8 Best Things to Do in Riva del Garda

1. Wander the Old Town

If you've read any of my other "things to do" guides for towns in Italy, I pretty much always start with this one. And that's simply because I think most guides overlook the obvious. Before you dive into museums, attractions, and excursions, take some time to get to know your surroundings.

Most cities and towns in Italy are stunning. They're historic and well-preserved and worth being enjoyed without a "plan." This is the time to put your phone away (except for the pictures you'll inevitably want to take) and simply get lost in the alleyways.

Although Riva del Garda is a small city, the old town is bigger than many of its counterparts on Lake Garda. There are a handful of streets to wander through on a stroll, with a number of shops, bars, and restaurants to visit along the way.

The best tip I can give you here is to use Google Maps. Zoom in on the town until you see the area that's highlighted in yellow. That should be the heart of the old town and the most interesting area to walk around. Once you arrive, walk without a plan and see what you stumble upon.

Outside of the old town the entire coastline, heading east towards Torbole, is connected by biking and walking paths. It's certainly worth spending some time exploring that route as well.

And it brings me to...

‍

2. Have a Picnic on the Lake

Although the town of Riva del Garda certainly has plenty to offer, another big pull of this destination is of course spending time on Lake Garda.

Later I'll dive into the different watersports you can enjoy from here but before I get into the specifics, I want to address the obvious that you might initially overlook.

Almost the entire coastline from Riva to Torbole is home is to small beaches that you can choose from. Just know that the beaches here are full of pebbles or rocks and aren't sandy. Thanks to this the water is super clear and great for swimming.

Along the edge of each beach is well manicured grass that is far more comfortable to lay your towel on than the pebbles (in my humble opinion). The beaches in Riva are pretty spacious when you consider all the grassy area around the water, perfect for a picnic.

There are bars and some restaurants along the coast that you're welcome to order from but you could also go the old fashioned way and have yourself a picnic.

On one night, after my long hike, I got a spritz from the bar and brought it over to my towel for an easy end of the day. I enjoyed that so much that on the next evening I skipped over dinner in old town and instead picked up my favorite snacks to enjoy by the water instead. You could easily do this for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or aperitivo. I was far from the only person who thought this was a great idea!

‍

‍

3. 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 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.

‍

4. Swim or Try a New 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 a bit more popular in neighboring 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.

I'd recommend either walking or biking the coastline to Torbole and taking a lesson from there or finding a company in Riva del Garda. Like I said, there seemed to be more options in Torbole but I'm sure both areas have plenty of good companies to choose between.

For those that would prefer to swim and simply enjoy the incredible view, almost the entire coastline from Riva to Torbole is home to a number small beaches that you can choose from. Just know that the beaches here are full of pebbles or rocks and aren't sandy. Thanks to this the water is super clear.

‍

‍

5. Enjoy the Views from the Bastione di Riva

The Bastione di Riva is a historical landmark at the top of one of the hills surrounding Riva. This offers a panoramic view of the town and a chance to brush up on your history.

The lookout tower, or bastion, was built at the end of the Venetian reign of the area in the late 1400s. Although not much of the Venetian Tower remains today, what's left has been entirely restored and open to visitors.

Starting from near the ferry stop, you can either walk up the hill or take the cable car up. If you have a Mio Trentino card (your hotel can sign you up for one for free), you can take the cable car for free.

There's also a bar and restaurant up here that offer great views. I'd suggest making a reservation if you aim to eat dinner here.

‍

6. Visit One of the Many Museums

I'm going to be honest here and say I'm not usually a museum person. I'll go to them if they're highly recommended by people I trust or I'm somewhere long enough that I do the other things on my list first or if rainy weather forces my hand.

That meant on this trip to Lake Garda I used all my time hiking, biking, swimming and exploring the nearby towns and didn't save a single moment for a museum.

But I do realize that for some, museums are the goal. So, for travelers like that I've compiled a list of museums to visit in Riva del Garda. Here are a few you might want to check out (in addition to the Bastione di Riva):

• MAG Museo Alto Garda: This museum has 3 floors, each offering something different. You'll get an art gallery, archeological floor, and the history of Riva del Garda. There's also an activity room for children.
• Hydrotour/Hydroelectric Power Plant: This is certainly a unique one as it's a museum and guided tour of the hydroelectric power plant to show visitors how they use the water to create clean energy.
• Limonaia del Castèl: This one actually isn't in Riva but I did visit this one so I wanted to mention it. This is the lemon museum in Limone sul Garda. Although I'm not super interested in the history of lemons, I did enjoy the views and unique set up of the lemon groves.

‍

7. Bike to Arco

Arco was a surprising gem for me. On my last day in Riva, I asked my hotel what I should do for the day. I had already taken the day trip to visit nearby towns (#7 on this list) and gone on my long hike (#2) so I was trying to find something that wouldn't require too much time or energy.

The hotel suggested I enjoy a flat bike ride to Arco.

The ride is scenic and can be done in 20-30 minutes. You'll start off on the coastal bike path but cut inland right before taking the bridge to Torbole. From there, it's a straight shot on that bike path. It's great because you don't have to ride on a main road and even in the summer it wasn't that crowded.

When you get to Arco, I recommend you ditch the bike in the town 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 and up through olive trees 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. The views are worth it though!

If you do the bike ride (or walk) in the summer, I recommend you bring your swimsuit so you can jump in the lake directly after your trip to cool off from the sun!

‍

8. Take the Ferry to Nearby Towns

Last but certainly not least, I recommend you see more of Lake Garda. Personally, I think the north end of the lake is far superior to the southern end. Here the views are more dramatic and while there are still plenty of people visiting, the towns up here don't feel quite as crowded as Sirmione in the south.

Just know that if you wanted to, you can traverse the entire lake by ferry and catch one from Garda that will go all the way to Sirmione.

For this article's purpose though, I recommend you stick with just the towns in the north that are quick and easy to get to.

‍

Limione sul Garda

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 along the way.

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 undeniably picturesque. 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 historic yet little 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, which I already spoke about above.

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.

‍

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 as well, 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.

‍

Riva del Garda Travel Tips

Before you dive into your trip to Riva, there's a few more things to keep in mind to help you plan.

Where to Stay

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!).

Best Time to Visit

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.

How to Get Here

Getting to Riva del Garda is a little bit harder and more time consuming than getting to the southern end of Lake Garda. Unless you're coming from somewhere nearby like Trento, I think you'll need at least one night here to make the effort pay off.

Unlike Peschiera and Desenzano that have train stations, Riva del Garda is only accessible by bike, car, or bus.

Personally, I took the train all the way from Trieste (where I live). I changed trains in Verona and hopped on a regional one until Mori. In Mori, I caught the 332 bus straight into Riva. On the way home I took a similar route, except I got on a faster train from Rovereto to Verona.

‍

What Will You Do in Riva del Garda?

When you visit Lake Garda, I highly recommend you consider adding Riva to your list. Although it can be a bit more time consuming to arrive, with all the variety of things to do in the area, it's really a fantastic place to visit.

From shopping and eating out to hiking, biking, and swimming, I think Riva del Garda strikes the perfect balance between relaxation and adventure.