lake Garda for couples. It’s one of the loveliest hotels on Lake Garda, Italy overlooking the lake and the mountains behind. From the hotel, it’s just a 15 minutes walk from the town centre.

Hotel Villa Dirce provides free continental breakfast, 18 holes of golf and a terrace.

The best campsite in Lake Garda

If you’re looking for a campsite in Lake Garda then luckily, there are plenty of options. Camping in Lake Garda is a great option to save some money and be at one with nature around the lake. There are some really beautiful ones dotted around the lake we recommend Agricampeggio Relax (Campsite) as the best campsite in Lake Garda, the views are phenomenal and with prices starting from £25, you can’t go wrong. Unless you hate camping!

If you’re looking for the facilities and atmosphere of a campsite, but, would still like some of the luxuries of a hotel then Euro Camping Pacengo on the northeastern shore of Lake Garda is one of the best campsites in Lake Garda.

The best places to stay in Lake Garda: Northern or Southern Villages

Each area along the shores of Lake Garda has its own charm and advantages.

The southern area tends to be warmer and are also easier to get to from cities such as Verona and Venice. It is the best place to stay on Lake Garda without a car due to its convenient transport links.

The north and northeast areas of Lake Garda, are, in our opinion more beautiful. The mountains are far more prominent behind the lake making for an incredible backdrop. You can also go on a day trip to the Dolomites. However, the north is harder to get to from the main cities. So, take this into account when planning your visit.

The best towns on Lake Garda by village/ town

When considering where to stay in Lake Garda the area can make a huge difference to your trip. Whilst each beautiful little town and village has some similarities they are all unique in their way. The shores of Lake Garda are dotted with more than 20 little villages/ towns. So, deciding which one to stay in can change your whole visit.

Garda

A picturesque little village packed with lakeside eateries, relaxing promenades, stunning views, and historic attractions. It’s a great option to stay if it’s your first time in Lake Garda, or if you’re only visiting for a short time. You can base yourself here and easily travel to and from the other villages on the south of the lake. It is also just a 30-minute drive away from Verona making it extremely easy to get to and from. It’s where we stayed for 2 nights whilst we were in Lake Garda and loved it. It wasn’t our favourite spot on the lake, but, it was a great place to spend a few nights.

Malcesine

The main town to stay at in Lake Garda is Malcesine. A beautiful Renaissance town on the northeastern shores of Lake Garda. Compared to other lakeside towns on the east side, Malcesine is larger and has several popular tourist spots, outdoor activities, bike rental, sailing clubs and restaurants.

You can also spend some time hiking in the beautiful mountains behind the town, there’s a cable car up to the top and some wonderful trails with incredible views over the lake and mountains. Because of this, it can get very busy so if you do choose to stay in Malcesine then we recommend booking your hotel in advance. However, it is one of the best places to stay in Lake Garda due to its good connections and central location on the lake.

Limone sul Garda

Limone sul Garda was our favourite spot around Lake Garda, it’s also known as the most beautiful town on Lake Garda, owing to the picturesque town and the incredibly beautiful mountains that you can see behind it. Located on the western shore of Lake Garda, Limone sul Garda is immersed in a lush Mediterranean landscape but, with the added beauty of the Dolomiti mountains as the backdrop.

The town gets its name from the ancient tradition of lemon cultivation, which is even showcased on the village’s historic coat of arms. Because of this, dotted about the town there are tons of spots where you can stop for a Limoncello or Limoncello spritz or buy some to take home with you.

We loved it so much that we wrote a whole post about the town of Limone sul Garda. You can read more about visiting here.

Riva del Garda

Riva del Garda is a town at the northern tip of Lake Garda. It is known for its strong winds and windsurfing. The medieval city walls enclose the Old town and are full of cafes, restaurants and shops. Walking through the alleys towards the lake, you can reach the Fortress (Rocca), first built in the 12th century or head up the short 20-minute path to the Bastion, the tower overlooking the city for a view.

If you have spare time and want to make the most of the lakeside views then 2 outstanding kilometres of track connect Limone with the town limit of Riva del Garda.

Best places to stay on Lake Garda without a car

If you’re deciding on the best place to stay in Lake Garda without a car, you should probably consider a town along the southern edge near one of the train stations. The towns of Desenzano and Peschiera both have excellent transport links to Milan and Verona airport via train and day trips to major cities, including Venice, are very easy to achieve. From these towns, you can also hop on and off the local buses to many other lakeside towns.

Read all about how to get to Lake Garda and around it here.

Top tip for where to stay in Lake Garda

If you stay in Lake Garda for more than 4 days, then we suggest splitting your trip between two different spots around the lake. If you can, stay a few days on the southern side of the lake before you move up north (or the other way around – depending on where you are flying in and out of).

This way you’ll get to experience more of the lake. This is exactly what we did and were so glad that we did. We split our trip between Garda and Limone sul Garda and spent the day driving between the two towns exploring the ones in between. A perfect way to experience more of the lakes.

Best Places to Stay in Lake Garda FAQ