Lake Garda holidays

There are tons of beaches lining the shores of the lake, from sandy spots to pebbly stretches and grass lidos – in fact there’s over 28 miles of free beaches along the 98-mile shoreline – and all of them come with glorious views over the water and surrounding hills and mountains. Most have loungers and parasols available, and lots have other extras like bars and cafés.

As Garda's a natural lake, there’s no tide or big waves to wear the pebbly shores into sand. The few sandy beaches are mainly in the south – in Lazise and Desenzano to name a couple – and these have been manmade. It goes without saying that sand's comfier to lie on than pebbles, and kids often love playing in it too.

We’d recommend wearing lake shoes for walking into the water, but as the entry into the water can drop off quite quickly, the jetties are great for jumping or stepping down into the clear, fresh waters. As for water temperature, the north, where the water enters the lake from the Sarca River, tends to be a little chillier. The south can be as much as 6°C warmer, and, in the height of summer can reach as warm as 23°C on the surface.

The weekly markets are the perfect place to pick up a few souvenirs at a reasonable price. It’s not as cheap as you may imagine, but the products are top quality. Everything from traditional pottery and gifts to Italian leather goods and clothing are on offer. The same market moves from town to town throughout the week, so what you seen in one resort will be the same as the rest.

All towns around Lake Garda have shops where you can pick up things like clothing, souvenirs and Murano glass at a fair price. Riva’s home to the Blue Garden Shopping Centre, and just outside Desenzano is the Il Leone Centre, and both have a mix of national and international shops and brands.

Lake Garda sits between Verona and the fashion capital of Europe, Milan. In both cities, designer shops like Dolce & Gabbana, Gucci, Prada and Armani line the streets. And it’s easy to get to them by train from lots of places around the lake.

Cafés and bars line the waterfront in most towns around the lake, and often have outdoor seating where you can enjoy a spot of people-watching. Shops and ice-cream parlours tend to stay open until as late as the bars, so grab yourself a scoop and take a wander round the pretty streets. In towns like Bardolino and Riva, the promenade is great for an evening stroll.

All of the larger towns around the lake have a lively evening atmosphere. Bars with live music can be found in most towns, Malcesine and Limone are known for their regular firework displays on the water, and Bardolino hosts a philharmonic orchestra on the steps of the church. If you’re looking to have a dance, Bardolino and Desenzano have great clubs that are open until the early hours.