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Table of Contents:
How to get to Malcesine from Verona
How to get to Malcesine from Milan
When to travel to Malcesine
Malcesine is a small but very picturesque town on the eastern side of Lake Garda. Being a small settlement, Malcesine simply amazes with the concentration of architectural monuments per square meter. In addition, in the surroundings of Malcesine there is the highest point of the area called Mount Baldo, where you can take a funicular to take a look at the panoramic views of Lake Garda. Despite the fact that Malcesine is located away from other towns on the lake, it is very popular among travelers due to its unique landscapes and attractions.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Malcesine. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Malcesine.
Tourists can visit Malcesine at any time of the year as the place has a mild climate and breathtaking mountain landscapes around the town. Architectural sights are also available for visiting during the whole year. Navigation on the lake is open all year round and you can try boat trips on Lake Garda. During the period of November to March the number of boat trips decreases.

How to get to Malcesine
Where do you fly into to get to Malcesine? To visit Malcesine, you must first get to one of the major cities in Italy where international airports are located. This could be Verona (66 km) or Milan (180 km). You can check the flight timetable to these cities via specialized online services like Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options, which is very convenient, in my opinion. Malcesine does not have its own train station, so to get to the town by public transport, you first need to take a train to the resort of Peschiera del Garda, and from there take a bus to Malcesine. In addition, from Peschiera del Garda you can use a more romantic way to get to Malcesine and take a boat trip, which runs between the towns up to 4 times a day.
How to get to Malcesine from Verona
According to my map research, the distance between Verona and Malcesine is 66 km. You can use public transport or rent a car to reach your travel destination.
By public transport: As it has been said before, there is no train station on Malcesine, that is why you should take a train to Peschiera del Garda firstly. It is the closest town to Malcesine that has a train station. From Verona, trains run twice an hour; the journey time is only about 15 minutes. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Based on my experience, Raileurope has a very convenient search with a lot of useful filters to sort the results, so I can definitely recommend it.
Then from Peschiera del Garda there are regular buses, running to the town of Garda. Buses in Peschiera depart from the Bivio Stazione Bus Station. You should focus on route # 164. In the town of Garda, you can take a bus, running directly to Malcesine, operated by the ATV carrier. You should take bus No. 484 on this route. The total travel time is about 2 hours.
By rented car: As an option you can also rent a car to go to Malcesine from Verona. It is a more convenient option to travel around Lake Garda than public transport. The car rental option is extremely popular in Italy, and the procedure of booking a car does not take much time. Rental companies offering car rental services can be found in the city center of Verona or at the airport. You can also book a car in advance via international online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. The travel time from Verona to Malcesine by car is a little bit more than an hour. Verona and Malcesine are connected with #A22/E45 and SR249 motorways (see on the map). I can recommend both services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out a wide range of available car rentals.

How to get to Malcesine from Milan
The distance between Milan and Malcesine is 180 km. You can use either public transport (train + bus combination) or a car to get to the town.
By public transport: Trains from Milan to Peschiera del Garda run three times an hour throughout the day. The travel time is about 1 hour 10 minutes. Trains are direct, there is no need to make a change along the route. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. It is one of my favourite online services for planning upcoming trips. Raileurope has a decent search with a lot of filters to narrow down the results, e.g. duration of the trip, departure and arrival points, price, number of changes, etc.
Then from Peschiera del Garda there are regular buses, running to the town of Garda. Buses in Peschiera depart from the Ferroviaria Bus Station. You should focus on route # 164. In the town of Garda, you can take a bus, running directly to Malcesine, operated by the ATV carrier. You should take bus No. 484 on this route. The total travel time is about 2,5-3 hours.
By rented car: Besides public transport, tourists can also rent a car to get to Malcesine directly from Milan. It is also a good idea in case you are going to travel a lot around Lake Garda. Using a car is much more convenient than using local buses. You can find a lot of car rental offices in Milan, be it city center or any of the airports around including Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo. You can also book a car in advance via different online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. To get to Malcesine you need to follow the road #A4. Tre travel time is approximately 2 hours (see on the map). Based on my experience, both online services are very convenient and I can definitely recommend them.

Where to stay in Malcesine
If you wish, you can stay in Malcesine for longer than one excursion day. You can stay in hotels of any star category, apartments, guest houses, B&B`s, etc. In Malcesine you can find a wide variety of hotels from standard city hotels to resort ones with their own pools and a number of additional options. Some hotels include breakfast in the price.
Hotel Lago Di Garda 3* is located in the center of Malcesine. It features a rooftop terrace and a restaurant. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Breakfast or half board is included in the price. Each room is equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Some rooms have balconies with a lake view. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Public parking is available nearby. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that luggage storage services are provided at the front desk;
Hotel Villa Carmen 3* is located on the shore of Lake Garda and is surrounded by a garden. The hotel features a seasonal outdoor pool, hydromassage, a terrace and a fitness center. The hotel offers its guests a private beach area, free bicycle rental and free parking. Wi-Fi is also provided free of charge. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, all with balconies overlooking the lake or garden. The rooms are equipped with a TV, a safe, air conditioning, and a hairdryer. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel gets the best ratings for its location, cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of the Wi-Fi provided. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 10.00;
Hotel Augusta 3* is located in the surroundings of Malcesine, in a quiet green place, a short walk from the lake. Guests can relax on the sun terrace, take a dip in the swimming pool or visit the wellness center with a fitness room and a sauna. Free parking and free Wi-Fi are provided. The hotel has standard and superior rooms. Each of them is equipped with a balcony, a telephone, TV, a safe and a hairdryer. Breakfast is included in the price. In summer, breakfast is served on the panoramic terrace overlooking the lake. The hotel gets the best ratings for the cleanliness and amenities of the rooms, as well as for the work of the staff. The hotel offers luggage storage and a tour desk service. The front desk is available to guests 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 11.00;
Hotel Garni Ischia 3* is located a 5-minute walk from the lake and within walking distance of the Scaliger Castle. It offers an outdoor swimming pool, a garden, a terrace, a shared lounge area, free parking and free Wi-Fi. The hotel offers a tour desk service. The hotel has rooms of various categories. All rooms are equipped with a telephone, TV, a safe, air conditioning and a hairdryer. Some rooms have a balcony. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel gets the best ratings for the cleanliness of the rooms, the quality of the Wi-Fi provided and the location. Check-in is from 12.00, check-out is until 10.00;
Hotel Villa Orizzonte 2* has a private beach area. It also features a garden, an outdoor swimming pool and a terrace overlooking Lake Garda. Guests traveling by car can use a free private parking lot. Wi-Fi works throughout the hotel and is free of charge. The hotel offers double rooms to stay in that are equipped with a telephone, TV, a safe, air conditioning, wireless Internet, etc. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel gets the best reviews for the cleanliness of the rooms, the quality of the breakfast and the location. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 10.00.

What to see in Malcesine
Malcesine has preserved many historical attractions, the main one of which is the medieval Scaliger castle. In addition, a popular activity in Malcesine is riding the funicular, which rises to a height of 1,700 meters on Monte Baldo. One of the best views of Lake Garda opens up here, and this is not surprising, because the mountain is considered to be the highest point near the lake.
The Scaliger fortress definitely deserves tourist attention. It was built in the early Middle Ages and has survived to these days in a good condition. The fortress stands on a rocky cape above Lake Garda, offering picturesque views of the surrounding area. Today, several interesting museums are located inside the fortress. In addition, local residents love to hold their wedding ceremonies here; it is believed that the fortress has unique romantic vibes. In addition to the fortress, the Church of the Madonna del Rosario and the Palace of the Captains also deserve attention. Both architectural monuments were also built in the late Middle Ages. I found out detailed information for visiting the fortress:
- The Scaliger fortress is open to visitors from 9.30 am to 6.30 pm (April,1 to April,30); from 9.30 am. to 7.30 pm (May,1 to October,1); from 9.30 am. to 6.30 pm (October,2 to November,2);
- The entrance fee is 6 euros for adults and 3 euros for kids.

All year round you can ride the funicular and climb the local mountain of Monte Baldo in Malcesine. In winter, a local ski resort is open here. The funicular can take you to a height of 1,700 meters (the height of Monte Baldo is 2,218 meters). There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- The funicular operates daily from 8.15 am to 18.45 pm (to 16.45 pm since October).
- The cost of a round trip ticket per adult is 25 euros.
- You can buy tickets at the box office or online via official website.
In addition to visiting the historical sights of Malcesine and climbing Monte Baldo, trips around the lake on excursion boats are popular during the summer period. So, for example, from Malcesine you can get to the opposite shore of Lake Garda to the town of Limone, which is considered to be the birthplace of lemons, or to the northernmost point of the lake – to the town of Riva del Garda, famous for its mountain landscapes. You can check the current boat timetable for the upcoming season on the carrier official website.
As you may notice, Malcesine is one of the colorful and picturesque towns on Lake Garda. In my point of view, it offers a lot of entertainment, including historical attractions, boat trips and funicular riding. Malcesine is also suitable for swimming. You can find small but cozy beaches on the lake shore. It is quite long to get to Malcesine by public transport, but it is definitely worth visiting anyway.

Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Uwe Häntsch

Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…