Desenzano Del Garda is not a place that I ever really meant to visit. As an overseas tourist, it was never on my radar, even as a frequent traveler and lover of the Italian Lakes. This is a place that the locals of Northern Italy love, yet tourists from abroad don’t generally know about. I hope to change that with my Complete Guide to Desenzano Del Garda.
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This popular little Italian lakeside hideaway may seem small, but it really does pack quite a punch. The lake is one of the most gorgeous in Italy, and the views of the alps from the lakeshore are to die for. There are other places close by that are genuinely unique attractions, and the atmosphere in the town gives you the vibe of being in a holiday location, yet it is still a small town. If there is one thing that will not happen to you in Desenzano Del Garda, it’s that you will NOT be over run by the crowd!
So, let’s move along and check out why this beautiful place should be on the radar for your next lakeside holiday, with my complete guide to Desenzano Del Garda.
Table of Contents
- Where is Desenzano Del Garda?
- Best time to visit Desenzano Del Garda
- How to get to Desenzano Del Garda
- Things to do
- Day Trips
- Where to stay in Desenzano Del Garda
- Places to eat
- Summary
Where is Desenzano Del Garda?
Desenzano Del Garda lies along the southern shorelines of Lake Garda in Northern Italy. Being the largest of the Italian Lakes, Lake Garda is visited frequently by tourists, especially during the summer. Like Lecco on Lake Como though, Desenzano Del Garda is often overlooked due to its proximity to nearby Sirmione, an amazing little town that is incredibly unique.
It is a pity that Desenzano gets overlooked though, as it is the perfect place to base yourself to actually see Sirmione and other locations around the lake. It has easy access (as we will go into a bit later) and in itself has so much more to offer.
Best time to visit Desenzano Del Garda
Being a lake side town, the very best time to visit Desenzano Del Garda is the Summer. The times around June – September will see very warm weather, with daytime temperatures rarely dropping below 25°C, and it is quite regular to see them at around 30°C.
Even though Lake Garda is technically classified as a Mountain Lake, the area is still ruled by a Mediterranean climate. It gets cold in the winter, but temperatures will never generally drop below 0°C. There is never snow (or very, very rarely) and hardly ever a frost. Having said this, Desenzano Del Garda is not a place that most would visit in the winter months. I personally have visited in early February though, and loved my time there with no tourists, and places like Sirmione all to myself.
Even if I wasn’t able to take a dip in the lake!
How to get to Desenzano Del Garda
Desenzano Del Garda is easy to reach, with many options available simply due to the fact that it is a very popular summer tourist destination. With locals from Verona and Milan, in particular, heading there on a regular basis, you will not struggle at any time of the year to find a way to get to Desenzano Del Garda.
Are you planning on renting a car or driving when you are overseas? Then make sure you are fully covered by having your International Driver’s Permit. Find out more, or pick one up easily at THIS LINK.
Driving is the first option, and if you have a car it is easy. You may find parking limited however, especially around the town center during peak times. If you are staying in a hotel with its own parking facilities, and you really want to have your car with you, then this might be the option for you.
The very best option for most to get to Desenzano Del Garda is to catch the train. The town is right on the main train line from Verona to Milan, and the trains run so regularly that it’s almost funny. This link not only makes it easy for locals and tourists to access the lake from both cities, but it also makes an easy, and lot cheaper way, to reach Desenzano Del Garda from the airports.
Both Verona and Milan have major international airports. Milan Malpensa airport is connected directly to the train lines, while Verona has shuttle buses that run from the airport to Verona Central Train Station. Of the two, Verona is closest to Desenzano Del Garda, but Milan is the major airport in the region for International flights. A train from the airport to Milan Central, and a single change to the Verona train will get you to Desenzano Del Garda.
Guide to Desenzano Del Garda tip – Catch the normal regional train, if you are interested in saving a bit of money. The trains are in amazing condition, clean, fast, have digital screen readouts on board, as well as facilities to charge electronic devices. They run regularly, and are a lot cheaper than the other options. Check THIS website to find times.
Things to do
There are plenty of things to do in Desenzano Del Garda. Even though it is a lakeside town, and most visitors are probably more interested in just laying by the pool or lake and soaking up the sun, there is no reason that you should be bored!
Take a look at this list of the Guide to Desenzano Del Garda choices of things to do during your visit.
- Enjoy the beach – Desenzano Del Garda has its very own beach area. It isn’t large, but is an amazing way to cool off during the warm summer months.
- Take a stroll or bicycle around the Lake’s edge – The lake front at Desenzano Del Garda has a beautiful and well maintained walkway all along the edge of the water. It has amazing views, swans casually swimming by, and cafes and restaurants to explore.
- Explore the Castle – The town actually has its very own castle. It sits high above the Old Town, and features the best views in the area.
- Discover the Roman Villa – This ancient Roman Villa was discovered by accident when a house was being built in the town. Now an excavated site, for a minimal fee you can spend your day exploring what Roman life was like.
- Stroll out to the lighthouse – The lighthouse of Desenzano Del Garda is an iconic symbol of the town. Being so central and located on the harbor wall, it provides a great and romantic place to take a stroll, especially on a summer’s evening.
- Have coffee at Piazza Malvezzi – Every good Italian town has a Piazza or two, and in Desenzano Del Garda the main Piazza is Piazza Malvezzi. It is the perfect place to meet up with others, and during summer there is always SOMETHING happening there.
- Do some shopping – There are wonderful boutique shops around the Old Town of Desenzano Del Garda for you to discover. If you are there on a Tuesday, you can’t miss the incredible markets that take over the entire main promenade. Even in winter, EVERYONE comes out to attend, and they have an amazing vibe!
- Relax by Porto Vecchio – This beautiful little port was the original port of the town many years ago. Separated from the modern harbor by a quaint Venetian Bridge, it is a favorite with locals to meet up as it sits right next to Piazza Malvezzi.
- Visit the Desenzano Cathedral – Also known as the Cathedral of Saint Maria Maddalena, this incredible church is one of the central points of the town. The paintings inside are also wonderful, so make sure to take the opportunity to stop by and take a look.
Guide to Desenzano Del Garda tip – If you want more information on things to do in Desenzano Del Garda, then head across to THIS article, where I have gone into a bit more detail of each!
Day Trips
If you are looking for day trips that you can do when you are in Desenzano Del Garda, then you are in luck. There is just SO MUCH that you can see and do around the Lake and surrounding area. There are not that many organized tours though, so you may be left creating your own. Fortunately that isn’t very hard!
The top tip from this guide to Desenzano Del Garda has to be to take a trip to Sirmione. It is an incredible place, and many visitors to the south side of Lake Garda come JUST to see Sirmione. You can easily get there from Desenzano Del Garda by public bus, along the lakeside pathway, or you can even take a boat. Just head down to the harbor and check out what is available. Especially during summer there are plenty of cruise options.
Speaking of cruises, this is another option for your daytrip ideas. You can find many cruises of all types and length. From the simple 1 hour cruise around the south lake past Sirmione and back, right up to a full day cruise around the entire lake. Simply pick what you want! Check out THIS website for some great cruise ideas.
The other thing you should think about doing, especially if you are an international visitor, is a daytrip into either Verona or Milan. Both are extraordinary cities, with so much to see and do in both. The train station is right in the middle of Desenzano Del Garda, and regular trains run to both destinations, with Verona only 20 minutes away.
Where to stay in Desenzano Del Garda
If you are looking for a good place to stay in Desenzano Del Garda, then you have come to the right place. The town is literally brimming with wonderful hotels and villas, and most of them are stylish and oozing luxury. With that in mind, it can be hard to narrow down just where to stay. Thankfully, I have done some legwork and found some amazing places that will suit all of your needs and more.
Here are the Guide to Desenzano Del Garda choices of best places to stay.
ANTICA DIMORA DESENZANO
Antica Dimora Desenzano is the ultimate way to spoil yourself. Guests are constantly amazed with the rooms, and often claim they are actually better than the photos. Spotlessly clean and incredible quality, you just can’t help but feel instantly comfortable! Located right on the pedestrian zone, with bars and restaurants close by, along with breakfast delivered to your door, you will think you are in heaven.
Park Hotel
This has to be one of the best hotels in town for facilities and value for money. Rooms are huge, breakfast has everything you could possibly want, and the roof top pool has views of the entire town and lake. What more could you ask for?
Villa Rosa Hotel
The Villa Rosa is just a few minutes walk from the city center, and located right on the lake. Staff are amazing, with a great knowledge of the local area, and provide plenty of recommendations. They also have a great restaurant with an excellent wine selection, and a delicious fine dining experience.
Hotel Aquaviva Del Garda
The Hotel Aquaviva Del Garda is in a great location right across the road from the lake shore. It is handy to nearby Desenzano Del Garda, and also to Sirmione in the other direction. The hotel serves a really great breakfast, and if you choose a balcony room you can enjoy wonderful views across the lake. Hotel Aquaviva is located just near Rivoltella Del Garda, meaning that some of the wonderful little restaurants in that area are right on your doorstep.
Looking for the best Budget accommodation? Hostelworld have you covered with all of the very best budget friendly accommodation around town. Check them out at THIS LINK.
Places to eat
If there is one thing that Desenzano Del Garda is not lacking, it is some delicious places to eat. You can’t go far without wandering past a pizzeria, or some form of Italian Restaurant. This also makes narrowing it down very hard, but I will do my best, even though a couple of my favorite places are located a little down the road from the town itself. This may suit you though, depending upon where you stay.
In the town center, I would recommend Cartapaglia Pizza and Gin. Not just because I LOVE both pizza and Gin, but it helps! The location of the restaurant is perfect, and the pizzas are the best specialty pizza’s in town. To make it even sweeter, the prices are really good for the area, the Gin selection is amazing, and they also serve great burgers and fries.
If you are into fine dining and don’t mind spending a bit more money, then you have to try out Ristorante Rose and Sapori. It is just up the road a little from the town center, located in the Villa Rosa Hotel. The food is incredible, the wine list impressive, and the lake views even more so!
Just down the road toward Sirmione a bit, you will come across a nice little place on the lake called Rivoltella del Garda. Here, you will find a great Pizzeria called Tony Panuozzo. He does some of the best food in the area, so they are really worth trying out.
Just next door is another great place that you will really love if you enjoy Bruschetta, and that is Bruschetteria Nose. The food is really nice, and the service outstanding. Definitely worth stopping by just to check it out as you pass.
Summary
Thanks for reading my guide to Desenzano Del Garda. I hope that you now know why I love the town and its surrounds, and why you should consider taking your next lakeside getaway there. It is incredibly beautiful, friendly, and in the perfect location imaginable.
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