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8 Day itinerary in Italy, Europe

Lake Garda Self-Drive: Riva to Sirmione

This self-drive Lake Garda trip starts in Milan with an 8-day automatic rental car, continues to Riva del Garda for free time, a guided Monte Baldo hike, a self-guided visit to Cascate del Varone, Lake Tenno, and Canale, plus a guided bike day, then heads to Sirmione for a private boat ride before r... Read More

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MatteoMichela

By Matteo and Michela

Overview

Physical Difficulty

Easy
help_outline

Recommended Age

Everyone

Operated in

English

GUIDANCE

On Some Day Trips

starting point

Milan

trip type

Private

trip attributes

Self-driving

Start/End

Night

Highlights

1

Drive from Milan Malpensa to Riva del Garda with an 8-day automatic rental car

2

Hike Monte Baldo with a local guide and ride the rotating cable car

3

Bike Ponale Road to Punta Larici and Lake Ledro with guide, e-bike, and helmet

4

Cruise Sirmione and Costa La Romantica on a private boat

Itinerary

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Day 1

place Day 1: Arrive in Italy | Milan pickup and Riva del Garda

Arrive at Milan Malpensa Airport and collect your car at the rental office to begin your journey to Riva del Garda and spend the rest of the day at your leisure. Set between Lake Garda and the Brenta Dolomites, Riva del Garda is the heart of Garda Trentino. The town climbs up rugged cliffs and, with its panoramic lift, reaches the fortress of Il Bastione, whose gray stone walls overlook the lively town below. You will also find climbing and windsurfing, art exhibitions and open-air concerts, cheese tastings, and winery visits.


Take time to look out over the glittering lake and enjoy the distinctive style and energy of this lakeside setting.


Riva del Garda is in northern Lake Garda, where alpine landscapes meet a milder lake climate shaped by the surrounding mountains.


Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort
Day 2

place Day 2: Monte Baldo Trek | Cable car and easy hike

Drive yourself from your hotel to the hiking starting point and begin a half-day trekking excursion on Monte Baldo with a local expert guide.


Your adventure starts in Malcesine, where you board a rotating cable car for an approximately 20-minute ride up the mountain. As you climb to 1,800 meters, you can take in sweeping views over Lake Garda. During the excursion, your guide leads an easy panoramic walk and shares information about the local flora and fauna.


Monte Baldo is known for its exceptionally rich ecosystem and for the presence of many endemic species. Its landscapes range from alpine environments above 2,200 meters to sub-Mediterranean habitats closer to Lake Garda. Its slopes support most Alpine flora, more than 60 species of Italian orchids, and numerous butterfly species.


Before returning to Malcesine, you may want to stop at one of the mountain huts near the cable car station to try local mountain cheeses.


This private guided hiking tour on Mt. Baldo includes the return cable car ticket between Malcesine and Monte Baldo. The total duration is approximately 2.5 to 3 hours. The walk is rated easy, with an approximate length of 8 km and an elevation gain of about 150 meters.


Please wear suitable hiking shoes and comfortable clothing, and bring enough drinking water. A good level of physical fitness and sure-footedness are essential.


This tour runs rain or shine. The proposed route may change depending on weather conditions and the condition of the trails or cycling paths at the time of the excursion.


Mount Baldo is often called the Hortus Europae, or Garden of Europe, because of its remarkable biodiversity.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort
Day 3

place Day 3: Tenno Valley Discovery | Waterfall, lake, and medieval village

Today is free for you to enjoy at your leisure, with a self-guided excursion to Cascate del Varone, Lake Tenno, and Canale.


Just a few minutes from Riva del Garda, Cascate del Varone offers a striking natural stop. Follow the road toward Tenno to reach the entrance. From there, a well-maintained path takes you through a narrow gorge shaped by water over thousands of years. Two panoramic viewpoints, one at the base and one higher inside the cliff, let you see the waterfall up close. Gardens and easy walkways make the visit accessible for all ages.


Continue uphill to Lake Tenno, known for its vivid turquoise color and quiet setting. A gentle circular trail runs around the lake, with scenic views and many places to stop for photos. It is a good place for a relaxed walk or a short break in nature.


A short distance from the lake, Canale di Tenno is one of the area’s best-preserved medieval villages. Stone houses, vaulted passageways, and narrow lanes give it a timeless character. Artisan workshops and small galleries add to the atmosphere and offer a look at traditional mountain culture.


Canale di Tenno is recognized as one of Italy’s best-preserved medieval villages.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort
Day 4

place Day 4: Garda Bike Adventure | Punta Larici and Lake Ledro

Drive yourself from your hotel to the starting point for a full-day bike tour through one of the most scenic areas around Lake Garda.


You start in Riva del Garda and follow the iconic Ponale Road, a historic route suspended above the lake. Along the way, you ride past crystal-clear water, steep cliffs, and surrounding mountains. The route then continues through forest trails toward Punta Larici, where a panoramic viewpoint offers wide views and a good place for a break and photos. From there, you descend to Lake Ledro, known for its peaceful setting and alpine scenery.


For the return to Riva del Garda, you may take a more relaxed route or choose a slightly longer loop with an optional boat transfer, depending on your preferences and energy level.


Note: 

  • This private guided bike tour is led by an English-speaking bike guide and is suitable for riders with a basic to intermediate level of fitness. While no electric assistance is provided, the pace is managed by the guide with regular breaks during the day. The difficulty level is moderate, the total distance is approximately 40 km, and the total duration is about 7 to 8 hours. The tour includes e-Bike and helmet rental.
  • Please wear closed-toe shoes and bring a small backpack, windproof jacket, light rain jacket or poncho, sunscreen, and sufficient drinking water. Physical fitness and sure-footedness are recommended.


The Ponale Road is one of Lake Garda’s best-known historic routes, cut into the cliffs above the water.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort
Day 5

place Day 5: Southern Lake Garda Drive | Limone and Gardone stops

Today you drive toward Sirmione on a self-drive route with stops along the way.


Your first stop is Limone sul Garda. When the scent of citrus fills the air on Lake Garda, you are likely in Limone, the northernmost town on the Brescia side and also the northernmost place of all where lemons are grown. This ancient and atmospheric village has several places to explore during your visit.


Among its historic structures, the Limonaia del Castèl stands out for both its size and its state of preservation. It was founded in the seventeenth century with stone and wood greenhouses, then expanded in the eighteenth century to improve citrus cultivation and protect it from winter winds. Alongside the Castèl site, Limone sul Garda also has various pillar structures used for lemon growing, already noted by Goethe at the end of the eighteenth century and increasingly widespread here until the postwar period.


The Limone sul Garda bike path is a spectacular 2.5 km suspended pathway, part of the larger Garda by Bike project, that extends above the water and opens up striking lake views.


Continue to Gardone Riviera, a charming village in the province of Brescia overlooking the southern shore of the lake. The D'Annunzio lakefront is recommended if you want a romantic walk by the water.


You can visit The Vittoriale degli Italiani on your own, with entrance tickets included. This hillside estate and monumental complex was built by the poet Gabriele D’Annunzio from 1921 to 1938. It includes his eclectic house, the Prioria, as well as a war museum, an open-air theater, and notable gardens. The site commemorates his "inimitable life" and Italy’s WWI victory.


Gardone Riviera also offers many places where you can stop for an aperitif in a relaxed setting or for dinner for two. Before continuing, a walk through the ancient nucleus of the village is highly recommended, with picturesque alleys, old stairways, and colorful houses brightened by abundant flowers.


The limonaie of Lake Garda are historic lemon-growing structures developed to protect citrus trees from the area’s colder winter conditions.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa
Day 6

place Day 6: Sirmione Boat Tour | Private cruise along romantic coast

Today you take a private boat tour through some of the most enchanting stretches of Lake Garda, combining Sirmione with the elegant atmosphere of Costa La Romantica.


You set off cruising along the Sirmione peninsula, where historic villas, thermal gardens, and ancient ruins shape the landscape. As the boat continues, the views change gradually and reveal one well-known lakeside scene after another, capturing the character of this much-loved part of the lake.


The route then continues toward Desenzano, following the shimmering shoreline of Costa La Romantica, known for its golden shores, crystal-clear waters, and refined ambiance.


Note:

  • This private boat tour on Lake Garda has a total duration of approximately 1.5 hour.
  • The tour departure might be canceled due to bad weather conditions. Every effort will be made to operate the tour, but unsafe weather could make it impossible to provide a fully safe and enjoyable experience. In that case, you will be informed in advance. If the tour is canceled by the operator, and only in that case, you will have two options: reschedule the activity for the following day or for another available day and time, or receive a 100% refund for the tour cancellation.


Costa La Romantica is the name used for the scenic Lake Garda shoreline between Sirmione and Desenzano.


Guide: Included for the day

Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa
Day 7

place Day 7: Sirmione at Leisure | History, lake views, and peninsula charm

Today is free time in Sirmione. Lake Garda, the largest lake in Italy, stretches across a broad landscape of towering mountains, rolling hills, and lush plains, creating a wide range of scenery and experiences. Its clear waters shift from deep blue to bright turquoise, shaped by the winds and weather. Along the shoreline, rugged cliffs give way to sandy beaches and hidden lagoons that are well suited for a relaxing day.


Sirmione sits on a picturesque peninsula and feels like a place where history remains part of everyday life. As you move through the village, Roman ruins recall the ancient past, while the atmosphere carries a distinctly Mediterranean character. Around you, the scent of lemon trees, olive groves, and vineyards adds to the calm setting and extends across the landscape as far as the eye can see.


Whether you spend your time exploring the town’s heritage or simply enjoying the natural surroundings, Sirmione offers a memorable combination of history and scenery on Lake Garda.


Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake, and Sirmione is one of its most historically significant peninsula towns, known for its Roman remains.


Meals: Breakfast

Accommodation:

  • High End Accommodation: Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa
Day 8

place Day 8: Departure from Lake Garda | Return car and fly out

Today is your departure day. Check out and drive to Milan Malpensa Airport to drop off your rental car.


Return your car at the car rental office. If Noleggiare personnel is not present, leave the car in the dedicated parking lots and place the keys in the Noleggiare key box. Be sure to return the car according to the correct fuel policy.


After the drop-off, reach the terminal and depart with your flight. Arrivederci.


Malpensa is Milan’s largest international airport and one of northern Italy’s main air gateways.


Meals: Breakfast

What’s Included

Accommodation expand_less

  • Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort
  • Hotel Ocelle Thermae & Spa

Meals expand_less

  • Breakfast (7)

Transport expand_less

  • 8-day car rental from/to Milan Malpensa Airport | 4 seats 2 pieces of luggage Automatic transmission
  • Return cable car ticket Malcesine - Monte Baldo
  • e-Bike rental with helmet
  • Bike rental in Limone sul Garda with helmet

Activities expand_less

  • Private guided hiking tour on Mt. Baldo
  • Private guided bike tour with English-speaking bike guide
  • Private boat tour on Lake Garda

Extras expand_less

  • Vittoriale degli Italiani entrance tickets
  • Full insurance: Platinum Package with Zero deductible

Not Included expand_less

  • International flights to and from destination
  • Mandatory travel insurance
  • Tips and personal expenses
  • Baby seats
  • Other optionals
  • Fuel
  • Motorway fees
  • City taxes paid directly by the guest at checkout
  • All services not mentioned under Services Included Section

About Matteo

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Born in Milan and shaped by years abroad, I founded Fuoritinerario to share an Italy seen through both local roots and global perspective. I design curated journeys that balance insight, quality, and a genuine sense of place.

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