A Guide To Sirmione, Lake Garda

How to get to Sirmione

There are two airports near Sirmione: Verona and Milan Bergamo. From Bergamo you can take a train to Desenzano del Garda and then a bus, the journey takes about two hours. By car, the journey is much quicker (around an hour). We opted for a taxi, as there were six of us sharing the costs, and as we only had a long weekend to enjoy, we wanted to save time.

The bus is the most economical way to travel from Verona to Sirmione, taking between one and a half to two hours depending on the time of day and connections. However, we found the buses a little unreliable, especially between Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda. Other options are to book a taxi or rent a car – which is definitely worth it if you plan to explore other towns around the lake.

History of Sirmione

Sirmione has been a popular place for thousands of years – and not just with tourists. The Romans loved it so much that they built large villas there, the most famous being the Caves of Catullus, a huge lakeside retreat dating from the 1st century AD. Then, in the Middle Ages, Sirmione became a fortified town, with the spectacular Scaliger Castle, which still guards the entrance today. Add to that the natural hot springs that have made it a popular spa destination, and you have a city where history and relaxation have always gone hand in hand.

Things to do in Sirmione

Even though Sirmione is small, we found plenty of things to do during our long weekend to keep everyone in our group entertained.

Stroll the cobblestone streets

I had read before leaving that Sirmione was the prettiest town on Lake Garda, and I really understand why. You enter the old town via a bridge and are immediately greeted by Scaliger Castle, the 13th-century fortress with fairytale towers surrounded by a moat. From here you can wander the cobblestone streets lined with small cafes and shops where you can stop along the way. During the day it can get busy, but as the day trippers leave it gradually becomes quieter. We loved exploring early in the morning or in the evening, when the vibe was completely different – ​​one of the real benefits of staying in the city itself.

Relax on a beach

There are several beaches around Sirmione, each with its own character. The most famous is Jamaica Beachjust at the tip of the peninsula, near the caves of Catullus. The “beach” here is made up of large, flat rocks (which can be slippery, so bring water shoes) and offers stunning views of the lake. There is also a small beach bar serving refreshments and you can rent sun loungers if you want a little more comfort. As it’s a short walk from the old town, it’s a good idea to combine a visit with the caves during your stay.

Our favorite place was Lido Galeazziwhich lies at the base of the Sirmione peninsula. We stumbled upon it on our first day and loved the laid back vibe. There is a beach bar serving drinks and snacks, with the option to rent sun loungers or simply lay out a towel on the grass by the lake. You can also rent pedal boats, kayaks or paddleboards. We chose the less energetic option of the pedal boat and enjoyed watching the sunset with a spritz in hand.

Visit a vineyard

There are many vineyards near Sirmione, as the area is known for producing Lugana wine. We visited a small family winery called Cascina Maddalenawhich offered both a visit and a tasting. Our two hours there began with a short but very informative tour of the vineyard, covering not only the winemaking process but also the family history. Then we tasted four different wines, starting with a sparkling and ending with a nice red. To accompany the tasting, local meats, cheeses and jams were served to us with a selection of fresh bread. The experience was perfect: we loved the wines so much that we left with a bottle to taste later.

Relax at the thermal spa

Not only does Sirmione have an impressive castle, charming cobblestone streets, and relaxing beaches, but it also has a spa with stunning lake views. You can book a full day or a two-hour slot to enjoy the warm outdoor pools overlooking Lake Garda, relax in the saunas and hammams or treat yourself to treatments. The spa makes the most of the city’s natural hot springs, rich in minerals and long renowned for their healing properties. The perfect afternoon activity after a morning exploring the rest of Sirmione.

Take a boat

Sirmione’s old town is where you’ll find the ferry port, making it easy to hop on a boat and explore nearby towns. We tried using the bus to get to Peschiera del Garda, but found the system difficult to use and unreliable. So we opted to take the ferry back, a much simpler option. Boats run from the ferry port to different towns, but it is important to check the times as they are not always frequent.

From Sirmione it is easy to reach Desenzano and Peschiera, as they are both close. Ferries run approximately every hour, from approximately 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (check the latest timetables here). If you want to travel further, you will need to take a fast boat – these are less frequent, so it is best to plan your trip carefully. We visited Salò, which is beautiful and well worth the trip; the fast boat took 40 minutes, compared to almost 1 hour 20 minutes on the slow service.

If you don’t feel like visiting another town, you can also take a boat trip around the peninsula, which offers a completely different perspective of Sirmione from the water.

Sunset Cocktails

Just outside the old town we found the perfect place to have a sunset cocktail before heading out to dinner. Barracuda It doesn’t look like much from the outside, but out back there’s a lake terrace with a handful of tables perfectly positioned for watching the sunset. The server even let us connect to the speaker and play our own music. The espresso martinis were excellent, the service was friendly and the setting was just perfect.

Where to eat in Sirmione

Sirmione is full of places to eat, from small trattorias to larger restaurants with tables spread across the square. All the food we ate during our stay was delicious, but here are some of our favorites.

Belvedere Terrace

Belvedere Terrace is a great lunch spot with a casual atmosphere, elevated patio, and beautiful lake views. The restaurant is located between the old town and the newer part of Sirmione, near Lido Galeazzi. All the food was excellent and the portions were very generous. Some in our group said the salads were the best of our stay and the pizza was just as good.

Trattoria La Fiasca

We came across this cute little trattoria on a cobbled street, and it turned out to be a great find. The service at Trattoria La Fiasca was friendly and efficient, and the food was absolutely delicious. There was a good range of pasta dishes and a few people in our group tried the gnocchi and said it was amazing. We treated ourselves to dessert here and were not disappointed. There is seating inside and a small courtyard outside, where you can soak up the atmosphere and, most importantly, do a little people watching.

Caruso Restaurant

Caruso Restaurant is not far from the port and has a beautiful and large terrace with a view of the lake. We visited it in the evening, but I think it would also be a lovely place for lunch, when you can fully appreciate the view. The food was excellent, with a wide choice from traditional pasta dishes to fish from the lake, all well cooked and tasty. I had the seafood pasta, which was loaded with mussels, shrimp, white fish and even half a crab.

Why we loved Sirmione

Sirmione is truly magnificent. From its cobblestone streets and medieval castle to its spas, vineyards and lakeside sunset cocktails, it offers the perfect blend of charm and variety. Staying overnight allowed us to experience a quieter, more authentic side of the city that most day-trippers miss – and it made the trip even more special. With its easy access from airports and ideal location for exploring the southern shores of Lake Garda, Sirmione makes a fantastic base for a long weekend or short getaway. If you’re planning a trip to Lake Garda, don’t just pass through Sirmione – stay a while and soak it all in.