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.
Riva del Garda is the Trentino town at the northern tip of Lake Garda, where the mountains drop straight into the water. Once the hub of the Alto Garda, the upper end of the lake, it is now one of the lake’s leading centres for active holidays and especially popular with German-speaking visitors. A mild microclimate brings palms and olive trees right to the foot of the rock faces, and the old town keeps a quiet elegance, lively without being loud.
The town can be read in three ways: historic Riva, which you can see on foot in a day; sporting Riva, made of wind, trails and cycle paths; and the slower Riva of the lakefront, the shops and the spas.
What to see in Riva del Garda: the historic town
The Bastione and the panoramic lift
Above the town, on the slopes of Monte Rocchetta, stands the Bastione, a round tower built by the Venetian Republic between 1507 and 1508 to keep watch over the border with the Prince-Bishopric of Trento. Over the centuries it has become one of Riva’s landmarks and one of the places visitors head for first.
There are two ways up. On foot, a path links it to the town centre in about 20 minutes. Alternatively, the panoramic lift leaves from Via Monte Oro and climbs 130 metres over a 208-metre run in about three minutes, opening up views of the lake, the town and the surrounding mountains. The easiest plan is to combine the two: ride up and walk down.
Single journey €6; return €10 in high season (1 June to 30 September), €9 the rest of the year. Garda Guest Card holders get one free return trip. Free for children under 120 cm and for people with disabilities accompanied by a paying adult; free tickets are not issued at the ticket desk, so ask the staff on duty. Maximum 17 people per trip, with one wheelchair or pushchair per journey. Dogs travel free on a lead and muzzled, one per cabin. Opening times vary through the year, so check before you go.
At 34 metres, the Torre Apponale rises over Piazza III Novembre and the constant comings and goings below. First recorded in the 13th century, it served mainly as a lookout and to defend the town. Look up at the top: above the roof gleams the Anzolim de la Tor, a gilded angel weathervane that has become one of Riva’s emblems.
The tower is open to visitors. It is 165 steps to the walkway at the top, from where the old town, the harbour, the hydroelectric power station and the lake are laid out in front of you. Tickets are sold at the entrance.
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm, during the opening season. Full ticket €2, reduced €1; free for children up to 14 and with the Garda Guest Card.
A stroll through the centre brings you to the Rocca, the medieval castle on the water’s edge that now houses the MAG, the Museo Alto Garda. Its collections take you through the archaeology and history of Riva, with works of real value.
Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Full ticket €5; reduced €4 for Riva del Garda residents, 15 to 26-year-olds, over-65s and holders of affiliated cards (Acli, ACI, Touring Club Italiano, Arci del Trentino, Carta in Cooperazione and others). Family of two adults with children €10, one adult with children €5; groups of 15 or more €4 per person. Free for children up to 15, school groups with teachers, people with disabilities and their companions, tour guides, police officers and journalists with ID, and holders of the Crew Card or Trentino Guest Card.
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From the outside it gives little away. Inside, the baroque church of the Inviolata opens onto an octagonal plan, with frescoes, stucco work and carved wooden confessionals. It is well worth the detour.
The hydroelectric power station
It is a piece of engineering, yet its architecture stands out. It was designed by Giancarlo Maroni, the architect behind the Vittoriale degli Italiani, Gabriele D’Annunzio’s estate on the western shore of the lake.
Things to do in Riva del Garda: the sporting town
Thanks to its climate, Riva and its hinterland make an open-air playground for an active holiday.
Monte Brione and Forte Garda
The walk on Monte Brione suits families with children too. From the top the lake, squeezed between the mountains, looks like a fjord, and along the way you pass the remains of First World War fortifications. The best known is Forte Garda, open free of charge during the season.
Forte Garda: open Friday to Sunday in spring and daily from June to mid-October, 10am to 5pm. Forte Batteria di Mezzo opens on selected Sundays, 10am to 4pm. Free admission. Dates change every year.
The Ponale trail
It starts almost from the town centre and is one of the lake’s signature routes for walkers and mountain bikers: a road cut into the rock, hanging above the water, where landscape and history go hand in hand.
The chapel of Santa Barbara
This is the goal of a demanding hike: a small alpine chapel dedicated to the patron saint of the miners who once worked in the area. The climb is hard going, but at the top you are rewarded with a wide view over the lake and a stillness that makes the effort worthwhile.
Sentiero del Ponale. @lakegardaphoto.it@lakegardaphoto.it@lakegardaphoto.it@lakegardaphoto.it
Sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing
Riva is one of the capitals of wind sports. The credit goes to its reliable winds: the Pelèr, which blows from the north in the morning, and the Ora, which comes up from the south in the afternoon. All levels are catered for, with schools and watersports centres offering lessons and equipment hire all year round.
Cycling
Two main cycle paths start in Riva: one follows the lake to Torbole, the other heads inland along the River Sarca to Lake Toblino.
The Varone and Ponale waterfalls
A short walk through the woods brings you to the Cascata del Varone. The Cascata del Ponale, on the other hand, can only be reached from the water, by canoe, paddleboard or sailing boat, and is a quiet corner of nature.
Reptiland, for families and rainy days
In the Galleria Città di Riva on Piazza Garibaldi, Reptiland is a natural science gallery and herpetology centre. You can see venomous and non-venomous snakes, including cobras, green mambas, rattlesnakes and pythons, as well as a red-knee tarantula, an emperor scorpion, butterflies, a Goliath beetle and a stick insect. With children, or when the weather lets you down, it is a good alternative.
Admission €10. From 1 to 20 March, weekends only, by telephone booking; from 20 March to 31 October, daily, 12 noon to 8pm in sunny weather and 11am to 7pm when it rains (last admission times). From November to February, phone for days and times: +39 348 7948389.
By ferry
From Riva’s landing stage, ferries take you to the other lakeside towns and across to the opposite shore, leaving the car behind and showing you the lake from another angle.
Slow Riva: lakefront, shopping and wellbeing
The lakefront is the place for an unhurried walk, with a stop at one of the bars for an aperitivo or an ice cream in front of the view. In the centre, shops range from designer boutiques to local craft workshops, and this is where to look for Trentino produce: olive oil, wine and cheese. Many hotels also have spas and treatment packages, the natural complement to a day of sport.
Where to stay in Riva del Garda
Accommodation ranges from small B&Bs to resorts with spas. In the [where to stay on Lake Garda] guide you will find the properties selected by Garda Outdoors, and in the [experiences] section the activities you can book.
How to get to Riva del Garda
By car. The quickest route is the A22 Brenner motorway: the recommended exit is Rovereto Sud-Lago di Garda Nord, about 17 km from Riva.
By train. The nearest station is Rovereto, on the Brenner line; from there, continue by bus.
By bus. Bus routes link Riva with Verona and the other lakeside towns, with changes along the way.
By air. The main airports for Riva are Verona and Bergamo.
Riva del Garda FAQs
How much is the lift to the Bastione in Riva del Garda? A single journey costs €6; a return costs €10 in high season and €9 the rest of the year. With the Garda Guest Card, one return trip is free.
Can you walk up to the Bastione? Yes, a path links it to the town centre in about 20 minutes.
How many steps does the Apponale Tower have? 165, up to the walkway at the top of the 34-metre tower. A full ticket costs €2.
How do you get to the Ponale waterfall? Only from the water: by canoe, paddleboard or sailing boat.
What are the winds in Riva del Garda? The Pelèr, which blows from the north in the morning, and the Ora, which comes up from the south in the afternoon.
What is there to do in Riva del Garda with children? The walk on Monte Brione, the panoramic lift to the Bastione and Reptiland, which is also a good choice on rainy days.
How do you get to Riva del Garda by train? Take the train to Rovereto on the Brenner line, then continue by bus.
If you have a question about Riva del Garda or anywhere else on the lake, write to Garda Outdoors in the comments below or on social media.
Destination Marketing manager since 1998, in love with Lake Garda and its opportunities. For these reasons Garda Outdoors was born, a meeting place where the passion for this territory meets the tourist's curiosity to visit and discover the beauties of the most beautiful and largest of the Italian lakes.
