Three Walks to Discover Lake Garda Around Bardolino

There are many ways to discover Lake Garda. One of our favourites starts with putting on a pair of comfortable shoes.

Just a few kilometres from Bardolino, you can leave the busier roads behind and find yourself surrounded by olive groves, vineyards, woodlands, small streams and scenic viewpoints. September is a wonderful time to explore, with more pleasant walking temperatures and a landscape that still retains the colours of summer.

We’ve chosen three easy walks, each taking around three hours, to discover three different sides of the area.

1. From Bardolino to the Rocca di Garda and the Eremo di San Giorgio

Duration: around 3 hours
Route: easy

Starting from Bardolino, the route climbs towards one of the most captivating spots on the southern shores of Lake Garda: the Rocca di Garda, the hill overlooking the lake between Garda and Bardolino.

The route winds through the hills, offering several panoramic views along the way, but it’s well worth continuing to the Eremo di San Giorgio, surrounded by greenery and tranquillity.

This walk is suitable for all levels of fitness and is perfect if you want to enjoy nature, beautiful views and a little cultural discovery.

Our advice? Don’t rush to reach your destination. Some of the beauty lies in stopping occasionally to admire the lake from above.

2. Val Sorda, Lake Garda’s Hidden Side

Duration: around 3 hours
Route: easy

There’s a small valley in the hills around Bardolino where the landscape changes completely.

Val Sorda winds through a peaceful, green setting of woodlands, streams, vineyards and olive groves. This circular route reveals a side of Lake Garda that feels a world away from its beaches and lakeside promenades.

Along the way, you’ll also come across the small Church of Saints Fermo and Rustico, before making your way back towards Bardolino.

If you want to escape the noise of the world for a few hours and be surprised by all the things that are growing, flowing and thriving just beyond the town, this is the walk we recommend.

3. The Valle dei Mulini in Garda

Duration: around 3 hours
Route: easy

Not far from the centre of Garda, there’s a trail where the water shows you the way.

The Valle dei Mulini takes its name from the old mills that once harnessed the area’s waterways. Today, it’s a route immersed in greenery, winding through vegetation, streams and old rural buildings that reveal a side of Lake Garda far removed from its best-known images.

The route crosses the hills behind Garda and can easily be combined with a visit to the town and its lakeside promenade.

It takes three hours to walk there and back, but you can stay longer if you want to.

Not Sure Which One to Choose? Ask Giovanna.

Every walk changes with the season, the weather and, above all, the person walking it.

That’s why at Color Hotel you can turn to Giovanna, our Guest Experience Manager: tell her how far you’d like to walk, what you enjoy and what kind of day you have in mind. She’ll recommend the route that suits you best and suggest hidden gems and little detours you’re unlikely to find in guidebooks.

And if you’d like to explore the area with her, you can also book a complimentary, tailor-made excursion.

Ask Giovanna to plan your excursion