Lake Garda’s ferry network is operated by Navigazione Lago di Garda, a public concession that has run services on the lake since 1928. The network connects all major towns on both shores and is the most scenic - and often the most practical - way to move between destinations, particularly in summer when the lakeside roads are congested.
Top Tours at a Glance
| Tour | Duration | Price (from) | Group Size | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lake Garda full-lake guided cruise | 8 hrs | from €80 | Up to 20 | North-to-south route, Riva, Limone, Sirmione landing |
| Limone sul Garda lemon grove and limoncello tour | 4 hrs | from €65 | Up to 14 | Ferry to Limone, lemon grove walk, limoncello tasting |
| Sirmione guided half-day from Desenzano | 3 hrs | from €45 | Up to 12 | Scaliger Castle, Grotte di Catullo, thermal spa overview |
| Bardolino wine and olive oil tasting tour | 4 hrs | from €60 | Up to 14 | Eastern shore vineyard, Bardolino DOC, Garda DOP oil |
Browse all Lake Garda tours → GetYourGuide
The Ferry Network at a Glance
The lake divides naturally into three zones:
Southern lake (below Salò and Garda): Desenzano, Sirmione, Peschiera del Garda, Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Salò. Flat, accessible by train from Verona and Milan.
Central lake (between the shore towns): Gargnano, Gardone Riviera, Salò (west); Torri del Benaco, Brenzone, Malcesine (east). The car ferry crosses this section.
Northern lake (above Gargnano and Malcesine): Limone sul Garda, Riva del Garda, Torbole. Alpine character, dramatic cliffs, watersports.
Types of Service
Traghetto (slow ferry): The original boat service, stopping at all piers in sequence. Comfortable and scenic; the trade-off is time. The full Desenzano–Riva del Garda run takes approximately 3 hours 40 minutes.
Aliscafo (fast hydrofoil): A hydrofoil service connecting main towns with fewer stops. Considerably faster than the slow ferry: Riva del Garda to Desenzano takes approximately 1 hour 50 minutes. Not available on all routes. Both slow and fast services are included in day passes.
Motonave (car ferry): The cross-lake car ferry between Toscolano-Maderno (western shore) and Torri del Benaco (eastern shore). This is the only way to drive across the lake without going around the southern end (a detour of approximately 60–90 minutes depending on traffic).
Current Ticket Prices
Prices verified 2026 and subject to annual adjustment. Check navigazionelaghi.it for current fares before you travel.
| Ticket type | Price (approx.) |
|---|---|
| Full-lake day pass | €34.80 |
| Middle-lake zone day pass | €26.80 |
| Riva del Garda → Malcesine (fast ferry) | €9.60 one-way |
| Riva del Garda → Desenzano (fast ferry) | €19.80 one-way |
| Desenzano → Sirmione | €5.20 one-way |
| Malcesine → Limone sul Garda | €7.40 one-way |
| Car ferry (Toscolano → Torri) | €12 car + driver |
| Car ferry additional passenger | €3.20 per person |
When is a day pass worth it? If you plan two or more return trips, or want to visit multiple towns in a single day, the day pass is almost always better value. For a single one-way journey (say, Riva to Malcesine), a standard ticket is more economical.
Key Routes and Timings
Desenzano to Riva del Garda (full north–south crossing):
- Slow ferry: approximately 3 hours 40 minutes, stopping at all main piers
- Fast hydrofoil: approximately 1 hour 50 minutes, selected stops only
- Frequency: approximately 4–6 departures daily in summer, fewer in winter
Riva del Garda to Malcesine:
- Fast ferry: approximately 30 minutes
- Slow ferry: approximately 1 hour with stops
- Frequency: approximately 6–8 departures daily in summer
Malcesine to Limone sul Garda:
- Fast ferry: approximately 15 minutes (the shortest crossing between towns)
- Frequency: approximately 6 departures daily in summer
Car ferry (Toscolano-Maderno to Torri del Benaco):
- Journey: approximately 30 minutes
- Frequency: every 30–40 minutes in high season (7am to approximately 9pm)
- Note: summer queues can be 30–60 minutes on weekend mornings heading east
Practical Tips
Queues at the pier: In July and August, popular departures (particularly morning services from Riva and Sirmione) can have queues of 20–30 minutes. Arrive at least 15 minutes before departure for fast ferries, 10 minutes for slow ferries.
Luggage: Bikes are allowed on most services for a supplement of approximately €2.10. Prams and pushchairs are allowed free. Large suitcases should be manageable, though narrow gangways can be awkward in busy periods.
Ticketing: Buy in advance online, at pier booths (which have card readers), or at tabacchi shops displaying the Navigazione Lago di Garda sign. Don’t board without a validated ticket - inspectors check regularly.
Round trips in one day: A popular circuit is Desenzano → Sirmione (bus) → Sirmione ferry to Limone or Riva → return by fast hydrofoil to Desenzano. This covers southern and northern lake in a single day and is feasible with an early start. Start with the bus or ferry to Sirmione in the morning to beat day-tripper crowds; take the hydrofoil back in the late afternoon.
Winter services: Services are reduced significantly from November to March. The car ferry runs on a limited schedule. Timetables for the current season are on navigazionelaghi.it.
Combining the Ferry with Other Transport
The ferry network works best when combined with the bus routes that connect inland from the ferry piers. Verona is 20 minutes by train from Peschiera del Garda (on the southern ferry route). Rovereto is 40 minutes by bus from Riva del Garda (the northern terminus). This makes it practical to reach the northern lake from Venice or Innsbruck without driving.
For those arriving by air, Verona Airport (VRN) is 30 minutes by bus to Verona station, then 20 minutes by train to Peschiera del Garda on the lake. Milan Bergamo (BGY) is approximately 1.5 hours by bus and train to Desenzano. Flights to Italy covers the main airport options for Lake Garda.
If you plan to explore the western shore in detail (Gargnano, Gardone, Salò) where ferry connections are less frequent, renting a car in Italy gives more flexibility.
Best Day Routes by Ferry
These are the most rewarding single-day ferry circuits, designed for visitors without a car. All use the Navigazione Lago di Garda network and are feasible with a full-lake day pass (approximately €34.80).
Classic northern circuit — from Riva del Garda: Riva del Garda → Limone sul Garda (15 min fast ferry) → walk the old town and lemon groves → Malcesine (15 min fast ferry) → cable car up Monte Baldo (approximately €22 return) → return to Riva. Total ferry time: approximately 1 hour. Works as a full day with the cable car, or a relaxed half-day without.
Southern lake loop — from Desenzano: Desenzano → Sirmione (ferries and bus; Sirmione pier is a 20-minute walk from the castle, or take the local bus) → walk the peninsula, visit the Scaliger Castle (€8) and Grotte di Catullo (€8) → ferry onwards to Garda town for lunch → return direct to Desenzano by fast hydrofoil. Total time: approximately 5–6 hours.
Cross-lake and eastern shore — from Salò or Gargnano: Take the car ferry from Toscolano-Maderno to Torri del Benaco (30 min, approximately €15 per car) → drive or walk up to Brenzone → take the slow ferry north to Malcesine for the Monte Baldo cable car → ferry back south to Peschiera and return by car or train. Requires a car for the western leg but is one of the most scenic day routes on the lake.
Wine and town hop — eastern shore day trip from Peschiera del Garda: Peschiera → Lazise (short hop, picturesque walled harbour) → Bardolino (wine production town, wineries open for tasting from approximately €10–15 including pours) → Garda town (the town that gives the lake its name, good lakefront restaurants) → return to Peschiera. Feasible by slow ferry; allow a full day.
Practical note on day routes: The fast hydrofoil does not stop at all piers — check the Navigazione Lago di Garda timetable before planning your route. In high summer (July–August), some morning departures are heavily loaded; the first ferry of the day from major piers tends to be the most reliably on time.