Exploring Italy From North To South ( Part-2 Lake Garda)
Continuing from where I left earlier it’s time for our next destination “Lake Garda”. As I already mentioned in the last part we had just a few hours to explore Milan and had to leave for Lake Garda next morning but unfortunately, our bags were misplaced by the airport authorities and they were not able to track it down even the next day so we had no other choice but to go for some shopping in Milan.
Shopping in Milan is a dream but it’s an expensive city too!!! However, we found Decathlon and HnM just close to the cathedral and the prices were not very high compared to India. So, we ended up buying a few stuff from there. If you are ever stuck in such a situation and are looking for some cheap clothes search for “Primark”.
Primark is a discount fashion chain which offers clothes and accessories for as low as 4-5 euros. Primark has irresistible offers at amazingly low prices and it has close to 350 stores in different European countries.
Coming back to our trip, after shopping we had to leave for Lake Garda.
View Enroute Lake Garda
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Lake Garda or Lake Como- The Dilemma
If you have ample time or you are just exploring a few places in Italy, you can visit both lakes. However, they are around 200 km apart which is a 3-hour drive, plus they are on opposite sides of Milan. So, we had no other option but to choose one.
Lake Como is much closer to Milan, while Lake Garda is closer to Verona and Venice. Since our next destination was Venice, Lake Garda was an obvious choice. However, to help you out I will give you a comparison between both lakes so you can make the best choice.
Lake Garda is east of Lake Como and Milan. It’s 136km from Milan which is a 2-hour drive. It’s a 2-hour drive from Venice too. From Milan, on the other hand, it’s an hour to the southernmost tip of Lake Como, by either car or train. If you are taking a train to Lake Como the train station you want is either “Como Lago or Como San Giovanni”.
Chances are you have already heard of Lake Como a lot in the news. This particular destination is very popular among celebrities. Many Bollywood celebrities visit Lake Como, recently even Deepika Padukone got married there. George Clooney, Madonna, Richard Branson, and Gianni Versace all own villas there, too.
If you are more interested in a castle and Roman ruins, go to Lake Garda; for opulent villas and gardens, opt for Lake Como.
Lake Como is famous for its gorgeous villas and gardens. The 17th-century Villa Carlotta has a beautiful Romantic park and sculptures by Canova; the 18th-century Villa del Balbianello is famed for its terraced gardens; and the Villa Melzi d’Eril, in Bellagio, is a neo-classical villa with an orangery, Japanese garden, and sculpture.
The general perception is Lake Garda is more touristy than Lake Como. However, Lake Garda has plenty of quiet spots such as the northern part of the lake but it is difficult to get to this part as it is not a much-developed area. On the other hand, Lake Como is developed all the way around the lake and is surrounded by the Alps mountain on all sides. Also, Lake Como is a little more elegant and expensive.
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How To Reach Lake Garda
There are three ways to get to Lake Garda from Milan. The easiest and most comfortable way of traveling is by car. If you don’t want to rent a car or taxi, you can also get a train from Milan to Lake Garda or take a bus.
It is easy to drive from Milan to Lake Garda as the route is nearly entirely a highway, just follow the direction to Verona which is well indicated on the signboards. It’s just a 2-hour drive.
The next option is by train. Take a train from Milano Centrale railway station to “Peschiera Del Garda ” railway station. It will take one hour to one and a half hours. The high-speed train tickets cost between €21 and €24 and the regional train costs €9.20.
If you are planning to take a bus book your tickets in advance. Flixbus is the largest European bus service. You can visit their site and book the tickets online. The prices may vary from 9.99 euro to 13.99 euro. The bus will also take 2 hours to reach Lake Garda.
Lake Garda
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy. It is located in northern Italy and between Venice and Milan. The northern part of the lake is narrow and surrounded by mountains. The lake has a number of small islands and five main ones.
The ancient fortified town of Sirmione, located on the south of the lake, is the most popular destination around the lake. You can find a number of restaurants, bars, hotels, fashion stores, and a market in this town. The Scaliger castle from the 13th century is also another popular destination. But we’ll talk about the attractions around the lake later.
Lake Garda is touristy because it is the most water-sports oriented lake in Italy. The southern shore of this lake is lined by beaches, while in the north, mountains and cliffs outline the lake. Its terrain offers a wide variety of attractions for tourists, from sailing and windsurfing to mountain climbing, rappelling, and mountain biking.
You can also find fortified castles, Roman remains, and sites of interest to World War II. There are also many restaurants, bars, and cafes around the lake where you can sit and relax with a mug of beer. However, you won’t find many restaurants open between 3 pm and 5 pm.
Lunch at Lake Garda
Cold Coffee at Lake Garda
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Places To Explore Around The Lake
There are a number of places around the lake that you can visit if you plan on staying at Lake Garda for long.
1. Sirmione and Castello Scaligeri
Sirmione is a little town which has a beautiful entrance across a moat on a drawbridge and into the forecourt of the Scaligeri castle. The castle gives a panoramic view of the lake and the town.
2. Grotte di Catullo: Ruins of a Roman Villa
The ruins of the villa once owned by the Roman poet Catullus, who lived from 84 to 54 BC still puzzle historians. It is a 15-minute walk from the village of Sirmione, or you can take an electric tourist trolley from Piazza Piatti.
3. Desenzano del Garda
Desenzano del Garda is located west of Sirmione and there is also a train station by the same name if you want to get down here. Lake steamers and hydrofoils leave for towns all around the lake from here. Villa Romana, a Roman villa, has been excavated near the old town center and has some beautiful mosaics. Most of the lake's best beaches are along this southern shore.
4. Riva del Gard
Torbole Beach
Riva del Garda is located at the northern end of the Lake Garda and it sits between the mountains and the water. The beach at nearby Torbole is best known for windsurfing because of steady winds. Lessons and rentals for both windsurfing and sailing are available here.
You can find a number of other beautiful towns around the lake. If you plan on staying longer you can even explore some other beautiful places such as Arco, Vittoriale d'Italia, Gardone Riviera, Malcesine, Bardolino, etc. You can get a ferry to travel across towns through the lake or if you have a car you can drive alongside the lake with a beautiful view.
From Lake Garda, we move to Venice (coming soon in Part-3).
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