There are many airports near Lake Garda and knowing which one to choose can help you travel quickly and stress-free to Italy’s largest lake.
Having a choice of airports can also help you find the best in terms of money and arrival times plane tickets to Lake Garda!
This truly beautiful and immense lake is one of Italy’s most unmissable destinations. With its wonderful mixture of nature, history, and local traditions, Lake Garda makes you fall in love with it as soon as you glimpse its blue waters surrounded by lush shores that are dotted with olive groves, medieval castles, cute little towns, spa resorts, and even Roman ruins.
It’s no wonder that 22 million people visit Lake Garda each year.
Knowing how to find your way to Lake Garda and how to navigate around it, can make your holiday there as smooth running and as worry-free as possible.
Otherwise, it’s only too easy to lose yourself in a mess of travel questions and doubts along the lines of:
‘Which airport is nearest to Lake Garda?’
‘Where do I fly into for Lake Garda?’
‘How do I get from Bergamo Airport to Lake Garda?’
and so on.
To help you with your travel planning, in this blog post today I will give you lots of useful information about the best airports for Lake Garda.
For each one of them, I have also included several helpful details. For example, how to get from each airport to Lake Garda by public transport as well as the official websites of the different airports so that you can quickly check which airlines fly to them.
It’s all designed to make your visit to Lake Garda smooth and easy and I hope that you will find the information shared herewith of use.
Plus, at the end of this blog post, I have included an extensive list with practical tips and links for travelling to Lake Garda from your chosen airport to make travel planning even more uncomplicated for you.
To illustrate this blog post, I have used photos of different towns and places that you can see for yourself around Lake Garda, Italy. I hope that they will inspire you to visit Italy’s largest lake as soon as you have a chance.
Now, let’s get flying:
8 Best Airports for Lake Garda or How to Quickly Reach by Plane Italy’s Largest Lake
1. Verona Airport
Verona Airport is the closest and in many ways the most convenient airport for Lake Garda, Italy.
Small and easy to navigate, Verona Airport (known both as Valerio Catullo Airport and Verona Villafranca Airport) is next to the small town of Villafranca di Verona and within a short distance to the city of Verona in Northern Italy.
The airport is closest to the southern shores of Lake Garda and it gives you quick and easy access to the northern shores of the lake, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Verona Airport, take the shuttle bus which connects the airport to the Verona Porta Nuova train station at regular intervals throughout the day.
From the train station, you can travel by train directly to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two of the most important towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Once there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. There are also buses that connect the Verona Porta Nuova train station to different towns on the shores of Lake Garda allowing you to travel directly to them without the need to take a train first.
If you need to reach the northern shores of Lake Garda, you have two options. One is you can get a bus or a ferry from either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda. The other is to travel by train from the Verona Porta Nuova train station to the city of Rovereto. Once there, you can take a bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns.
Official website: Verona Airport Valerio Catullo
2. Bergamo Airport
Bergamo Airport is very convenient for Lake Garda for its proximity and ease of travel to many of the main lakeside towns all around the lake.
A very popular low-cost airport that is buzzing with people at all hours of the day, Bergamo Airport (known both as Milano Bergamo Airport and Orio al Serio Airport) is next to the beautiful town of Bergamo and within an easy to navigate distance to Milan – one of Italy’s major cities.
The airport is closest to the southern shores of Lake Garda and it offers an easy reach to the lake’s northern shores, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Bergamo Airport, take the shuttle bus which connects the airport to the Bergamo train station at regular intervals throughout the day.
From the train station, you can travel (either directly or by changing trains halfway through) to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. From there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Alternatively, you can travel by train from Bergamo to Rovereto (not a direct route, so expect up to two train changes) and once there, you can take a bus to Riva del Garda – the most important town on Lake Garda’s northern shores.
Another option is to take a train or a bus from Bergamo to either Brescia or Verona and from there to take a train or a bus to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda or a bus to another lakeside town. For example, there is a direct bus that connects Brescia to many of the western and northern lakeside towns all the way up to Riva del Garda.
Official website: Bergamo Airport Orio al Serio
Click to Discover the 12 Best Towns to Visit around Lake Garda
3. Venice Airport
Venice Airport is a good choice to travel to Lake Garda, especially, for quick access to the southern shores of the lake.
A busy and elegant airport that deals with a considerable number of flights all through the day, Venice Airport (known officially as Venice Marco Polo Airport) is close to the landside portion of Venice – the borough of Mestre – and just a boat ride away from the historic centre of Venice in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon.
By public transport, this airport is most convenient for the wide southern shores of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Venice Airport offers easy access to the lake’s narrow northernmost tip, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Venice Airport, take the shuttle bus which connects the airport to the Venezia Mestre train station at regular intervals throughout the day.
From this train station, you can travel by train to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. From there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Another option is to travel by train from Venezia Mestre to the Verona Porta Nuova train station and from there to take a bus directly to a different lakeside town.
If you need to reach the northern shores of Lake Garda from Venice Airport, then you have two options. One is to travel by train from Venezia Mestre to Verona Porta Nuova and once there to take a train to Rovereto. From Rovereto, you can travel by bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns. The other option is to travel by train from Venezia Mestre to Brescia and once there, to take a direct bus to many western and northern lakeside towns all the way up to Riva del Garda.
Official website: Venice Marco Polo Airport
4. Bologna Airport
Bologna Airport is a good but often overlooked choice to travel to Lake Garda, especially, for quick access to the southern shores of the lake.
A nicely-appointed and easy to navigate airport that is served by a number of low-cost airlines, Bologna Airport (known officially as Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport) is a stone’s throw away from the city of Bologna – the capital of the Northern Italian region of Emilia-Romagna and the seventh most populous city in Italy.
By public transport, this airport is most convenient for the wide southern shores of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Bologna Airport offers easy access to the lake’s narrow northernmost tip, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Bologna Airport, take the shuttle bus which connects the airport to the Bologna Centrale train station. The shuttle runs every 11 minutes. Click here to see its official website for more details.
From this train station, you can travel by train (changing at Verona Porta Nuova) to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. From there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Another option is to travel by train from Bologna Centrale to the Verona Porta Nuova train station and from there to take a bus directly to a different lakeside town.
If you need to reach the northern shores of Lake Garda from Bologna Airport, then you have two options. One is to travel by train from Bologna Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova and once there to take a train to Rovereto. From Rovereto, you can travel by bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns. The other option is to travel by train from Bologna Centrale to Brescia (changing at Verona Porta Nuova) and once there, to take a direct bus to many western and northern lakeside towns all the way up to Riva del Garda.
Official website: Bologna Guglielmo Marconi Airport
Click to Discover the 11 Best Things to Do at Lake Garda with Kids
5. Treviso Airport
Treviso Airport can be a good choice to travel to Lake Garda. It is especially convenient if, at arrival, you have a car at your disposal to then easily reach any town or village around the lake. By public transport, you can expect to have to change buses and trains a few times, yet, there are some manageable options to reach the lake from this airport.
A busy airport with many low-cost airlines using it heavily for its proximity to Venice, Treviso Airport (known officially as Treviso Antonio Canova Airport) is just outside of the beautiful city of Treviso and a close distance away from Venice itself.
By public transport, this airport is most convenient for the wide southern shores of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Treviso Airport offers easy access to the lake’s narrow northernmost tip, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Treviso Airport you have two options. One is simply to get the shuttle bus that will take you to the Venezia Mestre train station in just under an hour. Once there you can follow the same travel directions as given above under point 3 (Venice Airport) in this list.
The other a bit more complicated option is to take a bus for the short ride to the Treviso Centrale train station. From there, you will need to take a train to the Venezia Mestre train station and once again follow the same travel directions as given above under point 3 (Venice Airport) in this list.
Official website: Treviso Airport
6. Milan Malpensa Airport
Milan Malpensa Airport is another good choice to travel to Lake Garda, especially, for quick access to the southern shores of the lake.
This is Milan’s largest international airport. It is very busy and it deals with a considerable number of flights and passengers all through the day. It has its own train – the Malpensa Express – that connects the airport’s two terminals directly to Milano Centrale – the city of Milan’s most important train station and Italy’s second most important railway hub.
By public transport, this airport is most convenient for the wide southern shores of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Milan Malpensa Airport offers easy access to the lake’s narrow northernmost tip, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Milan Malpensa Airport, take the Malpensa Express which connects the airport to the Milano Centrale train station at regular intervals throughout the day.
From this train station, you can travel by train to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. From there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Another option is to travel by train from Milano Centrale to the Verona Porta Nuova train station and from there to take a bus directly to a different lakeside town.
If you need to reach the northern shores of Lake Garda from Milan Malpensa Airport, then you have two options. One is to travel by train from Milano Centrale to Verona Porta Nuova and once there to take a train to Rovereto. From Rovereto, you can travel by bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns. The other option is to travel by train from Milano Centrale to Brescia and once there, to take a direct bus to many western and northern lakeside towns all the way up to Riva del Garda.
Official website: Milan Malpensa Airport
Click to Discover 16 Top Tips for a Great Day at Lake Garda Beaches
7. Milan Linate Airport
Milan Linate Airport is a great choice to travel to Lake Garda by car. By public transport, this airport gives you relatively straightforward access to the southern shores and not so quick access to the northern shores of the lake.
This is one of the largest international airports that serve the city of Milan and Northern Italy. It is very busy and it deals with a considerable number of flights and passengers all through the day. The closest train station to it is Milano Forlanini. Reaching it from the airport is easy. You can find full details on how to do it here.
By public transport, this airport is most convenient for the wide southern shores of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Milan Linate Airport offers easy access to the lake as a whole.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Milan Linate Airport, take the bus to the Milano Forlanini train station.
From this train station, you can travel by train (you can expect one or two train changes) to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. From there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Another option is to travel by train from Milano Forlanini (again with up to two train changes) to the Verona Porta Nuova train station and from there to take a bus directly to a different lakeside town.
If you need to reach the northern shores of Lake Garda from Milan Linate Airport, then you have two options. One is to travel by train from Milano Forlanini to Verona Porta Nuova and once there to take a train to Rovereto. From Rovereto, you can travel by bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns. The other option is to travel by train from Milano Forlanini to Brescia (again with up to two train changes) and once there, to take a direct bus to many western and northern lakeside towns all the way up to Riva del Garda.
Official website: Milan Linate Airport
8. Innsbruck Airport
If none of the above Italian airports ties up with your travel plans, then you can consider flying into Innsbruck Airport in Austria and then travel across borders to Lake Garda.
Innsbruck Airport (also known as Kranebitten Airport) is the largest airport in Tyrol in Austria. It is well-served from different points around Europe and it gives you very easy access by car and train to Northern Italy.
By public transport, the airport is most convenient to reach the northernmost tip of Lake Garda. If you travel by car, then Innsbruck Airport can be a good travel option for the rest of the lake, too.
How to get from this airport to Lake Garda by public transport: Once at Innsbruck Airport, take the bus which connects the airport to the Innsbruck main train station (Innsbruck Hauptbahnhof) at regular intervals throughout the day.
From this train station, you can travel by train to either Trento or Rovereto in Northern Italy. Once there, you can get a bus to Riva del Garda and other northern lakeside towns. You can then continue your exploration of Lake Garda from here and take in its southern shores on consecutive days of your stay.
Alternatively, you can stay on the train for another hour all the way down to Verona Porta Nuova. From this train station, you can travel by train to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda. Once there, you can use the networks of buses and ferries that connect the different lakeside towns and villages. Another option is to take one of the buses that connect Verona Porta Nuova to a number of lakeside towns.
Official website: Innsbruck Airport
Nota Bene
In addition to the eight airports near Lake Garda given above, you can also keep in mind the Brescia Airport and the Bolzano Airport.
They serve a very small and limited number of flights (chartered more often than not) but are a convenient point of arrival for Lake Garda, Italy if the opportunity to fly into one of them presents itself.
Practical Tips and Links for Travelling to Lake Garda from Your Chosen Airport
For specific travel times on the days of your arrival and departure, please, refer to navigational tools such as Rome2Rio and Google Maps.
To check train times and book train tickets in advance, please, use the official websites of Italy’s train operators at Trenitalia and Italo Treno. Please, refer to the tips and tricks for quick and cheap train and coach travel in Italy at the end of this blog post for an extensive overview of how to navigate Italy’s train and coach systems.
The current timetables of some of the bus lines covering the lake shores and connecting Lake Garda to the nearby large Italian cities and towns can be consulted here.
For ferry times, prices, and tickets, please, refer to the official website of Gestione Navigazione Laghi Italia here. The website is in English and Italian.
Aim to arrive during the day as travel options in the evening and at night can be significantly fewer. Especially, if you travel to one of the airports that are physically further away from Lake Garda. Consider spending the night at the nearest large city like Milan, Bologna or Innsbruck and then start on your journey in the morning of the next day.
Traffic jams can add hours to your travel times. Please, factor them in your plans. There is one road circumnavigating the lake and it can get congested during peak hours and the high season. Consider using alternative routes avoiding the lake shores on such occasions. Consulting your GPS in advance and during your car journey can make all the difference.
If this is your first time driving in Italy, be prepared for a more single-minded style of driving. The road circumnavigating Lake Garda is mostly two-lane and vehicles of all sizes are travelling on it day and night.
On the western shore of the lake, between Gargnano and Riva del Garda, there is a long succession of tunnels. Some are short, some are long, and some are very narrow, so exercise caution when driving through them.
Car parking can be problematic during the high season because of the narrow roads in the lakeside towns and the large influx of people. Check in advance where you will be able to park and how much this may cost.
If you plan to get a taxi, ask the driver how much approximately the journey will cost you. There may be a surcharge on Sundays.
In Conclusion
Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake and an unmissable travel destination in this beautiful country. Attracting 22 million visitors each year, Lake Garda offers a wonderful mix of nature, history, and local traditions. This in addition to many opportunities for full relaxation and hundreds of exciting activities.
While Lake Garda doesn’t have its own airport, there are eight airports near it which give you quick and easy access to the beautiful lakeside towns.
The above blog post gives you useful information about the eight most convenient airports for Lake Garda, Italy. Lots of details are included – from public transport options to useful links and tips on how to travel up to and around the lake.
All of this aims to make your travel planning as smooth as possible. I hope that the information I have shared with you herewith will help you make the best choices for yourself and your travelling companions in terms of which one of the airports near Lake Garda to arrive at and depart from.
Have a great time at Lake Garda!
More Helpful Links for Things to Do around Lake Garda, Italy
- Best 12 Towns to Visit around Lago di Garda – Italy’s Largest Lake
- Lake Garda with Kids or The Best 11 Things to Do at Lake Garda for Families
- Getting around Lake Garda – 8 Best Ways to Travel around Italy’s Largest Lake
- 3 Easy Ways to Travel from Verona to Lake Garda in Italy
- 3 Easy Ways to Travel from Venice to Lake Garda in Italy
- 3 Easy Ways to Travel from Milan to Lake Garda in Italy
- Lake Garda Beaches – 16 Top Tips for a Great Day at the Beach at Italy’s Largest Lake
- 3 Unmissable Lake Garda Beaches to Sun Yourself on This Summer in Italy
- Lake Garda’s Tibetan Bridge – A High-Adrenaline Hiking Experience in the Veneto, Italy
- Rocca di Garda – Hiking to the Best Panoramic Spot of Lake Garda, Italy
- The Shortest River in Italy – Visiting the River Aril in Cassone at Lake Garda
- Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona – Visiting Italy’s Church Suspended Between Heaven and Earth
- Top 15 Places to Visit in the Veneto, Italy – The Ultimate Guide
- 20 Best Things to Do and See in Verona, Italy in One Day – The Ultimate Itinerary with Photos and Tips
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