The ferry back from Limone was chaotic, but nobody on board seemed to mind. Riva del Garda sits at the top of Lago di Garda, about a two-hour drive from Venice, with pebble beaches, clear deep cold water, and a twisty scenic drive behind it. If you are looking for the best things to do in Riva del Garda, the list is short and slow: climb a medieval tower, eat pizza, and walk the lakefront until sunset. It is a small town with fewer crowds than the Amalfi Coast and a serious amount of pizza per square meter.
- Best time
- Mid-July on a weekday works well; late October is quieter and foggier.
- Where to stay
- Historic center around Piazza III Novembre, near the lake.
- Perfect for
- Couples, weekenders, active travelers, pizza lovers
- Don't miss
- Climbing the Apponale Tower for the view over the lake
Things I'd tell a friend
If a friend asked me how to spend a weekend here, this is what I would say.
Getting around without a car
Riva del Garda has no train station. The easiest route is a train to Rovereto and then a bus into town. From Trento, a direct bus costs €3.35 and takes about 75 minutes. You can also ride from Venezia Santa Lucia to Peschiera del Garda and take a ferry the rest of the way. Buy bus tickets through the Open Move App.
Source · Checked this myself
Dinner in July needs a backup plan
In mid-July, a weekday felt easy and relaxed, but a few dinner spots were still booked up. Friends said the ferry back from Limone was chaotic, so leave a buffer. Most restaurants also close from about 2 to 6 in the afternoon.
Source · From a summer week in Riva
Expect cold, clear water
The shore is pebble, not sand. The water is clear, deep, and cold - even in July. If you stay dry, there are benches everywhere, plus shady trees, grass patches, and pedal boats to rent along the lake.
Source · Checked this myself
Apponale Tower
A 13th-century watchtower in the middle of the old town, with 165 stairs between the square and a wide view over the lake.
- 13th-century watchtower in the old center
- 165 stairs with an easy gradient
- Wide viewing platform for panoramic photos
- €2 entry, open daily from June to September
The tower is hard to miss in the old center. It was built in the 13th century as a watchtower and served that role for centuries. Today it offers the best single viewpoint in town. The entrance sits in Piazza III Novembre, and the climb is 165 stairs with an easy gradient. From the top, a wide platform gives you panoramic photos over the rooftops. Depending on the day, you might see sailboats on the lake, paragliders overhead, or a thunderstorm building on the horizon. One chimney even has a Barbie doll stuck on it.
Tickets and opening hours
Entry is €2. The tower is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day from June to September, and Tuesday to Sunday from October to May.
165 stairs, then a big platform
The gradient is easy, and the platform at the top is large. The main view is the town's rooftops, with the lake behind them.
Pick a clear day
On a clear day you may see sailboats or paragliders. On an overcast day, the lake disappears into the clouds.
Come on a clear day, and you can watch the sailboats from the top.
Museo Alto Garda
A museum inside an old fort on the harbor, with three floors of local history and its own tower to climb.
- Old fort on the harbor
- Three large exhibition levels
- Exhibits on sports history and World War II
- €5 tickets, free with the Trentino Card
On the harbor, inside an old fort, sits the Museo Alto Garda - MAG for short. The building has three large levels plus its own tower. It is shorter than the Apponale Tower, but the view from the top is another way to see the town. The first floor hosted an exhibit about the history of sporting activities in Riva, including boating and diving. Another floor goes deep into World War II, with photos of the town's destruction, the German occupation, and the resistance.
MAG tickets and hours
Tickets are €5. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday. The Trentino Card covers entry here and at the Apponale Tower.
Some exhibits are only in Italian
You can still follow the World War II section through the photos. Plan for a couple of hours rather than a quick walk-through.
The Trentino Card covers both
If you plan to see the museum and the tower, the Trentino Card gets you into both without paying the single tickets.
Give yourself two hours to read the World War II displays.
The museum sits on the harbor, within easy walking distance of the town's main hotels.
Grand Hotel Liberty
- 2 swimming pools
- Spa and wellness center
- Private Parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Non-smoking rooms
- Fitness center
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
Astoria Resort
- 2 swimming pools
- Spa and wellness center
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Piazza III Novembre
The lakefront square that still runs the town: porticoes, cafes, and the water a few steps away.
- Fourteenth-century porticoes and small cafes
- Historic center steps from the lake
- Few resort shops, more local groceries
- Lakefront promenade with benches and pedal boats
Piazza III Novembre is Riva's front room. Fourteenth-century porticoes ring the square, small cafes fill the ground floors, and the Apponale Tower anchors one side. This is also where the lake shows up. The water is a few steps from the porticoes, and the promenade runs along it. Hotel Sole faces the square, and Hotel Portici sits nearby, so this is the practical center of town.
Fewer shops than you'd expect
Riva is not a typical resort town for shopping. The Coop is good for local groceries, Libri Antichi has rare books and reproduction prints, and Modus Living sells a small collection of dresses and shirts.
Sunset along the lakefront
The lakefront promenade turns a warm glow at sunset. Benches line the water, and pedal boats are available if you want to go out.
Come back in the evening for the promenade at sunset.
You can stay right on the square or next to the lake, and still be in the middle of everything.
Du Lac Et Du Parc Grand Resort
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Spa and wellness center
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Non-smoking rooms
- Tea/Coffee Maker in All Rooms
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
Hotel Benacus Panoramic
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Restaurant
- Non-smoking rooms
- Facilities for disabled guests
- Terrace
- Garden
- Bar
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Lago di Tenno
A glacier-blue lake in the forest, 40 minutes from Riva, that asks for a slow hour on foot.
- 40-minute drive from Riva del Garda
- Aquamarine water in a dense forest
- Hour-long path around the lake
- Nearby Frapporta and San Lorenzo church
Lago di Tenno lives up to the drive. It is 40 minutes from Riva del Garda, up in the forest below the mountain that formed it. The lake was created by a landslide and now sits in a dense forest that feels much older. Parking is signed, and a steep medieval path leads down to the water. Give yourself a full hour to walk the path around the lake. It passes a small island islet, and the water is a striking aquamarine color. This is a quiet spot, especially compared to the shore at Riva.
Getting to the lake
The drive from Riva del Garda takes about 40 minutes. Once you park, clear signs point to the steep path down to the water.
Plan a full hour
The path around the lake takes about an hour and leads toward a small island islet. Nearby are Frapporta, the church of San Lorenzo, and the San Martino archaeological site.
Combine with the Tenno valley
On the hills of Cologna di Tenno, the Acetaia del Balsamic Trentino produces balsamic vinegar and runs a farm restaurant. Canale di Tenno is also close by.
Take the full hour to walk around; the island is the best part.
Lago di Tenno is a 40-minute drive, but staying in Riva keeps it simple.
Hotel Rudy
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Restaurant
- Non-smoking rooms
- Terrace
- Heating
- Bar
- Excellent Breakfast
Hotel Garni Villa Maria
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Room service
- Terrace
- Heating
- Very Good Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
Canale di Tenno
A restored 13th-century stone village that almost disappeared after World War II.
- 13th-century village on a mountain slope
- Abandoned after WWII, revived in the 1960s
- Casa degli Artisti gallery and event space
- Museum of old farm tools in summer
Canale di Tenno is a 13th-century medieval village on a mountain slope, roughly halfway between Lake Garda and the Alps. It was abandoned after WWII and came back in the 1960s. The Casa degli Artisti, dedicated to the artist Giacomo Vittone, helped lead that revival. It now operates as a gallery and event space in the center. The old village is a maze of tiny cobblestoned buildings and tight alleys. It is close to Lago di Tenno, and the walk between the two is a good reason to leave the car behind.
Walking or driving from the lake
The village is nearby to Lago di Tenno, and the walk between the two is part of the appeal. It is also reachable by car.
A village that came back
Canale di Tenno was abandoned after WWII and revived in the 1960s. The Casa degli Artisti is the center of that revival.
Summer museum and August event
The Museum of old farm tools opens during the summertime. Every August, the Rural Middle Ages event fills the village with medieval games.
Walk from the lake if you have time; it's part of the appeal.
Arco, Trentino
Castle town, coffee roasters, and the best old-school lunch in the area.
- Over 200-meter-high castle above town
- Mild Mediterranean climate with an outdoor sports scene
- Flea market on the third Saturday
- Local food at Ristorante alla Lega
Arco makes a natural half-day trip from Riva del Garda. It sits about 10 minutes away by car, at the southern end of the Sarca River valley. The castle above town rises over 200 meters, and this was once the winter residence of Archduke Albert of Habsburg. The town itself has a mild Mediterranean climate and a serious outdoor sports scene. Ristorante alla Lega is the old-school lunch spot. The menu leans local: l'orzet alla trentina, Strangolapreti with butter and sage, tagliatelle with wild rabbit ragù, rabbit and venison with polenta and mushrooms, apple strudel, and carne salada. It gets crowded with locals on weekends, so book a table.
Short drive from Riva
Arco is about 10 minutes from Riva del Garda by car. A Trentino Trasporti bus also connects Rovereto, Torbole, Riva, and Arco.
Castle on the rock
The castle sits over 200 meters above the town on the southern end of the Sarca River valley. It was the winter residence of Archduke Albert of Habsburg.
Flea market on the third Saturday
If you visit on the third Saturday of the month, the flea market fills the center with furniture, jewelry, and ornate mirrors. OmKafè, a family roaster, is also in Arco.
Book a table at Ristorante alla Lega before the locals take them.
Arco is around 10 minutes from Riva, so you do not need to change hotels.
Parc Hotel Flora S
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Spa and wellness center
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Airport shuttle
- Room service
- Bar
- Exceptional Breakfast
Ambassador Suite Hotel
- Outdoor swimming pool
- Free parking
- Free Wifi
- Family rooms
- Non-smoking rooms
- Fitness center
- Airport shuttle
- Room service
- Bar
- Wonderful Breakfast
We earn a commission on bookings through these links. The picks are mine, and that doesn't change them.
What are the best things to do in Riva del Garda old town?
Start at Piazza III Novembre, climb the Apponale Tower for the view, then walk through the historic center to the Museo Alto Garda on the harbor. The church of S. Maria Assunta is a quick stop if you like Baroque churches.
How much does it cost to climb the Apponale Tower?
The Apponale Tower costs €2 and is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. from June to September. From October to May it is open Tuesday through Sunday.
Is the Museo Alto Garda worth the ticket?
Tickets are €5, and the museum covers sporting history and World War II across three levels. It is free with the Trentino Card, which also gets you into the Apponale Tower.
Can you visit Riva del Garda without a car?
Yes. Take a train to Rovereto and then a bus to Riva del Garda, or from Trento take a direct bus that takes about 75 minutes. Train and ferry routes also connect Venice through Peschiera del Garda.
How long do you need at Lago di Tenno?
Plan an hour to walk around the lake, not counting the 40-minute drive from Riva del Garda. The path passes a small island islet.
How far is Canale di Tenno from Lago di Tenno?
The village is close enough to walk from Lago di Tenno, and the trail is part of the visit. You can also reach it by car.
Is Arco good for a half-day trip from Riva del Garda?
Arco has a castle, a mild climate, and a strong outdoor sports scene. The third Saturday of the month brings a flea market to the center, and Ristorante alla Lega is worth booking for lunch.
