Como or Garda?

[GTMorgan]

She who must be obeyed would like to visit one of the above lakes when we go to the Dolomites in a few weeks, not to stay, just to ride around with a few stops at places of interest.
Is there a 'must do' scenic route around part of one of them which I should aim for?

 

[Mad Hatter]

I honestly would not recommend either of them for a riding trip as they are both very busy and not particularly scenic - just my opinion. I can however recommend Val di Scalve which is utterly stunning and not far from there, just head for Schilpario.

 

[grantmac]

I havent been there on a bike but went to Como on a business trip in February 2020 just before Covid took hold as we got the whole hotel at knock down prices and needed somwhere to acomodate 70 people. From what I understand the area is overly pretentious, over priced and worth avoiding in general.....

 

[siddo]

Avoid. It's like being on a track. Loads of traffic and boring.
I ended up going in to the hills around them to avoid the traffic. Some nice views of the lakes from up there.

 

[karlp]

If you are looking at accomodation at Lake Garda just be aware that there is a big conference therfe from 13th - 18th September

 

[wessie]

Both lakes are not great in terms of traffic. I like the northern end of Lake Garda but I see it as a place to settle in a base and then use the ferries to get about rather than the roads. Last time we went we did a fly drive to Verona and the car was mostly used for the airport transfer.
The little harbour area in Malcesine is very nice and a trip on the cable car to Monte Baldo provides great views.

Lake Garda is also more accessible from the Dolomites, compared to Como, as the lesser known Brenta Dolomites are north of Riva del Garda. The smaller Lake Molveno is a quieter destination and the roads quieter.

If you decide to go to Como, the road from Landeck to Como through the River Inn valley, via Zernez & St Moritz is one of my favourites in all of Europe. Stay at the northern end of the lake.

 

[gerarddwatts]

Agree on using ferries...last time we went to Garda we used them extensively...I guess the roads are better off season but v busy when we were there. Some lovely towns on the ferry routes...get a rover type thing.

 

[Barnoe]

Both are very touristy, so expect lots of traffic and people.

It all depend on what other things you want to do or visit, if your spending time in Milan then Como is a short train ride which means you could go on foot and enjoy the vino.
Same can be said of Verona and Garda

Its tempting to ride round these lakes but everyone has the same idea and ends up as a crawl and too many distractions on the road to really look up and enjoy any views.

One thing to note if your thinking of camping, for some reason google maps has camping icons on many B&Bs around these lakes which had me confused when i turned up and couldn't see where i could possible pitch my tent lol
Its common in Italy as some have a space for an RV

I also went North to Obersee that has borders with Austria, Switzerland and Germany

 

[Fluffmeister]

Out of the two, Garda because at least it has the Strada Della Forra, and you can ride out the west side up to Passo San Rocco and Lago Di Idro, have lunch at the much more reasonably priced Restaurant Al Mistica
near the equally beautiful lake, then ride back

Pics are the Della Forra, it was also used in the opening car chase scene for James Bond, Quantum of Solace.

Strada della Forra – Tremosine sul Garda

www.stradadellaforra.com

 

[FatAl]

Me and Mrs FatAl are very fond of Lake Garda. We have visited several times over the years, on package holidays and travelling independently on motorcycle. Our favourite place to stay is in Malcesine at Casa Barca. They have secure off road parking.

Home - Hotel Casa Barca

Benvenuti a Casa Barca, il tuo hotel 4 stelle superior sul Lago di Garda. Prenota ora per una vacanza da sogno!

www.casabarca.com

 

[OMG!!]

One thing I would be worried about at this hot time of year is that permafrost on top of mountains is melting at a quicker rate, resulting in even avalanches, quite different from snow ones.

Melting permafrost destabilizes mountain slopes by removing ice that once held rocks together, increasing the likelihood of rock avalanches and landslides.

https://edition.cnn.com/2026/08/18/travel/swiss-village-rock-collapse-threat-intl

 

[glenn2926]

We will be in Peshiera Del Garda in around two weeks. We stayed there last year and liked it that much we’re going again. Last time we visited Venice, Verona and Milan using trains. This time we are intending to use the ferries to visit more places around the lake. We did go to Sirmione last time which was very busy but a nice little place to spend half a day. Our visit was using our motorhome we stayed at Camping Butterfly. We staying at the same place again.
It’s just about half a day travel from our son’s place near Chamonix.

 

[ChasF]

I like both lakes but agree that the traffic is really bad. Riva del Garda was a nice town 30 odd years ago but is drowning in tourists these days.

 

[GTMorgan]

Cheers all, I think that's enough to put her off! That pretty route Fluff suggests is worth a look, and, as said, Garda is more on route to where we're basing ourselves.

 

[Wapping]

She who must be obeyed would like to visit one of the above lakes when we go to the Dolomites in a few weeks, not to stay, just to ride around with a few stops at places of interest.
Is there a 'must do' scenic route around part of one of them which I should aim for?

Ask your wife which lake she prefers, perhaps?

Where you are staying in the Dolomites, as that might well dictate which lake you visit for (it seems) a day.

Yes, they are a popular destination, but you are going ‘in a few weeks’ by when the main holiday period will be over.

I wouldn’t worry too much about avalanches, any more than I’d worry about packs of wolves.

Yes, like most roads along coasts or edges of lakes, they are constricted, not least as one side requires swimming trunks or (preferably) a boat. There again, the lakes are nice to visit and, I guess, iconic. You can have more than your fill of ‘Great roads and hooning, mate’ in the Dolomites themselves.

If you are going for the day, you presumably don’t need a hotel.

All that aside, Lake Como is often described as the nicest of the lakes.

 

[theoneandonly]

the road around Lake Como is only 2 way , gets choked at the slightest blockage , passing even on a bike ain't easy.
never done Garda.

 

[GTMorgan]

Ask your wife which lake she prefers, perhaps?

Where you are staying in the Dolomites, as that might well dictate which lake you visit for (it seems) a day.

Yes, they are a popular destination, but you are going ‘in a few weeks’ by when the main holiday period will be over.

I wouldn’t worry too much about avalanches, any more than I’d worry about packs of wolves.

Yes, like most roads along coasts or edges of lakes, they are constricted, not least as one side requires swimming trunks or (preferably) a boat. There again, the lakes are nice to visit and, I guess, iconic. You can have more than your fill of ‘Great roads and hooning, mate’ in the Dolomites themselves.

If you are going for the day, you presumably don’t need a hotel.

All that aside, Lake Como is often described as the nicest of the lakes.

We’re in Bormio for our first stop, 2 nights probably, was think of a trip to either lake on the ‘day off’, neither of us have been before hence, don’t know what to expect regarding traffic etc. Packed places aren’t my cup of tea to be honest but, it’s not all about me, well, it pretty much is really!
Then to the Dolomites as a base for 5 ish days, probably Arabba but, nothing is set in stone, in fact nothing is booked apart from a night in Folkestone so, it’s all flexible.

 

[Wapping]

Packed places aren’t my cup of tea to be honest but, it’s not all about me….

I guess that most of the posts refer to high summer. By September, most of the crowds are gone but the places are still open. That applies to the Dolomites, too.

There again, if I had opted to stay in Bormio, I probably wouldn’t be anticipating a day return trip to the Italian lakes. I’d opt for Milan and take a train, for about an hour.

 

[Arsey]

Hotel Baia D’Oro in Gagnarno on west shore of Garda is stunning , plus has garage . Great base to explore

View from restaurant

 

[GTMorgan]

Como is doable from Bormio but Garda would be a stretch for a day return trip. I think I’m going to do Garda on the day we leave Bormio instead, spend a night in a mountain town after doing those passes Fluff mentioned look good on street view, then head to Dolomites.

I guess that most of the posts refer to high summer. By September, most of the crowds are gone but the places are still open. That applies to the Dolomites, too.

There again, if I had opted to stay in Bormio, I probably wouldn’t be anticipating a day return trip to the Italian lakes. I’d opt for Milan and take a train, for about an hour.