3 Days in Riva del Garda: Ultimate Travel Guide

Day 1: Explore the Historic Town Center

Below I'll dive deeper into how to best arrive to Riva del Garda but let's assume here that you've made it. Getting here isn't the easiest if you opted for public transport, but from experience, it's more than possible.

Unless you're super pushed for time, I highly recommend putting in the extra time and effort that it takes to get here compared to the southern cities.

First things first though, let's drop your bags at your hotel so you can start to explore.

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Check-In at Your Hotel

Often I recommend staying in the heart of the city centers so you can use up all your time truly enjoying a place instead of in transport. I don't think that's quite the case here in Riva.

While I do recommend you stay near the coast, you don't have to be right in old town to have a great trip. The city is small enough that you can easily get around by bike. Plus, there is a coastal bike path that makes this mode of transportation really safe.

If you haven't yet booked your Riva del Garda accommodation, here's what I recommend:

• Budget Stay: Aparthotel Englovacanze: This hotel has a wide variety of room types and sizes. The location is really convenient for those who want to take advantage of the ferry, hop on the Ponale Road easily, and enjoy town (more so than the beaches).
• Mid-Tier Stay: Hotel Villa Rina: This is where I stayed in Riva del Garda and loved it. The staff was welcoming, the breakfast was fresh, they offered free bicycles that made exploring easy, and the single room was just what I needed for a solo getaway.
• Luxury Stay: Lido Palace: If you're looking for something truly special, you can't do better than this hotel. You'll be right in the center of everything that brought you to Lake Garda, with easy access to enjoy the city but also the nature that surrounds you (if you can leave the hotel!).

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Go Straight to the Beach

I'm going to keep you pretty busy during my Riva del Garda itinerary but that doesn't mean you shouldn't make time to simply relax on the coastline. Actually enjoying the lake is one of the biggest reasons you're here after all!

Between Riva del Garda and Torbole there are plenty of public "beaches" that you're free to enjoy. I quote the word beaches simply because depending on where you're from, you might be surprised at what qualifies as a beach in Italy.

Sandy beaches are really the norm here, especially in Northern Italy. Instead, the beaches here are full of flat pebbles. You can choose to lay your towel here or on any grassy patch that fills in the space between the water and the bike/pedestrian path.

If you're staying at a lakefront hotel, they may offer chairs but more likely than not, you should bring your own towel to lay on. There are plenty of trees around if you prefer a shady place.

Even in the heart of summer, Lake Garda's water stays chilly. In the summer months, it's incredibly refreshing but it might be too cold for a swim in the off season. I still recommend you hang out here and enjoy the view, even if you don't swim.

There are beach bars aplenty if you want a bite to eat and a drink. Otherwise you can go to a nearby supermarket and make your own picnic like I did.

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Head into Town

If you're not staying in the old town of Riva del Garda, go scope it out! Just like the rest of Lake Garda, it's really bike-friendly. I recommend riding your bike in town and parking it somewhere central so you can wander the alleyways on foot.

Riva del Garda has one of the bigger old towns on Lake Garda. While it's not the biggest city on the lake, it feels like it has the most area to explore. Other bigger cities, like Desenzano, have a more residential feel and lack the big old town that you really want to see on a vacation.

Almost everywhere in Italy I recommend you explore without a true destination in mind. Wander the alleyways, take pictures of the coastline, and allow yourself to get a little lost.

You'll find a plethora of shops here but compared to other towns like Limone sul Garda (more on that one tomorrow), the shops weren't as touristic and seemed better for high-end souvenirs or chic clothing. Although I didn't go to any, I did notice a number of museums in the city for those that prefer a little historical context with their vacations.

If you're eager to get a panoramic view, go ahead and take the 3-minute ride up to the Bastione di Riva. If you have a Mio Trentino card (more on that in the travel tips below!) the ride is free.

After you've explored and spent some time enjoying the spectacular views at the beach, it's time to head back in for a good night's sleep to prepare for tomorrow.

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Day 2: Take the Ferry to Other Towns

Although there's a lot to do within Riva del Garda itself, I'd be remiss not to mention a ferry ride to see some of the other nearby towns on the lake. If you'd prefer to stay in Riva and don't want to explore further, go ahead and jump to day 3 in the itinerary because there I have a few different options for you to choose from. You could easily swap one of the alternative ideas out for today's plan.

Although you can drive or even hike or ride a bike to pretty much all the towns on Lake Garda, I personally think the best way to cover some distance is by ferry. You already know by now that the lake is gorgeous from the shore but it's also incredible from the water.

Riva del Garda is really well-connected by ferry so you could visit quite a bit but I recommend you narrow your day down to visiting Limone sul Garda and Malcesine.

You can buy a day ticket for the ferry at the ticket office right at the ferry dock. Compared to Lake Como, the line here was really short and easily manageable. Again, you'll want a Mio Trentino card to cut down on the cost.

As a heads up, I'm not entirely positive if the ferry from Riva del Garda to Limone sul Garda or other towns runs all year. In 2023, I visited Malcesince in November and the ferry was not running to that town at that time of the year.

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Limone sul Garda

You take a direct ferry to Limone or one that also stops by Torbole. Although I don't recommend you get off the ferry in Torbole, seeing the town by the water is really stunning. It does add extra time though but these slower ferries are cheaper.

The ferry takes about 1 hour to Limone from Riva (on the slower ferry). The trip itself is scenic and a lot of fun watching the kiteboardings and windsurfers practicing their sport.

You'll arrive right in the heart of the Limone sul Garda's old town.

From here, I recommend you walk and get a good feel for the town. My general perception of the town (from a July visit) is that it's much more touristic than the other towns on the northern tip of Lake Garda but it is an undeniably picturesque town. To me the added tourist shops and people ambling about was a trade off for just how visually stunning it is.

I specifically recommend you walk up to Chiesa di San Rocco. The short walk is really beautiful and the small historic church is an added bonus and offers nice views. While in Limone, I also paid the €2 entrance fee to visit the Limonaia del Castèl, or Lemon Museum. Although I'm not super interested in the history of lemons, I did enjoy the views and unique set up of the orchards. I also thought that the museum would provide a respite from the heat...it did not.

Limone sul Garda also has some beaches right outside the city center. These are closer to the 2nd ferry stop in town, near the parking lot.

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Malcesine

For me, Malcesine was love at first sight. I last visited this small but stunning town in November and was blown away by the natural beauty. Now that I've seen the town in full tourist swing in July, I can say that the summer season hits hard here.

It was almost unrecognizable when comparing my 2 trips.

While in November, I spent most of my time hiking and walking around the surrounding area, in the summer it's worth wandering the old town and popping into shops along the way. At the very least, do yourself a favor and walk into the Palazzo dei Capitani. The garden and lake view here are a 10/10 and worth at least peaking at.

Really though, the reason I brought you to Malcesine is to get you to walk (or bike) south along the coastline. Although the town is pretty from inside of it, the real beauty is gazing at it from afar.

Head towards the Isola dell'Olivo and when you're almost there, look back towards Malcesine for a view that should really blow you away. Here, you can stop for a swim, sit on a bench and just relax, or visit one of the bars or restaurants along the coastline (most only are open in the summer months).

If you'd prefer to go up, Malcesine also has a cable car (funivia) that'll take you to the top of Monte Baldo. I haven't actually gone up here before (it was closed in November and on my last trip, I opted to stay by the coast instead) but have heard good things about the view and the variety of hiking trails and mountain biking trails you can access from up there.

After you make your stops at Limone sul Garda and Malcesine, you can make your way back to Riva del Garda. Some of the ferries stop at towns further south but for one day, I think visiting 2 towns is enough.

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Day 3: Hike, Bike, or Try a Watersport

Although today is your last day in Riva del Garda, I hope you have time to take full advantage of it. Today I'm going to give you a few options of different outdoor activities you can choose to take advantage of.

Riva del Garda, and really Lake Garda in general, is a fantastic destination for those that enjoy spending time outdoors so today I suggest you take full advantage.

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Hike or Bike the Ponale Road

The Strada del Ponale, or Ponale Road, is a historic road that was turned into a hiking and biking path along the coast. You can access the trail right at the ferry stop in Riva, meaning you can get here right from the door of your hotel.

I opted to ride the hotel's bike to the start of the trailhead and hike.

Although you can easily just do the Ponale Road from the city center to the restaurant/bar, Ponale Alto Belvedere, and back down, once you make it to this point there are a lot of options to extend your adventure.

Personally, I ended up on a 22km/14 mile trip where after I made it to the restaurant, I went down to the Cascata del Ponale, then up to Pregasina, passing the Regina Mundi statue on the way. On my way back down, I decided I still had energy and took the turn to Lago di Ledro. I made it pretty close, to Bar sul Ponale, before turning back due to a bad storm in the area.

In hindsight, the trail to Lago di Ledro wasn't nearly as scenic as the other and instead, I should have continued straight from Pregasina to Punta Larici. That said, my opinion might be different had I actually made it to Ledro Lake.

All of these destinations I mentioned above are also accessible by mountain biking, with the exception of the waterfall. You can see the top of the waterfall from the bike trail but if you want to go to the base of it for a dip, you'll need to go by foot.

Just know the Ponale Road is a steady incline so if you're new to biking, you might find it a tough one. The hill isn't steep but it doesn't let up. You might prefer an electric bike or to hike instead.

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Bike to Nearby Arco

After my hiking adventure the day before, I asked my hotel what I should do on the last day of my trip. The staff enthusiastically suggested I take the bike over to Arco.

I had never heard of Arco but decided to take their word on it.

They didn't steer me wrong.

You can reach Arco by bike (or on foot) from Riva del Garda by taking the bike path along the coast until you hit the Sarca River. Instead of crossing the river, turn left on the bike path, following signs to Arco. From there, the path follows along the river and most of the way offers beautiful scenery. It's pretty flat and not too challenging of a ride. It took me about 30 minutes door to door.

When you get to Arco, I recommend you ditch the bike in the city center and wander on foot. The old town is really cute and well worth a walk around. They have a number of clothing shops and bars and restaurants. This one didn't feel touristic but like a town that'd be great to live in, even though there were plenty of people who also made the bike trip over.

Other than simply hanging out, you can walk or bike up to the Arco Castle. I recommend you follow signs in town instead of Google Maps to get to the top here. If you go on foot, the actual path will weave you through the residential area of town and up through olive groves until you hit the castle. For free you can enjoy the view or pay to visit the castle itself.

It's a short walk but does get steep towards the top. I might not have noticed it on a regular day but my legs felt it from hiking the day before and the bike ride to get there. Worth it regardless!

If you do this bike ride, I recommend first going to Arco and then to check out Torbole on your way back to Riva as it's just a quick detour. Personally, I was happy I had my swimsuit and needed to jump in the water after the bike ride before I could quite get to Torbole.

Torbole is really small and not my favorite town compared to the others I already mentioned but it is worth seeing since you're so close. Plus, it'll be important if you plan to...

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Try Out a Watersport

You won't be surprised to know that Lake Garda is a great place to enjoy a number of watersports. You'll see the normal like kayaking, paddle boarding, and swimming, but you'll also see even more taking full advantage of the strategic winds that tend to blow here.

Although Riva del Garda has options when it comes to windsports, they're obviously more popular in Torbole.

Here you'll be surrounded by people sailing, kitesurfing, windsurfing, and a sport I had never seen before, wing foil (a combo of windsurfing and hydrofoil).

This would be a great place for those that already know any of these sports to practice but it also looked like a great place to learn. I didn't have time to try (this trip!) but did see a number of rental places that also offered lessons. I also saw a few lessons taking place, which was really entertaining to watch, but does give you an idea just how hard these sports are.

If you have the time and energy, this would be a fun way to truly take advantage of what makes this side of Lake Garda even more unique.

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Riva del Garda Travel Tips

You're almost ready for a really great trip to Riva del Garda - I just have a few more things to share with you.

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How to Get Here

First up, I mentioned before that getting here isn't as easy as getting to Lake Garda's southern towns. I really think the added effort is worth it though. Plus, not everyone has the time and patience for it, so you can expect less crowds by making the trip.

If you have your own car, you can easily arrive from Germany, Austria, or other parts of Italy. Take the highway from Trento, getting off around Rovereto.

If you plan to use public transport, fear not! You can take a train to either Mori or Rovereto and then take the 332 bus directly to Riva del Garda. Mori is slightly closer to the city but the Rovereto train station has more frequent stops. I got off at Mori on the way to Riva but started my journey at Rovereto on the way back. Trainline is a good app to help you plan your trip and buy your train tickets.

You can easily get to either of these towns from a train from Verona, Trento, or Bolzano. Likewise, the 332 bus goes all the way to Trento if that's more convenient than adding in a train stop.

You can buy a bus ticket on the bus but only with cash. If you want to pay with card, you'll need to download the OpenMove app.

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Mio Trentino Card

When I arrived at my hotel, they offered to sign me up for a Mio Trentino card. I wasn't entirely sure what it would do but since it was free, I said why not.

Turns out, this is a card offered by the Trentino government to help promote tourism in the region. And it's great. From what I understand, only your accommodation can sign you up for it and it's strictly valid for the days of your stay.

With the card, you can use public transportation for free, including buses and trains, throughout the region. You also get a really great discount on the ferry. I bought a day pass for the ferry for only €12 thanks to the card.

This card also gives you free or discounted access to a lot of the major tourist attractions in the region, including the Bastione di Riva.

Just note that the card only works in Trentino. Limone sul Garda is in Lombardy and Malcesine is in Veneto for reference.

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Best Time to Visit

As I mentioned before when talking about Malcesine, the summer season hits Lake Garda hard. Given the lake's location in Northern Italy, you can expect 4 true seasons here. This is especially true in the area around Riva del Garda since you're at the foothills of the mountains.

Summer is the best time to visit if you want to swim and enjoy watersports. It's also the best time to take advantage of the ferry and visit other towns. From my experience, the summer weather was really unpredictable. One day it was super hot, with highs around 35C/95F but other days it rained and stormed and didn't get warmer than 26C/80F.

Spring and fall are great times to visit if you want less tourists but still the chance to enjoy outdoor activities and have some restaurants open. I would pack your bags on the chance that you get 4 seasons in 1 day.

Winter is the best time to visit Riva del Garda if you really want to use the town to relax. A lot will be closed and snow and rain might close a lot of the trails but on a sunny day, you'll still get the same great views but with very few people to share them with. Enough people live in Riva del Garda that it won't be a ghost town but it'll still be a different world than what you'd see in summer.

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You'll Love Your Trip to Riva del Garda

When you visit Riva del Garda, you're in for a treat. There's a reason I keep coming back to Lake Garda and breathtaking views and charming towns, alongside stunning nature are an undeniable pull. Since Raf, my husband, didn't get to join me on this trip, instead of opting for somewhere new, I'd suggest we go back and do this exact trip together.

In a country with an endless list of great places to visit, that really says a lot.

Although I do recommend you have at least 3 days to truly enjoy Riva del Garda, the longer you stay, the more you can take advantage of all the small town has to offer.