Limone holidays

Popular holidays

With its endless romantic charm, holidays to Limone are about discovering the many delights of an enchanting cliffside town.

Limone's lemons

Clinging to the rocks on Lake Garda’s north-western shore, the picturesque town of Limone is renowned for its dramatic setting, and even more so for its fragrant lemon (limone in Italian) groves. Approaching the harbour by boat, you spot the terraced lines of lemons, olives and other fruit trees stretch across the hills above the town. For a glimpse into the long history of Limone’s citrus industry, it’s well worth the short climb up to the hilltop Limonaia del Castèl museum – the entry’s cheap, and the sweet scent of orange blossom hangs in the air all around you.

From the Old Town to the beaches

A simple highlight of Limone is to wander round the attractive Borgo Antico – or Old Town. Flower-lined cobbled lanes wind up and around its shops, restaurants and traditional shuttered houses. Make your way to the bustling waterfront promenade for spectacular views across the lake – the imposing peaks of the Monte Baldo mountains are a treat for the eyes at any time of day. And if time in the sun is your idea of fun, you’ll want to make your way down to one of the fantastic free beaches. There are lots to choose from, just note that most are pebbly – so taking river shoes or similar footwear is recommended if you’re tempted in for a dip.

Trips, tours and activities

There's a bunch of great things you can do from Limone. If seeing the sights on two wheels is up your street, you can hire a bike or join an e-bike tour to ride along the Ciclopedonale – a cycle and walking path that wraps around the hillside hanging over the lake. There are guided nature trails which take you further up into the hills, where photo-ops come in thick and fast. And of course nothing beats getting out onto the water itself. Hop on a ferry to visit other lakeside towns like Riva and Malcesine, or you can even try your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing from here – the conditions are usually spot on.

Out and about

Here are some ideas of things to do when staying in Limone:

• Boat trips
• Waterfalls
• Guided walking tours
• Lemon museum
• Local history museum
• Markets

Popular hotels in Limone

Top things to see and do in Limone

Beaches

Sé Beach

Sé Beach is about 800 metres from the centre of town. It's a small, pebbly beach that's free for visitors. Surrounded by vegetation, it's one of the more peaceful beaches in town.

Bau Beach

Bau Beach is about 300 metres further on from Sé Beach and is accessible by foot. Dogs are welcome here, so you may see some four-legged friends as you sunbathe.

Foce Torrente San Giovanni

Like all beaches in Limone, this one is gravelly. There are also beach volleyball courts on the perimeter, and you might be able to watch some windsurfers out on the lake from here.

Shopping

Bargain buys

As with many towns around Lake Garda, Limone hosts a weekly market. You'll find traditional Italian pottery, leather goods and clothing, along with gifts and souvenirs for sale.

Mid-range buys

There are plenty of souvenir shops in town, and many of them offer lemon-themed gifts. As its name suggests, Limone has a history steeped in lemons, so the shops offer everything from lemon-shaped dishes and lemon-covered kitchen aprons to lemon pendant jewellery.

Designer buys

Limone has a few boutiques with designer brands available.

Nightlife

Laid-back evenings

The evening is promenade time, for visitors and locals alike. Join them with a gentle stroll along the lakeside. Why not stop for an Aperol or Hugo spritz in a lakefront café?

Lively evenings

Limone can get quite lively in the evenings, and there's often a firework display to the north of the lake that you can watch from the promenade. There are live concerts every week by local bands, and even operatic performances.

Food & drink

Restaurants and ice-cream

The restaurants and ice-cream parlours of Limone are dotted around the town. You'll find a good choice of places to eat on the main harbourfront.

Stroll inland for 'tapas'

Venture into town from the lakeside and you'll find a choice of eateries along the cobbled streets. Like Spanish tapas bars, Italian bars often serve antipasti with the aperitivi. So don't be surprised if your drink is served with a crisp bruschetta on the house.

Getting about

Buses

Buses leave throughout the day from outside the tourist information office on Via IV Novembre. Riva is about 15 minutes away.

Passenger ferries

From Limone you can catch a steamer or a hydrofoil ferry. The main ferry point is between Hotel All'Azzurro and Hotel Le Palme.

On foot

There are two main areas for gentle walks: the lakeside promenade, and the pretty cobbled lanes winding up from the lake.

Walking

Walking in town

The rolling cobbled streets of Limone are surrounded by picturesque walks. If you like to take it easy, you can stroll along the bustling lakeside promenade - or wander through the olive groves for a little more peace and quiet.

Walking in the countryside

You can walk north to the Sopino Waterfall or head past the harbour to the WWI outpost of Canu. The trails winding through the hilly countryside are more demanding, but the views are worth the effort.