jungleenoek

Hi,

Me and my family are visiting Lake Garda for a week to spend a relaxing week with each other.

Would appreciate suggestions as to whats the best place to live and have a good time with the family and at the same time explore the area.

Also would like to know whats the food scene for vegetarians. Is it easily available? Or can we request for dishes to be made without meat and sea food? We want to experience the local cuisine. I was wondering if I can get some suggestions

Cheers!

deli1000

You need to provide more info such as age group. Are there any children in the family?

jungleenoek

We are all adults, no kids. The youngest member is 23 years old. There are 5 of us.

Appreciate your help.

carmar

Sirmioni is a beautiful seaside town. It's not too far off the autostrata so you can zip into Verona if you'd like.
Riva de Garda is the Northernmost tip of the lake and is also a pretty area. I think I remember seeing boats you can rent.

Big_Red

Lake Garda is a great place. At the northern end it is very mountainous and narrow.

We have not stayed at the southern end, but I think that several of the resort villages share a continous lake-front promenade. One of those villages might work for your family.

We have stayed one night in Riva del Garda. It is a great town, but you should research the frequency of the boat service before you decide to spend a week there.

julia1

I spent a week in Riva del Garda a few years ago and liked it very much. It's at the northern end of the lake, thrusting into the foothills of the former Austrian Alps: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57170863.html The views in early morning sunlight are of mountains in layers of increasing height, some still with snow on the peaks. It's a serenely beautiful place: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57200095.html Palm trees line the streets and there are roses and jasmine climbing the palms.

There are steeper cliffs on the western side, the tops being like smoothly worn teeth. At certain places on the side of the mountains cling little churches or dwellings appearing to be totally inaccessible, and in fact many of the lakeside villages were only accessible by boat until the new road was chiseled and blasted through at the base of the cliffs. As the towns at the southern end of the lake, such as Sirmione, fill with people, Riva remains calm and peaceful. Here are more photos from Lake Garda, if you're interested: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1673556.html

Nearby, just a few miles to the west, is the sublimely beautiful Lago di Ledro: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57225735.html

From Riva it is easy to get into the Alto Adiga and the Dolomites on daytrips, to Bolzano, Merano, etc. On a clear day it's lovely to ride the funivia up from the center of Bolzano to Soprabolzano, where you can walk in alpine meadows and lose yourself in the views: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57236884.html Here are more images of Bolzano, Soprabolzano and Merano, if you're interested: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1675164.html

Sirmione is at the southern end of the lake, set in a flat plain. It's a lovely place too, although it does tend to get very crowded with tourists because of its proximity to, and ease of access from, larger population centers. But on a warm, sunny day you can search out a spot by the lake, take off your clothes, and relax in the sun: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/p57172379.html

An easy daytrip from Sirmione is Verona, of course, but also Mantua, which is surrounded on three side by lagoons covered by lotus flowers in mid-summer. And the art! Astonishing, amazing Renaissance art and some of the best erotic art in Europe, whole rooms covered from floor to ceiling and across ceiling and back down to floor again. Here are some images: http://gardentouring.fotopic.net/c1674148.html

annhig

hi jungle,

we stayed at Garda itself, in a hotel about 5 mins walk from the lake. you will find that there are accommodations in all price ranges.

I like the centre of the lake - from there it is easy to get to both ends - if you are at one end or the other, it takes all day on the boats to get there and back. and pick a major centre for the boats, so you aren't waiting forever to get back.

regards, ann

Wayne

If Riva accommodations are a bit expensive, there is Torbole, also on the lake and only a few minutes drive or boat ride from Riva. There are several good lower-cost hotels there, and a few good restaurants.