Lake Garda - Malcesine and Torbole

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Malcesine & Torbole

Malcesine is one of the most famous tourist resorts on Lake Garda. Despite the large influx of tourists in the high season, it offers a beautiful village center with the impressive Scaliger Castle from the 13th/14th century. Century, which rises on a steep rock. Above the village is the modern chairlift with which you can go up from Malcesine to Monte Baldo (1700 meters above sea level).

Torbole is just below Monte Baldo and is known for its winds. It is the surfers' Mecca of Europe, with long beaches reserved for surfers. From here you also have fantastic biker trails and hiking opportunities in the Monte Baldo massif.

1. Sights

Malcesine, a medieval village. Colorful houses, balconies decorated with flowers, medieval flair and a mighty castle that already inspired Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. Malcesine is still a unique place with lots of nature, small bays and vast olive groves. Malcesine offers a wide range of activities such as: outdoor sports, bike rental, sailing schools, restaurants and bistros. There is also a lot of culture at the castle and in the museums. There is just as little lack of viewpoints as there is a lack of picturesque photo motifs.

The Scaliger Castle of Malcesine. A visit to the castle offers culture and a magnificent view of Malcesine. In the 14th century, the Scaligeri renovated this centuries-old castle and from the 15th century it was under the control of Venice. Today the Natural History Museum is located on the ground floor. It offers visitors an original and interactive multimedia perspective. Going up the stairs one finds a gunpowder tower built by the Austrians and made Goethe's room. Here the sketches of the lake and the castle drawn by him during his trip to Italy are exhibited. Finally, inside the castle, the way opens up to the 31 meter high tower, which dominates the cityscape of Malcesine and towers 70 meters above the lake.

The small town of Torbole used to be a small fishing village with memories of Goethe. Today it is the Mecca of surfers, thanks to the strong winds here. Although the cityscape is primarily characterized by youthful, sporty flair, it quickly becomes clear that the small village also has another side to offer. You can experience this side of Torbole on the mountain side in the small old town and especially in the Piazza Goethe. Still far from surfers, the famous poet made his first encounter with Lake Garda here, which enchanted him as much as you and for him was like an encounter with antiquity.

The Marmitte dei Giganti, the so-called pots of the giants, near Torbole on Lake Garda present themselves as a wonder of nature. Ice pots up to ten meters deep were created here during the Ice Age by the elemental force of the water. The geological formation of the Marmitte dei Giganti is located on the panoramic road from Nago to Torbole above Lake Garda

2. Monte Baldo

The modern, rotating chairlift takes you from Malcesine to Monte Baldo, up to Tratto Spino at 1760 meters.From here you can go on wonderful hikes.In Malcesine you can also load your mountain bike into the cable car at certain times and have it brought up Monte Baldo.Many beautiful bike trails and exciting downhill descents await you there .A wonderful view is offered to excursionists from the mountain range of Monte Baldo to Lake Garda.From its slopes to the ridges at an altitude of 2000 to 2200 meters there is an incredible variety of plants.

Link: https://www.funiviedelbaldo.it

3. Bathing & Sports

To the south of Malcesine begins this very long and narrow beach, the Lungolago di Malcesine, which reaches as far as the Val di Sogno. Beautiful bathing bay. Swimming in the Lido Val di Sogno and Lido Paina (child-friendly, near Malcesine)

North of Malcesine is the Spiaggia di Campagnola. It is a long free pebble beach below the quay, in the hamlet of Campagnola. The best way to reach this beach is on foot along the beautiful cycling and hiking trail.

Cycle path/hiking path heading north, from Malcesine to Navene. This new cycle route is part of the large-scale Garda by Bike project, a 190 km circular route that will go around the entire lake. It is a great way to enjoy the beautiful scenery along the lake without much effort. From Malcesine drive about 5 km in the direction of Riva to Navene. It is an easy route with no notable ascents. There and back is 10 km.

Cycle path/hiking trail heading south, from Malcesine to Cassone. This wonderful, easy bike path, about 5 km long (10 km return), runs parallel to the lake shore and is worth cycling at any time of the year. There are no significant inclines to be overcome. From Cassone you go back north across the bay of Val di Sogno with the two small islands and after about a kilometer you reach the view of the Castle of Malcesine.

This beautiful cycling and hiking trail off the main road leads even further south from Cassone. From Cassone you can reach Assenza, Porto, Brenzone and Castelletto. Altogether it is about 10 km from Malcesine to Castelletto. From Castelletto to Torri (about 10 km more) the path is interrupted and you have to cycle on the main road for the most part. In the future, hopefully this section for bicycles and hikers will also be completed (as of 2022).

Tamdem paragliding - from Monte Baldo down to Malcesine.

Link: https://www.tandemparagliding.eu

Link: https://www.kitecentergardalake.com - Kite-Surf Center near Malcesine, for beginners and advanced.

Torbole is a dream destination for surfers and those who want to learn to windsurf. But hikers, bathers and others will also find Torbole an excellent travel destination. Starting from the port of Porto di Torbole, a long, beautiful promenade begins with extensive meadows and entertainment, such as beach volleyball, surfing schools and the Busatte adventure park with high ropes course. There is an intense beach life here in summer, with restaurants and cafes behind the beach.

Torbole has a well-groomed, beautiful, long beach. It extends almost a kilometer to the romantic estuary of the Sarca River, which flows into Lake Garda here. The promenade path that leads along the beach invites you to go for a walk. So that bathers do not collide with water sports enthusiasts, some sections of the beach are reserved for surfers. A child-friendly bathing beach is located at Lido Al Cor.

Link: https://www.canyonadv.com - Information about canyoning on Lake Garda. Address: Via Giacomo Matteotti 122, Nago-Torbole.

4. Excursions & boat trips timetable Lake Garda

Line ships on Lake Garda travel north from Desenzano to Malcesine and Riva. From Riva you can return via Gargnano, Salò and Desenzano.

For information on the boat schedule on Lake Garda click here...

The car ferry takes you from Toscolano to Torri in 20 minutes. There is a lot to see on the Verona side of Lake Garda: Gardaland, Colà thermal park, various nature parks and water parks, cable car from Malcesine to Monte Baldo (at 1700 meters altitude), Verona. On the Brescian side of Lake Garda you can visit the beautiful towns of Toscolano-Maderno, Gardone and Salò.

For information on the timetable of the Lake Garda - car ferry from Toscolano-Maderno to Torri click here...

Beautiful promenade from the port of Malcesine to the Val di Sogno peninsula and to Navene - You also pass the small island of Isola dell'Olivo.

The ruins of Castel Penede are a popular day trip destination from Nago and Torbole. From there you have a wonderful view of Torbole, the Monte Brione mountain, the Sarca Valley and the entire northern shore of Lake Garda. An easy hiking trail leads from Nago, past the Austrian fortress Nago, in a few minutes' walk to a small park that invites you to linger with many small picnic benches. This is followed by a short climb through an oak forest before you can enjoy the castle ruins and the view.

Monte Altissimo is part of the Monte Baldo massif and is one of the most popular destinations in Garda Trentino. Hikers are particularly attracted by the impressive view of the lake landscape, which accompanies you at every turn on this tour. Monte Baldo is known for its impressive wealth of plants and flowers, which is why it is also known as the Garden of Europe. You can reach Monte Altissimo from different sides. Here is the description of the trail, starting from a point about 1,300 meters above the village of Nago, which can be reached by car. The hike starts here and runs along the Sentiero della Pace del Trentino (Peace Trail), a path that passes by the most important scenes of the First World War. Parts of the Austrian defenses, such as trenches, tunnels and barracks, can still be seen along the entire side of the Monte Altissimo mountain that overlooks Nago. Monte Altissimo (2,060 meters above sea level) can be reached in about 2.5 hours on this fairly demanding hiking trail.

5. Restaurants

Ristorante al Gondoliere

Very good family run restaurant. It offers very good quality at a fair price.

Address Piazza Vittorio Emanuele 6, Malcesine

Phone +39 045 740 00 46

Vidoc

Excellent food in a cozy, Italian ambience. Cozy places also outside in a beautiful little side street.

Address Via Dosso 3, Malcesine

Phone +39 045 657 00 60

Rest day Wednesday

Aqua

Ambitious cuisine in a beautiful setting. Good value for money.

Address Lungolago Conca d'Oro 11, Torbole

Phone +39 0464 50 51 42

La Terrazza

In the town center, directly on Lake Garda, with a window front with a fantastic view of the beach and lake. Good food in a great atmosphere.

Address Via Benaco 24, Torbole

Phone +39 0464 50 60 83

6. Events

Events in Malcesine:

Ciottolando con gusto. Gastronomic tour of Malcesine, in September
Chocolate Festival, in Malcesine, in September
Blues festival. Music event in Malcesine, in August
Parasplash, paragliding event. Sports event: slide down from Monte Baldo to Malcesine, takes place in July
Weekly market in Malcesine, every week, every Saturday