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Table of Contents:
How to get to Sirmione from Verona
How to get to Sirmione from Milan
When to travel to Sirmione
Sirmione is a resort town at the southern side of Lake Garda, popular for its thermal springs, natural and historical attractions. Choosing Sirmione as a holiday destination, you can combine different kinds of activities. Besides relaxing on the beach, you can also enjoy thermal treatment as well as going on various excursions. The views of Lake Garda are extremely picturesque and attract a lot of tourists from all over the world every year. The touristic infrastructure is well-developed here, so you can find a lot of hotels to stay in as well as a lot of restaurants and cafes to try local gastronomy. Beaches of Sirmione are clean and tourists-friendly and water has a comfortable temperature to swim during the summer time.
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 Sirmione. 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 Sirmione.
A beach season on Lake Garda lasts from June until September incl. According to my knowledge, the hottest and the sunniest months are July and August, when the temperature rises up to + 30 C (86 F). If you prefer beach holidays, choose the period between June and September. But Sirmione can be visited all year around as it is not only a beach destination. Sirmione is an interesting place to visit in order to see a large number of historical and natural sites. Besides, Sirmione has hot thermal springs in its area, so you can relax and swim and get a special treatment during any season of the year.
How to get to Sirmione
Where do you fly into to get to Sirmione? The most convenient way to get to Sirmione is from Verona or Milan; both cities have airports that accept direct flights from different cities around the world. You can check the flight timetable to Milan or Verona, as well as find out the exact prices for tickets, via specialized services like Aviasales and other similar ones. I often use Aviasales and I can say that it helps a lot to compare different flight options and choose the optimal one.Then you can get from these cities to Sirmione by public transport, by transfer service or by rented car.
How to get to Sirmione from Verona
Based on my map research, the distance between Verona and Sirmione is 40 km; they are connected with highway No. A4/E70. You can get to the resort either by train or by taxi, but, please, note that the nearest railway station to Sirmione is in the neighboring town of Desenzano del Garda.
By public transport: Trains on the route Verona – Desenzano del Garda run every half an hour throughout the day. The travel time is from 20 to 25 minutes. 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 throughout the whole of Europe. In my opinion, it is a very convenient service, because it helps to compare different routes, duration of the train journey, number of changes if applicable, prices, etc.
The distance between Desenzano del Garda and Sirmione is 8 km. Buses between the towns run throughout the day (you can get on at the railway station or at any other bus stop in Desenzano). There are various bus routes from Desenzano. These can be direct buses going to Sirmione or buses going to other towns on Lake Garda, but stopping at Sirmione.
By taxi: You can get directly from Verona to Sirmione by taxi, with a total travel time of approximately 45 minutes. You can pick up a car either at Verona airport, or book in advance via transfer services such as Kiwitaxi and other similar ones. This is a very convenient option especially if you have a lot of pieces of baggage with you, or travel with kids or arrive at night when public transport does not operate. Based on my research, Kiwitaxi has a lot of positive reviews that is why I can recommend it. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport, if needed.
By rented car: By renting a car at Verona airport, you can go to Sirmione from Verona on your own and then travel along the coast of Lake Garda. This option is relatively inexpensive, but it gives a certain freedom of action when moving around. In the summer, car rental in Verona is very popular among tourists, so it is recommended to book a car for renting in advance. Tourists can try various international online services for car booking such as Discover Cars, Economybookings and others. The travel time by car is about 45 minutes (see on the map). Please, note, to rent a car in Verona, you need to have a passport, an international driver`s license and a bank card. Based on my experience, both online services for car rental have a very convenient search with a lot of useful options.
How to get to Sirmione from Milan
I did some map research and I found out that the distance between Milan and Sirmione is 132 km. The travel destinations are connected with highway No. A4 (see on the map). You can get from one city to another either by train or by taxi, but you need to take into account that there is no railway station in Sirmione; the nearest one is located 8 km away, in the town of Desenzano del Garda.
By public transport: Trains between Milan and Desenzano run every half hour. The travel time varies from 50 minutes to 1 hour 20 minutes, depending on the type of train (ES – high-speed, R – regional). You can check the current train timetable and purchase tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. Then from Desenzano you need to take a regular bus going to the towns of Lake Garda. As a rule, any of these buses goes via Sirmione.
By taxi: You can also get from Milan to Sirmione by taxi. A taxi can be taken at the airport, or booked in advance via different transfer services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. The travel time is about 2 hours 15 minutes. It`s a very convenient option to travel to resorts of Lake Garda in case you arrive with small children or a lot of luggage or your flight arrives at night. I have observed a lot of reviews about these online transfer services and most of them are positive so I can definitely recommend both Kiwitaxi and Intui.Travel.
By rented car: Another option to get to Sirmione from Milan is to rent a car. You can rent a car either at the arrival airport or at any rental office in the city of Milan. Almost all well-known international rental companies such as Hertz, Avis, InterRent, Alamo, Budget, Thrifty, Enterprise, or the national supplier Maggiore operate here. To rent a car in Milan, you need to have a passport, an international driver`s license and a bank card. You can book a car for renting in advance via various international services, for example, via Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. I can recommend both services as they have a decent search with a lot of useful options to find out the best available car rentals.
Where to stay in Sirmione
You can stay in Sirmione, depending on your preferences, in hotels of any star category or in apartments. Some hotels have their own spa areas that offer treatments of the thermal waters for which Sirmione is famous.
Hotel Catullo 3* is located on the shores of Lake Garda and has its own private beach. There is also a restaurant, and a bar. Bicycle rental is also available. The Aquaria thermal complex is located within walking distance. Free private parking is provided nearby the hotel. The hotel has rooms of various categories; some of them have a balcony. Breakfast is included in the price. You can find everything you need in the room including air conditioning, a minibar, TV, a hairdryer, a safe, free Wi-Fi, etc. The registration desk operates 24 hours a day and offers baggage storage;
Residence Nuove Terme 3* is located next to the Virgilio Baths, within walking distance of the lake. Guests have access to an outdoor swimming pool, a free parking area, and wireless Internet. To stay in the apartment complex, you can choose from standard one-bedroom apartments or apartments with a private garden or apartments with a private terrace. Tourists can find everything they need in apartments, including a kitchenette, air conditioning, a safe, a kettle, a hairdryer, etc. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I discovered that tourists can also find a place for picnic, utensils for barbecue and sun lounges at the hotel area;
Casa Francesca is a holiday home located 2 km from the Virgilio Baths and 5 km from the Catullo Baths. Guests can take advantage of an outdoor swimming pool, a terrace, free Wi-Fi and a free parking area. Cleaning in the amount of 35 euros is paid separately from the rental price;
Villa Aurora offers apartment rentals. Amenities include a swimming pool, a bar, a free parking area. It is also possible to rent bicycles or barbecue facilities. The nearest thermal complex is 2 km from the villa. The apartments are equipped with a terrace, TV, air conditioning; in the kitchen area you can find a fridge, a microwave oven, and a dishwasher to use;
Appartamento Essenza is located in a quiet, cozy place; the nearest thermal complex is 2.5 km away. Guests have access to an outdoor swimming pool, free private parking, a garden, a terrace and barbecue facilities. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 11.00. The apartments are equipped with a proper kitchenette and other necessary facilities.
What to see in Sirmione
Sirmione is famous for its picturesque views of Lake Garda; there are also many historical and archaeological monuments preserved in the town. As I found out the other popular leisure activity of the resort is visiting thermal complexes. In the summer, tourists can relax on the beaches, visit ancient sights, take a tour boat ride to other towns on the shore, and also try the healing power of the Bayola thermal spring. Local gastronomy is a mix of fish and meat dishes as well as a great variety of fruits, vegetables and salads.
The main attractions of Sirmione are considered to be the ancient Scaliger castle and the archaeological monument called the Grottoes of Catullus, where the apartments of the poet were supposedly once located. In the town center you can also find several amazing churches, for example Santa Maria Maggiore, the construction of which dates back to the 15th century; the architectural style is Gothic. The Church of San Pietro is also interesting; inside you can find frescoes from the 12th century.
In addition, along the entire shore in Sirmione there is a beautiful promenade embankment, along which tourists love to walk and where you can ride a bicycle. Picturesque landscapes and developed resort infrastructure literally attract travelers from all over the world to Sirmione.
Scaliger Castle
The Scaliger Castle was originally built as a fortress, which is why there are towers in the corners of the castle, and the entrance is closed by a lift bridge – all in the best traditions of the Middle Ages. The castle was built in the 13th century. An unusual feature of the castle is that it is surrounded by the waters of Garda, and on one of these sides a whole marina pier was even built. Currently, a historical exhibition is located in the lower floors of the castle; in addition, it is possible to go upstairs and view the building from above. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The Scaliger Castle is open to visitors daily from 8.30 to 19.30, on Sundays – until 13.30;
- Entrance fee is 6 euros for an adult.
Grottoes of Catullus
The Grottoes of Catullus is an outstanding archaeological site. It is believed that there once stood the apartments of the poet Catullus, where he and his family lived, but this information has not yet been confirmed by historians. Some scientists state that the apartments belonged to Catullus, but he did not live here.
However, the archaeological find is of great importance, because its construction dates back to the period before BC! This artifact from Ancient Rome is one of the largest archaeological sites in Italy. Currently there is a museum where you can see an interesting exhibition about life in Ancient Rome. I found out detailed information for visiting the grottoes:
- The grottoes are open every day except Monday;
- Entrance fee is 8 euros for an adult.
Thermal complexes of Sirmione
The thermal baths of Sirmione are known for their healing properties far beyond Italy. The Bayola thermal spring is enriched with useful elements, and the temperature of the spring is 68 degrees. It is not surprising that later several thermal complexes were built around this thermal spring. The most famous ones are the Baths of Catullo, the Baths of Virgilio and the Baths of Aquaria.
The Catullo Baths are located right in the town center and are open daily in the summer (from April to October) from 7.00 am to 1.00 pm. Various healing procedures are carried out here, including inhalations, hydromassages, mud baths and much more. The Baths of Virgilio have a similar set of treatments. The baths are open throughout the year, daily from 07.00 to 19.00 (on weekends – until 13.00).
The Aquaria thermal complex is also considered to be a popular place for relaxation, which offers its guests 3 swimming pools (one of which is outdoor) with various hydromassage functions; in addition, there is a sauna, a relaxation room, a massage room and a diet cafe.
In addition, some Sirmione hotels also have spa areas with thermal waters and with similar relaxing and beneficial functions. According to my research, these include:
- Grand Hotel Terme
- Hotel Sirmione e Promessi Sposi
- Hotel Fonte Boiola.
As I can see, Sirmione is a great holiday destination, suitable for beach relaxing and swimming as well as for excursions and boat tours and also for treatment with thermal springs. You can mix different activities here and enjoy stunning lake and mountains landscapes which Sirmione is famous for.
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: Yilmaz Oevuenc
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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…