Riva del Garda itinerary: 1 to 2 days
Plans for one and two days in Riva del Garda, day by day: the historic centre, the Rocca with the MAG museum, Torre Apponale and the Bastione first, with the Varone Waterfall, Arco Castle and Torbole, then Canale di Tenno, Lake Tenno, the Chiesa dell'Inviolata, the old town of Arco and the Marmitte dei Giganti as you add a day. Every stop has a typical visit length.
How long do you have?
Map: 2 days
Riva del Garda in 1 day
Day 1
Historic centre of Riva del Garda
A walk through the lakeside squares, arcades and lanes of the old town, from Piazza III Novembre to the harbour and promenade.
Rocca di Riva (MAG Museum)
Moated lakeside fortress, now the MAG museum of local history, archaeology and art, on the edge of the old town.
Torre Apponale
Medieval tower on Piazza III Novembre, the symbol of Riva, which can be climbed for views over the rooftops and the lake.
Bastione
Round 16th-century Venetian fort on the slope of Monte Rocchetta above the town, reached on foot or by panoramic lift.
Varone Waterfall
Waterfall dropping about 100 m into a narrow gorge, seen from walkways in the cave, with a botanical garden at the entrance.
Arco Castle
Ruined medieval castle on a high rock above Arco, reached by a steep path through olive groves, with wide views of the Sarca valley.
Torbole
Lakeside village at the north-east corner of the lake, a centre for windsurfing and sailing, with a small harbour and promenade.
Riva del Garda in 2 days
Day 1
Arco Castle
Ruined medieval castle on a high rock above Arco, reached by a steep path through olive groves, with wide views of the Sarca valley.
Historic centre of Arco
A walk through a former Habsburg spa town under its castle rock, with a main square, collegiate church, villas and palm-lined gardens.
Marmitte dei Giganti
Giants' pots, large round potholes carved into the rock by glacial meltwater, near Nago above Torbole.
Torbole
Lakeside village at the north-east corner of the lake, a centre for windsurfing and sailing, with a small harbour and promenade.
Rocca di Riva (MAG Museum)
Moated lakeside fortress, now the MAG museum of local history, archaeology and art, on the edge of the old town.
Chiesa dell'Inviolata
Early 17th-century Baroque church on the edge of Riva, with an octagonal plan and a richly stuccoed and painted interior.
Historic centre of Riva del Garda
A walk through the lakeside squares, arcades and lanes of the old town, from Piazza III Novembre to the harbour and promenade.
Torre Apponale
Medieval tower on Piazza III Novembre, the symbol of Riva, which can be climbed for views over the rooftops and the lake.
Day 2
Bastione
Round 16th-century Venetian fort on the slope of Monte Rocchetta above the town, reached on foot or by panoramic lift.
Varone Waterfall
Waterfall dropping about 100 m into a narrow gorge, seen from walkways in the cave, with a botanical garden at the entrance.
Canale di Tenno
Medieval stone village on a hillside above Riva, with narrow covered passageways, small courtyards and an artists' house.
Lake Tenno
Small turquoise lake in the hills above Riva, ringed by woods, with a path around the shore and summer swimming.
Ponale road
The old road cut into the cliff above Lake Garda, now a walking and cycling route with wide views over the water.
Watch: Riva del Garda
A one-minute look at the plan: every stop, day by day, with the map.
When to go to Riva del Garda
May, June and September are the best months for walking, cycling and the lake, warm but less crowded than July and August, the peak of the summer season. Spring and autumn are popular with climbers around Arco and with sailors and windsurfers at Torbole. Winter is quiet and many hotels close, though Arco and Riva hold Christmas markets in December.
Plan the rest of your trip
- Where to stay: hotels in Riva del Garda on Booking.com or Trip.com
- Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Riva del Garda on Tiqets
- Tours and day trips: things to do in Riva del Garda on GetYourGuide
- Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Tips for Riva del Garda
- Arco, Torbole, Lake Tenno and the Varone Waterfall are a few kilometres apart; a car, a bike or the local buses make these days much easier.
- The walk up to the Bastione is steep and short; there is also a panoramic lift, and the views over the town and lake are best in the morning light.
- The lake's regular winds, from the north in the morning and the south in the afternoon, make Torbole a windsurfing and sailing centre; boat trips are calmer early.
- The Varone Waterfall falls into a deep, cool and wet gorge; bring a light jacket even on hot days.
- Many hotels in the Garda Trentino area give guests a card with free local transport and museum entry; ask about it at check-in.
Make it your own
Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.
Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to andiamotravelapp@gmail.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.
Photo credits
- Arco Castle: Josf, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Chiesa dell'Inviolata: Lungoleno, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Arco: WhiteGuard, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Historic centre of Riva del Garda: Stefano Travasci, CC BY 4.0
- Lake Tenno: Diether, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Marmitte dei Giganti: Benreis, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Ponale road: Mathias71 16:10, 14. Jul. 2010 (CEST), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Rocca di Riva (MAG Museum): Franco Visintainer, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Torbole: 4 single pictures by Thgoiter, picture editing (panorama) by Saman, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Torre Apponale: JoJan, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Varone Waterfall: Alessandro Vecchi, CC BY-SA 3.0
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
