fcascun

Hello, we will be visiting Garda Lake between 31 Aug and 7 Sept, staying in Peschiera del Garda. We will be two mums with an 8 year old and an 18 month old. We would like to plan 2 days touring the different towns on the lake but we will not have a car (we do not want extra hassles with the kids). We are also open to taking ferries between towns if that is option. On the other days we will be visiting Gardaland, Sealife, Parco Natura Viva, maybe Caneva world (time permitting) and Verona.

I saw some other posts where it was recommended to do one day in the south and other day in the north part of the lake. Which towns do you suggest and how best to get around without a car?

We are both into photography, and we enjoy sightseeing with some breaks sitting down with the cup of coffee or a gelato. Fun times for the kids are also a must!

Looking forward to hearing some suggestions!

pariswat

Hello
I've been to the lake but with a car, so cna't answer on the logistics without a car.

But... for me no car is more of a hassle...
Kids sleep in cars, there are no problems of schedules, you can put a lot of luggage (extra reserve of diapers, water, food, clothes).

So I don't understand your idea that no car will make it easier.

annhig

dead easy, use the boats. They will take you all over the lake, to Gardaland too and to the water park, I think.

here's the timetable for this summer for the ferry that serves Peschiera del Garda:

http://www.gardasee.de/download/Dese...Sommer2015.pdf

This website might help too:

http://www.visitgarda.com/en/lake-gara-ferries/

you can see that it is possible to get right up to Riva del Garda at the other end of the lake but I'm not sure that I'd like to spend about 6 hours [3 hours each way] in a day on a boat with small children. I would rather hop around the southern end [there will probably be other boats that you can connect with elsewhere] where there are a lot of interesting places to see, and leave the northern end for another time.

Sirmione, Bardolino and Garda are all interesting towns as are Salo and Gardone Riviera.

There are also lots of buses, though they might be a bit harder with a buggy.

we loved the week we spent on Lake Garda - it's hard not to!

Rubicund

Lake Garda is one of my favourite spots, but I would urge you to rethink the "no car no hassle" thought. How is it less hassle waiting for, then climbing on and off buses with two kids and all their baggage, than sticking everything in the car and off you go. While the ferries are OK for towns nearer to you in Peschiera, if you want to see the northern end of the lake, a car is much better timewise.

The roads are very good, apart from one hairy, narrow bit through the tunnels on the north west side of the lake. With a car, you can "do" each side of the lake in a day and get up to the cable car at Malcesine, which the kids should enjoy. With a car you can see all the lakeside towns without any problem. We've done it several times and never had a parking problem or driving issues.

It's very easy to get to Verona from Peschiera by train, no car needed for that bit.

dani007

I loved the north part of the lake. I would suggest you visit Malcesine, torbole and Riva del garda.

annhig

dani - I don't disagree with you that the north of the lake is lovely, but if you are staying on the south of the lake as the OP is, the problem with visiting the north of the Lake is that it takes so long to get there and back, which IMO isn't very practical with small children and isn't the best use of time if you've only got a week.

there are plenty of interesting things and places to see on the southern end of the lake.

fcascun

Thanks all for your comments. I agree with those that said a car is easier, but both of us never drove abroad before. We usually always rely on the husbands to do the driving and we are not comfortable driving with the kids in tow. Also, we are from Malta so we drive on the other side of the road.
Its the one disadvantage of a girls only holiday

Would it make sense to spend one day seeing the southern towns and we dedicate another going up north? For the second day, I was thinking we could leave Peschiera, make a morning stop in Bardolino, then take bus/ferry to Malcesine, then take bus/ferry to Limone or Riva (can't do both) if there is time. Like this we break down the drive up north, then we take bus back to Peschiera from our final stop. And should it be Limone or Riva? How do we decide between the two?

annhig

luckily fcascun, you don't need to decide now. you don't need to book the ferries so you can see how your kids get on with travelling on the ferries, the change of routine, etc., and plan accordingly.

at Malcesine, it's possible to get the cable car up to the top of the mountain, which your kids might also enjoy. [it can be foggy up at the top though, not such a good idea if this is the case]

the only way to decide which you fancy between Limone and Riva is to have a look on the web and do your research - but it may be that when you get to Lake Garda your ideas change so flexibility is the key, IMO.