Holiday on Lake Garda - Sirmione

Photo below taken from the Hotel Mavino. For more Garda photos click here.



What an absolutely exquisite little jewel Sirmione is. The only pity is that most of northern Italy and the rest of Europe already seem to know that, the result is crowds of people, which tends to spoil the place a little in July and August.

Try to visit in September or June if at all possible, if you can’t well do visit anyway. Even with the crowds Sirmione is too good to miss and no holiday on Lake Garda should exclude a visit. Don’t come by car though – driving and parking here is a real nightmare and very expensive too. Our suggestion is to catch the ferry from Desenzano – a far more sensible and pleasant option.

Why Sirmione is so special?

Firstly the location is unique; Sirmione is perched at the end of a long peninsular extending finger like into the southern lake. Arriving by car it reminds me of arriving in Venice yet the town itself seems more like a Ligurian town – houses in every shade of yellow and red, brightly coloured flowers everywhere and little streets that just invite you to explore.

Where to Stay in Sirmione

Two hotels really stand out and both offer good value and great service. I would probably rate the Hotel Mavino (read other reviews here) as the best. I love the old town of Sirmione and the 28 room Hotel Mavino is right in the heart of it. Service can’t be faulted and the hotel rooms are well fitted with cable, mini bar, air con etc.

Next best choice, with a great pool and better lake views, but a ten minute walk from the old town is the Hotel Suisse (click here to read more).

What to see

Best of all is to just enjoy the atmosphere of this little town and the “island” yet despite the small size there are some significant sights. The main ones are:

The Scaliger Castle

Very impressive and surprisingly beautiful is this 14th century castle. The castle dominates the entrance to the town and if you arrive by land then you have to pass through the castle to enter the town.

The Grotto of Catallus

The remains of an ancient and massive Roman villa that was once the home of the poet Catullus, A holiday on Lake Garda was all the rage during Roman times and the rich Romans of Verona would often have a holiday home on the lake.

The Spas

Rich in Sulphur these spas have been world renowned for centuries and are as popular as ever. I don’t rate them that highly unless you have bronchial disorders or hearing problems, the treatments of these are their specialty. The spas are also good for skin disorders and arthritic conditions. The facilities at both of the spas, Virgilio and Catullo, are very modern and specialists in all the disorders treated are always on hand..

For more on some of the better spas in the Veneto visit our Venice Italy & Veneto Spas Guide.

The Churches

Santa Maria Maggiore's and San Pietro are the two most important churches. I find San Pietro the lovelier of the two.

Where to eat in Sirmione

Plenty of overpriced restaurants with horrible food are to be found in Sirmione, many come close to those of Venice when it comes to ripping-off tourists and some are enough to ruin any holiday on Lake Garda. Best bet is to try La Rucola in Via Strentelle. Despite being a little over priced the food is excellent.

The Risorgimento Restaurant in Piazza Carducci is another excellent option. For other restaurants around Garda please try our restaurant guide.



For more great holiday on Lake Garda ideas try our Garda, Venice Italy & Veneto site search engine below.