Trip to Northern Italy in Verona, Venice, Lake Garda, and the Dolomites
The most suitable area for a family trip in Italy is undoubtedly the northern lake district, where the major lakes are Garda, Como, and Maggiore. Of all of them, the most ideal for a family vacation is Lake Garda. It is recommended to stay in one of the many resort hotels, apartments, or farmhouses located in the picturesque towns around the lake, explore the attractions scattered in the vicinity, close to the lake, and even further away. You can also hop north to the Dolomites region.
The optimal duration for a relaxed family trip combining sightseeing, vacation, and family attractions is one week to ten days.
It is highly recommended to stay in one place for the entire trip (maximum two accommodations if you wish to explore the other lakes as well), which reduces costs and especially saves the hassle of moving, packing, unpacking, and searching for addresses. This is a classic destination for star-shaped trips (hub-and-spoke). You should book accommodation as early as possible (especially in summer and Christian holidays such as Easter) because this is an extremely popular region for travel and vacation by both the Italians themselves and their neighbors from the rest of Northern Europe.
♦ Car rental from the reliable and convenient Booking site: Booking.com
Trip Recommendations and Activities:
Gardaland Amusement Park - the largest and most successful amusement park in Italy. Located in southern Lake Garda, between Sirmione and Verona. It is worth dedicating a full day to it.
Tour from Viator site:
♦ Sunset Cruise in Sirmione: Sunset Tour in Sirmione
CANEVAWORLD - a successful entertainment complex including a water park named AquaParadise. This is a modern and large water park full of slides, currents, and action. Open only during the summer months. Adjacent to it is a movie park named Movieland open from mid-April, and a knight-themed dinner show called MEDIEVAL TIMES.
Charming Sigurtà Gardens PARCO GIARDINO SIGURTA – well-maintained botanical gardens with huge lawns, a maze, fish ponds, and colorful flowers located in the town of VALEGGIO SUL MINCIO. It is recommended to rent bicycles or a golf cart and ride along the paths of the impressive park. The park also has organized walking trails and a small train that takes a scenic ride of about half an hour.
It is also worth spending a short hour visiting the alleys of the preserved picturesque village "Borghetto" near BORGHETTO SUL MINCIO.
For action lovers, it is worth spending half a day at the rope park Park Jungle Adventure where there are rope bridges, zip lines, and various climbing options across three trails of different difficulty levels.
Animal lovers will enjoy visiting the "Parco Natura Viva" safari in Pastrengo near Verona. This is essentially a combination of a safari and a zoo located in a well-maintained forest. The site also features a "Dinosaur Trail" with giant statues of prehistoric creatures and a huge petting zoo.
The most touristic and beautiful town on Lake Garda is Sirmione Sirmione: a picturesque old town built on a land tongue inside Lake Garda. It is recommended to take a tour of the old town alleys and Scaligera Castle, sail on the lake near the castle, ride bicycles along the lakeside promenade, and finish with a scoop of ice cream from the wonderful ice cream mountains at the many stalls in the old town.
On Mondays and Fridays, a nice market is held in the town.
The castle in Sirmione:
Trip around Lake Garda:
Around Lake Garda, there are picturesque towns immersed in vegetation, spectacular viewpoints over the lake, and scenic roads, some carved into rocks with numerous tunnels.
♦ Book a guided hiking trip in the Lake Garda area from Viator: Lake Garda: one day private hiking excursion
Lasts about 7 hours. Option for transportation to the starting point of the trip.
It is successful to combine (in summer) swimming in the wonderful beaches scattered around the lake, sailing, or walking along the organized and well-kept promenades. It is recommended to divide the trip around the lake into at least two days.
Another ancient town to dedicate time to is MALCESINE, taking a cable car to the peak of Monte Baldo via a two-stage cable car, the second stage of which is in a 360-degree rotating cabin.
Another viewpoint not to be missed is on the way to the town of CAMPIONE DEL GARDA, rightfully considered one of the most beautiful roads in the country. Another interesting town is RIVA DEL GARDA, which is a resort town with a neat and well-kept old center. Its main attraction is the Rocca Palace, and it has a long promenade leading to the lake shore with a large selection of active sports and recreation options, mainly water sports of various kinds (surfing, sailing, water skiing).
Near Riva, it is highly recommended to take a short nature trip to the Varone Waterfalls Cascata Varone about 3 km north of the town. The waterfalls drop from a height of about 100 meters and are reached by a short and successful walk of less than half a minute (half an hour) passing from the lower waterfall to the view of the upper waterfall. Slightly north of the waterfalls is a small lake with crystal clear water in an amazing turquoise color:
Tenno Lake Tenno is its name. Around the lake is an easy walking trail. In summer, it is great to cool off in its cool waters.
In summer, Lake Garda is an active resort site very suitable for swimming, sailing, water skiing, and other water fun. It is definitely worth dedicating a leisurely day to a vacation at the lake.
A particularly successful beach, well-maintained and full of facilities is "Baia delle Sirene" located on the eastern side of the lake between Garda and Malcesine.
If the weather is not suitable for swimming in the lake, or if you feel like pampering yourselves a bit, visit the thermal springs park Parco Termale del Garda near Villa Cedri in the village of Cola Cola. The park features a large artificial lake with waterfalls and fountains, a partially indoor pool with currents and a jacuzzi.
♦ Recommended Hotels in the Lake Garda Area
in Peschiera del Garda
Agriturismo da Giovanni
Ten rooms and vacation apartments suitable for 2-4 guests. The apartments are air-conditioned and include an equipped kitchen. The hotel has an outdoor swimming pool and a large whirlpool bath inside a sprawling garden.
Campeggio da Giovanni
A holiday village featuring cabins and a camping site. The cabins are air-conditioned and include an equipped kitchen, a covered and furnished balcony with barbecue facilities, 2 bedrooms, and a bathroom. The place features 2 outdoor pools, a bar, and a garden with a children's playground.
Altomincio Family Park
A holiday village with a successful water park located about 15 km south of Peschiera del Garda and on the shores of Lake Garda. The holiday village offers plenty of sports facilities, bicycle rentals, a children's club, and activities for children and youth aged 0-16. There is a supermarket on-site.
A quality holiday village in the town of Peschiera Del Garda, just 2 km away from the "Gardaland" amusement park
A holiday village featuring vacation apartments and a camping site, with five pools, full of attractions and activities near the town of Peschiera Del Garda.
In the Sirmione area:
Villa Cortine Palace Hotel
A 54-room 5-star hotel about 5 minutes from the historic center of Sirmione. The hotel features well-maintained gardens with statues and fountains, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a private pier.
Tenuta La Borghetta
A farmhouse about a quarter-hour drive from Sirmione. The place offers 23 apartments of various sizes intended for 2-6 guests. The bright and spacious apartments offer vineyard views and include air conditioning and an equipped kitchen. The property features a swimming pool and free private parking.
Hotel Du Lac
A 35-room 3-star double room hotel on the coastline overlooking Lake Garda. The hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, most rooms have a balcony, and some offer lake views. The hotel is located one kilometer from the center of Sirmione.
A holiday village in Sirmione, the most beautiful and picturesque town by the lake.
Verona:
Verona is located a 40-minute drive southeast of Garda. This is an interesting city famous mainly for the tragic love story written by Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, which took place in this city.
It is worth dedicating at least half a day to it and visiting the central square, the Arena (an impressive Roman amphitheater hosting operas (mostly in summer)), and of course Juliet's house with the famous balcony and graffiti paintings.
♦ Book a guided trip from Lake Garda to Verona from Viator - Verona Full-Day Trip from Lake Garda
The city also has a nice car museum and bustling squares with markets and stalls.
Verona also has beautiful gardens considered among the most beautiful Renaissance gardens in Italy: Giardino Giusti Giardino Giusti .
Day trip to Venice:
There is no need to add many words about this famous and romantic city. You can read useful information about it in my article on Cruises from Venice. Despite the heavy crowds, congestion, dirt, and water odors, visiting it is a must. Must-see sites are: St. Mark's Square with its hundreds of pigeons, the Doge's Palace, the Rialto Bridge, the city center alleys, and a boat trip to the glass island of Murano.
♦ You can book here from Viator a day trip to Venice departing from Lake Garda - Classic Venice Full Day Tour from Lake Garda
Venice viewed from the sea:
♦ Recommended accommodations in Venice:
Hotel A La Commedia - A 4-star hotel located just 200 meters from the Rialto Bridge and water bus station, and a 10-minute walk from St. Mark's Square. The hotel's terrace offers a romantic view of Venice. The hotel opened in 2006 and is housed in a fully restored historic building.
Pensione Accademia - Villa Maravege - A 3-star guesthouse with 23 rooms housed in a 17th-century villa near the Grand Canal, offering a private garden, quiet surroundings, and a central location in Venice near the Accademia water-bus station
Residenza Grandi Vedute - An apartment hotel featuring 8 apartments for 2-5 guests. The apartments offer views of Venice. Located on Giudecca Island, a short walk from the Palanca water bus station. Guests can use a complimentary boat shuttle service departing to St. Mark's Square.
You can stay in Mestre, the neighboring city:
Particularly recommended:
Hotel Villa Costanza - A 3-star hotel located 250 meters from Mestre railway station. Housed in a 19th-century building restored using original materials. The hotel features 26 rooms accommodating 1-4 guests.
Marco Polo Lodge - Three equipped vacation apartments intended for 4-5 guests, located 2 km from Mestre railway station. The apartments have private parking.
Lake Maggiore:
The most beautiful lake in my opinion among all the lakes. The highlight here is a boat trip to the Borromean Islands ISOLE BORROMEE, especially two of them: Isola Bella ("The Beautiful Island") and Isola Madre ("Mother Island"). The islands feature magnificent gardens full of birdlife including plenty of peacocks, picturesque alleys, and impressive buildings. It is also worth visiting the touristic and ornate town of Stresa situated on the lake shore.
It is recommended to take a cable car to the top of Mount MOTTARONE for a spectacular view of the lake and islands.
For height and cable car enthusiasts, it is recommended to go up in Laveno (on the eastern side of the lake) in cable car cabins (individual or couple cabins where you stand) to the peak of the nearby mountain which offers a magnificent view of the lake, surrounding mountains, and nearby towns.
Gardens in Isola Bella and the town of Stresa
Lake Como:
A lake surrounded by mountains and picturesque villages, marinas, gardens, and castles. It is especially recommended to visit the town of Bellagio, the most picturesque and romantic town on Lake Como located on the "tip" of the lake.
Visiting Villa Melzi Villa Melzi considered one of the symbols of Bellagio. The villa also has beautiful English gardens. It is also very successful to row a boat on the lake and see Bellagio from the water. You can rent a boat at the Unione Sportiva Bellagina sailing club.
Another charming town on the western shore of the lake is CERNOBBIO, whose main attraction is VILLA D'ESTE, which has terraced gardens reaching right to the lake with beautiful statues and a magical view. But the most beautiful and impressive villa of all in Como is Villa Carlotta in the town of TREMEZZO.
Day trip to the Dolomites in Italy:
Particularly suitable for nature lovers, mountain passes, and cable cars. The most interesting points are: Val Gardena, the town of Ortisei, Sella Pass, CANAZEI and the Marmolada peak.
♦ Book a trip to the Dolomites departing from Lake Garda from Viator:
Dolomites Full-day Tour from Lake Garda
Trip duration 11 hours.
The Dolomites:
