A Guide To Sirmione

Sirmione is on the southern tip of Lake Garda and is often called the “pearl of the lake”. After spending a long weekend there with friends, I can see why.

This pretty lakeside town combines medieval history, thermal spas, stunning views, and plenty of places to eat, drink, and relax. From wandering around Scaliger Castle and exploring Roman ruins to hopping on a boat or simply enjoying gelato by the water, Sirmione has a little something for everyone. In this guide, I’ll share the highlights from our trip and the best things to do in Sirmione to make the most of your visit.

How To Get To Sirmione

There are two airports close to Sirmione: Verona and Milan Bergamo. From Bergamo, you can take a train to Desenzano del Garda and then a bus, which takes around two hours. By car, the journey is much quicker at about one hour. We opted for a taxi, as there were six of us to split the cost, and with only a long weekend to enjoy, we wanted to save time.

The bus is the most economical way to travel from Verona to Sirmione, taking between an hour and a half to two hours depending on the time of day and connections. However, we did find the buses a little unreliable, particularly between Sirmione and Peschiera del Garda. The other options are to book a taxi or hire a car – which is definitely worthwhile if you plan to explore other towns around the lake.

History of Sirmione

Sirmione has been a popular place for thousands of years – and not just for tourists. The Romans loved it so much they built grand villas here, the most famous being the Grottoes of Catullus, a huge lakeside retreat from the 1st century AD. Then in the Middle Ages, Sirmione became a fortified town, complete with the dramatic Scaliger Castle, which still guards the entrance today. Add in the natural thermal springs that made it a popular spa destination, and you’ve got a town where history and relaxation have always gone hand in hand.

Things To Do In Sirmione

Although Sirmione is small, we found plenty to do during our long weekend to keep everyone in our group entertained.

Wander The Cobbled Streets

I had read before going that Sirmione is the prettiest town on Lake Garda, and I can definitely see why. You enter the old town across a bridge and are immediately greeted by Scaliger Castle, the 13th-century fortress with fairy-tale towers surrounded by a moat. From here, you can wander through cobbled streets lined with little cafés and shops to stop in along the way. During the daytime it can get very busy, but as the day-trippers leave it gradually becomes quieter. We loved exploring early in the morning or in the evening, when the atmosphere was completely different – one of the real advantages of staying in the town itself.

Relax On A Beach

There are several beaches around Sirmione, each with its own character. The most famous is Jamaica Beach, right at the tip of the peninsula near the Grottoes of Catullus. Here, the “beach” is made up of large flat rocks (which can be slippery, so pack some water shoes) and offers stunning views across the lake. There’s also a small beach bar serving refreshments, and you can rent sun loungers if you want a bit more comfort. As it’s quite a walk from the old town, it’s a good idea to combine a visit with the Grottoes while you’re there.

Our favourite spot was Lido Galeazzi, which sits at the base of the Sirmione peninsula. We stumbled across it on our first day and loved the laid-back feel. There’s a beach bar serving drinks and snacks, with the option to rent loungers or simply lay a towel on the grass beside the lake. You can also hire pedalos, kayaks, or paddleboards. We chose the less energetic option of a pedalo and enjoyed watching the sunset with a spritz in hand.

Visit A Vineyard

There are plenty of vineyards close to Sirmione to choose from, as the area is known for producing Lugana wine. We visited a small family-run vineyard called Cascina Maddalena, which offered both a tour and a tasting. Our two hours there began with a short but very informative tour of the vineyard, covering not only the winemaking process but also the family’s history. Afterwards, we enjoyed four different wines, starting with a sparkling and finishing with a lovely red. To accompany the tasting, we were served local meats, cheeses, and jam with a selection of fresh bread. The whole experience was perfect – we loved the wines so much that we left with a bottle to enjoy later.

Relax At The Thermal Spa

Not only does Sirmione have an impressive castle, charming cobbled streets, and relaxing beaches, it also boasts a spa with stunning lake views. You can book a full day or a two-hour slot to enjoy soaking in warm outdoor pools overlooking Lake Garda, unwinding in saunas and steam rooms, or indulging in treatments. The spa makes the most of the town’s natural thermal springs, which are rich in minerals and long believed to have healing properties. The perfect afternoon activity after a morning of exploring the rest of Sirmione.

Take A Boat

The old town of Sirmione is where you’ll find the ferry port, making it easy to hop on a boat and explore nearby towns. We tried using the bus to get to Peschiera del Garda but found the system tricky to navigate and not very reliable, so we opted to take the ferry back instead – a much more straightforward option. Boats run from the ferry port to a range of towns, but it’s important to check the timetable as they are not always frequent.

From Sirmione, it’s easy to reach Desenzano and Peschiera, as they’re both close by. Ferries run roughly every hour from about 8am until 7pm (check the latest timetables here). If you want to travel further, you’ll need to take a fast boat – these are less frequent, so it’s best to plan your journey carefully. We visited Salò, which is beautiful and well worth the trip; the fast boat took 40 minutes, compared to nearly 1 hour 20 minutes on the slow service.

If you don’t feel like visiting another town, you can also take a boat tour around the peninsula, which offers a completely different perspective of Sirmione from the water.

Sunset Cocktails

Just outside the old town, we found the perfect spot for sunset cocktails before heading in for dinner. Barracuda doesn’t look like much from the outside, but at the back there’s a deck over the lake with a handful of tables perfectly positioned for sunset views. The waiter even let us connect to the speaker and play our own music. The espresso martinis were excellent, the service was friendly, and the setting was simply perfect.

Where To Eat In Sirmione

Sirmione has plenty of places to eat from tiny little trattorias to larger restaurants with tables spread across the piazza. All the food we had while we were there was delicious, but here are some of our favourites.

Terrazza Belvedere

Terrazza Belvedere is a perfect lunch spot with a chilled-out atmosphere, an elevated terrace, and beautiful lake views. The restaurant sits between the old town and the newer part of Sirmione, close to Lido Galeazzi. All the food was excellent, and the portions were very generous. Some of our group said the salads were the best they had during our stay, and the pizza was just as good.

Trattoria La Fiasca

We stumbled upon this cute little trattoria down a cobbled side street, and it turned out to be a great find. The service at Trattoria La Fiasca was friendly and efficient, and the food was absolutely delicious. There was a good range of pasta dishes, and a couple of people in our group tried the gnocchi and said it was amazing. We treated ourselves to dessert here and weren’t disappointed. There is seating inside and a small courtyard outside, where you can soak up the atmosphere and, most importantly, enjoy a bit of people-watching.an soak up the atmosphere and more importantly people watch.

Ristorante Caruso

Ristorante Caruso is not far from the port and has a lovely large terrace with views over the lake. We visited in the evening, but I think it would also be a beautiful spot for lunch, when you can fully appreciate the view. The food was excellent, with a wide selection ranging from traditional pasta dishes to lake fish, all of which were well cooked and tasty. I had the seafood pasta, which came loaded with mussels, prawns, white fish, and even half a crab on top.

Why We Loved Sirmione

Sirmione is truly beautiful. From its cobbled streets and medieval castle to thermal spas, vineyards, and sunset cocktails by the lake, it has the perfect mix of charm and variety. Staying overnight let us see a quieter, more authentic side of the town that most day-trippers miss – and that made the trip feel even more special. With its easy access from the airports and its ideal location for exploring the southern shores of Lake Garda, Sirmione makes a fantastic base for a long weekend or a short getaway. If you’re planning a trip to Lake Garda, don’t just pass through Sirmione – stay a while and soak it all in.