The Hotel Lago di Garda is almost as stunning as the surroundings, with fairytale mansions, lakefront Locanda, and vineyard-fringed getaways. Garda is Italy’s largest lake, but it also captivates visitors for a variety of other reasons. It’s as diversified a vacation spot as anybody could hope for, with 160 kilometers of shoreline and more than a dozen towns. These are the best spots to stay along every gorgeous stretch of the Lake Garda shoreline, whether visitors like the mountainous scenery of the north or the sun-warmed environs of the south, home to olive trees and lemon groves.
Who wouldn’t want to stay in a castle from a fairytale? Although Grand Hotel a Villa Feltrinelli isn’t technically a hotel, this peach-hued Lake Garda villa on the western shores of the lake near Gargnano has the feel of one. Elegant apartments with parquet floors and frescoed ceilings, as well as beautiful gardens and an outdoor pool, contribute to the postcard-perfect environment. In the summer, have at least one evening at the romantic fine-dining restaurant and enjoy it on the beautiful patio.
Locanda San Vigilio, perched on a beautiful peninsula protruding into the eastern side of the lake, has wraparound views of blue, exactly the kind of scene they’ve come to Lake Garda for. Until they go inside, the 16th-century villa’s beauty is practically an afterthought; vaulted ceilings, huge four-posters, and smatterings of antique artworks highlight the pedigree. There’s a pool on-site, as well as access to a beach, so it’s ideal for relaxing.
This is a Garda hotel in the countryside, about a 10-minute drive from the lakeside. But don’t let that fool them: in exchange for moving back from the ocean, they get beautiful, rambling gardens, olive orchards, and a setting in a historic monastery. There are lake views as well, but those seeking blue should head to the outstanding pool, which is ringed with plush loungers. The elegant meal is served in the alfresco restaurant, which is shaded by a grapevine canopy.
Enjoy wine? They will appreciate this stay on Lake Garda’s eastern shore, which dates from the 18th century and is surrounded by vineyards. One of the attractions of a stay at the hotel is an expert-led tasting of local Soave and Amarone in the cellar, which is connected to the Vigneti Villabella winery in the Bardolino hills. Over a long and languid lunch, they can put their acquired wine expertise to use at the Michelin-starred restaurant.