Lake Garda and Lake Como

Route description

From Verona, it is a short drive west to Sirmione, a castle town on a narrow peninsula in Lake Garda, with Roman villa ruins at the tip and thermal baths. The old town is closed to traffic, so use the municipal motorhome stopover and walk in.

The Gardesana Orientale road runs north along the eastern shore through Lazise and Bardolino, where a lakeside campsite sits among olive groves and vineyards. At the northern end, Riva del Garda lies below steep mountain walls, popular with windsurfers and climbers.

From Lake Garda, head west to Lake Como, following the eastern shore to Varenna and taking the car ferry to Bellagio, whose stepped lanes and villa gardens stand where the lake’s three arms meet. Car ferries also link Bellagio with Cadenabbia on the western shore.

A lakeside campsite at Domaso, near the northern end of the lake, makes a good base for a swim. The route then follows the western shore road south via Menaggio and Tremezzo to Como. The lakeshore roads are narrow and busy in summer, so allow extra time and check the car-ferry size limits in a large motorhome.