Milan and the lakes area in 9 days?

Question

Hi,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Milan, Italy and the lakes (probably Garda) in Mid october for 9 days. We're going to have a car.

Do you have recommendation what we should do?

Thanks,

Idan

Answer 1

We had 9 days based in Lake Garda  (Hotel Majestic Palace in Malceseni (sp?) - can recommend it) back in mid-June.

Enjoyed a night cruise on the Lake which dropped us off for a wander on the other shore.

Drove all round the Lake another day, visiting the other resorts.

A day in Malceseni itself and a couple of days pool side in the Hotel.

There is a chair lift up the mountain, but we missed out on that.

Had a day trip to Venice and another day trip to Verona.

Returned to Verona another evening to see an Opera in the Roman Amphitheatre.

Answer 2

With a car, you have a lot of flexibility. You can easily get around the lake to see Sirmione, Malcesine, Riva del Garda, Limone, Salo, and other towns. Verona is definitely worth a visit. Other places near Milan or Lago Garda that are worth considering for a day trip - Bergamo, the old town on the top of the hill is particularly good. Mantova - good castle, and palace, be sure to see Palazzo Te too. From the north end of the lake, it's not a long drive to Trento - very nice old town with a large, good castle. Venice is an easy day trip, you could drive, but I'd just take the train from Desenzano or Peschiera del Garda. Florence is also a possible day trip 3 to 3 and a half hours by train (each way) from Verona.

The isn't as much in the way of festivals during October as there are right now. Lazise has a honey festival and an  olive oil festival in October and there's the Saint Catherine Festival in Brenzone. One big event in Italy in October is the Eurochocolate festival in Perugia.