Limone sul Garda and Riva del Garda in a day: the northern shore guide

Limone sul Garda and Riva del Garda work well as a single day trip if you base yourself on the southern shore: about an hour and ten minutes by car gets you to Limone, and Riva sits a short drive further, over the border into Trentino. A typical day combines Limone's lemon houses, a stretch of the cliffside cycle path, Riva's old town and Bastione fortress, and the Varone waterfall just outside the city. It's doable without an overnight stay, but parking and ZTL restrictions here are stricter than elsewhere on the lake, so plan ahead.

Why the northern shore deserves a full day

The landscape changes noticeably as you head north: mountains drop almost straight into the water, the road narrows between tunnels and rock outcrops, and the mild microclimate that once made lemon cultivation possible is still noticeable in the air. Limone and Riva are two distinct towns - one in Lombardy, one in Trentino - but the suspended cycle path running from Limone towards the regional border, on cantilevered platforms over the lake, has turned this stretch into one destination.

From Desenzano, Limone sul Garda is about 53 km and roughly 1 hour 11 minutes by car. Riva del Garda is further: about 93 km and roughly 1 hour 12 minutes via the western coastal road. Set off early and treat this as a full-day outing.

Limone sul Garda: lemon houses, the old town and the suspended cycle path

Limone's old town climbs in narrow terraces between the lake and the mountainside, with steep alleys and colourful houses. Citrus growing was the town's main activity for centuries, thanks to the limonaie - lemon houses built with stone pillars, closed off in winter with glass panes and wooden shutters to protect the trees from frost.

La Limonaia del Castel: history and visit

La Limonaia del Castel, open to the public since 2004, is Limone's best-preserved and most visitable lemon house, a short walk from the old town following the ceramic signs through the alleys. The visit lasts about 30 minutes and covers lemons alongside citrons, grapefruit, mandarins, chinotto, clementines and kumquats, with information panels on the crop's history. Entry is 2 euros, free for children under 10. Opening hours for 2026 vary by season: weekends only, 10am-5pm, from January to mid-March; 10am-6pm from late March to late May; 10am-10pm from late May to late September; and 10am-6pm in autumn.

Local tip: the lemon house is noticeably quieter between 10 and 11am, before the coach groups arrive, which typically happens between 11.30am and 1pm.

The cliffside cycle path over the lake

The most photographed stretch of the northern shore is the cycle path starting at Capo Reamol, just north of Limone, running 2.5 km to the Trentino border at Pescarol. It's a cantilevered structure fixed to the rock face, suspended around 50 metres above the lake, built in concrete, wood and steel, open since July 2018. You can walk or cycle it 24 hours a day, with LED lighting after dark.

Avoiding the crowds: the most dramatic section is the middle stretch, where the cliff drops straight into the water. Early morning, before 9am, or after 6pm are the best times: fewer people, more bearable temperatures, since the concrete structure holds the heat through the day. Anyone without a bike can rent one in Limone: e-bike rental runs at roughly 20 euros for half a day, 30 euros for a full day, and car parking near the path costs around 2.50 euros for the first hour. The bus from Riva to Limone costs about 1.90 euros one way, useful for a one-way walk.

Riva del Garda: the Bastione, the Varone waterfall and the old town

Riva del Garda sits at the lake's northernmost tip, in Trentino, at the foot of Monte Rocchetta. The old town preserves the Torre Apponale, Piazza III Novembre facing the water, and the Bastione, a Venetian-era fortification overlooking the gulf.

The Bastione and the view from above

The Bastione is reached by a panoramic lift from the town centre: a single ride costs about 6 euros, return about 9 euros, and children under 120 cm travel free. It runs 10am-7pm on weekdays and until 11.30pm at weekends and in high season. From here, trail 404 leads in about an hour to the church of Santa Barbara, at roughly 600 metres of elevation, with a view few visitors reach.

The right time to go: heading up an hour before sunset is probably the best experience of the day, with soft light and the midday crowds gone. Avoid the noon-3pm window in high summer, when the trail to Santa Barbara turns into an exposed climb with no shade.

Varone waterfall

A few minutes outside Riva, in the municipality of Tenno, the Varone waterfall drops nearly 100 metres through a gorge carved by the Magnone stream, viewable from walkways and tunnels cut into the rock. A single ticket is 6 euros, with a discounted family rate of 22 euros for 2 adults and 2 children. Opening hours for 2026: 10am-5pm in January, February, November and December; 9am-5pm in March and October; 9am-6pm in April and September. Closed 25 December.

Practical tip: the gorge stays damp and cool year-round, so a light jacket avoids the temperature shock on the way out. The walkways narrow in places, less suited to pushchairs.

Getting there, parking and ZTL rules

The northern shore is the part of the lake where parking and ZTL restrictions really do decide whether your day feels relaxed or spent circling for a space. It's worth planning this part before you set off. Prices below are indicative and worth confirming on-site, since local tariffs can change seasonally.

• Getting to Limone from Desenzano: follow the SS45bis Gardesana Occidentale along the Brescia shore, about 53 km and 1h10-1h15 depending on traffic. The road is scenic but narrow, with single-lane tunnels: on July and August weekends, queues between Gargnano and Limone are common.

• ZTL in Limone sul Garda: covers the whole old town, from the harbour along Lungolago Marconi up to the streets leading to the lemon houses. Parking without a permit is prohibited and enforced. The most convenient paid parking is the multi-storey on Via Caldogno (about 3.50 euros for the first hour) and the Marconi/Nannini area just outside the centre.

• The local workaround for Limone: the Baltera car park, above the town, sits outside the ZTL and costs roughly 3 euros a day, with a free shuttle into the centre - a real time-saver, especially in August.

• ZTL in Riva del Garda: active across the old town 24 hours a day, all year round, enforced by cameras. Without a permit, you'll need to leave the car outside the perimeter.

• Where to park in Riva: the Monte Oro car park, near the Bastione, is open 24 hours a day and about 300 metres from the old town entrance - the best compromise, since more central car parks often fill up during summer peak hours.

• The stress-free alternative: a private transfer to Limone sul Garda removes the parking and ZTL problem entirely: the driver drops you right at the entrance to the old town, no searching for a space and no risk of a fine.

Tips from someone who knows the northern shore

In Limone, walking south along Lungolago Marconi, away from the main harbour, gives a quieter view of the lemon house terraces above. In Riva, the pier near the Torre Apponale, where the wind usually drops in the last hour of light, offers a smaller-scale sunset than the standard shot from the Bastione. Cyclists on the suspended path can continue to the Trentino border, where a viewing platform commemorates the workers who died building the old state road - a quiet spot with one of the widest views over the gulf.

To skip the narrow roads, parking and ZTL altogether, a private tour around Lake Garda with BookTaxi covers Limone and Riva in a single guided day. The service is also available for travellers flying in and starting directly from Verona airport.

For information and bookings, call +39 320 711 4543 or message on WhatsApp +39 320 444 3000, available 24 hours a day. Rates and details are on the info and rates page.