- Walk on Monte Baldo and take in breath-taking lake & mountain views
- Soak up history at Malcesine's Scaligero Castle
- Enjoy the sunshine on Paina pebble beach
Holidays in Malcesine offer a picturesque tourist town of cobbled lanes, medieval architecture and the ancient Scaligero castle. In fact, churches, castles and fortresses dot the shores of Lake Garda, taking sightseeing to new levels with the beautiful backdrop of lake and mountains. Treat yourself and taste the authentic flavours from the Italian restaurants in this family holiday setting. Malcesine is full of courtyards, gardens, trattorias, shops, gelaterie and bars that create a lively town atmosphere in the summer; great fun for children and adults alike!
Family walking in Malcesine
Set your sights high and take the cable car running from Malcesine to Monte Baldo - a perfect excursion for a summer day, with cooler temperatures and a breeze guaranteed. At the top you’ll find walking and biking trails of all levels with wonderful views over Lake Garda, as well as several restaurants. The range of trails here make it ideal for families, it's easy to find a route that's manageable for little legs, or if you have teenagers, they'll love trying out some of the more exciting biking routes. Mid-way, the cable car stops at San Michele, where you can amble back down to Malcesine on a mule track getting maximum views with minimal effort.
The prettiest town on Lake Garda?
It’s a hard one to call, Lake Garda being so beautiful (and one of Italy’s best loved summer holiday spots), but summer holidays in Malcesine really do stand out from the crowd. Scaligero castle is built on a rock jutting over the lake, with fantastic views all around. There’s the Palazzo dei Capitani near the port - with its waterfront gardens, natural history museum and paintings - the 1200-year-old church Antica Pieve di Santo Stefano, and the huge white statue of Madonna dell’Accoglienze looking over the town (a relatively easy 8km round-trip walk from town).
Lakeside beaches and dreamy islands
Just 100m from the centre of Malcesine is pebbly Paina beach, with lifeguards, volleyball courts, a skate park, bars, restaurants and a beach club. It's a must-do on a hot summer day. Wander up the coast and the beaches multiply; most have floating swim rafts and a pizzeria close by. A few kilometres south of town is Val di Sogno beach, and when the lake water is low you can walk over to Isola del Sogno - ‘Dream Island’ - or even swim to it just 20 metres from the shore. Scuba divers might like to rent gear and visit the boat wreck just beyond Isola del Sogno.
Family days out: exploring Lake Garda from Malcesine
Malcesine is a great jumping off point for visiting the other Lake Garda towns and the perfect town for those who want to explore on holiday. Catch the boat over to the western shores of the lake to Riva or Limone for more ancient architecture and a different perspective of Garda. From Limone, stroll along the new cycle-pedestrian path, which is suspended over the water, hugging the cliffs - this is a really stunning walk an easy route for all ages.
Why book a summer holiday in Malcesine with Inghams?
At Inghams, we do walking holidays differently. With no fixed itinerary, you have more time in your destination and the freedom to walk as much or as little as you like, discovering some of Malcesine's best walking routes and activities at your own pace.
With over 85 years of outdoor travel experience, our holiday packages to Malcesine include flights, transfers, and accommodation, so you can relax and leave the small details to us. Our experts can help you choose the best holiday for you, and our team in resort can give you the inside scoop on how to spend your time away with us.
