With its peninsula shape, Sirmione feels like the perfect place to guard the secrets of Lake Garda.
- Thermal baths.
- Medieval castles.
- And breathtaking views of the surroundings.
Without a doubt, this is the most unique village on the shores of Lake Garda.
Why?
You just need to pay a little attention as you approach it:
A town perched at the end of a narrow strip of land jutting out into Lake Garda.
100% surrounded by water, 2 bridges as the only access points, and a medieval castle, the Rocca Scaligera, dominating the entrance.
What to see in Sirmione
One day is enough to visit the town peacefully and without rushing. Strolling through its streets and walking around the island's perimeter while admiring the views and the peaceful vibes by the lake is a true delight. Enjoy it!
One of the must-see spots in Sirmione is the Grotte di Catullo, olive groves home to the largest Roman ruins in northern Italy.
We knew that the views of the Dolomites rising above Lake Garda from inside the site are spectacular. However, we arrived too late and they were already closing. Make sure you don't make the same mistake as us. Ouch!
On the other hand, one of the biggest attractions in this area is its thermal waters.
Right in Sirmione, you'll find a well-known spa with both indoor and outdoor pools: the Catullo thermal baths, or Aquaria Thermal Spa. They have standard prices for this kind of luxury establishment—meaning they're high. And on weekends, they stay open until midnight.
We didn't try them because an Italian friend (who really knew what she was talking about) recommended another spot. I'm so glad we listened to her…
I'll tell you all about it in the next section. 😉
Around Sirmione
Thermal waters
The area around Sirmione is packed with thermal zones. And among them hides a true gem:
Villa dei Cedri: a complex set within a grand spa hotel, featuring outdoor thermal lakes and surrounded by nature.
Among all the options this garden villa has to offer, the huge lake at 33-34°C (91-93°F) will be the first thing to catch your eye. But then you'll discover small, secluded pools inside reaching up to 37°C or 39°C (98-102°F), waterfalls, caves… If you're looking for cooler temperatures, you'll find options too. And all of it, nestled in the middle of the woods.
The afternoon ticket (from 3:00 PM) costs €20 per person and they close at 11:00 PM every day except Saturdays, when they stay open until 1:00 AM.
Floating on your back in these sulfurous waters in the middle of the night, surrounded by steam, trees, and the starry sky as a backdrop, is one of those movie-like moments you never forget. Trust me, I'm speaking from experience. 😉
Desenzano del Garda
This town is known as ‘the gateway to the lake’ because, besides having a train station with direct connections to Milan or Venice, dozens of boats depart from its harbor to the main towns around Lake Garda.
We stopped there on the way back to catch the sunset, on a Sunday afternoon… The worst decision we made that weekend. The traffic jams getting to the highway were terrible. But that was just poor planning on our part.
The place is lovely and makes for an ideal base camp if you want to explore different spots around the lake without using a car.
When to go
During high season (July and August), I don't even want to imagine how crowded it gets with tourists. Sure, the weather is wonderful then, but you'll have to deal with the crowds and forget about driving around the lake.
We visited Sirmione in the low season, in late February 2014, and thought it was an ideal time. It's true that it's colder and rains a bit more than in the summer. However, walking along the edge of Lake Garda without the crowds is a real treat.
My recommendation? If you can, avoid:
- National holidays (Easter, April 25th, etc.).
- Weekends.
- The months of July and August.
Where to sleep
Since we were getting around by car, we chose to book a cheap hotel with free private parking in Colombare, the town right next to Sirmione.
We opted for the Hotel Mauro, which at the time cost us €69/night for a couple.
It's located in a very quiet residential area. The rooms are simple, without much luxury, but totally fine. The breakfast is super complete and varied, and being able to park and forget about the car was the best part of all.
How to get to Sirmione
By car and where to park
Traffic in Sirmione is restricted to residents or tourists with a parking permit from their hotel. So, if you're driving your own car but aren't staying in town, you'll have to park outside in one of the paid parking lots located before the entrance. I've marked many of these options on the map at the bottom of this page.
Keep in mind that the access road is very narrow and busy, even off-season. So get ready for potential traffic jams.
We left the car at our hotel and walked from Colombare to Sirmione (around 3 km), taking advantage of the fact that the route has a well-marked, pleasant pedestrian sidewalk.
Although you can also take the shuttle bus connecting Piazza Campiello with the Rocca Scaligera in Sirmione for €1. I've linked the timetable below.
Heads up: Even in the low season, it's very common to encounter queues getting on or off the A4 motorway near Sirmione and Desenzano, especially on Friday (arrival) and Sunday (departure) afternoons. Keep that in mind when planning your route.
By boat
You can get to Sirmione using the ferry lines connecting the main towns on Lake Garda.
This option has 2 clear advantages:
- You dodge the annoying traffic in high (and even low) season.
- It lets you admire the towns and the lake from a whole different perspective.
By train
Even though the train doesn't go all the way to Sirmione, the line connecting Milan to Venice stops in Desenzano and Peschiera del Garda. From there, you can catch a ferry or a bus to your destination.
Useful Links
- Outdoor thermal water park: Villa dei Cedri.
- Hotel featuring the Villa dei Cedri thermal park.
- Bus timetable connecting Colombare to Sirmione.
- Fares and timetables for the boats sailing Lake Garda.
- Hotel Mauro, on the outskirts of Sirmione.
- Flights to Italy: Trabber, eDreams, Momondo, and Vueling.
- 5% discount when booking your travel insurance with IATI.
Visiting northern Italy? Then you might want to check out these blog posts:
- Discover Venice in the low season.
- Lake Como road trip.
- Hike to the sanctuary of San Martino with spectacular views of Lake Como.
- Bologna, the city of porticoes.
And remember, if you have any questions about Sirmione and Lake Garda, drop me a comment below. I'll do my best to help! 🙂
Great report. We wouldn't have thought of this destination... but we're taking notes. Thanks!!
Thanks, Ángel! 🙂