Travelling from Venice to Lake Garda is easy and there are five ways to do it.
Lago di Garda is Italy’s largest lake and a great destination for a day trip, a weekend break or a longer holiday.
With shores dotted with picturesque towns, it offers a long list of historic sights, cute little beaches, and some of the best amusement parks in Europe.
Venice is the capital of the Northern Italian region of Veneto and one of the most beautiful places in the world. Known as the City of Canals for its unique location in the heart of the Venetian Lagoon, every year it attracts millions of visitors on account of its beauty, history, and art.
By high-speed train, Venice is only an hour and a half away from two of the most important towns on Lake Garda. It also enjoys excellent connections by road/railway and ferry to many of the other lakefront towns.
Here is a map showing how close in fact Venice is to Lake Garda in the northeastern corner of Italy. You can click to zoom in and out and to get directions:
So, if you have ever asked yourself ‘How to get from Venice to Lake Garda?’, fear not. In this blog post today, I will give you extensive and first-hand tried and tested information on reaching Italy’s largest lake from Italy’s City of Canals.
It’s easy, straightforward, doesn’t have to cost the earth, and will give you a chance to see two of Italy’s most famous destinations during the same Italian holiday.
First, I will cover how to travel from Venice to the towns on Lake Garda by train and by car. Then, I will tell you about getting there by train and bus, train and ferry, and car and ferry. I will also provide information on organised day trips around Lake Garda.
Finally, I will give you useful details about the airports and the train stations serving Venice so that you can plan your trip depending on your specific point of departure in this unique Italian city. There is a short section on accommodation, too, in case you decide to spend several days on Lake Garda.
Everything is structured in a way to make your travel planning as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Once you have all the details, it is then much easier to decide how you want to travel from Venice to Lake Garda, how long do you want to spend visiting Italy’s largest lake, and if you want to book a guided tour for the time you will be there or organise it all yourself.
There are many beautiful and wonderful things to see around Lake Garda in a day or two or over a longer period. Knowing how to reach Italy’s largest lake from Venice and how to smoothly navigate around it will make your trip so much more enjoyable. It will also free up more time for sightseeing, exciting activities, and relaxation.
Lake Garda has a perimeter of almost 160 km. Dozens of picturesque towns and exciting sights dot its shores. If you are wondering which one(s) of them to visit from Venice for a day trip or a longer stay, have a look at these blog posts:
- 20 Best Towns to Visit around Lago di Garda – Italy’s Largest Lake (With Map and Insider Tips)
- Lake Garda Map – Where is Lake Garda and What to Do around Italy’s Largest Lake
- Lake Garda with Kids Or the Best 11 Things to Do at Lake Garda for Families
They will give you lots of ideas as to how to structure your time at Lake Garda and what to see and do there. And this blog post will tell you how to get there specifically from Venice.
Let’s Start!
5 Easy Ways to Travel from Venice to Lake Garda in Italy
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I. Venice to Lake Garda by Train
Travelling from Venice to Lake Garda by train is very easy and straightforward. In many ways, this is the most convenient way to get from Italy’s City of Canals to Italy’s largest lake. Especially, if you are going to Lake Garda just for the day.
Two of the towns on Lake Garda have train stations. These are:
- Desenzano del Garda – this is the largest town on Lake Garda. It has a cute historic centre, a Roman villa with beautiful well-preserved mosaics, a medieval castle, and a rich programme of events. It also provides easy access to many other lakefront destinations, most notably the absolutely beautiful and very popular town of Sirmione.
- Peschiera del Garda – this is a fortified town that incorporates five small islands. It’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It provides easy access to many lakefront towns. For example, Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda Town. It’s also next door to many of the large amusement parks on the shores of Lake Garda. Most notably, Gardaland, Caneva The Aquarpark, and Movieland The Hollywood Park.
Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda are only about 15 km away from each other. Both are on the southern shore of the lake.
Venice has two main train stations – Venezia Santa Lucia (for the historic centre of the City of Canals) and the mainland Venezia Mestre. Both are on the same railway line and enjoy good connections by high-speed and regional trains to the train stations in Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda.
To find out which Venice train station you will be travelling from, have a look at this blog post:
In a nutshell, it works like this:
- If you are staying in Venice proper, i.e. the historic city built on a cluster of islands in the Venetian Lagoon, then your train journey to Lake Garda will start from Venezia Santa Lucia train station.
- If you have booked accommodation in Mestre – Venice’s mainland borough – then, you need to head to Venezia Mestre train station.
Otherwise, here are the relevant travel times:
- Venezia Santa Lucia to Peschiera del Garda – from 1 h 28 mins by direct high-speed train; from 1 h 46 mins by fast regional train (change in Verona).
- Venezia Santa Lucia to Desenzano del Garda – from 1 h 33 mins by direct high-speed train; from 1 h 41 mins by fast regional train and high-speed train (change in Venezia Mestre), and from 1 h 56 mins by fast regional train (change in Verona).
and
- Venezia Mestre to Peschiera del Garda – from 1 h 16 mins by direct high-speed train; from 1 h 33 mins by fast regional train (change in Verona).
- Venezia Mestre to Desenzano del Garda – from 1 h 21 mins by direct high-speed train; from 1 h 38 mins by high-speed train and fast regional train (change in Verona), and from 1 h 43 mins by fast regional train (change in Verona).
As you can see there are quite a few options, depending on the train stations of departure and arrival and also depending on the type of train you want to use.
Helpful Tips:
Italian high-speed trains are wonderful, however, they cost on average two and a half to three times more than the fast regional trains. Keep in mind that the prices for the high-speed trains increase the closer it gets to the day of travel. So, it really pays to buy your tickets in advance. The prices for the regional trains don’t fluctuate and you can easily buy a ticket on the day of travel.
In any case, make sure that you arrive at the train station in Venice with plenty of time to spare. Both Venezia Santa Lucia and Venezia Mestre can get very busy. Navigating to your platform through the throngs of people can be surprisingly time-consuming. For example, Venezia Santa Lucia serves around 30 million passengers per year and on average it deals with 450 trains daily.
If you travel by train from Venice to Lake Garda in Italy, my suggestion is to check train times and ticket prices in advance on Omio. This is my favourite search engine to research and book tickets for trains in Italy.
Omio pulls up a page with results from Italy’s railway companies and covers different types of trains. This way, you can immediately see who offers the cheapest prices and the shortest times and you can book your tickets on the spot. It really makes travel planning so much quicker and easier.
II. Venice to Lake Garda by Car
Travelling from Venice to Lake Garda by car is easy and convenient. Especially, if your destination is on the southern shores of Italy’s largest lake.
Unless you hit rush hour, travelling times can be very manageable. Most of your driving time to the towns on the lake’s southern shores will be spent on modern, high-speed toll highways. This helpful website will give you an estimate of how much the tolls are going to cost depending on the specific itinerary you want to follow.
These main lakefront towns are the quickest to reach by toll road from Venice:
- Venice to Peschiera del Garda – 140 km and depending on traffic it should take about 1 h 15 mins to 2 h.
- Venice to Lazise – 141 km and depending on traffic it should take about 1 h 25 mins to 2 h 10 mins.
- Venice to Bardolino – 151 km and depending on traffic it should take about 1 h 25 mins to 2 h 10 mins.
- Venice to Desenzano del Garda – 155 km and depending on traffic it should take about 1 h 25 mins to 2 h 10 mins.
These travelling times are calculated starting from Piazzale Roma in Venice. As you know, historic Venice is a car-free city. Vehicles can get as far as Piazzale Roma and the islands of Tronchetto, Lido, and Pellestrina. So, your travel times will depend on where your car is parked.
If you are driving from Mestre, then the above travelling times will be shorter by about 5-10 mins.
Once at Lake Garda, you can then circumvent the whole lake by following the two branches of the lakefront ring road:
- Gardesana Orientale – which runs along the western shores; and
- Gardesana Occidentale – which runs along the eastern shores.
In general, you can reach any point around Lake Garda from Venice in about 1 h 15 mins to 3 h 10 mins. More often than not and if you don’t hit traffic, you can expect to travel around 1 h 15 mins (to the nearest to Venice lakefront towns) to 2 h 10 mins (to the farthest from Venice lakefront towns like Riva del Garda and Limone sul Garda).
For your interest, here are some more average distances from Venice to the most beautiful and interesting towns on Lake Garda:
- Venice to Garda Town – 152 km (southeastern shore);
- Venice to Sirmione – 153 km (southern shore)
- Venice to Torri del Benaco – 159 km (eastern shore);
- Venice to Salo’ – 173 km (western shore);
- Venice to Malcesine – 179 km (eastern shore);
- Venice to Gargnano – 190 km (western shore);
- Venice to Torbole – 198 km (northern shore);
- Venice to Toscolano-Maderno – 183 km (western shore);
- Venice to Riva del Garda – 200 km (northern shore);
- Venice to Limone sul Garda – 211 km (western shore).
Helpful Tips:
If you need to hire a car for your trip from Venice to Lake Garda, click here to check car rental prices.
Having a car at your disposal for your trip to Lake Garda is very convenient. It will give you a chance to access hidden gems, less busy beaches, and many other corners off the beaten path here. At the same time, during the high season, it may be difficult to find a parking space in the more popular lakefront towns.
Also, bear in mind that the travelling times from Venice to Lake Garda may vary widely depending on the day and the season. As there is only one road which circumnavigates the whole lake, traffic jams can happen, especially during the high season and on weekends.
For advice about dealing with parking, rush hours, traffic jams, and driving styles at Italy’s largest lake have a look at point 1 in this blog post:
III. Venice to Lake Garda by Train and Bus
In general, it is possible to travel by bus from Venice all the way to Lake Garda in Italy. However, the journey may last longer than getting there by train, you may need to change buses at least once along the way, and some bus lines may be operational either only during the high season or during very specific times of the day. When you add it all, the price is not really that much cheaper, too.
A better way to do it is to make sure that you travel by train from Venice as close to Lake Garda as possible and then continue your journey on the local bus. In a nutshell, there are three ways to do it, depending on your final destination on the shores of Italy’s largest lake. Here they are:
1. Train from Venice to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda and then bus onwards
2. Train from Venice to Verona and then bus onwards
3. Train from Venice to Rovereto and then bus onwards
Let’s look into them in detail!
1. Train from Venice to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda and then bus onwards
Proceed as per section I above. Simply take the train from either Venezia Santa Lucia or Venezia Mestre and travel to one of the two towns on Lake Garda with a train station.
Once you reach Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda by train from Venice, you can then quickly and easily travel by bus to many of the other towns on the southern, northern, western, and eastern shores of Lake Garda.
Click here to consult the current timetables of the bus lines that you can use in your explorations.
2. Train from Venice to Verona and then bus onwards
The train journey from Venezia Santa Lucia to Verona Porta Nuova (the main train station of the city of Verona) lasts 1 h 12 mins by high-speed train and 1 h 28 mins by fast regional train. Once you arrive in Verona, there are many direct bus lines that connect the City of Romeo and Juliet to many towns on the shores of Lake Garda.
Here are a couple for your interest:
- Bus lines 162 and 163 will take you from Verona to Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda Town.
- Bus line 165 will take you from Verona to Bardolino and Garda Town.
The buses for Lake Garda stop right opposite the Verona Porta Nuova train station. This way, you won’t lose any time in transfer.
Once at Lake Garda, you can then take a different bus to yet another lakefront town. For example, bus line 484 can take you from Garda Town to Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, and Riva del Garda.
3. Train from Venice to Rovereto and then bus onwards
This is the perfect travel option if you want to reach the northern extremity of Lake Garda from Venice.
Take a train from either Venezia Santa Lucia or Venezia Mestre to Rovereto – a charming city in the Autonomous Italian province of Trentino. The travel time starts from 2 h 09 mins. You will also need to change trains in Verona.
Once in Rovereto, you can get bus 332 to Riva del Garda and other northern lakefront towns. Click here to consult the timetable of bus line 332 for specific times of departure and arrival.
Helpful Tip:
No matter which of the above options you choose, you need to always make sure that you check the bus timetables for Lake Garda carefully. These may vary according to the season and the day of the week.
IV. Venice to Lake Garda by Train and Ferry or Car and Ferry
Ferries crisscross the waters of Lake Garda and connect the many lakefront towns all throughout the day. Seeing the shores of Italy’s largest lake from the water is a very scenic experience. No matter if you are spending only a day at Lake Garda or have multiple days to spare for it, make sure that you catch a ferry to enjoy its beauty fully.
Here is how it works:
1. Train from Venice to Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda and then ferry onwards
If you travel by train from Venice to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda, you can then continue your exploration of Italy’s largest lake by ferry. The easiest way to do it is to catch the ferry from Desenzano del Garda across to the strikingly beautiful town of Sirmione which is famous for its Roman ruins, medieval castle, and spa facilities. The crossing lasts only about 20 mins and the views are fantastic.
Alternatively, you can catch the ferry from Peschiera del Garda to Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda Town. This will give you a chance to admire the beauty of the southern and southeastern shores of Lake Garda from the water.
Click here to check the different ferry routes on Lake Garda and their respective stops, travel times, and ticket prices. Bear in mind that some of the ferry routes are only operational during the high season.
2. Car from Venice to Any Town on Lake Garda and Then Ferry Onwards
Having a car at your disposal gives you a chance to reach any and all towns on Lake Garda as and when you want. Still, don’t miss the chance to experience the beauty of Italy’s largest lake from the water.
One way is to ferry your car across Lake Garda. The ferry line from Torri del Benaco to Toscolano-Maderno takes both pedestrians and cars across Italy’s largest lake year-round. There is also a seasonal car ferry from Malcesine to Limone sul Garda.
Otherwise, you can simply park your car in one of the lakefront towns and then explore a number of other picturesque towns by ferry. This will save you driving up and down the lake and searching for a place to park time and time again. At the same time, it will allow you to enjoy some truly unforgettable panoramic views of Lake Garda and the proud mountains that surround it.
Use the official website of Navigazione Laghi to check current ferry timetables and ticket prices.
Alternatively, you can book a private boat tour. Many tour operators offer a great variety of boat tours on Lake Garda. They cater to many different tastes and expectations. There are mini cruises, sunset cruises, romantic tours, sailing ship cruises, and sightseeing tours. The choice is yours!
V. Venice to Lake Garda with an Organised Day Trip
In the above sections, I gave you lots of details on how to reach Lake Garda from Venice. In case you prefer to have it all organised for you, in this section I have included information about day trips to Italy’s largest lake led by professional tour operators.
Organised tours are a great way to travel if you enjoy a more structured approach and would like to see the maximum in a short amount of time. Professional guides will introduce you to the culture and history of this corner of Italy and will show you hidden gems that are not always easy to discover by yourself.
Often, the price of an organised tour may exceed what you would pay if you book it all by yourself. Still, it is very reasonable if you want to have it all done for you and if you enjoy a knowledgeable service and a personal approach.
Here are some of the best options. They include day trips to Lake Garda directly from Venice, Mestre, and Verona (which you can easily reach by train or by car from Venice with the help of the above information).
Practical Tips about Travelling from Venice to Lake Garda in Italy
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Venice Airports
Have a look at this blog post for full details about the airports serving the city of Venice in Italy:
It will provide you with extensive information about the best airports for Venice and the different transfer options you can choose from.
Venice Train Stations
Have a look at this blog post for details about the train stations serving the city of Venice in Italy:
As indicated above, you can use Omio to check train times and to purchase in advance train tickets from Venice’s train stations to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda on Lake Garda or to Verona and Rovereto.
Accommodation at Lake Garda
You can find all sorts and types of accommodation on Lake Garda, Italy to suit any budget. From fabulous hotels with spa facilities and swimming pools to cosy B&B’s in historic buildings and campsites surrounded by olive groves, there is something for everyone.
For ideas about the types of accommodation available around Lake Garda in particular and Italy in general, have a look at this blog post:
I usually prefer to book all my accommodation through Booking.com. It gives me many different options in terms of budget and location and I can also read and compare reviews left by real people. Click to see all available places to stay around Lake Garda, Italy.
If you need specific suggestions, have a look at this blog post:
I have inserted the names of the hotels I suggest in the entry for each town.
If you need some visual help in terms of precise location and price range, have a look at this map. It gives you a quick idea of the prices and whereabouts of the many hotels and other forms of accommodation you can book for your stay at Lake Garda, Italy. You can zoom in and out in order to search for a place. You can also click on the option that interests you to find out more details or to make a booking directly.
Booking.comIn Conclusion
Travelling from Venice to Lake Garda in Italy for a day trip, a weekend break or a longer holiday is a great idea. In general, there are five ways to do it: by train, by car, by train and bus, by train/car and ferry, and by organised tour.
In the above blog post, I give you detailed and first-hand tried and tested information about how to reach Italy’s largest lake from Italy’s City of Canals.
Packed with useful tips, I hope that my blog post will come in handy during the planning stages of your Italian holiday.
Enjoy your trip from Venice to Lake Garda!
Now, get ready quick for your visit to Lake Garda, Italy!
- Consult these guidebooks.
- Buy plane tickets to Italy.
- Book train tickets, bus tickets or rent a car.
- Research accommodation.
- Select local tours and activities.
More Helpful Lake Garda Info for You
Lake Garda Towns and Villages: Best Towns, Desenzano del Garda, Riva del Garda, Malcesine, Torri del Benaco, Punta di San Vigilio, Campo di Brenzone, Borghetto and Valeggio sul Mincio
Lake Garda Hiking: Tibetan Bridge, Rocca di Garda, Park of the Waterfalls
Visiting Lake Garda: Map of Lake Garda, Lake Garda with Kids, 8 Best Airports, Travel Around Lake Garda, Venice to Lake Garda, Verona to Lake Garda, Milan to Lake Garda, Bologna to Lake Garda
Lake Garda Beaches: 16 Top Tips, 3 Unmissable Beaches
Lake Garda Sights: Best Theme Parks, Best Castles, Shortest River in Italy, Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona
More Helpful Italy Info for You
Best of Italy: Best Time to Visit, Italian Piazzas, Italian Food, Italian Markets, Italian Coffee Culture, Types of Italian Coffees, Rules of Italian Breakfast, Italian Breakfast Foods
Northern Italy: Reasons to Visit, 18 Best Cities, 11 Major Airports
Day Trips in Italy: Bologna to Venice, Venice to Milan, Verona to Milan, Milan to Verona, Venice to Verona, Milan to Venice, Florence to Venice, Verona to Venice, Venice to Padua
Lake Como: Things to See, Nesso
Lombardy: Best Cities and Towns, Reasons to Visit, Brescia
Friuli Venezia Giulia: Venzone, Most Beautiful Villages
Emilia Romagna: Bologna, Ravenna, Comacchio, Most Beautiful Villages
Marche: Reasons to Visit, Gradara, Frasassi Caves, Temple of Valadier
Trentino: Best Cities and Towns, Beautiful Lakes, Lake Caldonazzo, Violins’ Forest
Veneto: Best Cities to Visit, Prettiest Small Towns, Most Beautiful Villages, Top 15 Places, 30 Adventures, 15 Most Colourful Places, Beautiful Lakes
Venice: Major Landmarks, Essential Tips, Hidden Gems, One Day Itinerary for Art Lovers, Best Beaches in Venice, Best Airports, Train Stations in Venice, Boats in Venice, Haunted Venice, Day Trips from Venice, Quotes about Venice
Verona: Things to Do in One Day, Verona Opera Festival, Day Trips from Verona, Romeo and Juliet Itinerary
Padua: Things to Do in One Day, 101 Facts About Padua, 10 Reasons to Visit Padua, Day Trips from Padua
Vicenza: Things to Do, Day Trips from Vicenza, Best Museums
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