
The lake with a bit of everything for everybody, from ancient ruins to lakeside promenades, historic villas to tiny villages, and medieval castles to adrenaline sports
Garda is the largest and easternmost of the Italian lakes, lapping against the flat plains of Lombardy and the Veneto at its southern extremes, and in the north becoming fjordlike and moody, its deep waters backed by the Alpine peaks of the Teutonic-inflected South Tyrolean Trentino-Alto Adige.
Garda's shores are green and fragrant with flowery gardens, groves of olives and lemons, and forests of pines and cypress.
Garda is the most sporting of the Italian lakes—with some of Europe's best windsurfing up at the lake's north end around Riva del Garda and Torbole—which goes a long way to making it a bit more family-friendly than the others (I can tell you that, when I was 12, I dug the peacocks Lake Maggiore's Borromean Islands, but otherwise the lakes were a giant snore)—to say nothing of Gardaland, Italy's greatest theme park. It isn't quite Eurodisney, but can be great fun for the younger kiddies.
Lake Garda also has more refined pleasures as well: villas and gardens, Roman ruins and medieval castles. Lake Garda has long been a haven for intellectuals and counts among its earliest Grand Tour aficionados the likes of DH Lawrence (who lived in Limone for spell), Lord Byron (who loved Desenzano), and Goethe (who spent time in Malcesine)—not to mention the larger-than-life 20C Italian writer Gabriele d'Annunzio, who built an incredible villa, Il Vittoriale, at Gardone Riviera that ranks among the lake district's most popular destinations.
Starting in the 13th century, much of the lake's eastern shores fell under the dominion of Verona's Scaglieri family, who fortified Sirmione (a postcard resort town with Roman ruins as well), Torri del Benaco, and Malcesine (where Goethe was once arrested) with terribly atmospheric medieval castles.
Lake Garda also covers the history of Italy in a nutshell, from Roman villas at Desenzano and Sirmione to medieval castles at Arco, Sirmione, and Malcesine; and from Renaissance art to the fall of Fascism (afetr he lsot the rest o Italy, Benito Mussolini's Republic of Salo was headquartered here) and rise of the Republic. All of which just goes to show: the Italian Lakes are about more than just fun in the sun and pretty vistas.
Lake Garda trip planner
Tips
Garda has an interesting geo-political situation.
It actually borders on three very different Italian regions: Lombardy to the west (part of the proivince of Brescia), the Veneto to the east (part of the province of Verona), and the northern tip juts up into the Trentino Alto-Adige.
Now, every Italian region is proudly different, but some are more different than others, and the Trentino is so solidly Tuetonic that beer and sausages replace wine and pasta on the menus and, though everyone speaks Italian (and, as it's a tourist destination, English) the local dialect is actually a medieval form of German called Tirolesische. This is the beginning of the South Tyrol cultural region, the northern half of which is in Austria around Innsbruck.
Also, this means that the tourism infrastructure—tourist offices and websites, local bus networks, etc—is split between those three regions. This can make it a bit frustrating to gather intel on the lake as a whole.
Useful Italian for rail travel
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...train station | la ferroviaria [or] la stazione | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah [or] lah stat-zee-YO-nay |
ticket | un biglietto | oon beel-YET-toh |
first class | prima classe | PREE-mah CLAH-say |
second class | seconda classe | say-CONE-dah CLAH-say |
one way | solo andata | SO-low ahn-DAHT-tah |
round trip (return) | andata e ritorno | ahn-DAH-tah ay ree-TOUR-noh |
Just the supplement | Soltanto il supplemento | soul-TAHN-toh eel sou-play-MEN-toh |
Just a seat reservation | Soltanto una prenotazione | soal-TAHN-toh oo-nah pray-no-tah-tsee-YOH-nay |
I have a Eurailpass | Ho il Eurailpass | oh eel YOO-rail-pahs |
sleeping couchette | una cucetta | oo-nah koo-CHET-tah |
berth in a sleeping car | un posto nel vagone letto | oon POH-sto nell vah-GOAN-nay LET-toh |
track | binario | been-AR-ree-yoh |
train | treno | TRE-no |
car (carriage) | carozza | ka-RO-tza |
seat | posto | PO-sto |
departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
left luggage | deposito bagagli | day-PO-zee-toh ba-GAHL-yee |
punch your ticket | timbrare il biglietto | teem-BRA-ray eel beel-YET-toh |
Is this the right platform for the Rome train? | E questo il binario per il treno à Roma? | ay KWAY-sto eel been-AR-ree-yo pair eel TRE-no ah RO-ma? |
delayed | in retardo | een ree-TAR-do |
strike | sciopero | SHO-pair-oh |
Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
City / Train station names | ||
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Main station |
Rome | Roma | Termini |
Florence | Firenze | Santa Maria Novella |
Venice | Venezia | Santa Lucia |
Milan | Milano | Centrale |
Genoa | Genova | Porta Principe |
Naples | Napoli | Centrale |
Leghorn | Livorno | Centrale |
Turin | Torino | Porta Nuova |
Useful Italian for air travel
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
the airport | l'aeroporto | LAHW-ro-port-oh |
the airplane | l'aereo | LAIR-reh-oh |
terminal | terminal | TEAR-me-nahl |
flight | volo | VOH-lo |
gate | uscita d'imbarco | oo-SHEE-tah deem-BARK-oh |
to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
departures | partenze | par-TEN-zay |
arrivals | arrivi | ah-REE-vee |
delayed | in ritardo | een ree-TAR-doh |
on time | in orario | een oh-RAH-ree-yo |
early | in avanti | een ah-VAHN-tee |
boarding | imbarco | eem-BARK-o |
connecting flight | la coincidenza | la ko-een-chee-DEN-za |
check-in | accettazione | ah-chet-ta-zee-YO-nee |
immigration | controllo passaporti | cone-TRO-lo pah-sa-POR-tee |
security check | controllo di sicurezza | kohn-TRO-lo dee see-kur-AY-tzah |
customs | dogana | do-GA-na |
shuttle | la navetta | lah na-VET-tah |
boarding pass | carta d'imbarco | kart-ta deem-BARK-o |
baggage claim | ritiro bagagli | ree-TEER-oh bah-GA-lyee |
carry-on luggage | bagaglio à mano | bah-GA-lyo ah MA_no |
checked luggage | bagalio | bah-GA-lyo |
Useful Italian for car travel
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
car | automobile | ow-toh-MO-bee-lay |
scooter/motorboke | un motorino | oon mo-tair-EE-no |
gas station | stazione di servizio | stah-zee-YO-nay dee sair-VEE-tzee-yo |
gas | benzina | ben-ZEE-nah |
diesel | gasolio [or] diesel | gah-ZOH-lee-oh [or] DEE-zell |
Fill it up, please | al pieno, per favore | ahl pee-YAY-noh, pair fa-VOHR-ray |
Where is... | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...the highway | l'autostrada | lout-oh-STRA-dah |
...the state highway | la statale [written "SS"] | lah sta-TAHL-eh |
...the road for Rome | la strada per Roma | lah STRA-dah pair RO-mah |
to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
keep going straight | sempre diritto | SEM-pray dee-REE-toh |
to cross | attraversare | ah-tra-vair-SAR-ay |
toll | pedaggio | peh-DA-jo |
parking | parcheggio | par-KEH-jo |
road map | carta stradale | kar-ta stra-DA-lay |
where can I pay the fine? | dove posso pagare la multa | DOH-veh Po-so pag-GAR-ray la MOOL-tah |
Typical road signs / terms » more
English (anglais) | French (français) |
Stop | Stop |
Exit | Uscita |
Staffic light | Semaforo |
One-way | Senso unico |
Dead-end | Strada senza uscita |
Parking prohibited | No parcheggio or parcheggio proibito |
Pedestrian zone | Area pedonale |
Limited Traffic Zone (you pay to drive in) | ZTL or Zona Traffico Limitato |
Basic phrases in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | pro-nun-see-YAY-shun |
thank you | grazie | GRAT-tzee-yay |
please | per favore | pair fa-VOHR-ray |
yes | si | see |
no | no | no |
Do you speak English? | Parla Inglese? | PAR-la een-GLAY-zay |
I don't understand | Non capisco | non ka-PEESK-koh |
I'm sorry | Mi dispiace | mee dees-pee-YAT-chay |
How much is it? | Quanto costa? | KWAN-toh COST-ah |
That's too much | É troppo | ay TROH-po |
Good day | Buon giorno | bwohn JOUR-noh |
Good evening | Buona sera | BWOH-nah SAIR-rah |
Good night | Buona notte | BWOH-nah NOTE-tay |
Goodbye | Arrivederci | ah-ree-vah-DAIR-chee |
Excuse me (to get attention) | Scusi | SKOO-zee |
Excuse me (to get past someone) | Permesso | pair-MEH-so |
Where is? | Dov'é | doh-VAY |
...the bathroom | il bagno | eel BHAN-yoh |
...train station | la ferroviaria | lah fair-o-vee-YAR-ree-yah |
to the right | à destra | ah DEH-strah |
to the left | à sinistra | ah see-NEEST-trah |
straight ahead | avanti [or] diritto | ah-VAHN-tee [or] dee-REE-toh |
information | informazione | in-for-ma-tzee-OH-nay |
Days, months, and other calendar items in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
When is it open? | Quando é aperto? | KWAN-doh ay ah-PAIR-toh |
When does it close? | Quando si chiude? | KWAN-doh see key-YOU-day |
At what time... | a che ora | a kay O-rah |
Yesterday | ieri | ee-YAIR-ee |
Today | oggi | OH-jee |
Tomorrow | domani | doh-MAHN-nee |
Day after tomorrow | dopo domani | DOH-poh doh-MAHN-nee |
a day | un giorno | oon je-YOR-no |
Monday | Lunedí | loo-nay-DEE |
Tuesday | Martedí | mar-tay-DEE |
Wednesday | Mercoledí | mair-coh-lay-DEE |
Thursday | Giovedí | jo-vay-DEE |
Friday | Venerdí | ven-nair-DEE |
Saturday | Sabato | SAH-baa-toh |
Sunday | Domenica | doh-MEN-nee-ka |
Mon-Sat | Feriali | fair-ee-YAHL-ee |
Sun & holidays | Festivi | feh-STEE-vee |
Daily | Giornaliere | joor-nahl-ee-YAIR-eh |
a month | una mese | oon-ah MAY-zay |
January | gennaio | jen-NAI-yo |
February | febbraio | feh-BRI-yo |
March | marzo | MAR-tzoh |
April | aprile | ah-PREEL-ay |
May | maggio | MAH-jee-oh |
June | giugno | JEW-nyoh |
July | luglio | LOO-lyoh |
August | agosto | ah-GO-sto |
September | settembre | set-TEM-bray |
October | ottobre | oh-TOE-bray |
November | novembre | no-VEM-bray |
December | dicembre | de-CHEM-bray |
Numbers in Italian
English (inglese) | Italian (italiano) | Pro-nun-cee-YAY-shun |
1 | uno | OO-no |
2 | due | DOO-way |
3 | tre | tray |
4 | quattro | KWAH-troh |
5 | cinque | CHEEN-kway |
6 | sei | say |
7 | sette | SET-tay |
8 | otto | OH-toh |
9 | nove | NO-vay |
10 | dieci | dee-YAY-chee |
11 | undici | OON-dee-chee |
12 | dodici | DOH-dee-chee |
13 | tredici | TRAY-dee-chee |
14 | quattordici | kwa-TOR-dee-chee |
15 | quindici | KWEEN-dee-chee |
16 | sedici | SAY-dee-chee |
17 | diciasette | dee-chee-ya-SET-tay |
18 | diciotto | dee-CHO-toh |
19 | diciannove | dee-chee-ya-NO-vay |
20 | venti | VENT-tee |
21* | vent'uno* | vent-OO-no |
22* | venti due* | VENT-tee DOO-way |
23* | venti tre* | VENT-tee TRAY |
30 | trenta | TRAYN-tah |
40 | quaranta | kwa-RAHN-tah |
50 | cinquanta | cheen-KWAN-tah |
60 | sessanta | say-SAHN-tah |
70 | settanta | seh-TAHN-tah |
80 | ottanta | oh-TAHN-tah |
90 | novanta | no-VAHN-tah |
100 | cento | CHEN-toh |
1,000 | mille | MEEL-lay |
5,000 | cinque milla | CHEEN-kway MEEL-lah |
10,000 | dieci milla | dee-YAY-chee MEEL-lah |
* You can use this formula for all Italian ten-place numbers—so 31 is trent'uno, 32 is trenta due, 33 is trenta tre, etc. Note that—like uno (one), otto (eight) also starts with a vowel—all "-8" numbers are also abbreviated (vent'otto, trent'otto, etc.).