Camping in Lake Garda

Why we love holidays in Lake Garda

Italy's largest lake is surrounded by ancient fortified towns, thermal spas and dramatic mountain vistas aplenty for families to explore. In the north of the country, the landscape is dramatic and full of outdoor opportunities, with medieval castles, pristine forests and modern theme parks, and the food is simply sensational.

Lake Garda, with its dramatic blend of Alpine peaks and Mediterranean shores, has a remarkable history stretching back thousands of years, easy to discover, with its Roman ruins and medieval strongholds around its shores. But today's Lake Garda combines this dizzying past with abundant modern adventures, from thrilling theme parks at Gardaland to gentle castle tours in centuries-old fortified towns and explorations of thermal spas and majestic gardens. Your parc is the gateway to all of this and more.

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The essence of Lake Garda

Dramatic landscapes

Take a trip around the lake's shores and experience the thrill of towering mountain peaks plunging into crystal-clear waters. From the spa town of Sirmione to the lemon groves of Limone, each shore offers its own unique character and breathtaking views.

Ancient fortifications

The lake is dominated by magnificent castles and medieval strongholds. Sirmione's moated Rocca Scaligera, Malcesine's dramatic Castello Scaligero, and Torri del Benaco's weathered fortress all tell tales of centuries past whilst offering spectacular views from their ramparts.

Picturesque towns

There are lakeside gems around every bend. Try Limone, sandwiched between water and mountain with its lemon-scented terraced groves, or explore the chocolate-box prettiness of Bardolino with its vine-covered hills and pristine harbour.

Our favourite things to do in Lake Garda

Fun days out

Gardaland theme park near Castelnuovo del Garda combines heart-stopping roller coasters with family-friendly attractions, featuring the white-knuckle Raptor ride alongside gentler options for younger children. This thrilling entertainment wonderland includes both the main theme park and the fascinating Gardaland Aquarium with its interactive displays and sea lion feeding shows. Movieland Studios, part of the Caneva World complex, is Italy's first cinema-themed park experience where you can enjoy movie-set attractions, spectacular stunt shows, and meet famous film characters before cooling off at the adjacent Aquastudios waterpark designed like a tropical island.

Medieval Times Show offers an immersive historical experience where you can enjoy a three-course medieval banquet while cheering your team's knights in a spectacular tournament – the dinner show performs in Italian, German, and English, encouraging enthusiastic audience participation: you have been warned! The thermal spas of Piazza di Sopra provide the ultimate relaxation experience with natural hot springs, jacuzzis, therapeutic waterfalls, and healing caves where warm bubbles ease away every trace of stress.

Getting active

Exploring Lake Garda by boat is a must, with pleasure cruises offering unforgettable journeys past medieval towns and dramatic clifftops – local operators provide trips ranging from short harbour tours to full circumnavigation adventures stopping at the lake's most picturesque destinations. The extensive network of hiking trails throughout the region caters to all abilities, from gentle lakeside promenades in Bardolino to challenging mountain ascents like the Monte Baldo cable car experience from Malcesine, which rewards you with panoramic views across the entire lake. It’s worth the effort, trust us!

Water sports enthusiasts can head to designated beaches around Garda and Lazise for swimming and paddling, whilst Torbole serves as the principal base for windsurfing and Sirmione offers the Surf Centre with equipment hire and tuition if you want to master the waters. Cycling around the lake, with the scenic Gardesana road, guarantees stunning vistas at every turn while connecting historic destinations like Torri del Benaco and Limone. South Garda Karting offers an adrenaline-fueled alternative with its 1000-metre track often used by professionals for winter training!

Cultural hotspots

The ancient spa town of Sirmione can claim to have 2,000 years of continuous habitation. Sights include the imposing 13th-century Rocca Scaligera castle rising from the lake's waters and the Grotte di Catullo–sprawling ruins of an enormous 1st-century BC Roman villa that was one of the largest residential structures in northern Italy. Malcesine's Castello Scaligero not only provides dramatic views from its ramparts but houses an excellent natural history museum that explains the unique ecosystem where the Mediterranean meets the Alps. We recommend you take the cable car from here to Monte Baldo for breathtaking panoramas.

The wine-producing town of Bardolino combines cultural exploration with oenological education at the ZENI Cantina Museum, where you can learn about the region's winemaking traditions while tasting the renowned Bardolino wines in atmospheric cellars surrounded by centuries-old equipment. Torri del Benaco's beautifully preserved medieval core features the fascinating Castello Scaligero museum revealing local traditions and customs, and the town's ancient chapels and fortified walls provide glimpses into its strategic importance throughout history.

Our favourite things to see in Lake Garda

Historic sites

The Rocca Scaligera in Sirmione is one of the finest examples of lakeside fortress architecture in Europe, its dramatic drawbridge and water-filled moat creating an almost fairytale appearance as this 13th-century castle rises directly from Lake Garda's waters - climb to the ramparts for 360-degree views while exploring the well-preserved medieval chambers. The ancient Roman site at Grotte di Catullo showcases the grandeur of imperial villa life, with extensive ruins spanning across Sirmione's peninsula tip revealing sophisticated hydraulic systems, mosaic floors, and thermal bath complexes that once housed the Roman elite.

Malcesine's Castello Scaligero is another must-visit, its imposing towers and defensive walls commanding stunning vistas across the lake towards the dramatic peaks of Monte Baldo – the castle now houses a decent natural history museum alongside its exhibits. Throughout the region, numerous medieval churches preserve remarkable frescoes and architectural details, with San Pietro in Limone containing 12th-century artwork and the Santuario della Madonna del Frassino in Peschiera featuring works by Tintoretto alongside beautiful cloisters.

Cities and towns worth seeing

Sirmione is the jewel of southern Lake Garda, where an ancient fortress guards the entrance to this narrow peninsula that juts into the lake's azure waters. Wander the thermal spa complex renowned since Roman times, explore designer boutiques in medieval alleyways (they’re not cheap!), and sample local wines while gazing across the water towards distant Alpine peaks. Its imposing castle overlooks a picturesque harbour filled with colourful boats, whilst the cable car whisks visitors up Monte Baldo for unforgettable views and alpine hiking opportunities.

Bardolino offers the perfect marriage of culture and gastronomy, its elegant lakefront promenade connecting vine-covered hills with a charming historic centre where you can explore wine cellars (the wine is fantastic here!), shop for local crafts, and enjoy the weekly market featuring regional specialities and olive oil tastings. The ancient fortress town of Peschiera del Garda is a town of two halves: part strategic Venetian military architecture part bustling resort with modern amenities, its canal-laced historic centre surrounded by 16th-century walls creating an atmospheric setting for exploring shops and restaurants.

Natural wonders

Lake Garda itself is Italy's largest and most diverse lake ecosystem, and quite spectacular it is too. Mediterranean vegetation gradually gives way to Alpine flora as you travel from south to north – the crystal-clear waters support diverse fish populations whilst the lake's unique microclimate allows olive trees and lemon groves to flourish alongside oak forests and high-altitude meadows. Monte Baldo, accessible via cable car from Malcesine, is a botanical paradise known as the ‘Garden of Europe’ where over 2,000 plant species thrive including rare Alpine orchids and Mediterranean herbs – the mountain's hiking trails offer spectacular panoramas across the entire lake.

The thermal springs of Sirmione and surrounding areas are remarkable geological phenomena. Hot mineral-rich waters have bubbled up from deep underground for millennia, creating natural spa environments that were already famous in Roman times for their healing properties. The dramatic gorges and waterfalls hidden in the mountains above Limone provide refreshing escapes during hot summer months, where cool streams cascade through moss-covered rocks while ancient mule paths wind through forests of chestnut and beech trees.