Lake Garda Travel Guide
Getting Around Lake Garda: Boats, Buses, Trains and Cars
Getting around Lake Garda is a seasonal question. The lake runs 51.60 km from south to north, and the railway touches only the south shore, at Desenzano and Peschiera. Passenger boats link the towns from 13 March to 1 November, and buses run all year. Read the ferry page for fares, then pick where to stay to match how you plan to move.
Quick answer Car or no car, by base and season
Without a car, base on the south shore where the train stops. Peschiera is 13 minutes from Verona Porta Nuova, $4.52 (€4.05) on a weekday regional timetable, and Desenzano is 21-23 minutes. Boats link the towns from 13 March to 1 November. Buses run all year, and a car pays off in winter and for the north.
Key takeaways
- The whole-lake ferry day pass costs $44.13 (€39.50) adult and is the only pass that includes the fast services, so it is the cheapest way to tour the shore by boat in one day. Check the ferry fares and timetables.
- The ATV 24-hour bus pass at $12.29 (€11) covers urban and extra-urban lines, which makes the Verona side easy. For getting to that shore by train, see Verona to Lake Garda.
- If you would rather skip the roads, the full-day e-bike rental with hotel pickup costs $39 and uses a car-free track. More on two wheels at Lake Garda cycling.
- A car is the practical choice from 2 November to 12 March, when passenger boats stop and buses carry everything. Compare Milan to Lake Garda train options before deciding.
Getting Around Lake Garda: Every Mode Compared
Every way of moving between the lake towns on one table, with the cheapest fare each operator publishes, when it runs and the trip it suits. Fares come from Navigazione Laghi, Trenitalia, ATV and the car ferry sheet.
| Mode | From | Runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Passenger boat (Navigazione Laghi) | $1.68 (€1.50) a hop, day pass $44.13 (€39.50) | 13 March to 1 November | Town-to-town hops and the scenery |
| Regional train | $4.52 (€4.05) Verona-Peschiera | All year, roughly hourly | The south shore and arrivals |
| ATV bus (east shore) | $1.68 (€1.50), 24-hour pass $12.29 (€11) | All year | Garda, Bardolino, Lazise, Malcesine |
| Trentino Trasporti bus | Ticket before boarding | All year | Rovereto station to Torbole, Riva, Arco |
| Car ferry Maderno-Torri | $16.65 (€14.90) car up to 4.50 m | All year except 25 December | Crossing the middle with a car |
| Car | Rental rate by date | All year | The north and west, and winter |
Bus and boat times change by season, so check each operator before you travel. Figures current in Q4 2026.
Which Base Works Without a Car
Lake Garda is 51.60 km long and the three shores work differently without a car. Pick your base by the transport that actually serves it.
Desenzano and Peschiera: the Rail Towns
Both towns sit on the Milan-Venice line, and they are the only two stations on the lake. Regionals stop at both, Frecciarossa trains stop at both, and Italo sells Milan to Peschiera. On a weekday timetable, Peschiera is 13 minutes from Verona Porta Nuova at $4.52 (€4.05) regional and Desenzano is 21-23 minutes at $5.36 (€4.80).
From Milano Centrale the direct regional takes 1 h 23 min to Desenzano and 1 h 32 min to Peschiera. Sirmione has no station, so you arrive by bus or taxi from either town. In season, passenger boats leave from both harbours, including the full-length lines to the north.
Start planning at Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda.
Garda, Bardolino and Lazise: the Bus Shore
The east shore has no railway, but the bus network is dense. ATV line 164 runs Garda-Bardolino-Lazise-Gardaland-Peschiera-Castelnuovo-Verona, and lines 483/484 cover Malcesine-Garda-Peschiera and Riva-Torbole-Malcesine-Brenzone-Torri-Garda. On the sample summer run, the ordinary boat leaves Peschiera at 8:00, reaches Lazise in 28 minutes and Garda in 1 hour.
That makes this shore workable without a car, as long as your dates fall in the boat season. Read more at Bardolino and Garda town.
Malcesine, Limone and Riva: the North
The narrow north has no railway at all. The nearest station is Rovereto, served by Trenitalia, ÖBB and DB trains, and from there Trentino Trasporti buses run to Torbole, Riva and Arco. Verona Porta Nuova to Rovereto is 40 minutes to an hour by regional at $7.76 (€6.95) on the weekday search.
By boat, Malcesine to Limone is 20 minutes on the summer run, fare zone 3 at $8.38 (€7.50). By road, Riva is about 17 km from the A22 Rovereto Sud exit. The north is beautiful but slow without a car, so allow longer for every move.
Details at Malcesine and Riva del Garda.
Source: Trenitalia, Garda Trentino, ATV Verona, Navigazione Laghi summer timetable.
By Boat Between the Towns
The boats are the lake's real transit system in season, and they work like hops between town harbours rather than a single loop.
Navigazione Laghi runs ordinary boats and fast SR services from 13 March to 1 November. Ordinary one-way fares are set by zone from the fare matrix, from $1.68 (€1.50) in zone U up to $19.55 (€17.50) in zone 7. Sirmione to Riva is zone 6 at $17.88 (€16), Desenzano to Sirmione is zone 1 at $3.91 (€3.50), and Malcesine to Riva is zone 4 at $12.85 (€11.50).
Return tickets cost double. Day passes give unlimited hops: the whole-lake pass is $44.13 (€39.50) adult and is the only one that includes fast services. Speed matters here.
The ordinary boat takes close to 5 hours from Peschiera to Riva on the summer run, while the fast Desenzano to Riva service takes under 3 hours, with a zone supplement of $2.79 (€2.50) to $6.70 (€6). Bicycles pay $3.91 (€3.50) to $7.71 (€6.90) by zone and ride on ordinary boats only, never on fast runs. The boat is the scenic way, not the quick one, between distant towns.
The full fare table is on the ferry page, and short sightseeing options are on Sirmione boat trips, including the 4-hour guided cruise with a stop in Sirmione at $61.
Source: Navigazione Laghi fare sheet, day passes, summer timetable.
By Bus: Fares, Passes and the Ticket Trap
Buses run all year and fill the gap the boats leave between 2 November and 12 March.
An extra-urban bus signed for Verona at a stop in Desenzano del Garda. Photo: MOs810, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ATV covers the Verona side, and its extra-urban singles are priced by fare band: T1 $1.68 (€1.50), T2 $2.57 (€2.30), T3 $3.58 (€3.20), T4 $4.36 (€3.90), T5 $5.14 (€4.60), T6 $5.92 (€5.30), T7 $6.70 (€6) and T8 $7.49 (€6.70). Passes are good on urban and extra-urban lines: 24 hours $12.29 (€11), 72 hours $24.58 (€22) and 7 days $49.16 (€44). Tickets bought from the driver cost $0.56 (€0.50) to $0.67 (€0.60) extra, so buy before boarding where you can.
No bus times are printed on this page, so check the operator's own timetable before you travel and expect buses, not boats, to carry you in winter. The main lines are listed below.
| Route | Line | What it serves |
|---|---|---|
| Garda to Verona | 164 | Garda, Bardolino, Lazise, Gardaland, Peschiera, Castelnuovo, Verona |
| Malcesine to Peschiera | 483/484 | Malcesine, Garda, Peschiera |
| Riva to Garda | 483/484 | Riva, Torbole, Malcesine, Brenzone, Torri, Garda |
| Rovereto to Riva | Trentino Trasporti | Torbole, Riva, Arco |
Trentino and Sirmione Buses
In the north, Trentino Trasporti buses run from Rovereto station to Torbole, Riva and Arco, and you cannot buy tickets on board, so buy it before you board. In Sirmione, a shuttle bus runs from Colombare to the historic centre from April to October. Tickets go in the Arriva Italia app, at machines at stops 1, 2, 4 and 9, or on board at a higher rate.
Outside shuttle hours, the Brescia-Verona extra-urban line still stops at Colombare, which keeps the old town reachable all year. Plan the visit at Sirmione.
Source: ATV fares, ATV line 164, Garda Trentino, Visit Sirmione public transport.
Days Out That Solve the Transport for You
Four bookable days that come with their own wheels or boat: an e-bike with hotel pickup, a guided cruise, and coach days to Verona and the Dolomites from meeting points around the lake.
from $39
Lake Garda: Full-Day E-bike Rental
Self-guided full-day e-bike rental from $39 with hotel pickup, a car-free 15 km track and freedom to reach Sirmione, Borghetto or Mantua at your own pace.
Check Availability
from $61
Lake Garda: 4-hour Guided Boat Cruise with Stop in Sirmione
A four-hour guided Lake Garda cruise with a two-hour free-time stop in Sirmione, photo stops along the shore and a guide in English or German.
Check Availability
from $73
Verona Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda
A coach day trip from Lake Garda resorts to Verona with a 1.5-hour guided walk and free time, from $73 per person.
Check Availability
from $95
Dolomites Full-Day Tour from Lake Garda
A long 10-12 hour coach day from Lake Garda to Pordoi Pass and Ortisei with an optional €28 cable car, from $95 per person.
Check AvailabilityPrices, ratings and details are the platform's own. Dollar figures are the listed prices. The platform bills in your account's currency.
With a Car: Where It Helps and Where It Does Not
A car changes the maths, especially off season and in the north.
A car opens the north and the cliff road of the Strada della Forra, and from 2 November to 12 March it is simply the practical way to move, because passenger boats stop running. To the north you take the A22 Brenner motorway to the Rovereto Sud exit, about 17 km from Riva. Watch the towns.
Sirmione's historic centre is a ZTL limited-traffic zone from 23 March to 13 October, cameras record the plates, and fines run $92.73 (€83) to $372.03 (€333). Park at Piazzale Monte Baldo instead and walk in. Between the west and east shores, the Maderno-Torri car ferry crosses in 30 minutes at $16.65 (€14.90) for a car up to 4.50 m, driver included, and it is the only car crossing on the lake.
No car ferry links Malcesine and Limone. If you plan to hire, read Lake Garda car rental first: one Desenzano desk's published terms show drivers need a licence held 3 years and a card in their own name, and snow chains are provided free from 15 November to 15 April.
Source: Comune di Sirmione ZTL, Visit Sirmione parking, car ferry fares, Garda Trentino by car, Desenzano rental branch terms.
Taxis, Transfers and Ride Apps
Taxis and pre-booked transfers fill the gaps the trains and buses leave.
In Sirmione, taxis may enter the closed historic centre to reach booked accommodation, and the rank sits in Viale Marconi by the Infopoint, phone +39 030 916082. For airport arrivals, transfer companies sell fixed-route prepaid rides per car, and prices vary by date. No price list is published, so you request a quote when you book.
The options and the airport distances are on the airports page. Ride apps are a different story. No official source here describes an Uber or similar service at Lake Garda, so do not count on one.
Book a taxi or a transfer ahead instead, and treat the taxi phone numbers as the reliable fallback for early trains or late arrivals.
Source: Visit Sirmione.
Getting Around in Winter
From 2 November to 12 March the lake runs on wheels, not on water.
In that window the only boat on the lake is the Maderno-Torri car ferry. It runs with a first departure from Maderno at 8:10 and a last from Torri at 18:40, and it does not run on 25 December. There are no passenger boats anywhere else on the lake.
Buses and trains carry everything else, and both run all year, so a winter base on the rail line at Desenzano or Peschiera, or a rental car, is the sensible setup. Mind the seasonal closures too: the Monte Baldo cable car is shut from 2 November to 25 December for maintenance, so Malcesine loses its mountain access for those weeks. What is still open, from castles to the winter lakefront walks, is listed at things to do in Lake Garda, and the full picture is on Lake Garda in winter.
Source: Navigazione Laghi winter timetable, car ferry timetable, Funivia Malcesine-Monte Baldo.
Stations, Bus Hubs and Landings
The places where you change mode: the two lake stations, Rovereto for the north, the Riva bus station and the ends of the car ferry.
Plan the Next Move
Pages that take over from here.
Verona to Lake Garda
Trains to Peschiera and Desenzano, buses up the east shore and the last trains back.
Lake Garda Car Rental
When a car pays off, the documents, and the fines in Sirmione.
Getting Around Lake Garda: Questions
Is it easy to get around Lake Garda without a car?
Yes, in season and on the right base. Desenzano and Peschiera have railway stations, boats link the harbours from 13 March to 1 November, and buses run all year. The north works by Trentino Trasporti buses from Rovereto. Without a car in winter you depend on buses and trains, so base near Desenzano or Peschiera.
Is there a hop-on hop-off boat on Lake Garda?
The scheduled ferries work that way. Ordinary boats and fast SR services stop at the town harbours from 13 March to 1 November, and a day pass lets you board as often as you like. The whole-lake day pass costs $44.13 (€39.50) adult and is the only pass that includes fast services. From 2 November to 12 March only the Maderno-Torri car ferry runs.
Is there a train around Lake Garda?
No train circles the lake. The Milan-Venice line touches only the south shore at Desenzano-Sirmione and Peschiera stations. Verona Porta Nuova reaches Peschiera in 13 minutes and Desenzano in 21-23 minutes on a weekday regional timetable. For the north, ride to Rovereto and continue by Trentino Trasporti bus to Torbole, Riva and Arco.
Is Uber available at Lake Garda?
No official source describes an Uber service around the lake, so do not build a plan on it. The reliable options are the scheduled buses and ferries, taxis, and pre-booked transfers. Transfer companies sell fixed-price rides per car from Verona airport to the lake towns, and prices are quoted per car and by date when you book ahead.
How do you get from Sirmione to the train station?
Sirmione has no station. Use Desenzano del Garda-Sirmione or Peschiera, and reach them by bus or taxi. From April to October a shuttle bus runs from Colombare to the historic centre, with tickets in the Arriva Italia app or at machines, and on board costs more. Outside shuttle hours, the Brescia-Verona extra-urban line stops at Colombare.
Can you get around Lake Garda by bus?
Yes, all year. ATV covers the Verona side with line 164 from Garda through Bardolino, Lazise and Peschiera to Verona, and lines 483/484 along the east shore and from Riva to Garda. Singles run $1.68 (€1.50) to $7.49 (€6.70) by band, and a 24-hour pass is $12.29 (€11). No bus times are printed here, so check the operator's timetable before travelling.
Getting Around Lake Garda on Film
Three practical videos on moving around the lake without a car and on a budget.
Explore Lake Garda, Italy 🇮🇹 Without a Car 🚲
A trip around the lake without a car, by boat, bus and bike.
Video: TOMOKA and TENZINLake Garda on a Budget 🇮🇹 | 5 Smart Ways to Save Money
Ways to keep costs down at the lake, transport included.
Video: PONYO & POOLSHARKLake Garda: What You NEED to Know Before You Book!
What to know before booking, including how the shores differ.
Video: PONYO & POOLSHARKVideos load from YouTube only when you press play.
Prices, hours and terms are set by the venue or operator and confirmed at checkout.
We may earn a commission if you book through one of our links, at no extra cost to you. Full affiliate disclosure