Lake Garda by bike with the family

Family Cycling Holidays in Northern Italy: Lake Garda by Bike

This cycling holiday was designed with children in mind. Cycling Lake Garda is a magnificent playground for young and old alike. So, set off each day to explore the region with complete peace of mind. Whether on the lakeshore or in the Mincio Valley, visit towns with surprising heritage, appreciate the charm of authentic villages, and enjoy Italian gastronomy. Enjoy your meal!

Highlights of the stay:

• The magnificent lakeside towns of Garda, Peschiera, Bardolino, and Sirmione
• Mantua, "the sleeping beauty"
• The tortellini of Valeggio
• Parco Giardino Sigurtà - remarkable natural park

Day 1: Peschiera del Garda

Settle into your accommodation for the week.

Day 2: Excursion to Solferino (45 km / + 375 m)

This first day of cycling takes you through orchards and vineyards. This region primarily cultivates the Lugana grape variety, which produces dry but fruity white wines. Solferino, your destination for the day, is famous for being the site of the battle (1859) that ended the Second Italian War of Independence. Along the route, you can visit magnificent historic castles: Monzambano, Castellaro Lagusello, Pozzolengo, or Ponti sul Mincio.

Day 3: Mantua, Borghetto, and Sigurtà Park Loop (45 km / + 270 m)

A private transfer will take you and your bike to the enchanting Renaissance city of Mantua. The capital of the province of Mantua was once ruled by the Gonzaga family and is now considered by many Italians to be the "sleeping beauty." You'll leave the city along the Mincio River to reach the hamlet of Borghetto. This village is listed as one of the "most beautiful villages in Italy" and is renowned (along with the neighboring village of Valeggio) for its delicious tortellini.

The highlight of the day is the Sigurtà Botanical Garden. The park covers nearly 600,000 m² and includes 18 ponds, meadows, a labyrinth, a medicinal plant garden, 30,000 roses, a 400-year-old oak tree, and an educational farm.

Day 4: Discovering Garda (25 km / + 200 m)

This morning, you'll sail by ferry to Garda, the small village that gave its name to the lake. Return to your starting point by taking the road that runs along the lake and offers beautiful views all the way to Bardolino, a town renowned for its red wines. Before returning to Peschiera del Garda, you can take a short detour to Lazise, ​​a lakeside village with incredible charm. You'll also pass through an area well-known for its amusement parks.

Day 5: Sirmione Loop (45 km / + 310 m)

Today's route begins in the hills south of Lake Garda, passing through San Martino della Battaglia, which, like Solferino, was the site of a battle during the Italian War of Independence. You'll reach the lakeshore in Sirmione, one of the most picturesque towns. An imposing castle with fortified towers and ramparts protects the entrance to the medieval town. Don't miss a visit to the "Grotte di Catullo," the ruins of a Roman villa dating back to antiquity (built between 100 BC and 100 AD) and offering a magnificent panoramic view of the lake.

Day 6: Peschiera del Garda

End of the tour after breakfast.

General Information:

• 6 days and 5 nights
• Accommodation comfort level: 3* hotel (local standards)
• Child rate = €270. Conditions below:
  • Between 3 and 14 years old
  • Sleeping in a triple or quadruple room with two paying adults
  • Maximum 2 children per room in addition to the two adults

Dates 2026:

Departures on Sundays from April 5 to October 11.

• Low season: departures from April 5 to May 24 inclusive
• High season: departures from May 31 to September 13 inclusive

Note: The seasonal supplement does not apply to children between 3 and 14 years old sleeping with two paying adults in a triple or quadruple room.

Included:

• 5 nights with breakfast
• Transfer from Pesciera to Mantua with bikes on day 3
• Ferry from Peschiera to Garda with bikes on day 4
• GPS app
• Telephone assistance 7/7

Not included:

• Tourist taxes to be paid locally (approximately €8)
• Visits
• Lunches and dinners
• Anything not listed in "included"
• Transport to the departure point

Options:

• Electric bike or hybrid bike rental
• Children's equipment rental:
  • Children's bikes (20" or 24")
  • Follow Me (with 20" bike)
  • Family tandem (1 adult + 1 child between 6 and 8 years old)
  • Trailer and child seat
• Helmet rental
• Extra nights at the beginning or end of the tour (minimum 2 nights, on request)
• Bike theft insurance (for rented bikes)
• Cancellation insurance Comprehensive

Level:

1 2 3 4 5 6

Terrain:

• Route mainly on secondary roads, with some sections on cycle paths.
• Slightly hilly route with uphill and downhill sections, but no long climbs.

Climate:

Hot and dry summers. June and September are the most pleasant months.

Technical Requirements:

• Cycling: 25 to 45 km per day, or approximately 4 hours of cycling.
• Partially marked route.

Bibliography:

Cycling maps and guides in Italy at cartovelo.fr

Extra Nights:

You can book additional nights at the beginning of the tour (minimum 2 nights, upon request).

Meals:

• Breakfasts: Continental and hearty.
• Lunch: Not included.
• Dinner: Not included.

Biking:

• Rental Bike: If you rent a bike, it will be provided. Return to the first hotel on the day of arrival. At the end of the tour, you must leave this bike at the last hotel and notify reception.
• Personal bike: We do not recommend bikes with small tires. Hybrid bikes and mountain bikes are excellent. Remember to service your bike before leaving. At the end of the tour, you will be responsible for your own bike.

Assistance:

Assistance in case of breakdown (except for punctures).

Travel book:

You will receive your travel book by mail before your departure, along with vouchers and access to the GPS application.

Note:

For organizational reasons or weather conditions, the itinerary may be subject to changes before and/or during your stay. These may be temporary diversions caused by roadworks; in this case, please follow the directions on site.

In the event of a strike, adverse weather conditions, technical failures, safety issues, or any other reason preventing the ferry from departing, the ferry company may delay, cancel, or divert navigation without notice. In the event of cancellation, the ferry service will be replaced by other means of transport, usually by bus.

Transport:

• By car: Pesciera del Garda is approximately 1,100 km from Paris, or nearly 11 hours.
• By plane: Verona Airport is the closest. Milan or Venice airports are slightly further away.

Cancellation insurance :

In order to guarantee the reimbursement of costs in the event of cancellation of your stay, you can take out cancellation insurance. To learn more about insurance, click here.