5 Easy Ways to Travel from Verona to Lake Garda in Italy (With Maps and Practical Tips)

Travelling from Verona 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.

Universally known as the City of Love, fair Verona is one of Italy’s most famous destinations. Sprinkled with beautiful and unique sights that span over 2,000 years of history and art, the city is also the backdrop of the story of Romeo and Juliet.

On account of its airport and excellent road and railway connections, Verona is the most convenient Italian city to reach Lake Garda. Two of the most important lakefront towns – Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano del Garda – have railway stations.

By train, it takes respectively 13 mins and 23 mins to get there from Verona. This is such a short travel time, you know. Many people commute double and triple that daily just to get to their jobs.

The other lakefront towns – and there are more than 20 of them – are also very easy to reach by road/railway and ferry. So, don’t miss the opportunity to see Italy’s largest lake if you are planning to spend more than a couple of days in Verona.

Here is a map showing how close in fact Verona 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 Verona 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 Love.

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 Verona to the towns on Lake Garda by train, by car, and by bus. Then, I will tell you about getting there by taking two different types of transport, for example, 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 airport and the train station serving Verona so that you can plan your trip depending on your specific point of departure in this lovely 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 Verona 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 Verona 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 Verona 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 Verona.

Have a look!

5 Easy Ways to Travel from Verona to Lake Garda in Italy

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I. From Verona to Lake Garda by Train

Travelling from Verona 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 Love 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 gorgeous 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, Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium, 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.

Verona has a couple of train stations. The main one is called Verona Porta Nuova. It is the city’s most important train station and it is also a major cross-junction railway hub in Italy. All train travel and directions covered in this blog post use Verona Porta Nuova as a point of departure.

Here are the relevant travel times:

• Verona Porta Nuova to Peschiera del Garda – from 13 mins by direct train.
• Verona Porta Nuova to Desenzano del Garda – from 23 mins by direct train.

Helpful Tips:

Simply put, there are two types of trains you can use to reach Lake Garda from Verona. One is the normal, regular trains (known as treno regionale) and the other is the high-speed trains (known as Frecciargento, Frecciarossa, and ItaloTreno).

Both the regional trains and the high-speed trains cover the distance from Verona to Lake Garda in roughly the same time, give or take a few minutes. At the same time, the tickets for the high-speed trains cost on average about three times more than the tickets for the regional trains.

As such, my suggestion is to use the regional trains for your trip to Lake Garda. Their prices don’t fluctuate and you can easily buy a ticket on the day of travel thus giving you a chance to visit Italy’s largest lake on the spur of the moment.

If you want, you can check train times in advance on Omio. This is my favourite search engine to research and book tickets for trains in Italy. It will give you a good idea of departure and arrival times

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.

Just make sure that you arrive at Verona Porta Nuova train station with plenty of time to spare. It is a very busy railway hub and often there are long queues in front of the ticket offices and the ticket-vending machines. Navigating to your platform through the throngs of people can also be surprisingly time-consuming.

II. From Verona to Lake Garda by Car (Private, Rented or Taxi)

Travelling from Verona to Lake Garda by car is very easy and convenient. Especially, if your destination is on the southern shores of Italy’s largest lake.

Unless you hit rush hour, travelling times vary from very short to super manageable. A modern, high-speed toll highway leads from Verona to many of the southern lakefront towns. 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.

If you prefer, you can drive just on the provincial/regional roads which are free of charge. Travelling times on them, however, tend to be longer.

These main lakefront towns are the quickest to reach by toll road from Verona:

• Verona to Lazise – 25 km and depending on traffic it should take from 25 mins to 35 mins.
• Verona to Peschiera del Garda – 30 km and depending on traffic it should take from 25 mins to 45 mins.
• Verona to Bardolino – 30 km and depending on traffic it should take from 30 mins to 45 mins.
• Verona to Sirmione – 43 km and depending on traffic it should take from 40 mins to 1 h.
• Verona to Desenzano del Garda – 44 km and depending on traffic it should take from 35 mins to 55 mins.

These travelling times are calculated starting from Verona Porta Nuova train station. Your specific travel time will depend on your point of departure in Verona, the type of road you choose to take (toll road and provincial/regional roads or just provincial/regional roads), the day, and the season.

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 the nearest to Verona lakefront towns like Lazise and Peschiera del Garda in about 25 mins and the farthest lakefront towns like Riva del Garda and Limone sul Garda in about 1 h 50 mins to 2 h 10 mins.

For your interest, here are some more average distances from Verona to the most beautiful and interesting towns on Lake Garda:

• Verona to Garda Town – 38 km (southeastern shore);
• Verona to Torri del Benaco – 44 km (eastern shore);
• Verona to Salo’ – 62 km (western shore);
• Verona to Malcesine – 65 km (eastern shore);
• Verona to Toscolano-Maderno – 72 km (western shore);
• Verona to Gargnano – 79 km (western shore);
• Verona to Torbole – 81 km (northern shore);
• Verona to Riva del Garda – 85 km (northern shore);
• Verona to Limone sul Garda – 96 km (western shore).

Helpful Tips:

If you need to hire a car for your trip from Verona 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 Verona 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:

• 8 Best Ways to Get Around Lake Garda, Italy

If you don’t want to rent a car yet you prefer the convenience of travelling by car from Verona to Lake Garda, then consider hiring a taxi. 

You can book a taxi even before your arrival in Verona as many taxi companies that serve Lake Garda have websites in several languages. You just need to search for ‘taxi Lake Garda’ or ‘taxi Verona airport‘ and your favourite search engine will return dozens of results.

Otherwise, you can get a taxi from Verona Airport, Verona Porta Nuova train station, and just about anywhere in Verona. You can also ask your hotel to book you a taxi or to recommend a local taxi company for you to use during your stay in Verona and Lake Garda.

If this has not been agreed on in advance, then make sure that you ask the taxi driver before the start of the journey how much it will cost you. Be prepared that on Sundays and public holidays a surcharge may be applied.

Some taxi companies may also offer customised tours of Lake Garda. This way, you can have the taxi driver take you directly from Verona to Lake Garda and then follow an itinerary that corresponds exactly to what you want to see and do there.

III. From Verona to Lake Garda by Bus (plus Train and Bus)

Taking the bus is an easy way to travel from Verona to Lake Garda. Direct bus lines connect the City of Love to many of the lakefront towns. For example:

• Bus lines 162 and 163 will take you from Verona to Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda Town. 
• Bus line 164 will take you from Verona to Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda Town.
• Bus line 165 will take you from Verona to Bardolino and Garda Town.
• Bus line 026 will take you from Verona to Castelnuovo, Peschiera del Garda, and Desenzano del Garda. 

The buses for Lake Garda usually start from Piazza Bra (the large square in Verona where you can see the Roman amphitheatre Arena di Verona) and also stop at Verona Porta Nuova train station. Bear in mind that often, the earliest buses start directly from Verona Porta Nuova train station. 

The bus stops are right opposite the train station itself and it is easy to find the right stop to wait at.

Approximate travel times by bus from Verona to some of the most popular destinations on Lake Garda are as follows:

• Verona to Peschiera del Garda by bus – approx. 33 to 39 mins
• Verona to Lazise by bus – approx. 52 mins
• Verona to Bardolino by bus – approx. 1 h 2 mins
• Verona to Garda Town by bus – approx. 1 h 7 mins
• Verona to Desenzano del Garda by bus – approx. 1 h 7 mins

Once at Lake Garda, you can then take a different bus line or a ferry to a different lakefront town. For example, bus line 484 can take you from Garda Town to Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, and Riva del Garda.

Click here to consult the current timetables of the bus lines that you can use in your explorations. You can click here to check the ferry lines connecting the different lakefront destinations.

In summer, you can travel by bus directly from Verona Airport to Lago di Garda. A seasonal bus service connects the airport to a number of towns on the southern shore of Italy’s largest lake. Click here to see the current itinerary.

Alternatively and depending on your final destination on the lake’s shores, you can combine train and bus travel.

For example, you can take the train to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda and then proceed by bus.

To easily reach the towns on the northern shore of the lake, you can take the train from Verona to Rovereto – a charming city in the Autonomous Italian province of Trentino. Travel times start from 40 mins.

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. From Verona 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 Verona to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda and then ferry onwards

If you travel by train from Verona 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 Verona 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 destinations 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 both for pedestrians and cars.

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. From Verona to Lake Garda with an Organised Tour

In the above sections, I gave you lots of details on how to reach Lake Garda from Verona. 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:

Practical Tips about Travelling from Verona to Lake Garda in Italy

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Verona Airport

Verona Airport is the closest and most convenient airport for Lake Garda. Small and easy to navigate, it offers quick and very straightforward access to Italy’s largest lake.

Known both as Valerio Catullo Airport and Verona Villafranca Airport, its airport code is VRN. It stands next to the small town of Villafranca di Verona and is within a short driving distance away from Verona itself. Its official website is Verona Airport.

I love flying in and out of this airport as it is so close to many large cities in Northern Italy. The planes also fly over Lago di Garda thus giving you a chance to appreciate splendid bird’s-eye panoramas of the lake.

A shuttle bus connects Verona Airport to the city’s main train station – Verona Porta Nuova. On average, it runs every 20 mins or so. Click here to check its timetable. Click here to see the airport’s map which visually shows you the shuttle bus stop (look for the green rectangle in front of the Arrivals Terminal). The journey to the train station takes around 15 mins. It’s very comfortable and quick.

Once at the train station, you can take a train to either Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda or Rovereto. Alternatively, you can take a bus to one of the many lakefront towns.

In addition, in summer, a direct bus connects Verona Airport to a number of towns on the southern shore of Lake Garda. Click here to see the current itinerary.

Finally, have a look at this blog post for full details about the eight airports you can use to easily reach Lake Garda in Italy:

• 8 Best Airports for Lake Garda or How to Reach Quickly by Plane Italy’s Largest Lake

It will give you lots of options for your point of arrival in Italy in case you can’t find convenient tickets to fly into Verona Airport.

Verona Train Station

Verona Porta Nuova is the main train station of the Italian city of Verona. It is also a major cross-junction railway hub in Italy.

It stands south of the city centre. You can easily walk to it from Arena di Verona on Piazza Bra in about 20 mins. Alternatively, you can take the bus to halve the time.

You can easily and quickly travel to Verona by train from a number of large cities in Northern Italy. For example, Venice, Padua, Vicenza, Brescia, Milan, Bologna, and Turin. You can also reach Verona by train from anywhere in Italy – for example, Naples and Rome.

To travel by train from Verona Porta Nuova to Lake Garda, you can get a regional or a high-speed train to either Peschiera del Garda or Desenzano del Garda – two of the most important lakefront towns. Both are on the southern shore of the lake. Travel times start from 13 mins.

Alternatively, you can get a train from Verona Porta Nuova train station to the city of Rovereto. Then you will need to catch a bus to Riva del Garda or the other towns on the northern shore of the lake.

From Verona Porta Nuova you can also reach Lake Garda directly by bus. The bus stops are right opposite the train station. When you walk outside of the station’s main entrance, you will see where the buses stop. Average travel times to some of the main lakefront towns are between half an hour and just over an hour.

As I mentioned above, you can use Omio to check travel times and if you wish, to purchase tickets in advance from Verona Porta Nuova to either Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano del Garda or 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:

• Where to Stay in Italy – 19 Types of Accommodation to Suit Any Budget 

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:

• 20 Best Towns to Visit around Lago di Garda – Italy’s Largest Lake (With Map and Insider Tips)

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 types 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 and to make a booking directly.

Booking.com

In Conclusion

Travelling from Verona 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 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 Love.

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 Verona to Lake Garda!

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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