LAKE GARDA FERRIES
 

Does anyone know if the ferries run up and down Lake Garda at this time of the year. We'll be in Verona in early March and wanted to take a day trip to the Lake. I've read that you can transverse the entire lake in a few hours--but they didn't say if they only run during the warmer months.
Any suggestions for not to miss sites along the Lake. Is it better to train or bus from Verona. Thanks for any input!

Shessie - Yes, ferries still run. You can find current timetables - valid till mid March on:

http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/itali...ndicegarda.htm

From Verona I think bus is best.
My favourite towns on Garda are Riva, Limone, Torre del Benaco, Malcesine and Sirmione - probably too much for one day!

Hope this helps ...

Steve

We spent a day on Lake Garda in May. We took the bus from Verona up to Riva, which took a little over 2 hours and was very scenic (sit on the left side of the bus). We spent a few hours in Riva, then the ferry took us to Limone (we didn't get off, though) and Malcesine. After spending an hour or two in Malcesine, we took the bus back to Verona. Even in May the ferry was cold and windy, so I personally would spend more time on the bus. We absolutely fell in love with Riva!

www.apt.vr.it

for bus schedule from Verona's bus station to the eastern shore of Lake Garda (all the way to Riva del Garda in the north, Province of Trento). One way fare from Verona to Riva is 5.20 Euros. You can get off the bus at Garda, Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, Torbole, etc., but need to buy separate bus tickets for each leg of the trip.

There is also hourly bus service from Verona to Sirmione at the southern tip of the Lake (this is a different bus company with a different website). These buses also depart from Verona's bus station, which is in the same square at the Porta Nuova train station.

The ferry boats on the lake are much less frequent during the winter compared to the regular busses. Nevertheless, with some advance planning, you could take the bus in one direction and the ferry on the return, or vice-versa.

Make sure that you get the ticket that allows you to get on and off the boat. The last time I was there, an American tourist had a dreadful row with the boatman because he had a direct ticket and not a hop-on hop-off ticket. He was not allowed on the boat and was told to get another ticket for the rest of his journey.

www.saiatrasporti.it

is the website of the bus line between Verona and Sirmione. This is the long line connecting Verona with Brescia, which stops at Sirmione.

Verone to Sirmione service is hourly, and takes about one hour.

From Sirmione, you could take the ferry boat to points north.

By the way, here is a link to our pictures from our Verona trip:

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/s...;sm=1&sl=1

There are several pictures of Riva, Malcesine, and some of the lake and Limone from the ferry. From Malcesine we took a cable car up to Monte Baldo, but I don't know if that will be running in March.

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

Joc - Great photos, we are planning our trip now, and deciding whether to stop in Verona, and seeing these pictures helped a lot.

Bob

rjkritzer,

Thanks. Have a great trip; Verona is beautiful.