Trentino’s Lake Garda is the most spectacular corner of Italy’s largest lake: here Lake Garda pushes in among high mountains, and the Mediterranean climate grows olives, lemons and palms at the foot of the rock walls. It is an outdoor paradise all year round — sailing, windsurfing, climbing, cycling and trekking — but also a land of elegant villages, castles and hidden little lakes. Riva del Garda, Torbole, Arco and the Ledro Valley offer different atmospheres a few kilometres from one another. Here you’ll find where to stay best, with the small addresses we choose one by one, never by hearsay.
It pays to pick your base according to what you’re after: Riva del Garda for the most complete town, with its lakefront, shops and services; Torbole for sailing, windsurfing and its sporty soul; Arco for climbing, the mild climate and a compact centre a short way from the lake; the Ledro Valley and Tenno for the lakes, the villages and quieter nature. Let’s look at the areas one by one, and then the sports, what to see and the seasons.
Riva del Garda
Riva del Garda is the most elegant and complete town of the upper lake: a refined old town, with the Rocca on the water, the Torre Apponale and the arcaded squares, overlooking a beautiful lakefront with beaches and gardens. It is the ideal base for those who want everything within reach — shops, restaurants, services and water sports — in a mild, lively atmosphere all year round. Here you’ll find aparthotels with wellness, lake-view hotels and well-kept residences of every style.
Residenza Le Due Torri
A well-kept aparthotel in Riva del Garda, with an outdoor pool, a sauna and a hot tub, and apartments with a kitchenette and a view of the lake or the mountains. The self-contained formula and the wellness areas make it perfect for families and free stays. Ideal for those seeking independence, relaxation and convenience near the lake.
Garda Life
A much-loved three-star a stone’s throw from the lake, with a buffet breakfast, bike rental and air-conditioned rooms with a balcony. The handy position and the services designed for outdoor lovers make it a practical, pleasant base. Ideal for couples and families who want to experience Riva and the lake freely.
Visioni Lake View Rooms & Breakfast
An adults-only rooms & breakfast in Riva del Garda, with lake-view terraces, some units with a kitchenette and private parking. The intimate atmosphere and the views over the water make it perfect for a getaway for two. Ideal for couples seeking quiet, views and a considered style a stone’s throw from the centre.
Aris Apartments & Sky Pool
An adults-only residence in Riva del Garda with a panoramic rooftop pool, air-conditioned apartments with a private kitchen and bikes available. The contemporary design and the sky pool with a view make it a modern, relaxing base. Ideal for couples seeking style, independence and a touch of exclusivity.
All the properties in the town: all hotels in Riva del Garda →
Torbole (Nago-Torbole)
Torbole (Nago-Torbole) is the capital of wind sports: thanks to the steady winds of the upper lake — the afternoon Ora and the morning Pelér — it is a world mecca of windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing, with schools, regattas and a lively sporty atmosphere. It is the choice for those who love the water and the wind, in a charming village already loved by Goethe. Here you’ll find active hotels with wellness, relais among the olive groves and well-kept B&Bs.
AktivHotel SantaLucia
A four-star a stone’s throw from the lake, with an outdoor pool, a wellness centre with a sauna and a large 3,000 m² garden among the olive groves. The sporty soul and the relaxation areas make it perfect for those combining sailing, cycling and wellness. Ideal for active couples and families seeking comfort and nature in Torbole.
Villa degli Olivi Relais
An elegant relais in Nago-Torbole, with an outdoor hot tub, a garden and well-kept rooms immersed among the olive trees. The intimate atmosphere and the refined details make it an ideal retreat for a couple seeking quiet and style. Perfect for a romantic getaway a stone’s throw from the lake and its beaches.
Casa Pitem
A welcoming bed and breakfast in Nago-Torbole, with private parking, rooms with a kitchenette and a well-liked buffet breakfast. The warm management and the convenience of the spaces make it a practical, genuine base for the outdoors on the lake. Ideal for couples and families seeking independence and good value for money.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Torbole →
Arco
Arco is the inland town of the Garda hinterland, a few kilometres from the lake, dominated by its spectacular medieval castle perched on the crag. It is the world capital of climbing, with its walls and the famous Rock Master, but also an elegant holiday resort of Habsburg tradition, with a mild climate, an arboretum and 19th-century avenues. It is the choice for those seeking sport, quiet and a compact centre. Here you’ll find well-kept B&Bs and small charming inns.
Locanda 53
A family-run bed and breakfast in the heart of Arco, a stone’s throw from bars and restaurants, with a carefully prepared continental and à la carte breakfast. The welcoming interiors and the central position make it a handy base for climbing, cycling and the lake. Ideal for couples and sporty travellers seeking genuineness and village life.
B&B NALÙ
A family-run bed and breakfast in Arco, near the lake, with air-conditioned rooms, balconies facing the garden and a genuine breakfast. The care of the interiors and the warm welcome make it a relaxing base for an active or restful holiday. Ideal for couples and families seeking quiet and a homely touch.
All the properties in the village: all hotels in Arco →
The Ledro Valley, Tenno and around
Behind the lake, valleys and small lakes wait to be discovered. The Ledro Valley, climbing up from Riva, guards Lake Ledro, swimmable and among the cleanest in Italy, with the famous pile dwellings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and their museum. Just above Riva, Lake Tenno, with its turquoise waters, and the medieval village of Canale di Tenno, among the most beautiful in Italy, offer quiet and atmosphere. Towards Arco, the Dro area preserves the striking Marocche, a landscape of rocks and ancient landslides. They are ideal bases for those seeking nature, villages and tranquillity.
LMC Guesthouse
A bed and breakfast in Bezzecca, in the Ledro Valley, with an outdoor pool, a sauna and a view of the Trentino mountains. The quiet of the valley and the wellness areas make it a relaxing base for those who love Lake Ledro and nature. Ideal for couples and families seeking peace and sport away from the Garda crowds.
B&B Ai Castagni
A family-run bed and breakfast in Tenno, above Lake Garda, with a view of the mountains, a garden and a buffet breakfast every morning. The panoramic position and the quiet of the village make it a genuine base for exploring Lake Tenno and Garda. Ideal for couples and families seeking nature, calm and a warm welcome.
All the properties in the area: all hotels in the Ledro Valley →
Sailing, windsurfing and the outdoors
Trentino’s Lake Garda is a great natural sports park. On the water, the steady winds of the upper lake make Torbole and Riva one of the world capitals of sailing, windsurfing and kitesurfing, with schools for every level and international regattas. On land, Arco is the mecca of sport climbing, with hundreds of routes and crags, while trails such as the historic Ponale, carved into the rock above the lake, offer spectacular trekking and walks.
The lake is also a cycling paradise: the panoramic Ciclovia del Garda is being developed along the Trentino shore, with new stretches cantilevered over the water between Torbole and Riva opened in 2026, set to become one of the finest cycle routes in Italy. There is no shortage of mountain biking, e-biking and easy flat routes towards Arco and the valleys. For the other active destinations, see what to do in Trentino-Alto Adige in summer, and for wellness after the sport the selection of hotels with spa and thermal baths.
What to see and the hidden lakes
Beyond the sports, Trentino’s Lake Garda offers unforgettable views. In Riva del Garda, the Rocca houses the MAG – Museo Alto Garda, and the panoramic lift of the Bastione takes you in moments to the fortress overlooking the lake, with a breathtaking view. Just outside town, the spectacular Varone Waterfall plunges into a deep gorge. All around, the landscape tells of the lake’s mild climate, with centuries-old olive trees, lemon houses and palms.
Don’t miss the hidden lakes: Lake Tenno, with its turquoise waters, and the medieval village of Canale di Tenno; Lake Ledro, with its prehistoric pile dwellings, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; and in Arco the castle, the arboretum and the Habsburg old town. Trentino’s Lake Garda is also a handy gateway to the rest of the region: for a city trip see Trento, and for the other stretches of water where to stay on Trentino’s lakes.
When to go
Thanks to its mild Mediterranean climate, Trentino’s Lake Garda is a very long season destination, from March to November and beyond. Spring is splendid: blossoms, gentle temperatures and the ideal season for climbing, cycling and the first outings on the water. Summer is the peak season, with the beaches, swimming, sailing and the evening life on the lakefront; it is high season, so it pays to book ahead. Autumn brings warm colours, fewer crowds and a still-pleasant climate, perfect for sport and walks.
Winter has its charm too: the climate stays mild, ideal for climbing and walks, and Riva del Garda hosts a charming Christmas market on the lakefront, among the most evocative in the region: see the guide to Christmas markets. For those who want to combine lake and mountains, the snow of the Dolomites and the Paganella is within driving distance anyway: see the Paganella and Madonna di Campiglio.
Getting there
Trentino’s Lake Garda is conveniently reached by car from the Brenner motorway (A22), with the Rovereto Sud exit, from which you continue towards Riva, Torbole and Arco; from the west you arrive on the A4 (Milan-Venice), climbing up the lake shore. There is no direct railway station: the reference station is Rovereto, on the Brenner line, well linked by scheduled buses with Riva in about twenty minutes. In summer the lake is also served by the ferries of the navigation service. The nearest airports are Verona, Bergamo, Brescia and Venice.
Once there, you get around well on foot, by bike and with the buses that link Riva, Torbole, Arco and the valleys; with the local guest card, often included by the properties, public transport is even better value. A car remains handy for the Ledro Valley and the hidden lakes. For the full picture on motorway, trains and airports of the region, see the guide how to get to Trentino-Alto Adige.
This guide is part of our grand journey through the region: discover all the destinations and areas in Where to Stay in Trentino-Alto Adige.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions we’re asked most often about where to stay in Riva del Garda and Trentino’s Lake Garda.
Which is the best area to stay on Trentino’s Lake Garda?
It depends on what you’re after. Riva del Garda is the most elegant and complete town, with a lakefront, shops and services, ideal for a varied stay; Torbole is the capital of sailing and windsurfing, perfect for lovers of wind and water; Arco is the destination for climbing and the mild climate, a short way from the lake; the Ledro Valley and Tenno offer lakes, villages and quiet. The villages are close and connected, so the choice is above all a question of atmosphere.
Riva del Garda or Torbole: where to stay?
Riva del Garda is larger and more complete, with a lovely old town, the lakefront, shops and services: the ideal choice for those who want variety and convenience. Torbole is smaller and sportier, the realm of sailing and windsurfing thanks to the steady winds: perfect for those who put water sports first. They are very close and connected, so from one you easily reach the other.
Can you windsurf and sail on Trentino’s Lake Garda?
Yes, it is one of the best destinations in the world: the upper lake is famous for its steady, reliable winds, the morning Pelér from the north and the afternoon Ora from the south. Torbole and Riva del Garda offer schools, rentals and centres for windsurfing, kitesurfing and sailing for every level, from beginners to experts, and host international regattas. It is a paradise for lovers of wind sports, from spring to autumn.
What to see on Trentino’s Lake Garda besides the lake?
Plenty: in Riva del Garda the Rocca with the MAG and the panoramic lift of the Bastione, and just outside the Varone Waterfall; in Arco the perched castle, the arboretum and the Habsburg centre. Don’t miss the hidden lakes, the turquoise Lake Tenno with the village of Canale di Tenno and Lake Ledro with its UNESCO pile dwellings. Among the rocks of Dro you’ll find instead the striking Marocche. All in a Mediterranean landscape of olives and lemons.
Is Trentino’s Lake Garda suitable for families?
Very much so: the beaches and swimmable lakes such as Ledro, the parks, the easy cycle paths and the many outdoor activities are perfect with children. The mild climate allows long holidays, and many properties, from aparthotels to B&Bs, are designed for families, often with a pool and bike rental. The short distances between Riva, Torbole, Arco and the valleys also make it easy to plan a different trip every day.
How do you get to Riva del Garda?
By car you arrive from the A22 (Rovereto Sud exit) or the A4, climbing up the lake shore. There is no direct station: you arrive by train at Rovereto, on the Brenner line, and continue with scheduled buses to Riva in about twenty minutes. In summer the lake is also served by the ferries of the navigation service. The nearest airports are Verona, Bergamo, Brescia and Venice. On the spot you get around well on foot, by bike and by bus.
