13 minute read
Lake Garda
Malcesine, Lake Garda
Offering a taste of the Mediterranean along its sunny shores, idyllic Garda is the perfect ‘lakes and mountains’ holiday choice.
Choose from a wide range of carefully selected hotels in four hand-picked, highly favoured locations, and enjoy a relaxed stay on the sun-blessed shores of this, Italy’s largest, most spectacular and most popular lake. With clear blue waters fringed by stylish, elegant, colourful resorts, flanked by groves of citrus trees or olives, or backed by the wooded slopes of craggy mountains, this is a perfect picture-postcard scene which has drawn visitors over the years.
Lake Garda There is a Mediterranean-like feel to holidays spent on Garda’s beautiful shores, with warm days cooled by the famous breezes, and balmy evenings spent under the stars. Throughout the day, the resorts bustle with life, with the shops and cafés, bars and restaurants all vying for business. By early evening, the streets are thronged with locals and visitors alike enjoying the passeggiata, or traditional stroll. Across the lake, the local ferries ply their way between the resorts, and colourful sailboats and windsurfers hint at more energetic pursuits. Active pursuits Lake Garda’s breezy waters are a mecca for sailors and windsurfers alike, and there are sailing schools offering lessons and craft for hire in each of our chosen resorts. Ashore too, there are plenty of opportunities to leave the sunlounger behind and enjoy some exercise. Walkers, for example, are especially at home on the lake’s eastern shore, with the footpaths and easy trails of Monte Baldo offering stunning views of the lake and the mountains beyond. Cycling too, is a hugely popular pursuit, whether on a leisurely potter in and around the resort, or more seriously for Lycra-clad titans or wannabe Giro d’Italia riders in the hills beyond. Cycles may be hired at a number of places. Rest and Relax Café life, delicious ice cream from a host of gelaterie, plentiful shopping for handicrafts or other souvenirs, or just a seat in the sun on a lakeside promenade, or in a shoreside restaurant enjoying a long lunch, are all happy pre-occupations for those for whom rest and relaxation are the order of the day, while the facilities and amenities at some hotels will mean some won’t venture very far at all during their time here. Discovery and exploration Should you wish to explore beyond your chosen resort, some of Italy’s – and indeed Europe’s – finest cities await you, on excursions to incomparable Venice or Romeo and Juliet’s exquisite Verona. For details about the full range of hotels featuered, please see our website.
Tour Highlights & Inclusions
• Enjoy the choice of four optional excursions to glorious Venice, medieval Verona, a tour of the lake or the Dolomite mountains • The chance to take a Grand Circular Tour of the lake, taking in bustling Malcesine, sun-blessed Torbole, delightful Limone and pastel-painted Riva del Garda • Seven nights’ carefully chosen accommodation at the hotel or resort of your choosing • Return flights to Italy, with airport transfers • A friendly, experienced holiday manager in resort
Lake Iseo
Bergamo Riva del Garda Torbole
Limone
Malcesine
Lake G arda
Verona
Available Apr to Oct 2022 Fly direct from these airports. Prices from
• Birmingham £829 • Bournemouth £859 • Bristol £615 • East Midlands £789 • Edinburgh £825 • Gatwick £599 • Humberside £1,035 • Leeds/Bradford £819 • Luton £655 • Manchester £625 • Newquay £859 • Norwich £959 • Stansted £599 • Teesside £1,145 Personalise your holiday
• Lake Tour (full day) – from £55 • The Dolomites (full day) – from £45 • Verona (half day) – from £35 • Venice (full day) – from £73 Room for Sole Use from £28
Riva del Garda
Milan Malpensa
Bergamo Limone
Lake Garda
Torbole Malcesine Verona
Venice
Italy
Please note: The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour from Verona, two hours from Bergamo and three hours from Milan Malpensa and Venice.
Malcesine, Lake Garda
Malcesine
Bustling Malcesine (Mal-ches-in-ay), on the lake’s eastern shore, its colourful little port overlooked by a turreted castle, and brimming with small craft and windsurfers has been a longtime favourite of Newmarket Holidays’ clients over many years.
The resort centre
The tiny harbour, where several restaurants – perfect for slow, leisurely lunches – look out over the water, is backed by a promenade that in turn gives way to narrow cobbled streets of craft shops and yet more, tucked away, cafés and bars. Visit the Castello Scaligero for splendid views of the town.
Venturing beyond
If you feel the need to escape the town’s clutches, perhaps you’ll head out on the lake – several boats sail between the various settlements – or perhaps board a cable car to the heights of Monte Baldo, which towers 6,000 feet above the town.
Balmy evenings
West facing, Malcesine serves up some wonderful sunsets, which give way to balmy evenings perfect for the nightly passeggiata.
Torbole, Lake Garda
Torbole
Sun-blessed Torbole, also on Garda’s picturesque mountainbacked north-east shore, offers a vibrant café life, a lakeside promenade and of course splendid views of the activities on the water.
The resort centre
With its waterfront houses, restaurants and cafés fringing the lake in a perfect semi-circle, Torbole’s setting has long made it a favourite with our guests, for whom an added attraction is the chance to take in the sight of the serious windsurfers skimming across the lake each afternoon.
Venturing beyond
A gentle 3km stroll along the shore to neighbouring Riva will be enough for many, although the more strenuous walk to Nago, above the resort, with its historic Penede castle and stupendous views, or the well-signed Tempesta Trail on the slopes of Baldo will attract more energetic walkers.
Saddle up
Several beautiful cycle routes lead from the town, and there are places to rent bikes or even join guided tours.
Limone, Lake Garda
Limone
Delightful Limone, on the lake’s northwestern shore, is named for the terraced citrus groves that dot the surrounding hillsides. Limone is every inch the perfect holiday resort, with a lively nightlife complementing the relaxed, sun-blessed days. The resort centre
Impossibly quaint, cobbled streets lead down to a lakeside promenade lined with cafés and tavernas, and to the old port, the Porto Vecchio, which is thronged with visitors for most of the day, and perhaps best visited in the early morning or evening. A museum chronicling the town’s lemon-growing history, and several churches acknowledge the town’s very own saint. Venturing beyond
Just outside the town, north and south, several small ‘beaches’ cater to sunbathers, and in addition to the regular boat service to the other resorts, there are organised walks for the energetic to enjoy. Free, open-air concerts
Look out for these during your stay in Limone. You may be lucky enough to catch an organised evening of opera or an outdoor concert under the stars.
Riva del Garda, Lake Garda
Riva del Garda
The most northerly, and the largest of our selected resorts, Riva is a stylish, elegant town, which served as important port and link between north and south for centuries.
The resort centre
In addition to its fair share of delightful restaurants, bars and cafés, clustered around the harbour, Riva boasts a fascinating civic museum within a shoreside moated castle. Board a ‘tourist train’ here for a relaxed tour, or perhaps climb the town’s 13th-century clock tower for a much more energetic view of things. Venturing beyond
The lakeside promenade winds its way around the shore to Torbole, three kilometres away, with the sight of the windsurfers providing a colourful backdrop on the water. Take to the water
Riva’s busy port is the place to board several boats, not only to visit nearby Limone, Torbole and Malcesine, but, perhaps aboard a fast hydrofoil to the distant southern reaches of the lake.
Hotel Garda Bellevue, Limone HHHH Half-Board from £788 Leonardo da Vinci Hotel, Limone HHHH All Inclusive from £942
A relaxed hotel serving as a welcoming escape, enclosed by mountains, and with beach access and views of Lake Garda. Built into the hillside and a short walk to the centre of Limone, this perfectly-located hotel presents a private beach.
There is an indoor heated pool with a Jacuzzi, and an outdoor pool by a terrace, dotted with sunbeds. A wellness centre offers a Turkish bath, a floating pool and sauna, and a selection of treatments. An indoor restaurant serves regional dishes and cocktails can be enjoyed at the poolside bar. Rooms
130 comfortable, modern rooms feature complimentary Wi-Fi, as well as a TV, hairdryer, mini-bar, safe, telephone and balcony. Rooms with a partial lake view are available for a supplement.
Two outdoor pools within a garden, a panoramic relaxation area, an indoor pool with a whirlpool, and a fitness room are some of the many amenities. There are two restaurants, a poolside grill, and a piano bar. The town’s shops, bars and restaurants are all within walking distance downhill, or use the hotel shuttle bus to the centre if you prefer. Outdoor pools and a wellness centre with indoor pool, sauna, Turkish bath, two Jacuzzis and gym add to the pleasure of your stay. The All Inclusive package includes buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner, non-branded alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks and entertainment dependent on the season. Rooms
With tile or carpeted floors, seasonally air-conditioned rooms encompass TVs and minifridges, tea/coffee-making facilities, safes and a partial lake view.
Hotel San Pietro, Limone
HHHH Bed & Breakfast from £718 A welcoming hotel elevated above the shores of Lake Garda and within reach of the centre of Limone.
Rooms
Rooms have a balcony or terrace and partial lake view. Alexander Hotel, Limone
HHHH Bed & Breakfast from £809 A delightful hotel with 50 rooms, resting close to the lakefront of Limone, with an array of facilities.
A state-of-the-art wellness centre with a sauna, a Turkish bath, whirlpool, and indoor pool promises plenty of opportunities for relaxation. There is an outdoor pool, fitness room, restaurant serving a range of cuisines, and a bar. Rooms
Seasonally air-conditioned rooms have a hairdryer, telephone, satellite TV, safe, fridge and free Wi-Fi. Rooms with balcony/terrace and lake views are available for a supplement.
Hotel Cristina, Limone
HHH Bed & Breakfast from £599 Backed by mountains and facing Lake Garda, this property is set within beautiful gardens and expansive terraces.
Hotel Cristina is spread amongst five villa-style buildings on a hillside overlooking Lake Garda. Two outdoor pools, ringed with palm trees, can be enjoyed, and a restaurant and two bars boast magnificent views of the surrounding area. A shuttle bus goes to and from the centre of Limone and guests can access the beach at sister hotel Leonardo da Vinci. Rooms
Airy, simple rooms, with colourful décor, come with seasonal air-conditioning, a telephone, TV, mini-bars, and tea/coffee-making facilities. Rooms have a balcony/terrace and partial lake view, or a front lake view for a supplement.
Hotel Continental, Torbole
HHHH Half-Board from £879 Enjoying an elevated position, close to the village of Nago, this hotel offers spectacular countryside views.
Less than two miles from Torbole and the lake, yet with very easy access to the resort. There is an outdoor pool and garden terrace, a heated indoor pool and fitness room. There is a reception, piano bar and lounge area, two lifts and two weekly Gala dinners. A public bus service operates to the lake and the hotel offers a free twice-daily shuttle. Rooms
All bedrooms have a satellite TV, telephone, tea/coffee-making facilities, safe, hairdryer and mini-bar. Rooms with balcony are available for a supplement. The top floor terrace, lined with loungers, is the highlight of this stylish hotel. Views across the rooftops to the lake are extremely rewarding. A sleek bar, airy restaurant, and fitness corner with outdoor showers are additional facilities. Free Wi-Fi is available for all guests in public areas.
Hotel Geier, Torbole
HHH Bed & Breakfast from £627 Located right in the heart of Torbole, this well-run hotel, which has recently been renovated, enjoys a wonderful lakeside position.
You’ll find a great selection of shops, bars and restaurants are all within easy walking distance. The hotel has a reception area, small bar, lift, breakfast room and restaurant, which is open to both guests of the hotel and to the public. This leads onto a sun terrace with its wonderful lake views. Rooms
All double bedded rooms come with a telephone, hairdryer, safety deposit box and satellite TV. Superior rooms with a front lake view are available for a supplement.
Hotel Antico Borgo, Riva del Garda HHHH Bed & Breakfast from £683
Positioned in the heart of Riva del Garda on a cobbled street and offering impressive views of Riva and Lake Garda.
Rooms
60 modern and minimalist air-conditioned rooms, with neural interiors, each have a telephone, TV, hairdryer and safe.
Hotel Garda, Riva del Garda
HHHH Half-Board from £970 Part of the family-owned Tonelli group of hotels, this bright, stylish hotel is set just 220 yards from the lake-shore of Riva.
Savoy Palace Hotel, Riva del Garda HHHH Half-Board from £1,089
This popular hotel is set in a quiet area of modern Riva, some 330 yards from the lake, and close to shops, bars and restaurants.
This hotel boasts an attractive outdoor pool and sun terrace, a modern, colourful cocktail bar and lounge, and a sky-terrace with sunbeds. The restaurant serves regional and international cuisine. For the energetic, there are bicycles available free of charge. Breakfast is hot and cold buffet-style and evening meals are waiter-served. There is live music two times per week. Rooms
The stylish rooms are air-conditioned, and offer a safe, hairdryer, balcony, satellite TV and free Wi-Fi.
With shops, bars and a very good selection of restaurants all within the immediate area, the Malcesine is perfect for enjoying all the amenities of the resort. The comfortably furnished lounge/bar area leads outside onto a large sun terrace where the views over the lake are simply spectacular. The hotel also offers its guests a reception area, lift, TV room and a restaurant, where a buffet breakfast and three-course evening meals are served. Rooms
All 190 air-conditioned (typically mid Jun to mid Sep) rooms offer satellite TV, a telephone, safe, mini-bar, hairdryer and a balcony.
Hotel Malcesine, Malcesine
HHH Half-Board from £830 A charming hotel with a wonderful lakeside position, right in the heart of this fine resort.
Rooms
All rooms offer a telephone, hairdryer and satellite TV. Rooms with a side lake view are available for a supplement. This very popular hotel boasts two pools (one heated indoor), terrace, garden, bar, lounge, reception, three lifts and a piano bar. Breakfast is hot and cold buffet-style and evening meals are waiter-served. There is live music four times per week and two Gala evenings.
Three miles south of the resort, this very popular hotel has welcomed our guests for many years.
Situated opposite the lake, close to the smaller neighbouring resort of Assenza di Brenzone, the stylish Drago has a fine restaurant and bar, beautiful gardens and an outdoor pool and sun terrace. Regular bus services connect the hotel with the resort centre and other places of interest around the lake. Rooms
All the air-conditioned bedrooms (mid-Jun to mid-Sep) are located in two separate buildings and all offer satellite TV, telephone and balcony. Rooms with a lake view are available for a supplement.
