How to Get From Verona to Lake Garda (with Map)

Both Verona and Lake Garda are the jewels of Northern Italy and the top destinations you should have on your bucket list. Verona is Italy’s city of love and the hometown of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, while Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and one of the most beautiful lakes in Europe. The great news is it is fairly easy to get from Verona to Lake Garda even as a day trip. The closest town on Lake Garda is Lazise which is only 30 km away from Verona. While the furthermost town is Riva del Garda located approximately 90 km from Verona.

I have been to Lake Garda at least 5 times so far, and it is one of my favorite places in Italy where I always return. Let’s deep dive into different ways you can get from the city of love to Lake Garda.

Verona to Lake Garda Map

Getting from Verona Airport to Lake Garda

Getting from Verona Catullo (Villafranca) airport to Lake Garda is fairly easy. If you opt for public transportation, there are two options. The first option is taking a direct bus line 482 going once an hour to Lake Garda from Verona airport. With the direct bus 482 you can get to Peschiera, Lazise, Bardolino, and Garda directly. The second option is first taking the Airlink 199 shuttle bus to Verona Porta Nuova train station, and then taking the VR-Garda bus line to Lake Garda. The shuttle service from Catullo Airport to Verona Porta Nuova train station operates daily, at 5.35 am, 6.30 am, 6.50 am, 7.10 am then every 20 minutes until 11.30 pm.

Make sure to check the bus schedules in advance, as they may vary depending on the time of day and the season. The journey takes only 15 minutes and you can buy one ticket which will combine both routes: Verona Airport to Verona City and Verona City to Lake Garda.

3 Easy ways to get from the City Center of Verona to Lake Garda

Verona to Lake Garda by Train

Traveling from Verona to Lake Garda by train is one of the most comfortable and easy options. There are two train stations around Lake Garda, one located in the town of Desenzano del Garda and the other one in Peschiera del Garda.

Desenzano del Garda is the largest resort town located on the southern shore of Lake Garda. It is famous for its antique Roman Villa, majestic Desenzano Castle, and historic old town. From Desenzano del Garda you can easily access other lakefront towns on the southern shores of Lake Garda, such as the world-famous Sirmione and its Scaliger Castle.

Peschiera del Garda is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the cutest towns on Lake Garda. The town is fortified and incorporates five small islands. Peschiera del Garda is famous for the Sanctuary of Madonna del Frassino and amusement parks such as  Gardaland, Gardaland Sea Life Aquarium, Caneva The Aquapark, and Movieland The Hollywood Park. From Peschiera del Garda you can easily access other popular towns around Lake Garda such as Lazise or Bardolino. Generally, the south of Lake Garda is the best place to visit as a first-time visitor.

For more details check out my related post about the best places to stay around Lake Garda.

Verona has a few train stations but the main train station is called Verona Porta Nuova. It is one of the most important train stations in Italy and an important European hub. 

Verona to Lake Garda Train Cost and Duration 

Two types of trains can take you from Verona to Lake Garda: regular trains and high-speed trains (known as Frecciargento, Frecciarossa, and ItaloTreno). High-speed trains cost a lot more than regular trains (double or triple) and the few minutes that you will save on the journey aren’t worth the extra cost in my opinion.

The regular train ticket cost from Verona Porta Nuova to Peschiera del Garda varies between 4 and 15 euros depending on the date and time when you book your ticket. The journey takes around 15 minutes.

A regular train ticket from Verona Porta Nuova to Desenzano del Garda costs around 5-15 euros and takes about 19 minutes.

You can check the train schedule and easily book your train tickets online on the website of the Italian main train company. 

If you decide to buy your train ticket directly at the main train station at the ticket- vending machine, make sure that you arrive at Verona Porta Nuova train station in advance with plenty of time to spare. It is a very busy railway hub and often there are long queues in front of the ticket offices and the ticket-vending machines. 

Verona to Lake Garda by Bus

Taking a bus from Verona to Lake Garda is a very popular and convenient option. Currently, two main bus operators connect the city of love to popular resort towns on Lake Garda such as Lazise, Bardolino, Garda Town, Peschiera del Garda, and Desenzano del Garda.

1. ATV (Azienda Trasporti Verona): ATV operates several bus lines that connect Verona to different towns on Lake Garda. The most popular routes include lines:

• 163
• 164
• 185
• 482
• 483
• 484

These lines provide transportation to towns such as  Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Malcesine, and Riva del Garda. Check the timetable on the official website.

2. Arriva (Arriva Italia): Arriva is another transportation company that operates bus services between Verona and Lake Garda. They offer the bus line LN026 which connects Verona to Sirmione, Desenzano del Garda, and Peschiera del Garda on Lake Garda. The schedules and routes can be found on the Arriva website or at the Verona Porta Nuova bus station. Be aware that bus line LN026 does not go directly to the historical center of Sirmione. Instead, it goes to Via Colombare where you will have to change to a shuttle- bus which will take you to Sirmione old town (Centro Storico bus stop). The ride will cost you an extra 1-2 euros depending on where you buy your ticket. 

Most of the bus lines connect the southern towns of Lake Garda with Verona. If you want to explore the northern shores of Lake Garda you should go to Garda Town. From Garda Town take bus line 484 to go to northern towns Torbole and Riva del Garda. Check the timetables here. Additionally from Garda Town, you can go to popular resort towns  Torri del Benaco, Malcesine, and Brenzone with bus lines 483 and 484.

Approximate travel times by bus from Verona to some of the most popular destinations on Lake Garda are as follows:

• Verona to Peschiera del Garda by bus – approx. 45 to 66 mins
• Verona to Lazise by bus – approx. 1 hr
• Verona to Bardolino by bus – between 45 and 75 mins depending on the bus line
• Verona to Garda Town by bus – between 55 mins and 1 hr 30 mins depending on the bus line
• Verona to Sirmione by bus – approx. 1 hr 11 min

How to buy bus tickets from Verona to Lake Garda?

Usually, it is possible to buy bus tickets directly on the bus, but bus drivers might not always offer this option, and buying the tickets directly on the bus might get slightly more expensive than buying them online or on the vending machine at the bus station. I recommend buying your bus ticket at Verona Porta main station. There are ticket counters and vending machines at the Porta Nova station. Ticket counters usually are open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 8 pm. On the weekends and holidays, the ticket counters are closed.

There is also an option to buy your bus ticket online. You would need to download an App called MoveMe Brescia and buy your tickets there or go to the Brescia website. Please be aware that you will also need to activate your digital ticket after the purchase to make it valid. To activate your digital ticket you need to scan a QR code shown on a display in the bus.

Verona to Lake Garda bus ticket price

A bus ride from Verona to southern towns on Lake Garda costs 3-6 euros per person one way (prices in 2023).

The buses from Verona to Lake Garda usually start from Piazza Bra or Verona Porta Nuova train station. Bear in mind that often, the earliest buses start directly from Verona Porta Nuova train station. 

Verona to Lake Garda by Taxi

Taking a taxi from Verona to Lake Garda is probably the fastest and the most convenient option. The journey to the southern towns on Lake Garda will take around 25 minutes and there is no official set taxi price. You can check taxi apps such as Uber, but the price might vary depending on the time of the day and the season.  Traveling by taxi is a much more expensive option than simply taking a bus which takes up to 2 hours. But taking a taxi will save a lot of time especially if you visit Lake Garda just as a day trip from Verona or if you have a lot of luggage. Below is an estimate of how much a taxi would cost from Verona to some popular towns on Lake Garda.

You can get a taxi from Verona Airport, Verona Porta Nuova train station or simply ask your hotel to book you a taxi or to recommend a local taxi company for you to use during your stay in Verona and Lake Garda.

FAQ

When is the Best Time to visit Lake Garda?

If you want to swim in the lake, then the best time to visit Lake Garda is from May until the beginning of October. The chances will be high that water temperatures will be pleasant and the weather will be sunny and dry. Avoid going to Lake Garda in August and on German public holidays in May. Lake Garda is very popular among German tourists due to its proximity to South Germany and they tend to flood their favorite Italian lake during public and school holidays. 

Is it possible to visit Lake Garda as a day trip from Verona?

It is possible to visit Lake Garda from Verona on a day trip as the closest town on Lake Garda is located only 30 kilometers from Verona. By car or a taxi, it will take you only 20-30 minutes to get from Verona to popular resort towns on Lake Garda such as Sirmione or Bardolino. However, I recommend staying at least 2-3 nights on Lake Garda to explore it and discover its beauty. Lake Garda is surrounded by beautiful mountains and cute little towns with fairytale castles which are worth exploring.

What to Read Next

Best Places to Stay on Lake Garda
Where to Stay on Lake Como Without a Car
Things to do in Sirmione

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