Lake Garda
 

Hello! Hubby and I are spending a few days in Verona and plan to rent a car one of those days to drive around Lake Garda. Of course we are planning to visit Sirmione and hopefully tour Castello Scaligero. I would also like to drive around the lake -- I think it will be a beautiful drive, but hubby is concerned about steep cliffs and hairpin bends. I read someplace that the drive along Lake Garda is one-way, due to heavy traffic, etc. Can anyone tell me if that is correct -- if so, when does the road revert back to two-way traffic? If it is ALWAYS two-way traffic, is it truly a white-knuckle drive that we should avoid? We are both in our 60's and are looking for more of a leisurely drive with lots of scenery, not really looking for an "adventure"! Thank you in advance!

The road around the lake is not one way. It would be almost impossible to have one way traffic as lots of people travel between the villages in both directions. There aren't any hairpin bends to speak of band the only narrower bit is through the tunnels in the northwest between Limone and Riva but still not a problem.
For only a day trip, you'll be dashing round the lake and won't have enough time to take it easy, but still worth the trip.

Do your trip during the week, not on Sunday, roads will be quieter

On the SW part of the lake, stop in lovely Salò. Few from US visit there. Italian friends suggested we stay there and it was perfect.

Easy and enjoyable ride. We based out of Castelletto and made the loop in about 6 hours with several stops amongst the lake side villages along the way.

We visited the west side of the lake on our way north to Ortisei. We stayed in Malcesine on the way back, very nice mountain view’s but not as nice a town as Saló. More touristy.

Thank you for your responses. Our trip around Lake Garda is planned for a Friday. We are planning to start at Sirmione and spend a couple of hours exploring there. Then we'll just drive along the coastline, taking in the scenery, with a stop for lunch in either Limone or Riva del Garda. Finally, we plan to stop in Malcesine to see the castle there and perhaps take the cable car if there's time. Does that sound doable? Thank you again!

It is doable, albeit a bit rushed. From Sirmione head clockwise round the lake. Desenzano is the next place along and is a nice little place with a market on the first Sunday. Salo is worth a stop for coffee before you head up to Limone before the tunnels as you drive to Riva. Riva is, by lake village standards, quite a large place and worth some of your time. The cable car in Malcesine is worth the ride up on a clear day and you should see the base jumpers throwing themselves off the top of Monte Baldo!
How much you'll be able to see depends on what time you get started but you won't have time for Garda or Bardolino. We have done a round the lake trip in a day, but started around 9am and got back around 8ish, starting from Desenzano. A longish day,but not too rushed and a great lunch at a lakeside restaurant in Riva.

Much appreciated! :-)