On the northern stretch of the Brescia shore, where the cliffs drop straight into the lake, Limone sul Garda grew prosperous on citrus long before a road reached it. This guide covers the old town, the lemon houses you can visit, the museums, the cycle path suspended over the water and the best ways to get there.
Parties in village squares, campsite evenings, themed readings in libraries and after-dark walks through the old towns: the Halloween events on Lake Garda and across the area from Trento to Mantua and Verona to Brescia, in a list that updates as new dates arrive, with practical notes for the All Saints’ long weekend.
Riva del Garda closes the northern end of the lake, where the mountains drop straight into the water: the Venetian Bastione above the town, the Apponale Tower on the main square, the Rocca with its museum, and just beyond, the Ponale trail and Monte Brione. Here is what to see and do, with opening times and tickets.
In early October, Gargnano slows down and returns to its farming roots, among lemon groves, olive terraces and the first olive harvest. Slow Gargnano, Tra olio, vino e territorio, fills the opening weekend of the month with cooking classes, a market of local producers, guided walks through the terraces and talks on the flavours of the Alto Garda.
Around Lake Garda, time has settled in layers: prehistoric villages beneath the water, Renaissance cities, a fortress ringed by a river, mountains rising towards the Dolomites. Seven places and traditions here carry UNESCO recognition, and a short drive separates one from the next. Here is what they are, and when to see them.
For one weekend at the end of September, Negrar di Valpolicella turns Viale Mazzini into an open-air tasting. Local volunteer associations pour the wines of the Valpolicella Classica, from everyday reds through Ripasso to Recioto and Amarone, alongside regional food, live music and activities for families, all during the busiest moment of the wine year.
Ready to explore? Here are 12 of the best panoramic treks around Lake Garda, guaranteed to take your breath away.
There is a carnival here that does not wait for spring. In Torri del Benaco it arrives in early September, as the season on the lake winds down: an afternoon of games for children, a masked parade through the streets at night, and fireworks to see the summer off. Its roots lie in the carnival of Verona.
A late-summer evening in Pieve, the main village of Tremosine sul Garda, high above the western shore. The Pro Loco fills the old squares with food stands, from local formaggella to spit-roast meat, while four points of live music carry the evening until late. Here is the menu and how the Prolochini tokens work.
A few metres below Piazza Cesare Battisti lies an entire quarter of Roman Trento: paved streets, city walls, mosaics and a glassmaker’s workshop, uncovered when the Teatro Sociale was restored. The SASS lets you walk through Tridentum, and it makes an ideal half day away from the upper lake.
When the heat eases, the squares of Lake Garda’s small towns fill with live music. Open-air concerts, run by the local councils and tourist associations, and nearly always free to attend. Knowing when they happen and where to find them lets you slip one into your evening with no planning at all.
From 17 June to 17 September 2026, the Sigurtà Garden Park near Peschiera becomes an open-air museum. Cracking Art fills its lawns with 162 colourful animals in regenerated plastic, from a dolphin to an elephant. A printed map hands you each creature’s virtues and small flaws, so you can work out which animal is really you.
On 1 and 2 August 2026, Piazza Feltrinelli in Gargnano hosts the Festa dell’Ospite, the town’s summer welcome to residents and visitors alike. Expect food stalls with regional specialities, local craft markets and live music across both evenings, and on the Saturday night a drone light show over the water, billed as the first of its kind on the lake.
On Thursday 30 July the Azienda Agricola Cà Sabbionare opens its terrace above the gulf of Garda for Euphoria Horizon. The view runs the length of the lower lake, from Sirmione to Gargnano, and the DJ set carries the evening through to midnight. Wine and buffet are included if you arrive before nine.
There is no continuous, safe cycle path all the way around Lake Garda: the western shore road runs through narrow tunnels. But over seven days, combining train, ferry and bike, you cross the whole territory, from Trento down to Riva, along the Verona shore and on to Mantua and Verona. Here is the route, stage by stage.
All year round, the villages around Lake Garda come alive with sagre and local feast days, built around the food, wine and traditions of each stretch of shore. Knowing what they are, when they happen and where helps you choose the festivals that suit the time of your visit best.
A short loop links Arco, Torbole and Nago on the northern tip of Lake Garda, and a recently opened stretch above Nago gives the ride its widest view. It is an easy route, well suited to families, and it opens the way north towards the Adige Valley.
Plan your ideal weekend break. Discover every event scheduled for Saturday and Sunday on Lake Garda, featuring everything from traditional craft markets to major outdoor festivals across the region’s historic villages and vineyards.
Ensure you do not miss a single second of the Garda magic. Discover every event scheduled for today and tomorrow on Lake Garda with our real-time, curated guide, featuring everything from local markets to international regattas.
Travel Designer AI - Garda Outdoors