Riva del Garda was our introduction to Lake Garda, and looking back, it was the highlight of our entire time there.
We drove in from the Dolomites, stopping first at Villa Canale (amazing!) and Parco Grotta Cascate Varone, and then spent the remainder of the day visiting the historic city center, the MAG museum, Torre Apponale, and then rode the funicular up to the Bastione. That evening, we had dinner outside on a quiet, colorful side street, and it set the tone for the rest of our time on Lake Garda.
We didn’t know it yet, but we’d just stumbled onto our favorite town on Lake Garda, even more than the more famous Sirmione. The views from the towers and the funicular, the charm of Villa Canale, and the noticeably lighter crowds all made it stand out.
In this guide, we cover the best things to do in Riva del Garda, from Villa Canale and Torre Apponale to hiking Punta Larici and taking the ferry across to Limone sul Garda.
The Essentials
LOCATION | Northern Italy
TOP THINGS TO DO | Climb Torre Apponale, explore Villa Canale, hike to Punta Larici, take the ferry to Limone sul Garda
BEST FOR | Hikers, photographers, and travelers who want Lake Garda’s beauty without Sirmione-level crowds
TIME NEEDED | Half a day to see the old town; 2–3 days to do the hikes and day trips
HOW TO GET THERE | Closest train station is Rovereto (45 min by bus); closest airport is Verona (~1 hr drive); we had a rental car
GOOD TO KNOW | The Bastione funicular is a glass box which is brutal in summer heat; parking at the Punta Larici trailhead fills up by 7:30am
Best Things to Do in Riva del Garda
Below we list the best things to do in and around Riva del Garda. This town is a great home base for exploring the sights on the north end of Lake Garda, so a few items on this list are outside of town.
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1. Stroll through the Historic City Center
The city center of Riva del Garda is small and easily walkable. It takes less than 10 minutes to walk from one end to the other and along the way, you will wander through narrow, colorful streets, past piazzas and promenades, and the medieval towers and gates.
Two medieval city gates still stand in Riva del Garda, Porta San Marco and Porta di San Michele.
Porta di San Michele
Piazza 3 Novembre is a small piazza that sits on one of several harbors in Riva del Garda. Here, brightly painted buildings line the square and Torre Apponale towers over the square.
Piazza 3 Novembre and Torre Apponale
This was once the economic heart of Riva del Garda, with banks and merchants operating their businesses from the buildings that still line this square. Now, fairs and outdoor festivals are held here.
Catena Square sits just across the harbor from Piazza 3 Novembre. From here, you have more great views of Lake Garda and you can go shopping or dine at one of the restaurants that line this square. And Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi is another lovely spot in Riva del Garda.
Piazza Giuseppe Garibaldi
Parrocchia di Santa Maria Assunta
Piazza 3 Novembre
Looking across Piazza 3 Novembre to Piazza Catena. You can also see the funicular tracks to Bastione di Riva.
Viewpoint of Lake Garda. This photo was taken next to the MAG Museum.
2. Climb Torre Apponale
Climb the 165 wooden stairs to the top of Torre Apponale for one of the best views of Riva del Garda. From this medieval watchtower, you can see the entire city and look out over Lake Garda.
Despite huge crowds in and around Lake Garda, we had this all to ourselves. It is a beautiful view and one of our favorite things to do in Riva del Garda.
View from Torre Apponale
Lake Garda from Torre Apponale
Looking down on Catena Square and the Lake Garda ferry.
3. Visit the MAG – Museo Alto Garda
This museum contains art by 19th century painters, artifacts dating back to the Copper age, and exhibits portraying the history of Riva del Garda. There are also temporary exhibits throughout the year.
MAG – Museo Alto Garda
This museum is located inside of Rocca of Riva, the medieval fortress. One of the best things to do while visiting the museum is to climb to the top of the Mastio, the large tower that is part of the fortress.
For more information, hours of operation, and pricing, visit the official website.
4. Ride the Funicular to Bastione di Riva
On the west side of town, you can ride the glass funicular to Bastione. The Bastione is the remains of a Venetian tower. From here, you have panoramic views of Riva del Garda and the north end of Lake Garda. There is also a restaurant and bar here (the Bastione Lounge and Restaurant), where you can have lunch or dinner with a view.
The funicular is a glass box. This makes for great views on the ride up and down, but in the summer, it is terribly hot! It’s only a 3-minute ride but it feels like torture in the summer months. However, it is still better than hiking up to the Bastione.
Visiting the Bastione is free but there is a fee to ride the funicular.
Bastione di Riva
Bastione di Riva
View from the Bastione
5. Hike to Chapel Santa Barbara
This short, tough hike takes you from town to a small chapel that sits on the hillside, overlooking Riva del Garda. To get here, it is a 3.3 km (2 mile) hike that takes two and a half hours. It’s a steep uphill hike to get to the chapel and then a downhill walk, on the same path, to get back to Riva del Garda.
Chapel Santa Barbara | shutterstock.com/Danny Iacob
Your reward is more panoramic views of Riva del Garda and the opportunity to visit a small chapel built on a mountain cliff.
For more information on the hike, click here.
6. For Panoramic Views of Lake Garda, Hike to Punta Larici
Distance: 4.4 km (2.75 miles) out-and-back
Difficulty: Strenuous
Total Ascent: 420 m (1,380 feet)
Total Descent: 420 m (1,380 feet)
Lowest Elevation (Trailhead): 530 m (1,740 feet)
Highest Elevation (Punta Larici): 900 m (2,950 feet)
Time: 1.5 to 3 hours
Punta Larici Elevation Profile
Punta Larici Map
This challenging, somewhat dangerous hike takes you to an incredible viewpoint of Lake Garda. We did this and recommend it for those who are fit, have hiking experience, and want to visit one of the best viewpoints of Lake Garda.
To get to the Punta Larici viewpoint, it is a constant uphill walk and at times it is very steep. There are sections of this hike where you are walking along a cliff edge and one misstep could be disastrous. It’s not a hike to bring young kids or to do if you have a fear of heights.
Punta Larici
Parking for the Punta Larici Hike
The parking lot is located in Pregasina, a tiny town located on the northwest end of Lake Garda.
The final drive through town is on a narrow, twisting, one lane road through town.
There are just a handful of parking spots, so get here early, to make sure you get a space. There are a few spots at the church and in a small lots below the church. The best place to park is in the main lot below the church but if that is full, if you drive another 50 meters, there is one more smaller lot (GPS Coordinates: 45°51’00.5″N 10°49’26.7″E). We arrived at 7:20 am and got the second to last spot in the second smaller lot, as the first lot was already filled.
IMPORTANT!! You must have good driving skills for this drive and be able to drive in reverse on a very narrow road, in case you encounter oncoming traffic.
The Hike to Punta Larici
From Pregasina, the hike starts off with a relatively uphill easy walk along a road. Once it enters the woods, the trail changes to a narrow dirt path and the difficulty skyrockets. Not only is the trail steep but you are also occasionally hiking along drop-offs, so you must really watch your step.
Once you make it to Punta Larici, also called Cima Larici, you have 360° views of Lake Garda.
View from the trail
Another view of the trail
Route to Punta Larici
Over the course of the 2.2 km hike to get to Punta Larici, there are numerous junctions and the trail changes numbers and names several times. Tim took notes along the way and here is our trail guide:
- The trailhead is at the church (Chiesa Parrochiale di San Giorgio).
- At about 0.3 km (0.2 miles) there is a trail junction where you want to turn left and follow Trail 422B (Bocca Larici).
- At about 0.8 km (0.5 miles) there is another trail junction. Here you can go straight to stay on 422B, which goes through the trees. Or you can turn left and follow a road that runs parallel to 422B but stays closer to the side of the cliff. Don’t turn right at this junction as doing so will take you onto private property. We turned left and it offered one view out over the lake almost immediately.
- At about 1.1 km (0.7 miles) there is another trail junction (Calcherole). This is where the two trails from the previous split rejoin. You can go left for the more strenuous and adventurous path along the side of the cliff (Trail 422A to Cima Larici/Bocca Larici) or follow the signs for Trail 422B which is an easier route. We turned left and followed Trail 422A.
- When following Trail 422A, you will reach another trail junction at about 2.1 km (1.3 miles) from the trailhead. Turn left at this junction to go to Punta Larici.
- From here it only takes another 0.15 km (0.1 miles) until you arrive at Punta Larici.
7. Walk or Bike the Old Ponale Road
The Old Ponale Road was the original road that connected Riva del Garda to the west side of Lake Garda. This old road has been converted into a walking and biking path along the river and a newer road for vehicles, with a series of tunnels, now runs along the northwestern end of Lake Garda.
The Old Ponale Road runs along the lakeshore of Lake Garda. Along the way, it passes through a series of tunnels from WWI. It ends at the Ponale waterfall, 3 km from Riva del Garda.
Old Ponale Road | shutterstock.com/SusaZoom
You can walk or bike the Old Ponale Road. Starting at Piazza Catena, follow signs for the Giacomo Cis trail. The wide road will twist and turn along the shoreline and you will pass through tunnels and be treated to great views of Lake Garda.
We did not do this (we had limited time and chose to do the Punta Larici hike instead) but it looks like a great experience. It’s not too challenging, the views are magnificent, and it’s a great for all ages.
8. Visit Villa Canale (Borgo Medioevale di Canale)
Take a step back in time and explore the medieval town of Villa Canale.
This was one of our favorite experiences, not only in Riva del Garda, but all of Lake Garda.
Located in the hills above Riva del Garda is a tiny medieval village called Villa Canale. Cobblestoned streets weave their way between the old stone buildings that are hundreds of years old.
It takes about 30 minutes to walk through town. It is a delight to stroll and fun to photograph. There are even some great viewpoints over Riva del Garda and Lake Garda.
View from Villa Canale
While here, you also have the option to walk down to Lago di Tenno, and small, emerald green lake that makes a beautiful swimming spot in the summer.
PARKING: We parked in a parking lot on Via Villa Sant’Antonio. The lot can hold about 10 cars and there is a small fee for parking. Here are the GPS coordinates of the lot: 45°55’48.5″N 10°49’29.6″E.
From the lot, follow the sign to Borgo Medioevale di Canale, which will take you up some steps for a quick walk through the woods before arriving at the medieval town.
9. Visit Parco Grotta Cascate Varone
This was one of our least favorite experiences but I am mentioning it because it is a very popular thing to do in Lake Garda.
Parco Grotta Cascate Varone is a very small botanical garden with a series of waterfalls. The main thing to do here is to walk the short boardwalk trail into the grotto for a view of the waterfall.
It’s a great summertime activity, because the grotto is cool and damp, and you will get a little wet from the spray of the waterfall.
But it is also extremely crowded during the summer months.
We could not find parking here, so Tim dropped me and Kara off and we visited the park as he circled, unsuccessfully, to find a parking space.
There was a line, a very slow-moving line, to get into the grotto. It took us 20 minutes to make it to the viewpoint of the grotto. It’s not a bad place to wait in line, since it is cool and protected from the sun, but I don’t think the view of the waterfall is good enough to justify a long wait in line.
While in the park, you can also visit the upper terraces and take photos of the other waterfalls next to the gardens.
One of the waterfalls you can see in the park.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: For the best experience, go at opening time or the last few hours of the day, for the lowest crowds. Avoid middays during the summer months, which is when we visited the park.
For pricing and hours of operation, visit the official website.
10. Hike to the Top of Monte Brione
Monte Brione is a mountain that sits between Riva del Garda and Torbole. For more panoramic views of Lake Garda, you can hike up to the top of Monte Brione.
This hike is done as a loop and is 5.8 km (3.6 miles) round trip with 300 meters (1,000 feet) of elevation gain, making it moderately strenuous.
11. Go Windsurfing
During the summer months, an afternoon breeze blows from Lake Garda to Riva del Garda and Torbole, making this an excellent spot to go windsurfing.
If this sounds like something you would like to do, learn more on the Garda Trentino website.
12. Take the Ferry to Limone sul Garda
One of the easiest day trips from Riva del Garda is the ferry across the lake to Limone sul Garda, a cliffside village famous for its lemon groves and pastel waterfront. The crossing takes 20 to 45 minutes depending on the boat, costs about €5–7 one-way, and gives you a view of the cliffs along the western shore that you can’t get from land. Boats run roughly every three hours.
Once in Limone, start with the historic center, a tangle of narrow stairways and lanes that’s small enough to see in under an hour. Stop by Limonaia del Castel, an open-air museum (€2, about 30 minutes) showing how lemons and other citrus have been grown here for centuries, with a panoramic terrace at the top. Then walk the waterfront promenade, and if you have extra time, head to Ciclopista del Garda, an elevated walking and biking path that juts out about 50 meters above the lake. It’s one of the most spectacular stretches of trail on all of Lake Garda, walkable in either direction.
How much time you need: Half a day is enough for the old town, the lemon house, and the promenade. Add the elevated path and you’ll want closer to a full day. Since ferries run only every few hours, check the timetable before you go and plan around the return crossing.
How Much Time Do You Need in Riva del Garda?
If you want to do everything we listed above, which includes several day hikes, you will need two to three full days in Riva del Garda.
If You Only Have A Few Hours in Riva del Garda
If you are passing through Riva del Garda on a visit Lake Garda, what should you do?
Our favorite experiences were exploring the town (which takes about 2 hours) and visiting the medieval town of Villa Canale (you will need a car to get here). Even though we didn’t do it, the walk/bike along the Old Ponale Road looks spectacular and it’s much easier to do than the Punta Larici hike.
What We Did
On day 1, we drove from Selva di Val Gardena, in the Dolomites, to Riva del Garda. On the drive, we visited Villa Canale and Parco Grotta Cascate Varone before entering Riva del Garda. We spent the afternoon exploring the city center of Riva del Garda.
On day 2, we hiked to Punta Larici early in the morning. Mid-morning, we left Riva del Garda and drove along the east side of Lake Garda, ending in Sirmione, spending two nights here. For more information about Sirmione, read our article Best Things to Do in Sirmione.
For our full itinerary, take a look at our Lake Garda Itinerary, which has suggestions on how to plan your time, whether you just have a day or two or longer.
View from the entrance to the MAG Museum
How to Get to Riva del Garda
By car: This is the easiest option and gives you the most flexibility, especially if you plan to do the hikes outside of town. From the south/west, take the A4 motorway toward the Lake Garda exits; from the north, exit the A22 at Rovereto Sud and follow signs through the mountains to Torbole and Riva del Garda.
By train + bus: There’s no train station in Riva del Garda itself. The nearest station is Rovereto, about 20 km away, with regular Trenitalia service. From Rovereto, Trentino Trasporti buses run to Riva del Garda (about 45 minutes).
By air: The closest airport is Verona (VRN), about an hour’s drive away. Bergamo and Brescia airports are also options, though farther out.
Parking in Riva del Garda
We stayed at Du Lac Et Du Parc Grand Resort and parked right at the hotel, which made things simple. The historic center is largely closed to traffic, so a hotel with its own parking is the easiest way to avoid hunting for a spot. If your hotel doesn’t have parking, there are paid public lots on the edges of the old town, but we’d recommend booking a place with parking included if you can.
Where to Stay in Riva del Garda
LUXURY: Lido Palace. This 5-star hotel is located right on Lake Garda. Some rooms have views of the lake and the hotel has a spa, two swimming pools, several restaurants, and a Turkish bath.
UPSCALE: Du Lac Et Du Parc Grand Resort. This is where we stayed. This large resort has several restaurants, several pools, and a great location right on the lake. It is also within walking distance of the city center. It’s a good pick if you are traveling as a family and want a resort experience. Rooms were outdated and in many ways, this looked and felt more like a 3-star hotel. I still think it’s worth recommending, because of its amenities and great location.
UPSCALE: Parc Hotel Flora. This hotel is located next to Du Lac Et Parc Grand Resort, so it also has a great location, and it gets better reviews. Rooms are beautifully decorated and some rooms can accommodate up to four people.
MID-RANGE: Garda Life. This modern hotel is located in town. It does not have beach or waterfront access, but it still has a great location in that you can walk right to the city center. This hotel gets outstanding reviews on Booking.com.
BUDGET: SK Active Hotel – ex Garni Hotello. Located within walking distance of the city center, this small hotel has single rooms, double rooms, and a one-bedroom apartment. The hotel offers free parking.
PRO TRAVEL TIP: If you are visiting during the summer months, make sure your hotel has air conditioning.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Riva del Garda worth visiting?
Yes, for us, it was the highlight of our entire time on Lake Garda. It has the same colorful old-town charm as Sirmione, plus easy access to some of the best hiking and viewpoints on the lake, with noticeably fewer crowds.
Is Riva del Garda or Sirmione better?
It depends what you’re after. Sirmione has the more dramatic castle and thermal spas, but it’s also the most crowded town on the lake. Riva del Garda has just as much charm, plus better hiking and lower crowds, which is why we rank it as our favorite of the two.
How many days do you need in Riva del Garda?
A half day is enough to see the historic center. If you want to add the hikes (Punta Larici, Monte Brione), Villa Canale, and a day trip to Limone sul Garda, plan for 2 to 3 days.
How do you get to Riva del Garda?
The easiest way is by car. There’s no train station in town. The nearest is Rovereto, about 45 minutes away by bus. The closest airport is Verona, about an hour’s drive.
How do you get around Riva del Garda?
The old town is small enough to walk end to end in under 10 minutes. For Villa Canale, the Punta Larici trailhead, or Parco Grotta Cascate Varone, you’ll need a car, as local buses serve the same routes far less often. If you’d rather skip driving, there’s a paved lakefront cycling path connecting Riva to Torbole, and bike rentals are easy to find in town.
Plan Your Trip to Lake Garda
If you’re spending more time on the lake, Sirmione at the southern end is a completely different experience from Riva: more castle, thermal spas, and crowds, set on a flat peninsula rather than against mountains. See our guide to the best things to do in Sirmione for ideas.
For broader Lake Garda planning, our Best Things to Do in Lake Garda guide covers the full lake, both shores, and the best towns to visit, and our Lake Garda Itinerary breaks down exactly how many days to spend and how to structure your time, whether you have one day or a full week.
Verona is an easy day trip from Riva del Garda, about an hour by car, and one of our favorite Italian cities. Read our guide to the best things to do in Verona before you go.
If the mountains are calling, the Dolomites are less than two hours north of Riva del Garda. Our Dolomites Travel Guide is the best place to start planning.
And for the full picture of what Italy has to offer, our Italy Travel Guide links to all of our regional guides, city posts, and itineraries in one place, including our 25 Best Places to Visit in Italy if you’re still deciding where to go next.
If you have any questions about the best things to do in Riva del Garda, let us know in the comment section below.
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