Welcome to Desenzano del Garda
An easygoing commuter town 9km southwest of Sirmione, Desenzano del Garda is not nearly as pretty as some of Garda's other lakeside settlements, but its ancient harbour, broad promenades and vibrant Piazza Matteotti and Piazza Malvezzi make for pleasant wanderings. Thanks to its mainline train station Desenzano is a popular jumping-off point for car hire and other transport around the Lake Garda area.
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Desenzano del Garda activities
Full-day Lake Garda Tour
Start this full-day (10-hour) tour in the morning at your chosen meeting point, where you’ll be picked up by air-conditioned bus and a tour guide, who will be with your group for the entire day. The excursion is made mostly by bus and includes a public boat trip.Thanks to this excursion, in one day you will be able to see all the countries around the Lake Garda, and to visit with the guide the most famously. There are different tours available for different meeting points. Please be careful and choose the right one!MondayTour available for the country of Toscolano Maderno, Gardone Riviera, Salò, Manerba/Moniga, Desenzano del Garda and Sirmione.This beautiful trip includes a stop for visit the medieval country of Lazise, Malcesine, Riva del Garda and Limone sul Garda. Boat trip from Riva del Garda to Limone sul Garda. Tuesday and Friday Tour available for the country of Torri del Benaco, Garda. Bardolino, Lazise and Peschiera del Garda.This beautiful trip includes a stop for visit Sirmione, Limone sul Garda, Riva del Garda and Malcesine. Boat trip from Limone sul Garda to Riva del Garda.WednesdayTour available for the country of Pai, Castelletto, Brenzone, Malcesine, Torbole, Riva del Garda and Limone.This beautiful trip includes a stop for visit Salò, Sirmione and the medieval country of Lazise. Boat trip from Salò to Sirmione.At the end of the excursion, return by bus and tour guide to your meeting point. All the stops are of at least 1 hour, whereas the boat trip is about 45 minutes long by public ferry.The tour guide will be with you for all the day and give you some historical info conceirning the visited countries!
Sirmione, Lake Garda and Desenzano del Garda Tour by Train from Milan
Meet your guide at Milano Centrale station in the morning, hop on a train and relax on the 1.5-hour ride to Desenzano del Garda, on the southwestern shore of Lake Garda. A popular holiday destination, this town is known for its great beaches, summer nightlife scene and beautiful views of the Alps. Take a 1.5-hour walking tour of the city center to admire old-style villas and the medieval castle. Learn about Desenzano del Garda’s history and archaeology: the town was a favorite vacation spot for the Veronese elite in the 1st century, and is home to prehistoric pile-dwelling (stilt house) settlements that are part of a UNESCO World Heritage site. Hop on a boat for a short cruise along Lake Garda to Sirmione. Learn about the interesting history of this ancient town on a guided walking tour down picturesque narrow streets, followed by free time for lunch (own expense). Then visit independently an enchanting Roman villa and the Grottoes of Catullus (Grotte di Catullo), Sirmione’s main landmark. Overlooking the lake, these caves are believed to have been the home of Catullus, a famous Latin poet. Then, visit Scaliger Castle, a rare example of a medieval port fortification, used by the Lords of Verona in the 1200s.In the late afternoon, return to your boat and cruise 20 minutes back to Desenzano del Garda, where you’ll have some free time to explore. Perhaps stroll to Piazza Malvezzi or Piazza Matteotti, sip drinks at an open-air cafe or browse shops for Italian wares. Then journey back to Milan by train, arriving at Milano Centrale station in the evening.
Full-Day Lake Garda and Desenzano del Garda from Milan
In the morning, your guide meets you at the Central Station in Milan and following a 1-hour train journey, you'll reach Desenzano del Garda. Desenzano is a attractive village and a very popular bathing resort. Its historical, artistic and archaeological culture is one of the most appreciated city on the lake. After a tour of the city, your guide escorts you to the harbor to get the boat to Sirmione, famed for its thermal waters. The town stretches along a thin peninsula that protrudes into Lake Garda for about 4km (2.5 miles.) Here, you'll have lunch and free time and after that, spoil yourself with an ice cream tasting (typical Italian gelato). Return by boat to Desenzano for some shopping and free time. When you're ready, your guide escorts you to the station in order to get the train back to Milan.