While in Verona, my friend and I took a train to Desenzano. In barely 20 minutes, we found ourselves near lake Garda. It was October, so it was a bit foggy in the morning. But in the afternoon, the weather got better and it was even sunny. So, what to do when in Desenzano? Here are a few tips!
Spend The Morning In Desenzano
Relax Near Lake Garda
Even though the sky was grey and foggy, it felt relaxing to walk a little near lake Garda and the gardens. There are benches. We didn’t stop there for long, but I feel like there was good potential to take a deep breath and do nothing while looking at the water and little boats.
There are several cafes and restaurants that offer a nice view of the harbour. You also have some nice hot chocolate or breakfast there.
Visit The City
We simply walked around the city and looked at the cute streets and harbours. We thought of visiting the Roman villa, but didn’t because it didn’t seem that interesting. I think it’s mostly mosaics and I have already seen a lot in Ravenna and in Jordan.
There’s a church, but it’s closed during lunch and, obviously, that’s when we walked past it. We saw the outside, nothing fancy.
There’s also a castle, and we did go there because it wasn’t too expensive and the lady at the tourist office in the train station said the view was nice. If you pay some more, you can see exhibitions. We only visited the tower. It’s small but it’s true that you get a good view of the seaside and the city.
I do recommend walking to the castle, but, unless you go see the exhibitions, I don’t think it’s worth paying the entrance to the tower. It really is small and the view is nearly as good from the bottom of the tower that you can access for free. Other than the view, there was a cool projecting of images on the wall and an audio telling a local legend.
Have Lunch In One Of The Restaurants
There are several restaurants in Desenzano. We went to a good one called Caffè Città. It was very expensive though. There might be some other options that are good and cheaper.
I recommend having lunch in Desenzano, because a lot of people eat in Sirmione that is more popular. When we arrived there, all the restaurants and ice cream shops were packed, and we were glad we ate in peace in Desenzano.
Note that it was in October, so maybe, during Summer, Desenzano is also packed. I don’t know.
Take A Boat Trip On Lake Garda
From Desenzano, hop on a boat to Sirmione: it’s quick and it’s very pleasant. Plus, it’s quite cheap: 3€/trip. If you take a return: 6€.
In October, there was plenty of space and we could totally choose and even change seats in the middle of the trip (that lasts about 20 minutes).
You arrive directly in the center of Sirmione and it looks like a beautiful crowded postcard!
Spend The Afternoon In Sirmione, A City Surrounded By Lake Garda
Walk Around The City And Do Some Shopping
Sirmione is gorgeous!! It’s a proper tourist city and it’s no wonder that people go there. It’s like a cliché of Italian holiday and so very romantic, with purple flowers extending from one house to another and creating colorful arches above your head. I don’t like big crowds, but I’m a sucker for these kinds of towns. It might not be for you if you don’t like when places are too touristy.
There’s a castle here too, with a proper moat filled with lake Garda water where swans and ducks swim. Just lovely! We didn’t go inside (it’s not free), but walked around it. It’s called Scaligero.
Close to the castle, there is a small but beautiful chapel.
Like in Desenzano, there’s an ancient Roman villa in Sirmione, but this one is quite big and famous: you’ll find it under the name “Catullus grottoes” or “Grotte di Catullo”. We chose not to visit it partly because it was not free, but mostly because it takes some time to walk around the whole site, and we’d rather take our time and enjoy the city. Had I been alone, I would probably have visited the villa as it seems quite interesting.
Lake Garda All Around
Lake Garda seems to circle around Sirmione. You come from the lake and if you walk straight, you reach a beach of pebbles where waves of lake Garda crush. There are swans and it is a great spot to take pictures.
Sirmione is not an island, but it is a long stretch of land surrounded by lake Garda. That’s why it’s so scenic and also why taking a boat to go there is the best option. (Otherwise, you can still walk along the coast from Desenzano, but it’s going to take a few hours.)
Do Not Miss The Last Boat!
We took the last boat to go back to Desenzano. If you want to have dinner in Sirmione, have an early dinner or plan to take a bus to go back to Desenzano and then take a train (if you stay in Verona like us).
To see more photos of Italy, you can visit the gallery Italy.
