Peschiera del Garda is a favourite destination for those who want to see the enchanting Lake Garda but have little time available. It is one of the few places with a train station and a motorway exit a couple of kilometres from the town centre: easy to reach, it is perfect for a day trip.
Like the other resorts of Lake Garda, Peschiera enjoys a beautiful climate and is full of things to do, green spaces and historical attractions: an ideal location for a weekend or an entire holiday.
The fact that it is so easy to reach is no coincidence. Peschiera is strategically located at the mouth of the Mincio, the river that flows out of Lake Garda and into the Po.
The town is of Roman origin, but its urban planning was disrupted in the Middle Ages when the course of the Mincio was diverted to build the defensive fortifications, creating three different branches exiting the lake that meet to the south of the historic centre.
The result of these interventions was an impregnable fortress, which made Peschiera a strategic place for military defence and trade during both the Venetian Republic and Austrian rule.
Inside the fortress is enclosed the characteristic star-shaped historic centre; outside it, wide green meadows stretch out. Inside or outside, the landscape is equally enchanting!
A holiday in Peschiera is above all nature and fresh air, but there is no lack of interesting things to see. Here are the attractions not to be missed in and around the historic centre.
The fortress is what distinguishes Peschiera from other places on Lake Garda. Don’t imagine the typical medieval castle perched on a hill: the fortress of Peschiera del Garda is a pentagonal-shaped military building along the banks of the Mincio River; the historic centre is enclosed within.
The original construction dates back to the 6th century and is in Romanesque style. In the 16th century, the Venetians added a massive fortress, which was later enlarged when Peschiera became one of the strongholds of the Quadrilateral, the defence system built by the Austrian Empire to defend its domains in the Lombardy-Veneto Kingdom.
Unfortunately, the castle has not been preserved and today appears in a state of neglect, covered by shrubs. Better to enter the delightful old town and enjoy the characteristic corners of the squares and alleys.
Along the walls of the fortress are the gates that allow access to the historic centre, including Porta Verona (entry point for those coming from the Gardesana Orientale road) and Porta Brescia (the best preserved). From Porta Brescia you can reach the impressive Bastione Tognon, while Voltoni Bridge gives access to the northern part of the old town.
Among the historical buildings inside the fortress, the Palazzina del Comando is worth mentioning: inside this elegant neoclassical building, the Italian army’s general staff decided on the defensive line to be held after the defeat at Caporetto.
The most visited church in Peschiera del Garda is the Sanctuary of the Madonna del Frassino, a Renaissance-style building constructed in the early 16th century following a Marian apparition.
According to local tales, the Madonna intervened to save a farmer bitten by a snake; the site of the apparition is marked by an ash tree on which a small statue of the Madonna and Child can be seen today.
Valuable works of art are kept inside the sanctuary.
From Peschiera del Garda it is possible to take wonderful day trips to visit other pretty places on the lake or important historical towns.
Don’t miss Sirmione, a small town on the Lombard shore of Lake Garda only 15 km from Peschiera. Famous for its thermal baths and the grottoes of Catullus, it is worth a visit for its splendid location on a small peninsula jutting out into the lake. Less well known but definitely worth a visit is the medieval village of Ponti sul Mincio, located just 3.5 km from the centre of Peschiera.
On the Veneto shore, the closest towns to Peschiera are Bardolino, Garda and Lazise, all three full of charm and romance.
Take advantage of this to visit Verona with its top attractions (Arena, Juliet’s balcony and Castelvecchio), or Mantua.
Popular with those who don’t like the sweltering heat of seaside resorts, the beaches of Peschiera del Garda are perfect for relaxing in the sun in a cooler environment.
The two main beaches are Cappuccini Beach3, in pebbles, and Pioppi Beach4, in sand: both are equipped, easy to reach and have bars and services. You can also sunbathe at Porto Bergamini, Porto Fornaci and along the banks of the Mincio.
If you are travelling with your four-legged friend, the beach for you is Braccobaldo Beach5, one of the first dog-friendly beaches in Italy.
The Venetian side of the Lower Garda is a favourite for those travelling with children because just a few kilometres from the historic villages is an impressive concentration of amusement parks.
Gardaland is the historical amusement park opened in Italy in 1975: a sort of Italian Disneyland, without the Disney characters (on the other hand, there are the dragon Prezzemolo and his friends) but with a number of amazing attractions that will not make you regret the American parks.
There are attractions for all ages: toddlers will go crazy for Peppa Pig Land while older kids will want to show their mettle by riding a vertiginous rollercoaster or other thrill rides.
The SeaLife aquarium and LEGOLAND water park have been added to the original park: they are all part of Gardaland Resort, but can be visited separately.
The other amusement resort on Lake Garda is CanevaWorld, which includes the Caneva Aquapark water park with wave pools, swimming pools and other water games, and Movieland, a theme park with attractions inspired by Hollywood films. A combined ticket is available for the two parks, but it is possible to visit them separately.
Also within the resort is Medieval Times, a rather atypical restaurant where diners become spectators at a medieval tournament: this dinner show is perfect for reconciling children who are bored at the restaurant and parents who want to swallow generous portions of food!
The Parco Natura Viva zoo, just 10 km from Peschiera, is the perfect family attraction for animal lovers. It includes a wildlife area to visit on foot and a zoo safari part to visit in your own car or on the park’s jeeps.
In the following map you can see the location of the main places of interest mentioned in this article.
Peschiera del Garda is an ideal location for those who enjoy outdoor activities, with options suitable for keen sportsmen and women and people who just want to stretch their legs. There is no shortage of opportunities for pure relaxation.
The beaches of Peschiera are an ideal starting point for venturing into new sports or indulging in your passions. Sailing, sup, canoeing and windsurfing are the most popular water sports in Peschiera del Garda: you will find schools, rentals and other useful services to enjoy the waters of the lake.
If you want to experience the water in a completely different way, without making any effort, treat yourself to a boat trip on Lake Garda.
The public boats of the Navigazione Garda company connect Peschiera with all the main towns on the lake’s shores: you can opt for a short trip to the nearby towns on the Veneto shore, such as Lazise or Bardolino, or a longer cruise to Riva del Garda, the northern end of the lake.
There is also the possibility of sailing boat trips or private motorboat tours.
For those who enjoy cycling, Peschiera del Garda is an excellent base because some of the most beautiful cycle paths on Lake Garda start here.
One of these is the Peschiera-Mantova cycle path, a route that runs inside the Mincio park, almost always alongside the river.
It is 37 km long and does not present any particular difficulties, so it is also suitable for people with little experience, but if you are not very well trained, you can decide to do only a piece of it. It takes place mostly on an asphalted cycle path, but there are also a few sections on dirt roads.
This relaxing excursion allows you to admire beautiful landscapes, visit the historic village of Borghetto, and spend hours immersed in the quiet greenery.
A longer route, which in the first section meets the cycle path on the Mincio, is the Ring of the Custoza Lands: from Peschiera you will reach the hills where the famous Custoza wine is produced. The area is also famous for the important battles fought in the Risorgimento period. The total length of the loop is about 55 km.
If, on the other hand, you want a shorter route, head north towards Bardolino. This town is only 15 km from Peschiera and can be reached by cycling between dirt tracks and paved roads with little traffic on entirely flat terrain. Along the way you can stop at Lazise.
The classic walks to be taken in Peschiera del Garda are those along the lakefront, in particular the one that from the Mazzini lakefront follows the shoreline in a westerly direction as far as the Bergamini harbour and the Fornaci harbour: it is a walk of only 3 km, within everyone’s reach, but very beautiful in terms of landscape.
Other relaxing walks can be taken along the Canale di Mezzo, along which fishermen’s boats are moored. Another possibility is to take advantage of the cycle paths that start from Peschiera: they are also excellent for those who prefer walking rather than riding.
If you prefer trekking in the mountains and are willing to move around a bit, you can reach the town of Malcesine (about 50 km) and from there take the cable car to Mount Baldo, a mountain over 2000 metres high. As soon as you get out of the cable car, you can choose from numerous trails of varying difficulty.
Peschiera del Garda is rich in accommodation facilities. The most romantic hotels are those in the historic centre, which are also recommended for those who want to have all services at hand and a large number of bars and restaurants to choose where to spend the evening.
Lakefront hotels are the most popular, and tend to be more expensive: if you want a room with a view, we recommend booking as early as possible.
Just outside the city centre, the choice of accommodation becomes much wider. You can find hotels, B&Bs, flats and holiday homes in all price ranges. In this area it is easier to find hotels with a garden and swimming pool or family hotels and holiday villages with swimming pools and kids’ clubs.
The green spaces around Peschiera are the ideal location for modern camp sites with all amenities, including comfortable bungalows.
Among the resorts on Lake Garda Peschiera is one of the easiest to reach, probably the easiest at all. The historic centre is less than 3 km from the tollgate (Peschiera del Garda exit) of the A4, the motorway artery that crosses the entire Po Valley from east to west.
Getting to Peschiera del Garda by public transport is also very easy. The railway station is less than a kilometre from the entrance gates to the historic centre and is located along the Milan-Venice line, one of the most important railway lines in Italy. Regional, intercity and high-speed trains stop in Peschiera.
You can also reach Peschiera by bus: there are direct connections with Verona and Brescia, plus local buses that connect the various locations on Lake Garda.
Another way to get to Peschiera del Garda is to take a boat from another location on the lake.
It is also not difficult to arrive by plane because within a radius of 40 km there are two airports served by low-cost flights to numerous Italian destinations: the nearest is Verona, only 20 km away.
What's the weather at Peschiera del Garda? Below are the temperatures and the weather forecast at Peschiera del Garda for the next few days.
Peschiera del Garda is a municipality in the province of Verona located along the south-eastern shore of the Basso Garda region of Veneto. It is only 30 km from Verona, and is almost equidistant from Venice and Milan (about 140 km).
Hotel 
Budget accommodations 
Apartments 
Family Hotel 
Luxury Hotel 
Resorts