Finding a hotel on Lake Garda: which town, which shore, which budget
Lake Garda is 52 kilometres long and every shore feels different. In two minutes you can find the town that suits your holiday, then the right hotel.
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- Prices and timetables with sources
- Updated October 2026
Photo: H. Zell, CC BY-SA 3.0
A good Lake Garda hotel starts with choosing the right town. The lake is about 52 kilometres long and almost 370 km² in area, and the mountainous north around Riva and the flat south around Sirmione are worlds apart: different scenery, different water, different visitors.
This page helps you pick the right town first and then the right place to stay. Every town has its own page with its location, pros and cons and a hotel map. This is an independent guide, not an official tourism or hotel site.
Which shore suits you?
Travelling without a car? On the south shore, trains on the Milan-Venice line stop at Peschiera and Desenzano. Buses and boats continue from there. In the north you depend more on buses and boats.
Choosing where to stay
- Apartment or holiday home: worth it from a week, for families and groups.
- Family hotel: children’s pool, family rooms, close to Gardaland.
- Hotel with a pool: the most popular search, and in spring and autumn often more important than the lake itself.
- Right on the lake: lake views and a jetty, but also the highest price.
- Cheap hotels: where and when you save the most.
Things to do on Lake Garda
Most visitors mix beach days with three or four excursions: a boat trip between the towns, the Monte Baldo cable car in Malcesine, a day at Gardaland and a side trip to Verona. You will find all the ideas with tickets under Lake Garda day trips.
When is the best time to visit?
June and September combine warm water with fewer crowds than July and August. April and May are ideal for hiking and cycling, but still chilly for swimming. All the months with water and air temperatures are on the page about the best time to visit.
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Frequently asked questions
Where is the prettiest place on Lake Garda?
It depends on the kind of holiday: Riva and Limone in the north for mountains, cycling and water sports, Malcesine for the castle and Monte Baldo, and Bardolino, Lazise and Sirmione in the south for flat beaches, families and trips to Verona.
Which shore is better for swimming?
The shallow southern basin around Sirmione warms up faster than the deep north around Riva. In midsummer the water in the south is usually one to two degrees warmer.
How far is Verona airport from Lake Garda?
It takes about 20 to 25 minutes by car to Peschiera on the south shore, and about 80 to 85 kilometres, a little over an hour, to Riva in the north.
Hotel or holiday apartment?
For a few nights with breakfast, a hotel is more convenient. From a week upwards, and with a family, an apartment often saves money and gives you more space.
Keep planning
Plan your trip
Plan a Lake Garda holiday: south shore for families, east for old towns, north for sport, west for peace. Getting there by car, train or Verona airport, plus hotels.
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Towns
Riva, Limone, Malcesine, Garda, Bardolino, Lazise or Sirmione? The best towns on Lake Garda compared for families, couples, active travellers and car-free trips.
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Apartments
Holiday apartments on Lake Garda: which town, when they beat a hotel, and what to check on pool, parking and final cleaning. With a map of all places to stay.
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Family hotels
Family hotels on Lake Garda: the most child-friendly towns, what to look for in pool, room and location, and which trips kids love, from Gardaland to boat rides.
Read guide
Hotels with pool
Lake Garda hotels with a pool: why the pool matters more than the lake in spring and autumn, where most pool hotels are and what to look for before you book.
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Day trips
The best Lake Garda day trips: boat trips, Monte Baldo, Gardaland, boat tours, Verona and the Dolomites. With durations, ratings and tickets.
Read guide
Best time
Best time to visit Lake Garda: air and water temperatures from April to September, when it is busy and when it is cheap, for swimming, hiking and families.
Read guide