A day trip to Lake Garda from Milan: what you need to know
We visited Lake Garda from Milan and stayed for two nights. But it is such a short journey away that you could easily make it a day trip. All you have to do is catch the train out of Milan, and then choose which ferry you want to take once you arrive at the lake.
In this blog I’ll explain what you need to know about getting to Lake Garda from Milan, what to do in Lake Garda and which Lake Garda towns are best to visit, and whether Lake Garda or Lake Como is best.
Why should I go to Lake Garda or Lake Como?
Milan is the finance capital of Italy (as well as the fashion capital) so, while it’s a beautiful city with lots of history, it is also busy and business-y and not the most relaxing. We loved Milan, but taking a trip to the lakes was a peaceful break where we were able to slow down and relax. And of course it’s always great to be close to the water.
Both Lake Garda and Lake Como and beautiful areas that are well set-up for visitors. So they’re very easy places to head to if you want a short break from busy city life.
Is Lake Garda or Lake Como best?
Lake Garda and Lake Como are both stunning and you won’t regret visiting either. The summaries here are purely generalisations!
Lake Como is probably more famous among foreign tourists, and is known for being an upmarket, luxurious destination. It’s a great place to explore quaint villages and relax by the water.
Lake Garda offers the same, but has a little more natural beauty as it’s not got quite the same rep as a luxury destination. As a result it is more family friendly but also slightly quieter and more affordable. The food is also considered a little better here as it’s slightly less touristic and more popular with locals.
Go to Lake Como for: a more manicured, luxurious experience
Go to Lake Garda for: a more chilled out, affordable experience
How to get to Lake Garda and Lake Como from Milan?
There are a few different ways to get to Lake Garda and Lake Como from Milan. Firstly there are many guided tours or tour group options that will take you there by coach or bus.
But the easiest and most affordable option for us was to just take the train. It takes less than an hour and costs €10 per ticket to get from Milan to Desenzano del Garda station and just over an hour from Milan to Varenna Esino station for Lake Como.
Once you arrive at your chosen station, you will need to catch a bus or ferry to the smaller towns around the lake.
In Lake Garda, we took a ferry to Sirmione (there is also a bus but it was less frequent). From Sirmione we were also about to explore the nearby towns of Bardolino and Lazise on a ferry – all of which took under an hour.
What is there to do at Lake Garda?
There is more to do than you might think at Lake Garda.
Which towns or villages to visit at Lake Garda. For most visitors the aim is to relax, whether that’s in the towns or at the lake itself. But there are also plenty of activities including sailing and paddle boarding, fishing, hiking, and exploring ancient castles and other historic sites.
During our visit we explored Sirmione, caught the 50-minute ferry to Bardolino for lunch then walked ~1 along the lake down to Lazise where we caught the same ferry back to Sirmione. It’s very easy to get around this way so you can visit more than one town on Lake Garda without any trouble.
Where to eat and drink at Lake Garda
The food at Lake Garda and Lake Como is not the best you’ll find in Italy. They know they can charge more due to the high concentration of tourists and the reputation as a luxury destination. But that’s not to say there aren’t some gems among the tourist traps. These were our favourite places to eat and drink in Lake Garda:
Barracuda, Sirmione
L'Arcimboldo Ristorant, Sirmione
MANO, Sirmione
La Locanda, Bardolino
Are Lake Garda and Lake Como expensive?
Put simply, yes. Lake Garda and Lake Como are expensive compared to other destinations in Italy. Lake Como is especially expensive as it’s considered to be a luxury tourist destination. Lake Garda is too, but it’s a little more relaxed.
That said, you can catch ferries between towns for around €10 and wander around the lake front and towns for free. It’s mainly accommodation and food that is expensive here – and in terms of food you definitely don’t get the best of Italy. But that’s not to say it’s not worth visiting.
The most affordable way to experience Lake Como and Lake Garda if you can’t (or don’t want to!) budget for overnight stays is to take a day trip from Milan where you can definitely still get a good feel for the area and visit more than one town in an afternoon.
Find out more about our trip to Lake Garda here.