Top 10 things to do in Lake Garda

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Narrowing it down to 10 was difficult but here are the top 10 things to do in Lake Garda by Holiday Homes in Italy:

1. Take the ferry - the best way to see Garda is to go from town to town on the ferry. The coastal road is beautiful but the traffic can be intense in high season, so jumping on a ferry is a great escape offering unobstructed and fantastic views of most of the lakeside towns, many of which are simply not possible in a car.

2. Try water sports - For the water sports fanatics or even beginners looking to take lessons, Riva in the north offers some of the best windsurfing activities on the lake of Garda. You can also rent sailboats, kayaks and canoes. Neighbouring Torbole also offers a great selection of activities to keep you busy!

3. Have a beach day - People don’t naturally think of Lake Garda as beach destination but the Lake is very clean and perfect for swimming. There are beaches in all of the towns around the lake, some with pebbles, others with cute platforms or jetties and many offering a wealth of water sport activities. The beauty of the beaches here is the scenery; calm, clear waters and a backdrop of mountains or hills with Mediterranean foliage, lemon trees and olive groves. If you want something more lively and cool, Garda is setting the trend with beach clubs like Coco Beach.

4. Visit the wineries – Bardolino in the south is vineyard territory and perfect for an afternoon visit, where you can taste the delicious local red wines in many of the 50+ vineyards in the area. There is even a wine museum. The town also houses a number of artisan shops and some pretty churches and historic remains.

5. Wander in the serene gardens and parks – Como may steal the limelight with its gardens but Garda is sadly often overlooked and underrated. It offers some fabulous gardens in and around the lake, perfect for a relaxing stroll. The beautiful botanical gardens in Gardone Riveria offer over 2000 species of plants from all over the world; the public gardens in Riva are delightful and the gardens on Isola Garda are stunning. Parco Giardino Sigurta close to Peschiera is considered to be in the top five in the world and if you are looking for bigger expanse of space, Parco Natura Viva, which is east of Lazise, offers a 40 hectare park with plenty to do for the family. Spoilt for choice!

6. Go Biking! Lake Garda is a paradise for cyclists. You can rent bikes in most of the resorts and ride along the cycle paths around the lake or cycle in the countryside villages to the south of the lake. A fabulous way to explore the area! For the more adventurous, you could hire mountain bikes and attempt the mountains to the north of the lake.

7. Relax in a square – whether you are in the centre of Salo’, Riva or Limone, you will find the perfect square to relax in and watch the world go by. This is classic Italy; grab a cappucchino, gelato or aperitivo (the locals love a ‘Spritz’, which is made from Prosecco, sparkling water and Aperol) and soak up the atmosphere. Fantastico!

8. Visit Sirmione in the south. A difficult choice just to choose one as we love Riva, Garda, Limone and so many more but Simione is wonderful. It has been favoured by artists and poets over the centuries for its sheer beauty and offers a medieval centre, dominated by a large castle. The town is also known for its thermal bath resorts.

9. Visit Verona – we wouldn’t normally suggest leaving your holiday destination to venture further afield but the beautiful City of Verona, with its magnificent Roman ruins and medieval and Renaissance buildings is literally on its doorstep. The Roman amphitheatre is the third largest building of its type and the best preserved and boasts the City’s culture status with plays and grand operatic performances under the stars. It's also a great City for some retail therapy...

10. Visit Gardaland for the kids! This is as far removed from traditional Italy as you can get but Gardaland is the largest amusement park in Italy. For a day away from the scenery and a great number of rides, you can’t beat this park. There's a free shuttle bus from the Pescheria train station as well as a Gardaland bus running from quite a few of the towns around the lake.

Self-catering accommodation in Lake Garda

It's not in the top 10 but we think taking a holiday rental in Lake Garda will make your stay even more perfect; space, privacy and the ability to try both restaurants and relax with some home cooked food from the local markets or simply having a capucchino or breakfast on your own terrace or balcony - fantastico! Holiday Homes in Italy offer a wide range of apartment and villa rentals in Lake Garda:

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