Fair warning: this blog post is filled with photos that might have you planning a trip to Lake Garda, Italy sooner than you expected! My holiday at Lake Garda happened almost spontaneously. I was simply looking for a sunny destination where I could relax and recharge. It had been more than 20 years since my last visit, once with my sister and once with my mum, and returning felt just as magical as I remembered.
With its sparkling blue waters, charming lakeside towns, and dramatic mountain scenery, it’s easy to see why Lake Garda remains one of Italy’s most loved holiday destinations. In fact, holidaying at Lake Garda is ideal for any nature lover.
That said, one thing did surprise me: cycling in Italy was far more challenging than I expected, especially after enjoying the smooth, well-maintained cycling paths I’d experienced in other countries. It certainly made for an adventure! Still, spending your holiday at Lake Garda and trying out a cycling route is always memorable.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is surrounded by charming towns, from Garda to Sirmione. The lake lies just below the Alps and close to Verona. As a result, it has become one of Italy’s most popular holiday destinations, especially for Northern Europeans. In fact, almost everyone I know has visited Lake Garda at least once. And honestly, it’s easy to see why. The scenery is stunning, the climate is mild, and there is plenty to do. However, there is one downside. During the high season, Lake Garda can get very crowded—many choose a holiday at Lake Garda for its vibrant atmosphere.
Fortunately, my visit was different. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, there were far fewer tourists than usual. For me, that was the perfect reason to go. I enjoyed beautiful weather, quiet lakeside towns, and a much more relaxed atmosphere which made my holiday at beautiful Lake Garda unforgettable.
I stayed at Relais Madergnago, a lovely apartment hotel in Desenzano del Garda, on the southwestern shore of the lake. I really liked this part of the lake. It felt more local and less touristy because there were fewer campsites nearby—an ideal choice for anyone planning a relaxing holiday at Lake Garda.
My plan was simple. I wanted to relax, swim, and spend five days cycling in Italy while exploring the beautiful surroundings. My Holiday at Lake Garda turned out to be the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation.
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Cycling in Italy
I had big ideas for my cycling days in Italy and around Lake Garda. After all, I have done a few trips around lakes in the past few weeks already (e.g. Potsdam and Schwerin), so I was looking forward to do the same here. In many ways, taking a holiday at Lake Garda gives you plenty of routes to cycle.
Well, my advice about cycling in Italy. Don’t do it. The bike ways aren’t really proper bike ways (no matter what you read on the internet) and the cars don’t really care about you. As a cyclist that is. In fact, they actually get more annoyed and very aggressive with you. At least that was the case in my experience. And after cycling for over 7000km in 9 countries (from France to Spain, Belgium, Germany and more), I’d like to think I have a pretty good comparison. Still, nothing beats a holiday at Italy’s Lake Garda to experience the diversity of cycling conditions.
Overall, I didn’t enjoy long-distance cycling around Lake Garda. In fact, it felt quite intimidating at times. However, shorter rides are a different story. Cycling from your hotel or campsite along the lakeside promenade to a nearby town for an ice cream or pizza is much more relaxed. Those routes are scenic, enjoyable, and well worth doing during your holiday at Lake Garda.
Would you go cycling on your holiday at Lake Garda?
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Swimming and relaxing
Given the disappointment with the cycling, I decided to spend more time swimming instead. Not a bad compromise, as Lake Garda has beautiful, crystal-clear water. It was amazing.
Even though I preferred swimming in the lake to the pool, I still spent most evenings on my private deck, enjoying local wine and delicious Italian food. For that alone, it is always worth coming back to Italy.
Overall, it was a perfect holiday at Lake Garda. If you love swimming and relaxing by the water, a Lake Garda holiday will never disappoint.
Of course I did a short trip to revisit Verona as well. It has been over a year since my last trip there. And I could finally stand next to Juliet without the crowds. For anyone planning a holiday at Lake Garda, I highly recommend a day trip to Verona as well.
Read: Verona and the Reggio Emilia Province of Italy
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