Lake Garda family holiday itinerary - the best things to do with kids

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I’ve compiled a Lake Garda family holiday itinerary with the 10 best things to see and do with kids. Lake Garda, Italy’s largest and most picturesque lake, is a dream destination for families and one of my favourite places. With charming towns, outdoor adventures and easy access to exciting day trips, it’s the perfect place to keep the kids entertained – and it can be pretty budget friendly too. Whether you’re exploring fairy-tale castles, riding cable cars up mountains, or visiting nearby cities like Verona and Venice, there’s something for every family to enjoy. So, if you’re putting together a family holiday itinerary – here’s my guide to the 10 best things to see and do at Lake Garda with kids:

1. Ride the Malcesine Cable Car to Monte Baldo

The Malcesine Cable Car is one of the most exciting ways to see Lake Garda, and it’s perfect for kids – the rotating cable car takes you up to Monte Baldo, where the views are breathtaking. You can see lake, the hills and the mountains all at once. At the top, there’s plenty of open space for children to run around, and pack a picnic to enjoy the views. Tickets for the cable car can be pricey, so budget for it in advance – I’ve also seen discounted combination tickets advertised for the cable car and the castle (mentioned below) so check that out if you’re planning to visit both.

2. Explore Verona – The City of Shakespeare

Blending a holiday at Lake Garda with a visit to Verona makes for an amazing trip – it’s a gorgeous city and when we travelled from Camping Cisano San Vito the drive was only about half an hour. If you’d like to get to Verona from Lake Garda by train, the fastest trains from Peschiera del Garda to Verona only take around 13 minutes, so you can be there in no time! Start at Piazza Bra and marvel at the impressive Arena di Verona, a Roman amphitheater similar to the Colosseum. Then wander the cobbled streets to see Juliet’s Balcony at Casa di Giulietta. For a full guide, check out my article: How to spend a day in Verona with kids on a budget.

3. Spend a day at Gardaland Theme Park

If you fancy a thrill-seeking day whilst you’re visiting Lake Garda – then you’ll be pleased to know it’s home to Gardaland, Italy’s largest and most popular theme park. It’s perfect for kids of all ages, with gentle rides for younger children and thrilling roller coasters for teens. The themed areas, water rides and shows make for a full day of fun. Book tickets online in advance to save money, and check out combination tickets too if you’ll be visiting other local attractions, or Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium. You’ve also got the option of Movieland – a smaller theme park that comes highly recommended and is said to have shorter queues.

4. Explore Sirmione and Scaliger Castle

The medieval town of Sirmione is a must-visit on Lake Garda’s southern shore. Kids will feel like knights and princesses as they cross the drawbridge into Scaliger (Scaligero) Castle, a stunning 13th-century fortress surrounded by water. Climb to the top of the towers for fantastic views of the lake. It’s gorgeous even viewed from the outside, but tickets are cheap (adults are €6 I believe) so it’s a great budget-friendly activity if you do want to explore inside. Pack a picnic to enjoy by the lake and make a day of it!

5. Visit Bardolino and the Olive Oil Museum

The pretty lakeside town of Bardolino is a great family stop – enjoy a stroll along the promenade, where the kids can spot boats and splash in the shallow water. We adored walking along the path along Lake Garda in the evenings. (Just make sure you wear some bug bracelets to avoid getting attacked by the midges!) For something different, visit the Museo dell’Olio d’Oliva (Olive Oil Museum), a free attraction where kids can learn how olive oil is made and see old-fashioned tools and presses.

6. Take a boat trip on Lake Garda

Exploring Lake Garda by boat can be one of the most budget-friendly and fun activities for families if you pick your route carefully. If you’re visiting Sirmione and Scaliger Castle (mentioned above), there’s a really affordable Lake Garda boat ride from the area near the castle – you can book a 25 minute boat tour from Sirmione (with tickets around £10 for adults, £5 for kids and under fours free) through the Tiqets website. Alternatively, you could hop on a public ferry to visit other charming towns like Limone or Malcesine – the kids will love being on the water and the journey offers incredible views of the surrounding mountains and colourful towns. Short ferry routes are cheaper, but just as fun, so plan trips between nearby towns.

7. Cool off at Caneva Aquapark

If your kids love water parks, Caneva Aquapark near Lazise is a fantastic place to spend the day. With thrilling slides, splash pools and lazy river, it’s perfect for keeping kids cool in the summer sun. Picnics are welcome at Caneva Aquapark so take your food and drinks with you to avoid spending on pricey concessions. Pre-book your tickets online to save money, children under 1m are free so it can be an affordable day out if you have little ones. You can also get combination tickets to include Movieland too.

8. Day trip to Venice – a magical adventure

Lake Garda’s location makes it the perfect base for a day trip to Venice, one of the most unique cities in the world. From where we stayed in Lake Garda at Camping Cisano San Vito the drive to Venice was about 90 minutes (we then trained the last bit from Mestre train station – you can find out more about in my Venice guide). Or, to get the train from Lake Garda to Venice is about a 2 hour journey so it is a longer trip than Verona but well worth a visit. Head to Piazza San Marco to admire St. Mark’s Basilica, stroll along the canals and ride the Traghetto (a gondola ferry that costs just a couple of euros) to cross the Grand Canal. Find out more with my guide: How to spend a day in Venice on a budget with kids.

9. Visit Parco Natura Viva – a safari and wildlife park

For animal lovers, Parco Natura Viva is a brilliant day out. Located near Lake Garda, this wildlife park has a drive-through safari section where you can see giraffes, zebras and lions roaming free, as well as a walking zoo filled with animals like lemurs, tigers and meerkats. If your kids love animals, then this is a great place to add to your Lake Garda family holiday itinerary. Take a picnic with you, to keep things budget-friendly, as there are shaded areas where you can stop for lunch, and bring a reusable water bottle to fill up throughout the day. You can get combination entrance tickets for Gardaland and Parco Natura Viva Zoo – so if you’re planning on visiting both it’s worth seeing if this can save you money.

10. Swim in the lake

For free family fun, spend a day lakeside and enjoy a swim with the kids. There are grassy areas where you can enjoy a picnic or relax with a gelato, and plenty of gorgeous spots to enjoy a dip. We were lucky to have the lake on our doorstep, just across the road from Camping Cisano San Vito but Riva del Garda (at the northern tip of the lake) also comes highly recommended for a day of lakeside fun. The Spiaggia Sabbioni is one of Lake Garda’s best family-friendly beaches with shallow waters and grassy areas for picnics. Bring some swimming shoes with you – you can get them on Amazon for about £10 and the lake is rocky so they really help!

Where are the best places to stay in Lake Garda with kids?

There are loads of family orientated, budget-friendly Eurocamp holiday parks in the Lake Garda area – it’s a fantastic spot for an Italian getaway. Here are my top 5 picks for the best places to stay in Lake Garda with kids:

All of these holiday parks are less than 30 minutes away from the nearest airport (Verona) so perfect for a car free Eurocamp holiday if you want to avoid driving or hiring a car. Find all the information you need here: Eurocamp Italy: The 5 best Lake Garda holiday parks for families.

When is the best time to visit Lake Garda?

The best time for families to visit Lake Garda is definitely over the summer months or shoulder seasons. We visited in September, and enjoyed lovely warm weather and less crowds than the summer months bring. We adored our stay in Lake Garda with the kids – there’s so much to do – so plan your trip between May and September and hopefully you can enjoy lots of swimming, sunshine and gelato! Just make sure you pack some swimming caps – as lots of holiday parks in Italy require these to be worn when you’re using the pools.

Is Lake Garda worth a visit?

Lake Garda is an ideal family holiday destination, with so much to see and do both at the lake and nearby, and there are plenty of budget-friendly activities to keep everyone happy. Pack picnics, explore on foot and take advantage of free attractions to make the most of your trip without overspending. Your kids will love the adventure, and you’ll create family memories that last a lifetime! It’s one of the best holiday spots in Italy. I hope my family holiday itinerary has been helpful – if you have any other suggestions for fun with the kids in Lake Garda please share them in the comments. For a full review of where we stayed, check out my article: Eurocamp Holiday Review: Camping Cisano San Vito, Lake Garda, Italy.