Desenzano del Garda travel guide. Why I adore Desenzano as the perfect town to experience Lake Garda. In this travel guide, I help you discover what makes it special, best things to do, why I love Desenzano with kids and our tips about where to stay and where to eat in Desenzano.
The small town of Desenzano is a pretty center on the southern shore of Lake Garda (Northern Italy).
It is a place of charming architecture and stunning views, and it has that quintessential Italian atmosphere I always look for when coming to this part of the country.
It is a town with a mellow, relaxing feel and the kind of place that makes you want to stroll, relax, and just take in the views with a spritz in your hand.
I know this well! We have been coming to Lake Garda for years just for this feel and every time we love the area a little more!
Today, I want to share it with you: fresh with new photos and impressions from my last trip here with the kids this July, this is my essential guide to Desenzano del Garda.
I hope it inspires you to visit!
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Why visit Desenzano
If you are coming to Italy hoping to experience small town charm, lakeside strolls in the summer breeze and stunning views, Desenzano is just the ticket!
Desenzano develops along the lakeside and has a wide promenade that opens onto the lake’s sparkling water and offers views of the mountains beyond.
The town center has a lovely old square, brimming with pretty cafés and colorful streets lined with shops and gelaterias.
Its architecture is delightful and sometimes surprising, with Venetian touches that that makes is stand out from other towns of the area. There is one spot here with colorful houses with oriental style window and cafes overlooking the boats which seems out of a storybook!
Above the center, the town is overlooked by an ancient castle, an incredible vantage point to admire the lake.
The town is also connected by ferries to other parts of the lake, and many travelers use it as a base to explore Sirmione and Verona and has good train connections also to Milan.
So, I recommend visiting Desenzano if you are looking for:
- A Pretty town with a quintessential Italian feel
- A Beautiful lakeside position
- A town with any restaurants, eateries, and shops in a walkable city center so you don’t have to always drive or go far to relax and have a nice meal
- A place that is easy to reach by train from Milan and Verona without having to get a car
- A town with easy connections by ferry to Sirmione and the south of the lake
- A place with family-friendly atmosphere
Hi! This is us in Desenzano! We took a selfie as we strolled along the promenade on our first night there (it was July). I cannot express how in love we fell with it from the very first moment: the lake is so vast here, the mountains such a beautiful frame to it and the atmosphere is so welcoming and mellow, the whole feel is just wonderful!
Why not visit Desenzano
The only potential downside of staying in Desenzano is accessibility to some of the places in the north of the lake, especially if you don’t have a car.
If you want to spend most of your time exploring the north of the lake, I’d suggest staying there instead—or even better: divide your time and stay in Desenzano to visit the south, and in Riva or Malcesine to visit the north.
Visiting Desenzano with kids
We found Desenzano to be lovely with kids.
The town has a large, flat, stroller-friendly center, a fantastic lakeside promenade, a pebbly beach for swimming in the lake, all the shops you may need, family-friendly restaurants, and playgrounds.
Playground in Desenzano: right along the lake with a climbing frame, slide, and soft flooring in parts. Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/bJVoQ4GTYyAKFuga9
Desenzano is also well connected to the theme parks of the area, namely Gardaland and Caneva World, so it’s also great for families looking for that type of entertainment.
As a kid-friendly hotels in Desenzano we chose Hotel Aurora which was nice, clean, in a lovely position and had a great buffet breakfast. No pool or specific kids’ amenities but with the beach and promenade just in front, it was great anyway – well priced too.
If you prefer a place with a pool, Park Hotel is also super well located and has a pool overlooking the lake and family rooms for up to 4 people and Hotel Santa Maria is also great as it has a pool and rooms for larger families.
Best things to do in Desenzano
As I mentioned above, Desenzano is a small center and the main things to do are all about taking in its beauty.
Take a stroll in the city center – Desenzano develops between the lake shore and the castle, and it is a medieval gem of small streets now lined with cafés and shops. The castle is a short walk uphill from the center and worth seeing, especially for its position overlooking the lake. Shops range from high street fashion shops so everyday necessities, souvenir places, lake floaters and anything in between.
Have aperitivo with a view – Desenzano is full of cafés, and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to sit, enjoy, and watch life go by. Cafés have boards outside with their offerings and prices, making everything straightforward and easy. I particularly enjoyed those on the main square and on the little canal with the colorful boats bobbing in the water in front of you (all, we felt we didn’t need to be particularly discerning to have a pleasant experience)
Walk or cycle the lakeside promenade – The promenade is flat and scenic, with a lane devoted to bikes and pedestrians. You can rent bikes in several spots in Desenzano, and you can get them on the spot.
Go to the beach – Desenzano has the lovely pebbly beach of Desenzanino with lidos and cafés, so it’s easy to go swimming in the lake. At the beach, you can get an umbrella for the day and we noticed some pedal boats for hourly rent too that seemed fun. Despite being there in July, it seemed it was easy to find a spot without booking although you may want to ask your hotel if they recommend it for your specific dates.
Take the ferry to Sirmione – Sirmione (click to read our guide) is one of the most famous spots on Lake Garda and easy to reach from Desenzano in just minutes by ferry. We found taking the ferry simple and straightforward; we bought tickets right there (in high season) and just lined up at the dock. We were up and in Sirmione in no time – it is so close, we were able to pop in one late afternoon just for a gelato and a drink and then hop back
Take a boat tour to the western side of the lake – Desenzano is perfectly positioned to visit the western shore of the lake, which is absolutely stunning. Most tourism settles on the eastern coast, as it has larger spaces for campsites and facilities, but the western side has high cliffs and dramatic views. Boat tours to enjoy the area are available from town and you can choose between tours like this one (book ahead as this one does sell out!) and renting your own boat and drive yourself.
Where to eat in Desenzano
Desenzano has many restaurants, and you won’t have issues finding good food just by strolling. Places we enjoyed in particular are:
Where to stay in Desenzano
Hotel Aurora – nice, family friendly hotel with clean and well appointed rooms, right on the lakeside, only a few minteis walk from the pier on one side and the beach on the other
Park hotel – right on the lake with a pool overlooking the water, suitable for all types of travelers including families
Hotel Villa Rosa, close to Desenzanino beach and a short walk from the city center, with a beautiful pool area, restaurant and views
How to get to Desenzano
Desenzano is easy to reach by train from Verona and Milan. The train station is walking distance from the town center (about 15 minutes, downhill from the station).
Taxis are available in the town but not always present outside the station: if you need a lift, I’d ask your hotel/host to send you the number of the local taxi service ahead of time.
The taxi number I got hold of for Desenzano is 030 914 15 27, but we didn’t use it since we walked everywhere.
You can also reach Desenzano by car: due to limited access areas and limited parking spaces in the center, I recommend sorting out access logistics with your host before committing to driving into the town.
How to get around the Desenzano area without a car – best day trips from Desenzano
Desenzano is connected by train to Peschiera and has several bus lines to other southern lake destinations such as Sirmione and Gardaland. Buses in the area are excellent and either with a direct line or one or two changes, you can reach pretty much anywhere here easily – for instance, we went for the day t Riva and, while a little long, it was easy and a wonderful self guided day trip.
The ferry connects Desenzano to Sirmione and other towns on the southern shore such as Lazise and Bardolino from where again, you can then decide to explore further afield.
You can get ferry tickets online here (direct with the ferry line) or on the spot; you don’t usually need to book in advance. Do not let the lines scare you: people gather waiting for the ferry but there is space, they told us the boats are so big, you do get on even when it looks hopeless (indeed, we always did, so this rang true to us)
Boat tour operators are stationed in Desenzano, and from the port you can choose from boats of several sizes offering tours of Desenzano / Salo area the Sirmione peninsula, or even customized itineraries. It is also possible to rent boats to self-drive from the Desenzano port, just enquire on the spot.
I hope my travel guide to Desenzano and my photos helped you get an idea of what to expect in this pretty town and decide whether it may be a good base for your trip.
Personally, I adored it, and it remains one of my very favorite places on this part of the lake!
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