5 Beautiful Reasons to Discover Lake Garda

Can there be anything better than a large mountain lake with crystal-clear water? Yes. A huge mountain lake with crystal-clear water. In Italy. Garda. The name itself sounds melodic, with southern grace wandering between the letters. This stunning body of water, surrounded by numerous peaks, is a top-class gem. If we add the ubiquitous Italian cuisine to the mix, we get the perfect place to spend a vacation. And that's just a small part of its advantages. Let me convince you why I'm pointing you in this direction!

Garda is sometimes called a sea due to its size, which with a shoreline stretching 158 kilometers and an average depth of 133 meters (the deepest point being 346 meters) is not much of an exaggeration. Just driving around Garda is an attraction that takes half a motorized day, which motorcyclists from all over Europe eagerly take advantage of, flocking here in droves. The lake's location gives it many different, fascinating faces, impatiently waiting to be discovered. On the flatter, southern side, you'll find resorts catering more to mass tourism. The northern side of Garda belongs to the mountain world, whose capital is the town of Arco, located about 3 km from Riva del Garda, the largest town on this side of the lake. You'll have many more opportunities to get to know the fascinating faces of Lake Garda more closely. I personally fell in love with them and won't give you peace anytime soon :)

Of course, it couldn't be missing here either. Italy's greatest treasure, whose aroma enchants the cozy streets of the towns around Lake Garda. For me, pizza reigns supreme. Thin, crispy dough, rich tomato sauce radiating juiciness straight from under the southern sun. On top lies velvety mozzarella covered with ripe arugula in a deep green hue. All of this is topped with a delicious layer of aromatic, paper-thin prosciutto along with freshly grated parmesan. I crown this noble mixture with a few bold drops of spicy olive oil. Is this what heaven tastes like? Mine certainly does.

The Lake Garda region offers a whole palette of brilliant via ferratas. From short and simple training routes to difficult, sporty trails. A huge advantage is the very short approach to the wall in most cases. Often the entire traverse takes 2-3 leisurely hours, allowing you to do two completely different via ferratas on the same day. It's worth mentioning that the climate around Garda enables via ferrata expeditions as early as the beginning of April. If you can't wait for the Austrian peaks to emerge from under the snow - pack up your car and head to Garda! Don't know what via ferratas are? You'll soon have the opportunity to learn more about this topic!

It towers over the northeastern side of Lake Garda. This is where the highest point in the area is located - Cima Valdritta. The massif is about 40 km long and covers an area of 320 km². There isn't one distinct peak here, but rather many individual summits. You can get to the top in many ways - on foot, by bike, by car, or by cable car. For cyclists, I would recommend choosing the cable car from Malcesine, while for hikers, I'd suggest driving up by car and taking a more substantial hike on the plateau. Due to significant elevation gains on one hand and great expansiveness on the other, you'll save yourself a lot of energy this way. At the top, you'll find many kilometers of pure pleasure and a feast for all your senses. Just one glance at the lush green pastures and villages hidden in the valleys is enough. The massif itself is a botanical unique, as its peaks were among the few places that protruded above the ice sheet during the Ice Age. Thanks to this, you'll encounter unique plants there that only grow on the Monte Baldo massif, having survived there for hundreds of thousands of years. That's why Monte Baldo has been called the botanical garden of Italy since the 16th century.

Lake Garda is famous for its wealth of cycling trails. Want to spend an unforgettable day with your family among hills dotted with charming vineyards? Or do you prefer an adrenaline-filled steep descent from 2,200 meters? Or maybe something in between? No matter - at Garda, everyone will find something for themselves. If you don't have your own gear, you'll certainly find something in the offerings of one of the numerous rental shops, where you can also get advice on choosing a route. You don't have to climb all the way to the top to feel the call of speed during a descent. Often you have the option of taking a cable car up, or you can use a shuttle bus service to take you to the top.