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Table of Contents:
When to travel to Riva del Garda
How to get to Rive del Garda from Verona
How to get to Riva del Garda from Milan
Where to stay in Riva del Garda
When to travel to Riva del Garda
Riva del Garda is a small town in the very north of Lake Garda, surrounded by mountains. The combination of lake and mountain views makes the place a unique piece of untouched nature in Italy. The town of Riva del Garda is less visited by tourists than the towns at the southern tip of Lake Garda, because there is no train station here. Tourists can reach this travel destination only by bus or by excursion boat. However, those who do get to Riva del Garda remain enchanted by its northern landscapes and extraordinary natural views.
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 Riva del Garda. 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 Riva del Garda.
Generally, you can visit Riva del Garda at any time of the year. The “high” tourist season is considered to be the period from May to October. These are the sunniest and warmest months suitable for long distance walking and excursions. The natural landscapes are pretty colorful this time of the year. According to information that I discovered, the local climate is mild, but winters can be rather rainy and the temperature is usually about +8, +10 C (50 F).
How to get to Riva del Garda
Where do you fly into to get to Riva del Garda? The nearest cities with international airports are Verona (85 km) and Milan (170 km). You can check the flight timetable to these cities via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use this service as it helps me a lot to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one. The ways to get from these cities to Riva del Garda are different, so it is important which city you fly into. Verona is located east of Lake Garda, so it makes sense to get to Riva del Garda along the east shore, while Milan is located west of Lake Garda, and accordingly, it makes sense to travel along the west shore. You can use both public transport and a rented car.
How to get to Riva del Garda from Verona
The distance between Verona and Riva del Garda is about 85 km. You can get to the town by public transport or by car.
By public transport: So, if you start from Verona, the fastest way to get to Riva del Garda by public transport will be to take the train to the town of Rovereto on the north-eastern tip of the lake, and then change to a bus directly to Riva del Garda. Trains from Verona to Rovereto run throughout the day at intervals of 1-2 times per hour; the journey time is about 1 hour. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope regularly to check out the current train timetable when planning my trips around Europe. In my opinion, it is a very convenient online service, because I can compare different routes, duration of the train journey, number of changes, prices, etc.
⇒Next, in Rovereto you need to change to bus # 332 of the Trentino Trasporti Esercizio carrier. The travel time to Riva del Garda is just less than an hour. Buses run every hour throughout the day.
By rented car: As an option you can hire a car in Verona to travel on your own. It is a more convenient way to actively travel around Lake Garda, than public transport. You need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card to rent a car. You can find a lot of rental points in the city center of Verona as well as at the airport. You can also book a car in advance via international online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. Verona and Riva are connected with motorways #A22/T45 and SS240. The travel time is a bit more than 1 hour in total (see on the map). I can recommend both services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the available car rentals.
How to get to Riva del Garda from Milan
Based on my research, the distance between Milan and Riva is approximately 170 km. You can use either public transport or a rented car to get to the town.
By public transport: To get from Milan to Riva del Garda, you can use a combination of train + bus options. Firstly, you need to take the train to the town of Rovereto on the north-eastern tip of the lake, and then change to a bus directly to Riva del Garda. Trains from Milan to Rovereto run throughout the day at intervals of 1-2 times per hour; the journey time is about 2,5 hours. Please, note that you need to make a change in Verona along the route. You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I can totally recommend Raileurope as I often use it when planning my own trips.
Next, in Rovereto you need to change to the bus # 332 of the Trentino Trasporti Esercizio carrier. The travel time to Riva del Garda is just less than an hour. Buses run every hour throughout the day.
By rented car: Another way to travel around Lake Garda from Milan is to rent a car. Car rental offices can be found in any area of Milan, as well as at the airports be it Malpensa, Linate or Bergamo. You can also book a car in advance via various online services such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and other similar ones. Milan and Riva are connected with motorways # A35 and SS45bis via Brescia. The travel time is about 3 hours (see on the map).
Where to stay in Riva del Garda
I did some research and I can say that tourists can find different accommodation options to stay here. Riva del Garda may offer rather affordable variants. You can stay in hotels of different star categories or in B&B`s. As an option you can also rent apartments.
Hotel Luise 4* is located close to the lake and to the historical center of the town. There is no more than 5 minutes’ walk in both directions. Guests can relax in the outdoor swimming pool. The restaurant serves local cuisine. Wi-Fi and private parking are provided free of charge. Guests of the hotel have the opportunity to rent a bicycle, play table tennis, and use the children’s playground. The hotel has standard, superior and deluxe rooms. In the room you can find a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer, a telephone, satellite TV, a minibar, wireless Internet. Buffet breakfasts are included in room rates. Some rooms have a balcony. The hotel gets the best ratings for cleanliness, staff work and the quality of the breakfast provided. The hotel offers luggage storage. The front desk is open 24 hours a day. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00;
Hotel Villa Enrica 3* is surrounded with a garden and has its own swimming pool and sun terrace. Guests can also relax in the local lounge bar. The lake can be reached in a few minutes on foot. Bicycle rentals are available at the reception. Parking and Wi-Fi are provided free of charge. The hotel offers accommodation in rooms of various categories. Each room has a telephone, satellite TV, a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer, and a minibar. Some rooms have a balcony. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel gets the best ratings for cleanliness, staff work and the quality of the breakfast provided. The hotel offers luggage storage. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I discovered that check-in at the hotel is from 14.00, check-out is until 10.00;
Hotel RivaMia 3* is located in the town center, a few hundred meters from the lake. There is a bar and a pizzeria restaurant on site. Free Wi-Fi is available to guests. Bicycle rentals are available at the reception. You can stay in rooms of various categories. The rooms are equipped with a telephone, satellite TV, a hairdryer and wireless Internet. Some rooms have a balcony. The hotel has an elevator. Buffet 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. The hotel offers luggage storage and a tour desk. Check-in is from 13.00, check-out is until 11.00;
Hotel Virgilio 3* – The hotel is located in the surroundings of Riva del Garda, in a picturesque location, 2 km from Lake Garda. There is an Italian restaurant on site. Wi-Fi and private parking are provided free of charge. Guests can rent a bicycle or play table tennis. You can stay in single, double or triple rooms, which are equipped with TV, a telephone, a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer and wireless Internet. Breakfast is included in the price. The hotel gets the best reviews for the work of the staff, the cleanliness of the rooms and the quality of the breakfast. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 10.00;
GardaBreak Rooms&Breakfast complex is located in a picturesque area with mountain views. Wi-Fi is available free of charge throughout the hotel. Free private parking is available on site. Bicycle rental is provided at the reception. Some apartments have a balcony or a terrace. In the room you can find satellite TV, a safe, air conditioning, a hairdryer, and a minibar. Some apartments are equipped with microwaves and fridges. Breakfast is included in the price. Check-in is from 14.00, check-out is until 10.00.
What to see in Riva del Garda
The town of Riva del Garda is located in a picturesque place between the lake and the mountains. There is the Monte Baldo ski resort, several smaller lakes called Ledro and Tenno, and the Varone waterfalls located nearby Riva. In addition, several historical and architectural monuments have been preserved in the town which also deserve tourists’ attention. Riva del Garda is an ideal place for walking and cycling as there are a lot of different hiking routes inside the town as well as outside of town.
It is definitely worth viewing the oldest fortress La Rocca, which was built back in the 12th century. Surprisingly, the fortress is still surrounded with a water moat, which suggests that in ancient times it performed primarily defensive functions. Nowadays there is a History Museum inside the fortress. The local tower Torre Apponale is also located near the fortress; its construction dates back to the 13th century. The height of the tower is 34 meters; in its upper part there is an observation deck, which is considered to be one of the best places to view the historical part of Riva del Garda from above. I found out detailed information for visiting:
- There is a picture gallery, an archaeology section and a history section in the museum;
- The museum and the tower are open during the period from April to October;
- The ticket price is 5 euros.
Other architectural monuments in Riva include numerous palazzos (palaces). These are Palazzo Lutti, Palazzo Armani, Palazzo Martini, Palazzo Clari and Palazzo Pretorio. Most of them were built in the 19th century and have original facades and elegant interior decoration. Some of them are open for visiting.
In the surroundings of Riva del Garda there is the gorge with the Cascata del Varone waterfall. It is located approximately 3 km away. The height of the gorge is 73 meters; you can get to the observation deck via a special tunnel. The waterfall does not freeze even in winter, so you can visit it all year round. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The cost of entry to the natural park is 7 euros per person;
- The waterfall is open for viewing from 9 am to 7 pm in summer and from 9 am to 5 pm in winter.
In the summer, a typical entertainment for vacationers in Riva del Garda are boat trips. For example, from Riva del Garda you can travel to Malcesine or Limone Sul Garda, two charming towns that are filled with a unique atmosphere and are favorite destinations for tourists. All options for traveling by water on Lake Garda can be explored on the carrier official website.
As I see it, Riva del Garda is a charming place hidden from the main tourist routes. Both architecture and natural landscapes are just gorgeous here. Surrounded by mountains, the town has a pretty picturesque location. Add to this a beautiful lake shore and the scenery will be just perfect for any traveller.
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: Pixelteufel
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…