Hotel Laura Christina
Malcesine - Via Puri 5
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Romantic or adrenaline-fuelled? You choose how you like Malcesine. This delightful village on the Veronese shore of the Upper Garda, the last resort in the Veneto before entering Trentino, is perfect for holidays of sweetness or thrills.
The pretty historical centre is dominated by a striking castle perched on a tongue of rock that seems to plunge into the blue waters of Lake Garda. Full of picturesque views, it is a village that invites you to get lost in its cobbled streets and laze in one of the many outdoor cafés.
The height of the castle may seem dizzying to you, but it is little compared to the 2218 metres that Mount Baldo reaches, the peak that rises behind the town and with its mountain bike trails, trekking and climbing, excites fans of outdoor holidays and extreme sports.
The lake to the west, the mountains to the east: this is the great fortune of Malcesine, the town that once made the German poet Goethe fall in love with it. No matter whether it is the desire for peace or thrills that drives you here: Malcesine will also make you fall in love. In summer and in winter!
Malcesine’s attractions are scattered between the historic centre, the nearby hamlet of Cassone (to the south) and the majestic Mount Baldo behind the village.
The historical centre is small and easily accessible on foot; the neighbouring villages can be reached by bicycle or public transport, while Mount Baldo can be reached by cable car or car… or even on foot, if you are very fit!
The symbol of Malcesine is the impressive Scaligero Castle, scenically located atop a rocky outcrop jutting out over the lake.
An early defensive construction on the rocky promontory in the centre of Malcesine probably dates back to the first mllennium BC, but the present castle was built in its original form in the 9th century AD. Today it houses a museum and is used for exhibitions, events and weddings.
It is possible, and highly recommended, to visit the castle: the tour takes you through romantic courtyards and elegant rooms.
Always keep your eyes wide open because vantage points abound. The most beautiful views can be enjoyed from a balcony jutting out over the lake at a height of 24 metres, from the platform of the ‘Rivellino’ (the second courtyard accessed during the visit) and from the tower.
Standing 31 metres high at its base and 70 metres above the lake, the castle tower has a pentagonal shape and towers over the entire village. From here you can admire the historic centre of Malcesine, the lake and the western flank of Mount Baldo.
Among the rooms of the castle, the most famous is the former powder magazine, now renamed Goethe Hall: here you can admire the drawings made by the famous German poet during his stay in Malcesine.
In 2011, the Scaligero Castle in Malcesine was the spectacular location of a thrilling championship: the Red Bull Cliff Diving, during which daring athletes competed for victory by diving from a springboard 27 metres high.
Another important part of getting to know the Malcesine area and its history better is a visit to the Galee Hall, a permanent exhibition inside the castle inaugurated in 2013 that traces two important aspects of the town’s history: navigation on the lake and the various uses to which the castle has been put over the centuries.
The proximity of a 2,000-metre-plus mountain to the town centre is one of the main reasons why tourists choose Malcesine as their holiday destination on Lake Garda.
Mount Baldo, the green colossus close to the lake, is the westernmost mountain of the Venetian Pre-Alps; it falls for the most part in Veronese territory and for a small part in Trentino Alto Adige. It lies sandwiched between Lake Garda to the west and the Adige Valley to the east and has a surprising variety of botanical species.
Traversed by numerous hiking and biking trails, it is a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts, but it is also worth climbing the mountain to enjoy a panoramic view of the lake from a high altitude.
With the Malcesine Mount Baldo cable car, it is possible to reach an altitude of 1760 metres without effort; the second part of the trip takes place inside rotating cabins that offer a 360° view.
The paths already begin at the exit of the cable car, but you only need to walk 20 metres to reach one of the most famous viewpoints from where you can take one of the most beautiful photographs of your entire holiday on the lake.
The Panoramic Route is exactly what its name says: a road with splendid panoramic views! It runs from the centre of Malcesine to Passo Campiano and back for a total of about 10 km. It can be travelled on foot, by bicycle or by car.
Along the way, just before reaching Passo Campiano, you can stop at the Madonna dell’Accoglienza, famous (needless to say!) for a magnificent panoramic terrace.
Palazzo dei Capitani (Captains’ Palace) is a splendid palace in Venetian Gothic style just a stone’s throw from the harbour of Malcesine. Currently housing the town hall and library, it is open for events, concerts and conferences; outside the palace is a beautiful lakeside garden, open to visitors every day.
Housed in an exceptional location (none other than the Scaliger Castle), the Natural History Museum is a must-see for all nature lovers… and also a nice refuge in case of rain!
It is divided into nine rooms, all dedicated to the territory of Malcesine: not only the lake, therefore, but also the mountains. You can thus discover the richness of the flora and fauna of both these environments.
It is worth a visit to the hamlet of Cassone, a small village just 5 km south of the centre of Malcesine, reachable on foot, by bike or by bus. This delightful village is famous for what is considered to be one of the shortest rivers in the world: the Arìl river, a watercourse that runs just 175 metres before flowing into the lake.
Despite being so short, Arìl is an important source of drinking water and adds to the charm of the landscape; it is crossed by no less than three bridges and there is also a waterfall along its course.
At Christmas time, it becomes the setting for a floating nativity scene popular with locals and tourists alike.
Another interesting attraction in Cassone di Malcesine is the Museo del Lago (Lake Museum). In a cosy building next to the Aril River, once used as a fish hatchery, a collection of work tools and everyday objects are exhibited that tell the story of what it was like to live on the lake.
You can see fishing gear, photographs and models of sailing boats and transport barges and other objects from the past pervaded by a mixture of romance and nostalgia.
From Malcesine it is possible to visit other pretty places on Lake Garda in a day trip, including Riva, Limone and Peschiera. The most fascinating way to reach them is by boat: you can take the public boats or join a cruise.
The duration and prices of boat trips on the lake vary greatly depending on the planned stops and the duration of each stop.
If you prefer the lake to the sea, Malcesine is a perfect location for your relaxing beach holiday. There are numerous beaches, both public and private, right in the centre or a short distance away, almost all with white pebbles or grass. Many of these beaches have floating rafts from which to dive.
The town beach par excellence is Paina Beach8, which starts north of the castle, just 100 metres from the old town centre, and stretches as far as the ferry terminal in the Rectilineo area; it is a free beach, with only one paid area; there are numerous facilities. The other beach in the historic centre is Posterna Beach9, small but very characteristic due to its location close to the castle.
Moving south from the centre, you will find Lakeshore Beach10 and Val di Sogno Beach11: from the latter, on dry lake days, it is possible to walk to the Isola del Sogno. Both are two free beaches overlooked by bars and restaurants.
If you continue further, you will reach Cassone, where you can find a beach to the north and one to the south.
If instead you go northwards, you will find Campagnola Beach12, the largest in the area, just 3 km from the centre of Malcesine, and then Navene beach13.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Malcesine is an ideal destination for active holidays: here are the most popular sports in the area.
Malcesine is a well-known name for fans of sailing and other water sports. The climatic conditions are perfect for windsurfing, kitesurfing, and sailing at all levels, and this has led to the opening of specific schools and services for those who wish to practise these sports.
It was in Malcesine that the first windsurfing school in Italy opened in 1976.
There is also fun on two wheels in Malcesine: mountain bike enthusiasts will find plenty to do on and off the Mount Baldo routes, while for a relaxing ride the cycle paths along the coast are ideal.
If you are a mountain bike enthusiast, here are three routes not to be missed around Malcesine:
The possibility of hiring ebikes makes the joy of pedalling through the countryside accessible even to the less well-trained.
For those who love walking, Malcesine is an excellent base: in the town or in the immediate vicinity there are experiences of all levels, from relaxing walks to challenging treks.
The best known walking route is the scenic path that joins the villages of Tempesta and Parco delle Busatte: the former is about 7 km from Malcesine and can be reached by bus, while the latter is located further north, less than 2 km from the centre of Torbole.
This linear path stretches along the mountains behind the Alto Garda, offering wonderful views of the lake. For the most part, the route takes place on special stairs, all of which are exposed and have a total of 400 steps.
It can be walked either from north to south or in the opposite direction; the first option is recommended for the less trained because it allows one to do all the steps downhill.
Malcesine is one of the few ski resorts on Lake Garda. The ski slopes on Mount Baldo include baby slopes for beginners, medium difficulty slopes and a couple of challenging descents.
The slopes that can be reached by cable car from Malcesine are those of Prà Alpesina, at Passo Tratto Spino; the highest altitude slopes are instead located at Ortigaretta alla Costabella and reach 2053 metres.
There are ski schools and shops in the area where you can hire skis, boots and snowboards. The snow-covered peaks of Mount Baldo also lend themselves to snowshoeing and tobogganing.
Other sports that can be practised on Mount Baldo are climbing, mountaineering, trail and paragliding.
There is a wide choice of hotels and B&Bs in Malcesine, with proposals of various prices suitable for different types of holiday.
For a weekend or a romantic holiday, treat yourself to a beautiful lake-view hotel or a charming b&b in the historic centre: these solutions are also recommended for those who want to park their car on arrival and not use it again until departure.
Some hotels and holiday homes have an outdoor swimming pool, while there is no spa hotel in Malcesine.
For more freedom, or if you want to save money on meals out, a flat is the best choice: you will find plenty of them, some furnished in a rustic style, others in a more modern style.
Malcesine can be reached by car along the Gardesana Orientale SR249 road, which connects all towns along the east coast of the lake, from south to north. The Garda area can be reached from the A4 Milan-Venice motorway or from the A22 Brennero-Modena motorway.
Malcesine does not have a railway station: the nearest one is Rovereto in Trentino, about 30 km away, but the station in Peschiera del Garda (50 km) is served by more trains and is connected by direct bus. From Rovereto one is instead forced to take a bus to Torbole or Riva del Garda and from there one to Malcesine.
For those who want to get to Malcesine by public transport, the easiest solution is perhaps the regular bus service from Verona.
Less than 100 km from Malcesine are two airports, Verona and Brescia, which are connected by low-cost flights to numerous Italian cities.
It is possible to reach Malcesine by boat from all the most important resorts in the Upper Garda region and from some locations in the southern part of Lake Garda.
What's the weather at Malcesine? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Malcesine for the next few days.
Malcesine is a municipality in the province of Verona located along the eastern shore of Lake Garda; of the Garda localities in Veneto, it is the northernmost. It is located about 60 km from Verona and 180 km from Venice.
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