18 Best Things To Do In Riva del Garda (From A One-Month Local)

What’s a one month local you ask? Well, I stayed in Riva del Garda for one month, on a real budget. I couldn’t eat out every night, I wasn’t taking private boats and I certainly wasn’t spending every afternoon sipping local wine – well not every afternoon. Looking for the best things to do in Riva del Garda? I spent four weeks here exploring every attraction worth your time and the ones that aren’t. This guide covers the 18 best things to do in Riva del Garda, from cliff-edge hikes and the glass funicular to my favourite gelato in town.

Situated north of Lake Garda, Italy‘s largest lake, Riva del Garda appears to be ripped straight from a fairytale book. Encased by mountains, the narrow and cobblestoned alleys are lined with charming restaurants, delicious gelato shops, cafes and boutiques.

Riva Del Garda, my “if I won the lottery I’d live here” destination. Many of my daydreams involve me sitting on the town’s quaint cobbled streets, Hugo spritz in hand, eating a Caprese salad gigantic pizza while watching the sun go down over the dramatic lakeside landscape.

Only have one day? Here’s my 1 day Riva del Garda itinerary covering the highlights

Last updated: May 2026

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Where to Stay in Riva del Garda: Best Areas & Hotels

Riva is compact enough that location matters less than you might think, most accommodation is within a 10-15 minute walk of the lake. That said, three areas suit slightly different trips:

• Riva del Garda Centre: best for first-timers who want everything on the doorstep. Lively but loud in summer.
• Porto San Nicolò: best for beach access and quieter nights. A 15-minute walk to the centre.
• Varone: best for budget travellers happy with a 25-minute walk. Bigger rooms, mountain views, lower prices.

For the full breakdown of each area with my hotel picks at every budget, see my complete Riva del Garda travel guide. If you’re looking beyond Riva itself, my Lake Garda without a car guide covers the seven best towns to stay in around the wider lake.

18 Best Things To Do In Riva del Garda

1. Sentiero del Ponale

I normally cannot go on a walk without music, but it felt almost insulting to be in my own world here, because the dramatic mountain peaks and deep blue lake dotted with sailboats felt so otherworldly. Gravel swishing under my feet and bike bells replaced my usual playlist.

The Sentiero del Ponale is carved into the cliff above Lake Garda and for two hours, the lake doesn’t leave you. It just keeps showing up between the rocks at a different angle.

The path was built as a military road in the 1850s and now carries walkers and cyclists 32 kilometres up to Lago Ledro. Most people don’t go that far. They walk the first 5 km to Bar Ponale Alto Belvedere, where the lake views are, and turn around; which is the right call if you only have a morning. You’re not missing out either, just walking to the bar is still one of the best walks in Lake Garda. Make sure to save some time for a cold Aperol, as it’s a place to soak up the views.

I have walked and cycled the Sentiero del Ponale, if you have the time, cycle to Lago Ledro. It consists of gravel path, road, and forest path, passing by the small village of Prè di Ledro, where the population is just under 200. The last section involves a few challenging steep climbs with a total elevation of 660 metres. Make sure to follow the signs that state “recommended MTB route”, to keep off the main road.

For the return, I cycled the SS240, a winding downhill main road that gets you back to Riva in about twenty minutes. Faster than retracing the path, and the views are different.

There are plenty of bike shops in Riva del Garda, and if you’re not a regular cyclist, you can rent an electric bike to tackle the hills. I rented my bike from Energia Bike, who gave us maps and a helmet.

The terrain is a mix of loose chippings, dirt track and road, so make sure you have appropriate tyres. As one of the most popular Lake Garda walks it gets very busy, with lots of walkers and speedy mountain bikers – you’ll appreciate a bike with a bell.

2. Hike to Chapel Santa Barbara

Sitting at 625 metres above Riva del Garda, Chapel Santa Barbara was built by hand, by local miners in 1935, which becomes more impressive with each laboured breath as you climb.

The hike is about 2.5 hours round trip, steep in places, on a mix of dirt and limestone. On a hot day, it’ll cook you. The reward is the view back over the lake from the chapel terrace, and a procession of green lizards on the rocks the whole way up – but they don’t stick around long enough to get to know you.

This is a quieter hike than the Sentiero del Ponale, I did this on many occasions, meeting only a handful of people up and down.

Wear shoes with grip. The limestone gets slick where the path polishes smooth, and I learned that the painful way on the descent. Bring more water than you think you need; some of the path is shaded but not enough of it.

3. Sentiero Busatte–Tempesta

This one’s just outside Riva, a ten-minute bus ride to Torbole, where the path starts. Most of the route is metal stairs and walkways bolted into the cliff face, with the lake several hundred metres straight down on your left. It’s not technically a hard hike, but it is a lot of stairs and a lot of exposure. If heights worry you, this is the one to skip.

The path runs five kilometres along the cliffs from Torbole to the village of Tempesta, climbing to about 441 metres at its highest point. Take the 332 or 484 bus from Riva to Torbole and walk to Busatte Adventure Park, where the cliff path begins. From Tempesta you can either retrace your steps or catch the bus back. Round trip on foot is around four hours.

Go in the morning if you can. The east side of the lake is in full sun by midday and the metal stairs hold the heat.

4. Monte Baldo

Monte Baldo is a ten-minute drive from Riva, in Torbole, and the cable car up is one of the thrilling ones. The cabin rotates 360 degrees as it climbs, so you’re not fighting anyone for the window, the view comes to you. Lake Garda drops away below, the mountainside swings past, and the whole thing takes about ten minutes. I’d recommend it even if you don’t plan to hike at the top, it was one of the fastest cable cars I’ve been on.

When you step out at the summit, the first thing you notice is the wind. It’s a different climate up there, bring a layer even in summer, because the temperature drop from the lakeside is real and the ridge is exposed. The mountain is sometimes called the Garden of Europe for its biodiversity with alpine flowers, butterflies, a kind of stillness you don’t get down by the water.

I had lunch at one of the restaurants near the upper station, a burger and an obligatory Aperol, eaten next to a very friendly dog who had clearly worked out that tourists are an excellent food source. The mountain view made us stay longer than we intended.

If you want to walk, there are two main options from the top:

• Sentiero delle Crestetem is the easier one and the one I’d recommend if you’ve come up mainly for the views. It starts at the higher cable car station (Tratto Spino), runs mostly flat along the ridge, and gives you the lake on one side the whole way. You don’t need to be a serious hiker to do it.
• Cima Valdritta trail is the harder one, a 7 km round trip to the actual peak of Monte Baldo at 2,218 metres. About four hours, moderately challenging, starts at the San Michele cable car station. This is the one for people who came to climb something, not just look at it.

You may also be interested in visiting Madonna della Corona Sanctuary, a cliffside sanctuary located on Mont Baldo.

5. Wind + Kite Surfing

I’ll be honest, I didn’t surf. But walking the promenade in Riva, you don’t have to. The lake here is one of the most reliable wind spots in Europe and on most afternoons the bay fills with windsurfers and kitesurfers carving across the water in numbers that look, from shore, almost choreographed.

The wind comes off the mountains and picks up sharply through the afternoon, especially in spring and autumn, which is why Riva and neighbouring Torbole host major events like the PWA World Cup. What the tournaments don’t quite prepare you for is how fast the surfers are moving. From the promenade they look like they’re being pulled on strings. Some of them launch off chop into full mid-air rotations and land going faster than they took off.

The thing that surprised me most, though, was the age range. A lot of them are kids — twelve, thirteen, fourteen — doing things on the water that I, an adult human with functioning knees, would not attempt. There is something quietly humbling about eating a gelato on a bench while a teenager does a backflip on a hydrofoil thirty metres offshore. Respect.

There are many local surf schools and rental shops for beginners to more seasoned surfers. Alessandro Tomasi, WWind Square, Pier Windsurf, and Sailing du Lac Multisport Centre are very popular surf schools in the area.

6. Beach Hop

Riva’s beaches aren’t sandy. This is the first thing to know, and the second thing to know is that the pebbles are bigger and more painful than you’re picturing. Pack water shoes, or a pair of cheap flip-flops you don’t mind getting wet in. Walking barefoot from your towel to the water is a short journey that becomes a long one.

Once you’re in, though, the water is the reward, clear enough to see your feet in chest-deep water, and swimmable from June through September. The lake is colder than the Mediterranean even in August, which is part of the appeal after a hot day on the trails.

• Spiaggia Sabbioni is the biggest and the one I’d send you to first. There’s plenty of room to lay out a towel, some shade if you arrive early enough to claim it, and the water access is the easiest of the four. It does get busy in peak season, by midday in August you’re sharing it with a crowd so if you want it quieter, go before ten or after five.
• Miralago Beach is right next door to Sabbioni and noticeably smaller and calmer. If Sabbioni feels like too much when you arrive, walk over here instead. Same water, fewer people.
• Pini Beach is mostly grass rather than pebbles, which solves the foot problem but creates a new one, grass plus suncream plus damp swimsuit equals the kind of mess you’ll find when you unpack at home. The upside is the beach bars right there, so it’s the easiest of the four for a swim-and-spritz afternoon.
• Porto San Nicolo is technically a working port with a small pebble beach attached, sitting under the walls of Forte San Nicolò. It’s the most atmospheric of the four because of the fort, but the smallest and the least practical for a proper beach day. Worth a stop if you’re walking that way; not worth a dedicated trip.

7. Take a boat trip around the lake

Lake Garda has a string of beautiful little towns along its shores, and the best way I found to see a few of them in a day was by boat. You’d think the towns would be the highlight; for me, the boat ride between them was.

We went with Speedy Gonzale, who run two routes from Riva to Girolago and the North Lake Garda tour. We took the latter, which is six hours all-in and stops at Malcesine and Limone, with about two hours in each. Two hours is enough. Both towns are small and walkable, and on a weekend they’re busy enough that more time would mostly mean more crowd.

The boat ride itself is what surprised me. From the water you see things the road can’t show you, the cliffs that drop straight into the lake, small castles built into the rock, stretches of shoreline with no buildings at all. The mountains look completely different from below, and you pass close enough to the windsurfers that you can hear the snap of their sails when they cut across the wake.

Of the two towns, Limone was the one I’d go back to. Malcesine has the more famous castle and the cable car up Monte Baldo, it’s the bigger draw, and accordingly the busier one. Limone is built into the cliff face on terraces, with old stone lemon houses still visible above the town. It’s smaller, steeper, and it kept hold of more of its character on a busy Saturday than Malcesine did. Go up to the lemon groves if you have time, the view back down at the lake from there is the one you’ll remember.

If you want to compare options, three other reputable operators run from Lake Garda:

• Garda Express – their boat goes between Malcesine and Limone
• Garda Tours – they offer tours of the Sirmione peninsula and the island of Garda. They also provide private tours
• Bertoldi Boats – they offer an extensive list of private tours, but they are on the more expensive side. Ideal for a romantic date or sightseeing if you have the budget.

8. Clock Tower / Torre Apponale

Torre Apponale (the clock tower) is one of Riva del Garda’s most historical attractions. Situated in the main square of Riva del Garda, it is an iconic landmark of the town, dating back to the 13^th century.

For a small fee, you can climb the 165 steps to the bell tower at the top for panoramic views. It is one of the best attractions in Riva del Garda, you get a birdseye view of the piazza

If you are at the top of the hour you will experience the loud chimes from the bell tower. I personally was not aware of this and almost passed out from the noise *facepalm* thankfully I lived to spread the word.

9. Ride The Glass Funicular To The Bastione

You might find yourself on Riva’s main piazza wondering what on earth this glass box is on the side of the mountain. No, it’s not a torture chamber, designed to make guests internally combust from the hot Italian sun! I mean that is close, but it’s actually just a glass funicular to the Bastione.

What the funicular takes in sweat it more than makes up for in views! Once you reach the Bastione you will be rewarded with beautiful views of Riva del Garda and you can explore the remains of the well-preserved Bastione.

There is also the Bastione Lounge & restaurant, which serves a menu of classic Italian dishes and seafood with panoramic views of Lake Garda. It would make the perfect date night spot, watching the sun go down over Lake Garda. Ah, how romantic!

10. MAG Museo Alto Garda

The next thing to do in Riva del Garda is for the history buffs. One of the best ways to learn about the history of Riva del Garda is by visiting MAG Museo Alto Garda.

Home to contemporary art and artefacts, this museum showcases both Italian and international artists through paintings, sculptures and photography.

Visiting here to take shelter on a rainy day, I was pleasantly surprised, not normally a museum lover I ended up enjoying the historical paintings of Riva del Garda, and witnessing how much it has changed over the years (spoiler, it has changed a lot).

11. Visit Reptiland (Riva’s reptile museum)

Amongst the restaurants, boutiques and picturesque piazza is a… reptile museum! Equally random as it is fun, Reptiland is full of scary snakes and spiders. Many snakes were very active some were eating and others were moving around their cage. There are some pretty cool snakes here and each cage offers a few facts about its inhabitants including which ones are toxic, making it an interesting visit.

Although it is quite small, Reptiland is a fun kid friendly attraction in Riva del Garda, although albeit slightly random.

Did you know that Riva del Garda is home to several species of snake! There are 2 venomous – European Asp Viper & Horned Viper; along with the non venomous European Whip, Grass Snake and Aesculapian Snake. But don’t worry, they will most likely be on the hiking trails and tend to avoid humans.

12. Gardaland Amusement Park

Gardaland Resort is Italy’s number 1 amusement resort, comprising of Gardaland Amusement Park, Legoland Waterpark, Sealife Aquarium, and three themed hotels. It is operated by the same guys behind Alton Towers in the UK, Merlin Entertainments.

Located only 90 minutes from Riva Del Garda, this amusement park is one of the most fun day trips from Riva del Garda.

There are a total of 32 rides, including seven roller coasters. My favourites are Fuga da Atlantide (the biggest log ride in the park), I Corsari: la vendetta del fantasma (a 4D ghost ship), and Flying Island (a spinning platform that takes you up very high, offering amazing views).

The major roller coasters are Blue Tornado, Raptor, Shaman, Oblivion, Kung Fu Panda Master, Mammut, and the kid-friendly Ortobruco. Other adrenaline-inducing rides include the Colorado boat (log ride), Space Vertigo, and the magic house.

If you prefer a more relaxed day instead of being turned upside down and spun around, don’t fret, there is still plenty you can do, such as the carousel, Flying Island, riding the monorail, trying the jungle rapids (which are not scary or fast), and experiencing the 4D rides Jumanji, ghost ship, and the 4D cinema.

Check this website for constant live updates on queue times for each ride.

The 484 bus will take you to Garda, in Garda you will need to switch to the number 16 bus that will take you to Gardaland. From Riva Del Garda it takes a total of about 90 mins and the majority of the journey is unbelievably scenic.

13. Visit Lake Garda’s Nearby Towns

Riva is at the top of Lake Garda, and the lake is long. There are towns down the western shore, the eastern shore, and at the southern tip that are worth a day trip if you have the time, each with its own character, none more than a couple of hours from Riva by bus or ferry.

If you can only do one day trip and you’ve already taken the boat tour to Malcesine and Limone , I’d add Sirmione to your list. If you haven’t done the boat tour, do that first as it covers two of these towns in one go.

Here are the four worth knowing about:

• Malcesine sits on the eastern shore opposite Riva. It’s the most touristed of the four with medieval streets, a clifftop castle, and the cable car up Monte Baldo all in one small town. Busy on weekends; lovely in the late afternoon when the day-trippers leave.
• Limone is on the western shore, twenty minutes south of Riva by boat. Smaller and steeper than Malcesine, built on terraces into the cliff face. The town is named for its lemons and there is no escaping this, it’s lemon everything, lemon everywhere. Charming if you’re in the mood, exhausting if you’re not. The cold lemon slushies are a saviour in the summer months though.
• Sirmione is at the far southern tip of the lake, about two hours from Riva. It’s a peninsula, not a shoreline town, which gives it a different feel with narrow, almost island-like, with a 13th-century castle at the entrance and Roman ruins at the far end. Worth the longer trip if you have a full day.
• Castelletto sul Garda is the quietest of the four and the least-visited by international tourists. If the others sound too crowded, this is the one. Less to do, but that’s the point.

If you want the longer write-ups — restaurants, what to do in each, how to get there without a car — I’ve covered them in my guide to the best Lake Garda towns to stay in without a car.

14. Dolomites Day Trip

Formed 230 million years ago, the Dolomites are part of the Southern Limestone Alps. This UNESCO heritage site boasts heights of 3,000 metres with 18 dramatic peaks & deep narrow valleys. The highest mountain in the Dolomites is Marmolada at 3,340 meters. Home to diverse wildlife, from black bears, marmots, and deer to eagles and snakes, the Dolomites cover almost 142,000 hectares. The most popular areas are located in South Tyrol, Belluno and Trentino.

I took a full-day bus tour to the Dolomites from Riva del Garda, I wrote a full Lake Garda to Dolomites day trip guide.

Visiting the Dolomites was an incredible and unforgettable experience. Standing on the Pordoi Pass felt like I was on a different planet with the silver rocks and being so close to the clouds.

I highly recommend the tour, it was one of my favourite day trips and one of the most memorable things that we did during our Lake Garda trip.

15. Venice Day Trip

Venice is technically reachable from Riva, but at 200 km away, it’s a 3.5-hour bus journey each way, which means you’ll spend more time travelling than exploring. The ATV bus departs Riva at 7 am and gets back around 9 pm, leaving you about five hours on the ground.

Venice deserves more than a quick day trip from Lake Garda. However, not everyone has the luxury to return to Italy. If you really want to go then this is a great workaround. I’ve written a full 1 day in Venice itinerary covering what to see in those few hours.

16. Verona Day Trip

Verona is the more realistic day trip from Riva del Garda, it’s 220 km but only two hours by public transport. Take the B332 bus from Riva to Rovereto, then a train from Rovereto to Verona Porta Nuova. Buy tickets through Omio or pay onboard.

Once there, the highlights are walkable: the Roman amphitheatre (Verona Arena), Juliet’s balcony, Piazza delle Erbe, and the medieval Castelvecchio. Most people do it self-guided in a day, but if you’d rather not navigate alone, full-day guided tours from Lake Garda include transport and an Arena tour.

17. Bar Gelateria Flora

I blame Flora for my weight gain, I unashamedly came here at least twice per week during my one-month stay in Riva del Garda. With two locations I would be strong walking by one but then when it came to the second I gave in. Why was I so obsessed you may ask? Flora does the most outrageously indulgent sundaes I have had.

Thick and creamy gelato scoops, drenched in a rich sauce, whipped cream and toppings (as per the flavour you choose).Flavours include beuno, strawberry tiramisu, niccolonne, and pistachio, and alcohol-infused sundaes with amaretto and baileys. They even have vegan (soy) milk gelato options. My go to was pistachio, the sauce was served slightly warm which worked so well. Although the portions are huge you probably won’t want to share!

The menu is large with sundaes, waffles, crepes, cannolis, cakes and coffee.

18. Ristorante Pizzeria Leon D’oro

Of all the places I dined at in Riva, Ristorante Pizzeria Leon D’Oro stood out by far. Established in 1922, Ristorante Pizzeria Leon D’Oro is a landmark in Riva del Garda. Family owned by the Salvaneschi family, the owner, who has been part of the restaurant since 1938, warmly greeted us upon arrival.

Seated out on the atmospheric alley, I ordered the north Itallian speciality of risotto with cuttlefish ink, it was so creamy and tasty, don’t be put off by it’s black colour. Other menu highlights include, risotto with porcini and black truffle served in a parmesan cheese basket, veal ossobuco with potato polenta, and large ravioli filled with spinach and three types of ricotta.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many days should I spend in Riva del Garda?

Four days is the sweet spot if you want a real mix, one hike, one day on or near the water, one day trip, and one slower day in town. Three days works if you cut the day trip. Five to seven if you want to do the Dolomites, Verona, and not feel rushed. I stayed for a month and didn’t run out of things to do, for what it’s worth.

What’s the best time of year to visit Lake Garda?

June, July, and August are the warmest, busiest, and most expensive, best if you want to swim and surf, worst if you want quiet. May and September are my pick: the lake is still warm enough to swim in, the trails are empty, and you can usually book accommodation at half the August price. October is beautiful but the surf scene starts winding down, and a few of the cable cars and ferries shift to reduced schedules.

Can you walk from Riva del Garda to Limone?

No, there’s no continuous lakeside path between them, and the road tunnel isn’t safe to walk. To get there, take the RL202 or LN027 bus (about fifteen minutes) or the Navigazione Laghi ferry (about thirty-five minutes). The ferry is slower but worth the price for the view.

Is Riva del Garda the same as Lake Garda?

No. Lake Garda is the lake, Italy’s biggest, about 50 km long. Riva del Garda is one of the towns on it, at the northern tip. People often shorten “Riva del Garda” to “Riva.”

Is the tap water safe to drink in Riva del Garda?

Yes. Tap water is safe across Italy and meets the same EU standards as anywhere else in the country. The public fountains in town are also drinkable, bring a refillable bottle, you’ll save a fortune over a week.

Do I need a car in Riva del Garda?

No, and I’d argue against renting one if you’re staying just in Riva. The town is small, parking is expensive in summer, and the buses and ferries cover everywhere worth going. The only argument for a car is if you’re planning to base yourself in Riva but day-trip widely (Dolomites, multiple lake towns) and even then I’d consider organised tours instead. I have a full guide on doing Lake Garda without a car if you want the detail.

Is Riva del Garda expensive?

Less than you’d expect, and noticeably cheaper than the southern Lake Garda towns like Sirmione. A full-service restaurant dinner with wine runs around €25–35 per person; a gelato is €3–4; a bus to Torbole is under €2. Accommodation is the variable, peak summer prices double, and booking three months ahead saves real money.