Recently, we jetted off to stunning Lake Garda for a family member’s wedding – and we were excited. We had heard a lot about Italy’s largest lake, and after having visited Lake Como the year before, we were keen to compare the two.
Anyway, we found Lake Garda to be as stunning as the online photos lead you to believe, safe, and easy to get around. It is also really family-friendly (we traveled here with our two young daughters), and honestly, we were surprised by how many theme parks and water parks there are in the Lake Garda area. We found out later that Lake Garda is nicknamed the Orlando of Europe, which makes sense.
We spent a week in Lake Garda, but because our daughters were so young when we visited (2 years and just 3 months), we spent quite a few days just chilling out by the pool at our hotel and taking slow walks down to Bardolino. So, I’ve squeezed our favorite Lake Garda activities into a 3-day itinerary, which you can read all about below.
How would we spend 3 days in Lake Garda?
As I explained, our daughters were really young when we visited, so we spent a lot of our time at our hotel’s pool and in the town of Bardolino (the closest town to us). But we did spend 3 days ticking off the area’s top attractions – places like Gardaland (a must-visit if you love theme parks) and getting a boat out to Isola del Garda.
I’ll also add that this itinerary focuses on the Southern end of Lake Garda (where towns like Sirmione, Peschiera del Garda, and Bardolino are); the lake is huge, so getting from one end to the other can take up to 3 hours by ferry. Which is why, if you only have 3 days in Lake Garda, it’s best to pick a side to avoid too much traveling.
Day One: Lake Garda Walkway, Monte Baldo
Before I dive into our itinerary, I will add that the best way to get around Lake Garda and all the places listed below is to hire a car. Although there is public transport (a mix of ferries and buses), the time between services can be long, and they can get very busy.
Morning – Walk the Lake Garda Promenade Walkway
The Bardolino Lake Garda Promenade Walkway connects Bardolino with the town of Garda. They are two of the prettiest towns on the lake. It’s flat and easy and is around 2 km long. Along the way, you’ll pass several small beaches and Cafes, so you can stop where and when you please.
We walked this path a few times during our vacation (with a two-year-old and a baby in a double buggy) and found it very easy. If you want to cycle the path, you can rent bikes from Bardolino or Garda. Our friend used Cisano Bike Rent & Service in Bardolino.
Why not consider renting a bike and cycling on one of the many bike paths dotted along the lake? There are bike rental stores in pretty much every town here, and a day’s bike rental is cheap.
Before you set off on your walk, though, be sure to spend an hour or two in Brdolino – this town has a very relaxed vibe, and we loved walking around its mix of narrow, cobblestone streets, checking out the quaint shops, and vibrant cafés.
At the end of your walk is the Garda – and this is a great spot for lunch. This small town is renowned for its picturesque setting, with stunning views of the lake and surrounding hills. The 12th-century Church of Santa Maria Assunta is also worth checking out while here.
Afternoon – Go up Monte Baldo
Standing tall (at a whopping 6,000 feet) over the town of Malcesine is Monte Baldo, which you can ride to the top of in a cable car (aka a Funivia). This is a unique, state-of-the-art cable car system as the cars rotate their axis during the journey to the top, thus allowing you to see a 360-degree view along the way.
Once you hop off the cable car, if the kids are keen, you can hike to the very top of the mountain. From here, you’ll be treated to arguably the best view in all of Lake Garda!
Afterward, be sure to spend some time in the lovely town of Malcesine at the foot of Monte Baldo. As you can imagine, it offers breathtaking views and is a haven for hikers (the popular Sentiero del Ventrar trail starts here).
Day Two: Gardaland and/or Parco Cavour
Gardaland:
One of the biggest theme parks in Europe is located in Lake Garda. Gardaland is home to a theme park with 40 rides, the brand new Legoland Water Park, a SeaLife Aquarium, and a Peppa Pig Land for the younger kids!
Gardaland is honestly huge, and there’s a ride for everyone. Thrill-seekers (like my husband and me) loved the Blue Tornado rollercoaster, but we also had heaps of fun on the Raptor and Oblivion rides. As I said, there are over 40 rides at Gardaland, so it’s fair to say you could spend a full day in the theme park section alone.
Only recently opened here is the Legoland Water Park. Yep, you guessed right – a themed Lego water park featuring colorful slides, a lazy river where you get to customize your boat with Lego bricks before floating away, plenty of interactive water games, and lots of themed areas. The Jungle Adventure section looks really fun!
There’s even a Peppa Pig Land where you can meet the life-size characters from the show, visit Peppa’s House, and ride on rides like the hot air balloon ride.
And finally, the SeaLife Aquarium is a great place to spend some time out of the sun. Here, you will get to see over 5,000 sea creatures, from sharks to stingrays to starfish.
If you fancy staying the night, there are three themed hotels to choose from – Gardaland Hotel, Gardaland Adventure Hotel, and Gardaland Magic Hotel.
Buying tickets for Gardaland:
A day pass to Gardaland costs from €39 when you book online in advance. FYI, the ticket will cost you €50 if you walk up on the day! You can also purchase hotel and park passes, which work out as great value for money.
A good idea if you’re not sure what day to go is to buy an open-date entry ticket to Gardaland, which costs from €47!
Parco Cavour:
Parco Cavour is a fun water park close to Lake Garda. It features 12 attractions spread throughout different themed sections like the Rainforest, Adventure Rock, Iceberg, and the Water Lagoon (this is the perfect spot for young kids!)
We had lots of fun on the Kamikaze slides, and we also loved the Kneipp Path, where you can walk along river pebbles, which is said to have great health benefits. You can book a skip-the-line ticket for Parco Cavour here from just €25!
Late afternoon – Relax on a beach
After your day spent at a theme park, it’s likely you’ll be looking to have at least one relaxing day during your vacation to Lake Garda with kids. So, why not have a beach day? There are loads of beaches sprinkled along the lake, like the very popular Bracco Baldo Beach in Peschiera del Garda.
But, as we were staying in Bardolino, we spent a lot of time at the small beaches along the pathway between Bardolino and Garda. There are several, and we tended to just walk along until we found a quiet spot. The water here was glistening, but the floor of the lake was quite muddy.
One of the most family-friendly beaches in Lake Garda is the one at Malcesine, as the water here isn’t muddy. And the water is quite shallow.
Day Three: Isola del Garda & Sirmione
Morning – Boat trip to Isola del Garda
From pretty much every town along Lake Garda you’ll be able to see the standout Isola del Garda – the biggest island in the lake. Home to a lush park and the eye-catching Villa Borghese Cavazza a Venetian neo-Gothic villa. You can catch a shared boat to the island from Manerba del Garda or book a private tour from Sirmione which fits up to 6 people.
Kids will love seeing the lake from on-board a speedy and luxurious boat and getting to see the island up close. A fun fact to tell them is that the island was originally called Skull Island because it was said to have been inhabited by pirates and over 100 Gallo-Roman tombstones can be found on the island!
The private boat tour from Sirmione is 1.5 hours long and includes Prosecco for the grown-ups as well as a knowledgeable local driver who will tell you all about the history of the island. This tour costs from €500 per boat which fits up to 6 people.
Afternoon – Explore the town of Sirmione
Sirmione is well-known for its picturesque peninsula and the impressive Scaliger Castle. I’d say this town is a perfect mix of historical intrigue and thermal springs.
As I said, one of the town’s most notable landmarks is the Scaliger Castle, a visually striking fortress that dates back to the 13th century and offers panoramic views of the surrounding area. It is also famous for its thermal baths, which have been around since Roman times and are renowned for their healing properties. We liked wandering through the narrow cobblestone streets and checking out the small stores and cafes.
Evening – Watch the sunset
End your great vacation here with an epic sunset. I just love watching the sunset in different countries and try to catch it every night of my vacation. Some of the best sunset-watching spots in Southern Lake Garda include Spiaggia Punta Cornicello in Bardolino, a lovely pebble beach with a bar, and Castello Scaligero in Sirmione.
Where to Stay in Lake Garda
If you’re traveling to Lake Garda with kids, we highly recommend basing yourself in either Bardolino or Peschiera del Garda, as both offer plenty of family-friendly hotels and are close to attractions like Gardaland and Caneva World Resort.
In Bardolino –
- Hotel Ca’Mura – This is where we stayed, and we loved how spread out the hotel is – there are gorgeous gardens to explore, a huge pool, and a small kids’ pool. As well as that, there’s a kids’ club, tennis court, volleyball court, and an on-site restaurant. Our apartment was authentically Italian and nice and cool during the day. The only downside is it’s located outside of town and at the top of a steep hill, so the walk up from town was tough.
- Sisan Family Resort – a 4-star resort with a mini waterpark/ water playground and two swimming pools. The rooms here are three-bedroom apartments that are spacious and feature a small living room and kitchen as well as a patio area. There’s also a kids’ club and nightly entertainment for the kids in high season. Rates are around €375 per night.
- La Rocca Camping Village – A 4-star camping village, a short distance from Bardolino, La Rocca offers apartments, mobile homes, and pitches (for a tent or RV). There’s a large swimming pool, mini splash park, on-site shop, Cafe, and restaurant. They offer a junior/teen club, nightly shows, and a spa. It’s also right on the beach.
In Peschiera del Garda –
- Gasparina Village – A quiet holiday village consisting of 120 apartments, a kids club, and a super lagoon pool with slides. The apartments come with a kitchenette and are spacious and comfortable. The resort is car-free too! Handily, it’s located just 1.5 km to Gardaland.
- Gardaland Hotel – This hotel is located within the Gardaland theme park. It’s a 4-star hotel with 247 rooms (including 36 themed rooms), two bars, a restaurant, and a free shuttle bus that takes you to Gardaland. The hotel offers various packages like free second-day park entry.
- Eurocamp Bella Italia – This huge site offers loads of facilities (pools, supermarket, playground, sports facilities, restaurants, etc), and it has a very ‘buzzy’ vibe. Despite its size, it’s really easy to navigate, with clearly marked ‘roads’ leading to different areas.
Renting a Car in Lake Garda
Renting a car in Lake Garda can be an excellent way to explore the stunning landscapes and charming towns that surround Italy’s largest lake. To get started, it’s advisable to book your car rental in advance online to secure the best rates and ensure availability, especially during the peak tourist season.
We tend to always book our rental car through Discover Cars. This is a search engine for rental cars and allows you to filter by price if you’re on a budget or by vehicle type if there’s a specific car you’re after. On here, you can book with major rental companies like Hertz, Avis, and Europcar, which have offices in nearby cities such as Verona and Brescia, and you can also find local rental services in towns around the lake on this website.
When renting a car in Lake Garda, make sure you have a valid driver’s license, and check if you need an International Driving Permit depending on your country of origin. Familiarize yourself with Italian driving laws, such as speed limits and parking rules, to ensure a smooth experience.
Thanks for Reading!
I hope you enjoyed reading about our Lake Garda itinerary. We really loved our time here and are looking to visit again in a few years, when our girls are older, so that they can go on most of the rides at Gardaland.
You may also enjoy reading my other Italy posts –
6 Picture-Perfect Small Towns in Italy
Where to Stay in Rome, Italy (Guide to the Best Hotels in Rome)
The ULTIMATE One Month in Italy Itinerary
Last Updated on June 16, 2026 by snaphappytravel
One thought on “3 Days in Lake Garda (A Family-Friendly Itinerary)”
Lake Garda looks like a nice spot for families. Did you have a favorite activity there?