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The most scenic Lake Garda hotels for an elegant Italian escape
For where to stay along Italy’s famous shoreline, look no further than our favourite Lake Garda hotels
There’s some stiff competition for the best part of Italy, but the northern lakes are certainly a strong contender – and if you’re visiting the region, you’ll need to know all about the best hotels in Lake Garda.
One of Italy's top holiday destinations, along with Venice, Florence and the Amalfi Coast, Lake Garda is the place to go if you're looking to soak up the natural beauty of the country, along with the glamour of its lakeside towns.
Spend your days cruising the water by boat, calling in at towns such as Salò on the west shore and Riva del Garda, with its backdrop of the Dolomites; or head down to Sirmione in the south to see its harbour-facing fortress. The northern Italian region is also close to bigger towns, including Verona, where you can go on a Romeo and Juliet pilgrimage, Venice and Milan.
The lake’s clear waters are famous – but you’ll also be able to enjoy your hotel’s pool (if you've booked wisely), many of which are perfectly positioned for prime views out across Garda’s shores.
For the ultimate wellness resort, book a restorative stay at Lefay Resort & Spa, where you’ll be able to enjoy state-of-the-art spa treatments and therapeutic programmes that will help to address any ailments, all with a view of Lake Garda through floor-to-ceiling windows.
Classic hotels that are full of charm include Villa Arcadio, Villa Cordevigo and Grand Hotel Fasano; or for something with a more modern makeover, try Locanda del Benaco or Vivere Suites & Rooms.
These are the very best hotels in Lake Garda…
Cape of Senses
New to the Lake Garda hotel scene in 2023 was Cape of Senses, a serene spa hideaway above the shore, near the town of Torri del Benaco, which can be reached via a scenic downhill stroll. Also within walking distance is the village of Albisano, which has more incredible vistas out across the lake from its lofty locale. The hotel has red Vespas and a slick electric Fiat 500 for guests to hire and tour the lake towns in style. First stop should be Garda, which has a towering headland at the edge of the water adding to its beauty and restaurants lining the waterfront. Further afield are the towns of Salò, Limone sul Garda and Sirmione.
I visited in early January and the lake was especially magical at this time of year, free of the summer crowds and with the special light and incredible pastel-streaked sunsets that winter brings. The spa is of course a highlight, with an infinity pool above the lake overlooking the mountains on the other side, a series of saunas and supremely relaxing treatments, plus a peachy-hued library dressed in effortless Italian style. There’s a weekly schedule of complimentary wellness activities for guests, spanning yoga, sound baths, pranayama breath work and sauna-based aufguss steam rituals. You can also sign up for cookery classes, visits to lemon groves or local artisan studios, and boat trips on the lake with a skipper.
Each of the 55 rooms overlooks Lake Garda and has the neutral palette befitting such a peaceful retreat. There are two restaurants, the more casual Osteria La Pergola, open for lunch, and the refined Al Tramonto for breakfasts and dinners of venison and salsify ravioli, monkfish cooked in butter and pumpkin gnocchi with fennel and chestnuts.
Villa Arcadio
Villa Arcadio is as heavenly as its name suggests. The hotel has everything you could hope for from an Italian hideaway, including a terrace with a view, a mountain-facing pool, vaulted interiors and simple but classic rooms with beamed ceilings and polished terracotta floors. The hillside setting also has lake-edge olive groves and orchards.
The pool should see to all of your fitness needs, but there’s also a yoga studio, a Finnish sauna and a running trail winding its way through the woodland. Unsurprisingly for Italy, the restaurant is excellent and gourmand guests will also be able to head to local olive oil producers and wineries for tastings. It's just a few kilometres from the centre of Salò.
Villa Cordevigo
With a backdrop of cypress trees, a yellow-sunlounger-lined pool and, of course, the shimmering lake itself, the joyously sunshine-coloured Villa Cordevigo is an idyllic Lake Garda hotel. It has its very own Michelin-starred restaurant – at Oseleta, Italian food gets elevated and the wine cellar has more than 600 labels to choose from. It's billed as a 'temple to Italian cuisine' so lovers of the nation's food are in for a treat.
The Veneto villa complex has been owned by various counts over the centuries, with the current custodians transforming the noble residence into a hotel. A Renaissance chapel, Italianate garden and a vast vineyard all form the estate, and there’s also a spa offering treatments on a waterbed for even more relaxation than usual.
Lefay Resort & Spa
If you're in search of the best hotels in Lake Garda and a super spa resort, look no further than this restorative retreat. Lefay is one of the world’s leading wellness destinations. Just one look at its spectacular backdrop will be tonic enough – it has a magical mountainside setting above Lake Garda. The scenery is soothing, but you’ll also be able to sign up for entire programmes that will deal with everything from sleep problems to bad posture. The acclaimed spa has floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the lake, seven types of sauna, 21 treatment rooms (plus two self-contained spa suites) and both indoor and outdoor saltwater pools.
With 27 acres of woodland and olive groves, strolls to the orange-tree-lined lakefront of the neighbouring town Gargnano and, of course, that excellent, well-equipped spa, feeling in peak health before you leave is almost guaranteed.
Lido Palace
The mountain-backed Lido Palace is in the lakeside town of Riva del Garda. The Grand Tour-worthy getaway has been eased up to date with a glass atrium, abstract artworks, a neon-lit bar and colourful furnishings. As is the norm in most of the best hotels in Lake Garda, the famous water is on show through floor-to-ceiling windows. The five-star retreat is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World collection.
The Belle Epoque building, which was constructed in 1899, is perfectly placed for evening strolls into town – the grounds lead straight onto the lake-edge promenade – and these northern shores are also popular for sports such as sailing, kayaking and windsurfing.
At Lido Bar and Bistrot, guests can dine on classic Trentino cuisine, all washed down with some delicious local wine, of course.
Hotel Locanda del Benaco
This boutique hotel is in Salò, the biggest town on Garda’s west shore. Hotel Locanda del Benaco is an antidote to all of the grand old residences found among Lake Garda’s hotels – instead, the minimalist design here has more of an industrial accent, making it the ideal hotel for fans of a modern-leaning aesthetic.
The promenade perch means the town centre is easily reached – the duomo, museums and a beach are all within walking distance, and there are hiking paths for something a little more active – but you won’t have to go far for a hearty Italian meal, since the hotel’s Mediterranean restaurant is excellent.
For the ultimate Lake Garda experience, book a room with a picture window in front of the bed, for uplifting views of the water to greet you when you wake up.
Hotel Bellariva
For a hotel in Lake Garda that is a little away from the action, book a stay at Hotel Bellariva, which is in the quieter town of Gardone Riviera, on the lake’s western shores. You won't be far from the action, though, since it's also close to the buzzier town of Salò. There are 23 rooms and eight apartments for anyone hoping to stay for longer – and, with such a prime position on the lake, you’ll certainly be tempted. It’ll be even harder to leave if you’ve got into the habit of nightly aperitivo hour on the veranda overlooking Lake Garda.
Gardone is the perfect location choice to take in the region’s culture, too – the home of the poet Gabriele d’Annunzio is nearby and is now a museum, with an amphitheatre that was commissioned in 1935 but not completed until 2020. Alas, D'Annunzio never saw his dream of a theatre is his home completed, as he died in 1938.
Prati Palai
This charming, adults-only rural residence has just nine suites, which means it’s perfect for exclusive-use group bookings, should you be in search of a Lake Garda hotel for a special occasion. Prati Palai is part of a farm and the estate spans almost 45 acres of gardens, woodlands and olive groves, all overlooking the lake. Guests can wander in the surrounding meadows, hike the trails through the woods and go in search of the perfect picnic spot. There's also a tennis court and a bowling green, or guests can venture into the pretty village Bardolino (which is just 30 kilometres away from Verona) for an afternoon stroll.
There’s no formal restaurant – the hotel is designed to feel more like a private country house – but staff will always ensure you’re well fed, with salads and sandwiches, all made with local produce.
Vivere Suites & Rooms
This is another Lake Garda hotel for admirers of more modern design, with details such as futon-style or pared-back four-poster beds, partition screens and perfectly positioned lamps. The small-scale stay is in the medieval castle town of Arco, just to the north of Lake Garda.
There are just six rooms at Vivere, which is set a few kilometres from the shoreline. The agriturismo has a veranda overlooking the pool and a living room with a fireplace for the cooler months, and each room has its own garden and private entrance.
The family’s farm produces honey, extra-virgin olive oil and red wine, so you’ll be able to stockpile all the essentials before you check out – or put them to use in your suite’s kitchenette first.
Grand Hotel Fasano
Conveniently located for city dwellers in need of some rural relaxation (or indeed tourists charting a Grand Tour of their own), Grand Hotel Fasano is between Venice and Milan. It has had a while to ease into being one of the best hotels in Lake Garda – the historic stay has been welcoming guests since the 19th century, tempting visitors with its stellar service, palm-filled parkland and proximity to the Dolomites (which makes it the perfect pitstop for both skiers and hikers).
The building was once a hunting lodge belonging to the Austrian royal family. For today’s guests, pastoral pleasures include paddle-boarding and canoeing on the lake, dinners on a terrace overlooking the water, Sothys Paris treatments at the spa and carefree bicycle rides along the shoreline.
Villa Cortine Palace Hotel
In a historic villa on the shores of the lake, surrounded by acres of parkland, Villa Cortine Palace Hotel is located in Sirmione, so it's a good choice for guests in search of healing waters. This resort town on the southern shores of the lake is famous for its thermal baths and medieval castle. The picturesque peninsula is also home to the archaeological site of Grotte di Catullo.
The centuries-old private parkland is studded with towering cypress trees and statuary. There are many romantic places in Lake Garda, but the terrace of the hotel’s fine-dining restaurant is surely one of the most spectacular. Book one of the smart tablecloth-covered spots at the water's edge and enjoy an indulgent evening under the stars.
Villa del Sogno
As with many of the best hotels in Lake Garda, Villa del Sogno has a lot of history – it was built in 1904. The hillside hotel is between Gardone Riviera and Fasano, and both towns are within walking distance of the property. To Fasano, it’s just five minutes on foot and to Gardone Rivera, the walk should take around 20 minutes. Either option will be equally idyllic. The first place to stroll around however is the hotel’s gorgeous grounds, with gardens that slope down the hill to the bank of the lake.
The views of Lake Garda from this grand neoclassical villa are wonderful and best enjoyed out on the lengthy terrace, which is home to the hotel's refined Maximilian restaurant. There's also the American Bar to retire to for a glass of Armagnac, a cigar and a trip back in time. Live piano music only makes the latter even better.
Grand Hotel Terme
Grand Hotel Terme is in Sirmione, one of the most attractive parts of Lake Garda (and there's certainly some stiff competition). All of the communal areas overlook the lake – and the L’Orangerie restaurant has an especially good vantage point, making it the perfect place for a romantic meal. Here, guests can dine on dishes such as trout with a refreshing ginger gazpacho and herby potatoes, and ravioli with ricotta, goat's cheese, spinach cream, confit tomatoes and roasted pecans.
The hotel has its own mooring, for easy access to excursions on the water – practically an essential activity in Lake Garda. There are sunloungers and white parasols lined up along the jetty for sunbathing with a view of the water. The spa makes use of the resort town’s famous thermal waters, with an extensive array of treatments and programmes, and experts on hand for consultations should you require something a little more specific.
Hotel Villa Capri
Nowhere does classic luxury like Italy and for a truly traditional lakeside stay in Lombardy, book a stay at Hotel Villa Capri. You may be a long way from the Amalfi Coast and this hotel's namesake isle, but the shores of Lake Garda are just as glamorous. The stately villa is surrounded by greenery on the western shore of the lake, near the town of Gardone Riviera.
There’s a small jetty ready for boat trips on the water, an outdoor pool with an impressive view and a terrace that’s just perfect for aperitivo hour. For an especially scenic start to your day, take breakfast out on the terrace for a mesmerising vantage point out across the lake to enjoy alongside your cornetti. It's a great Lake Garda hotel choice for golfers, since there are various courses to tackle nearby.
Locanda San Vigilio
Going one step further than merely being lakeside, Locanda San Vigilio is on a small promontory extending right out onto the waters. Its location alone makes it a contender for the best hotel in Lake Garda. The grand 16th-century building has a pool surrounded by greenery that includes olive groves, cypresses and oleanders.
There’s plenty to see and do on these shores, but the locanda is also just a two-hour drive from Venice (and half an hour from Verona, for any Shakespeare fans in search of a certain famous balcony) – plus, it’s close to olive-oil producers and some of the region’s most celebrated wine producers. The hotel has its own harbour for private boats and the public ferry calls in nearby, too.
Monastero Arx Vivendi
Monastero Arx Vivendi is a Lake Garda hotel that perfectly unites old and new – a glass-fronted extension has been added to the exterior of the old monastery, but original details such as the wooden beams remain intact. It has a serene temple aesthetic, with clean lines, vaulted ceilings, arches, pristine white furniture, and lots of calming neutral and grey tones. At the spa, things get even more relaxing, with saunas, a hammam, treatment rooms and chill-out spaces. There’s also a sleek, dark-tiled pool in the grounds.
At the restaurant, guests can dine inside the cloister walls or out in the cloister garden, imbibing wine from local wineries and feasting on locally sourced ingredients. Outside the retreat is the town of Arco, a tonic in itself, set between mountains and the lake.
More Italy holiday ideas:
- A guide to the Italian lakes
Villa Carlotta is a haven to visit in Lake Como
The most amazing ways to experience Italy
Lake Orta is the hidden gem of the Italian Lakes
This humble Puglian town is Italy's prettiest
