SPECIAL EXPERIENCES

Rona’s Tips - Head of Order Management at GoGarda

Do not miss the Parco Giardino Sigurita, it is recommended to rent a bicycle or a golf cart to explore the entire park. The name Sigurita means the temple of nature and it is exactly that. Admission costs 14.5€ for an adult and 7.5€ for a child up to the age of 14. The rental station for bicycles or golf carts is at the entrance to the site. Go to the wandering market located every day in a different town on the lake and afterwards visit the different food stations. Purchase a bag of delicious croutons and snack on it by the shore. The market is open every morning from 07:00 to 14:00 and it is located in a different town every day. You can buy clothes, footwear, toys, houseware, food and more, all in Italian style. The most recommended markets are: Tuesday in the town of Desenzano, Wednesday in Lazise and Thursday in Bardolino. All are located on the boardwalk along the lake.

Tami’s Tips – Hotels department Manager at GoGarda

The best shopping experience in quality and in price is at the Franciacorta outlet village, located about 40 kilometers west of the lake. You will find the best pumpkin tortellini in the area at the Antica Locanda Mincio restaurant in the town of Borghetto, on the Mincio River. The town itself is small and fairy-tale like and its magical alleys are a must see. How small is the town? It is not possible to enter it with a car (there is a large paid parking lot at the entrance). Every year on the third Tuesday of June a love celebration for tortellini is held in the area. About 3,500 guests participate in it, about 100 cooks cook in it, about 4,500 bottles of wine are opened during it and about 600,000 tortellini’s are being served in it. If you are there in June it is worth a visit. It is important to know that reservations at the restaurant must be made in advance.

Maymon’s Tips – Resorts department Manager at GoGarda

In Borghetto (see entry pumpkin tortellini) you should rent a bike (about 3€ per hour) and go for a delightful ride along the Mincio River. Treat yourself to quality ingredients at the local Borghetto deli - bread, a collection of cheeses, sausages, wine and more. Along the way you will find countless areas for a picnic on the riverbank, whether sitting on the ground or using the picnic tables scattered along the route. Another recommendation would be a romantic drive, where the wind blows your hair while driving near or around the lake in vintage cabriolet cars

Esty’s Tips – Product Manager at GoGarda

Even if you do not have a sailing license, you can rent a speedboat in the marina of the town of Peschiera and go sailing towards Sirmione, the pearl of the lake. The cost of the sail is about 30€ per hour + fuel. Feel like lying on the lake shore? The best beach to do this at is Punta San Vigilio near the town of Garda. It is recommended to take snacks with you because the kiosk at the beach is very pricey.

Ksenia’s Tips – Contracts Manger at GoGarda

Arrived in Sirmione? Do not miss out on Scalgieri ice cream parlor located right at the entrance of the old town. You should try as many flavors as you can since they are all very good, personally I recommend the pistachio ice cream. I am sure you heard that in Italy you can go into mama’s kitchen and choose your food straight from the pot – you should do so at the Pratello restaurant located in the town of Moniga.

Samuel’s Tips – Managing director of GoGarda

Every Sunday during the summer months, starting at 19:00, the Sunset Party takes place in Coca Beach, in the town of Desenzano. This is the best beach party on the lake. There is a bar, a restaurant, electronic music, young people and also people that are young at heart – it is recommended for everyone that likes to party regardless of their age. Desenzano, the largest town on the lake, boasts a white night every Wednesday. A night where all the shops and entertainment places are open and the atmosphere is festive. It's worth giving up an hour - two hours of sleep in favor of this white night. Take the car and drive to the town of Tremosine located in the west of the lake. Climb the stunning scenic road and do not miss the lake terrace at the end. If you want a delicious dessert, check out the Agriturismo Nai farm and just let them decide for you what to eat. I highly recommend the cabbage stuffed with their cheeses and herbs and the trout and grilled cheese carpaccio. These are typical delicious alpine dishes at absolutely reasonable prices.

Irena’s Tips – Flight Manager at GoGarda

In the nature reserve of the town of Manerba stay away from the crowds. Drive up with your vehicle to the parking lot located right at the top of the cliff called Rocca di Manerba and continue driving to the summit. Trust me, the view at the top will be worth every step towards it. When you reach the top, you will see the amazing view of the entire lake Garda, with the Dolomites mountains embracing it to its north and the beautiful Manerba Bay. The views are even more incredible during sunset and sunrise, but the climb and the view are also perfect at any hour of the day. You should also head to the new Tenuta Canova Winery wine bar of Masi Winery in the beautiful town of Lazise.

Chen’s Tips – Director of Incentive Trips at GoGarda

A day trip to the Dolomites is a trip you do not want to skip out on. The mighty mountain range that surrounds the north of the lake invites you to peaks that touch God (climb by cable car), alpine slides, spectacular waterfalls, river rafting and extreme sports parks. Even if extreme sports are not your cup of tea, a visit to the Dolomites gets you as close to the sky as you ever will be, it is a spectacular and powerful trip. Do not miss this once in a lifetime experience. For those crazy about cars and anyone looking for a high adrenaline activity, I recommend driving 180 kilometers west to a real racetrack. The track is located near the town of Pavia, and it will make all of your car dreams come true with an insane track ride in one of the Ferrari or Lamborghini models after receiving in-depth instructions and accompaniment onsite. You can combine the racetrack experience with spending time in Milan or Lake Como. Unforgettable day.

Ben’s Tips – Chef, Culinary and incentives Tour Guide at GoGarda

It is impossible to end this list of helpful tips and recommendations without referring to the fine Italian wine and cuisine. Every Italian you meet will tell you two important sentences: “A meal without wine is called breakfast” and “if you do not drink you probably have something to hide”. There are many wine regions that are located in the southwest of the lake, two of the popular ones are the Valpolicella and Amarone regions. You do not want to miss out on Villa Serego Alighieri - a wonderful winery and restaurant, they also have a cooking course that can be experienced on site.

The Trattoria Caprini restaurant is also nearby, some say that it has the best pasta in all of Italy. Looking for a great Michelin restaurant? Ristorante Esplanade is a one Michelin star restaurant located in the town of Desenzano where you can enjoy a real culinary experience. There are many more recommendations of great restaurants and wineries and one thing is for sure – you will not return home hungry or thirsty from Italy.