Maderno and Bardolino, Lake Garda, Italy

Maderno, Lake Garda

Maderno is absolutely breathtaking.  The campsite is nestled between the Mountains behind us and the snow-capped mountains on the other side of the Lake.  Just taking in the views over the lake was so peaceful and relaxing.

Campsite details for the following areas are listed separately here

As with most of the campsites on Lake Garda, we could walk or cycle along the flat path beside the waterfront from outside the campsite into the nearest towns.   The town of Maderno is tiny & quiet, with not much in the way of shops, just a couple of bars and restaurants on the lakefront.  Nevertheless, the marina is stunning. There is a ferry that leaves regularly from Maderno to the other side of the Lake.

The pool, bar, and shop were closed at the campsite, as it was still early in the season. There were a lot of touring vans with awnings that had been left out all winter, which made the site look a bit tatty.

After a couple of days, we travelled around to the other side of the lake to Bardolino.  We passed through Riva del Garda, which looked nice and might be worth visiting on our next trip to the lakes.  The views on the drive around were again stunning.

The location of the next campsite was perfect.  Stepping outside the site, the views over the lake were again beautiful, and a lovely promenade took you into the town of Garda.  Turning out of the site in the other direction is the lovely town of Bardolino and other small towns.

Garda Town

This is the capital of the lake, and it is very easy to see why so many people come here.  It is situated in a vast, sheltered bay with dramatic hills and mountains rising behind it.  It has a very attractive lakefront area and further around the bay a large beach area (ok, you can’t build sandcastles as it is made up of little white pebbles, but you do find people sunbathing on it)

The main attraction is the lakeside promenade, which is traffic-free and where the heart of the town lies.  The hotels, ice cream parlours, shops, bars and cafes all spill out onto the pavement.

There are lots of lakeside dining here, and we had a meal watching the sunset.  Another afternoon, we sat relaxing with a coffee at a lakeside restaurant.  The area was buzzing with boats and ferries arriving and leaving.

There are plenty of lovely shops in the quaint, narrow streets leading up from the lake, which have lots to offer.  One Saturday afternoon, there was a beautiful market (not selling the usual tat) but selling crafts and speciality foods.  The stallholders were dressed in traditional dress.

We found that Garda was a great place to stay and could be used as a base to visit some of the other towns, including the cable car to Malcesine.   It is an excellent place for families, as Gardaland, Movieland, and Aqua Paradise Park are all relatively nearby. Some of the theme parks run complimentary buses in the summer.     The beautiful towns of Sirmione and Verona are not too far away from here either.

One place we didn’t get to see this time, but will make sure to visit next time, is Lazise, a medieval walled town with an attractive harbour area.

The thing I loved about the lake was how easy it was to get around from the campsites to the towns and villages, as the whole lakeside area is very flat, which is excellent for walking and cycling along the lakeside path.

Bardolino

Bardolino was located in the opposite direction outside the campsite and had a picturesque shoreline with numerous interesting streets to explore.  The town is situated South of Garda Town and North of Lazise.  It is best known for the wine produced from grapes grown on the surrounding hillsides.

There is an endless array of cafes and restaurants all around. You can eat right at the water’s edge and enjoy the lovely lake view while eating your meal.  Bardolino is a real town, and the local Italians also shop in Bardolino, so you will find some serious shops.

There are shops selling everything from leather briefcases to inevitable sunglasses, beach towels, and designer clothing. – Some lovely shoe shops and bag shops as well.

There is a market every Thursday morning in Bardolino, where, among other things, wine and oil can be purchased directly from the producers.  We loved both Garda and Bardolino.