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Salt & Wind Travel

Uncover Sirmione, Italy: Top 8 Things To Do (2024)

Sooner or later, it’ll happen. If you travel to Lake Garda, someone will tell you to visit the historic city of Sirmione. And, well, we couldn’t agree more. Yes, Sirmione, Italy, is that town. As in the village they visited in Call Me By Your Name, there are Roman ruins and a castle set along impossibly clear turquoise waters.

There are many stunning historic villages to visit when you travel to Italy. But few have the combos of looks, history, geography, gorgeous water, and charm of Sirmione.

Aerial View Of Sirmione Italy Castle
Table of Contents

Why Visit Sirmione

It’s essential you know that this town is not unknown. It is arguably the most popular tourist destination within the province of Brescia. While we always try to introduce you to places that are a deeper cut, and we’re all about avoiding classic tourist mistakes and skipping the uber-crowded spots, sometimes the best-known places deserve their recognition. And that’s very much the case with Sirmione.

Naysayers will tell you there are touristy crowds in the summer months (and they’re right), but we don’t think that’s a reason to skip it. It just requires you to be strategic when you travel there!

As a travel planner and editor at Salt & Wind Travel, I’ve spent years researching and writing about Italy. I lived in Florence and have traveled there extensively for 20 years. The first boutique group trips we led at Salt & Wind Travel were to Lombardy and Lake Garda, so we intimately know this corner of Northern Italy! Now that we provide Italy travel planning services for our clients, we often direct them to Sirmione and Lake Garda during the spring and fall months.

The History Of Sirmione

This isn’t merely a quaint Italian town at the southern end of Lake Garda. It’s also historically and geographically significant, thanks to its location on the border of Lombardy and Veneto provinces and on a narrow, long peninsula that juts into the lake.

Over the centuries, Sirmione has drawn everyone from intellectuals to nobles, including the poet Catullus and the opera diva Maria Callas. These days, visitors flock to the old town, which, in our opinion, is one of Lake Garda’s prettiest historic villages.

8 Best Things To Do In Sirmione

Give yourself time to explore the historic town center and wander the narrow streets for everything from a meal to shopping and some history. If you’re into the beach and wellness, you could spend all day walking the lakeside trails and dipping in the thermal baths.

Or, if history and culture are a must for you, you can visit the Scaligero Castle, the Roman ruins, or even peek into the house where Maria Callas used to get some R&R. We say do a mix of it all. Here are more than 9 things to do in Sirmione:

For Gorgeous Views: Sirmione’s Castle

The Scaliger Castle is a 14th century fortress commissioned by the Della Scala family of Verona. It is surrounded by water that stands at attention on the southern tip of the historic city center. The castle is known for being one of the best-conserved castles in Italy, but we love it because a turquoise moat surrounds it, and you can climb the steep steps for an incredible panorama of Lake Garda.

For Roman Ruins: The Grottoes Of Catullus

Speaking of “Call Me By Your Name,” this is where they filmed the archaeological dig scenes. The Roman ruins are situated at the end of the oh-so-skinny peninsula known as “Grotte di Catullo.” The Roman villa dates back to the 1st century B.C. and is one of the best-preserved ancient sites in Northern Italy.

For History: Church of San Pietro In Mavino

From the Grotta di Catullo, you can walk to Sirmione’s oldest church, San Pietro in Mavino. The interior frescoes date back to the 12th century, while the bell tower is dated to 1070 AD. 

For Relaxation: Thermal Baths “Terme di Sirmione”

One reason people have hung out here since Roman times? The thermal baths! Sirmione has two main thermal baths—the Terme di Catullo in the town and the Terme di Virgilio in Colombare. So, if you have time, spend some time at a thermal spa or book massages.

For Exploration: Boat The Lake

The ferry system on Lake Garda is extensive and provides regular service in the high season. Many of our clients hop on the ferry to explore the lake by boat. However, we can also help you arrange a private boat trip to explore as far afield as the Isola del Garda, where you can visit the beautiful gardens known as the “Giardino dell’Isola del Garda.”

For Exploration: Wine Tasting

There are some lesser-known but very much worth your time wine regions nearby. Within an hour, you could sip white wines of the Lugana DOC or even head north to the historic reds of Valpolicella. If you’re willing to make a full-day trip, you could even drive to Trento or to Franciacorta to try premium sparkling wine. Of course, if you need help arranging that, we’re here to help!

For Exploration: Day Trips

Its location on the shores of Lake Garda means that you could make many a day trip from Sirmione. To the west, you could head to the walled city of Bergamo (we love the local shops there!) or head into storied Verona for an opera. It’s worth it to circumvent the lake by ferry or car to see the nearby towns like Saló, Bardolino, and Lazise. If you have kids in tow, you’ll want to visit the beloved amusement park, Gardaland, and its aquarium.

For Relaxation: Aperitivo At Piazza Carducci

Hang around Salt & Wind long enough, and you probably start to notice that we love ourselves an excellent aperitivo cocktail. When you visit, the place to do aperitivo is Caffe Grand Italia on the quaint Piazza Carducci. Full disclosure: we go here more for the people-watching and the piazza-side tables than for the drinks or food, but it’s a fun place to relax for a second.

Where To Eat In Sirmione

Many of our travel planning clients eat in the historic city center of Sirmione because there are varied options, such as the Michelin-starred La Rucola 2.0, the lakefront dining at Tancredi, or classic Italian food at Tavernetta Maria Callas.

If you’re staying longer than a few nights, we encourage you to head to nearby Desenzano del Garda, Salò, or San Felice del Benaco for a meal to see a different side of this area. Contact us if you want help deciding where to eat in Sirmione or to make restaurant reservations.

Where To Stay In Sirmione

For Super Classic Villa: Villa Cortine Palace Hotel

Sometimes you gotta go big and grand and over-the-top, we get it. In the case of Sirmione’s historic city center, that’s when you book a room at the 5-star luxury property, the Villa Cortine Palace Hotel. As the name suggests, this hotel was first a villa and then converted into a hotel in the 1950s.

Its location at the end of the Sirmione peninsula means it has gorgeous views of Lake Garda that provide direct access to the famous thermal waters and a private beach. We’re fans of it for the service and old-world charm and because the sprawling 12-acre property grounds are jaw-dropping.

Chic and Central Hotel: Hotel Eden

This 4-star hotel is the most accessible in the historic center of Sirmione because it’s just a few strides inside the walled city center. But that alone is not a reason to stay here! Its lakefront terrace, gorgeous views, easy beach access, and central location, however, very much are!

For Modern Vibes: Aqva Boutique Hotel

If small, chic, and boutique is your deal, you’ll want to check out this modern 18-room hotel. Its location just outside the historic city center means the Aqva Boutique Hotel is quieter than the other hotels. Add to it that they have a cute library, a private dock, a gorgeous pool, and free bikes for riding around, and, well, we’re fans!

How To Get To Sirmione

By Train

The nearest train stations are just under 10 miles in Peschiera del Garda and Desenzano del Garda. From either train station, you can hop on a local bus or grab a taxi to get to the historic center of Sirmione.

By Ferry

If you’re staying on Lake Garda, the local ferry is likely the easiest way to get to Sirmione – especially if you only plan on staying for a few hours.

By Car

Suppose you’re arriving by car from the west or east (i.e., Milan Verona or Venice). In that case, you’ll want to hop on the A4/E70 highway and follow the signs for Sirmione Centro Storico (as in the historical part and not the modern town of Sirmione).

If you’re staying on Lake Garda and driving over, it’s easy to get to, though it could take a while if there is traffic or weather. There is a ton of parking just outside the historic city center, so try to drive as close as possible to the historic city center entrance before parking.

Frequently Asked Questions

Great question! Sirmione is pronounced, “Sear-me-oh-neh.”

We certainly think so! Many travelers visit small towns in Central Italy but don’t do so in Northern Italy, and we think it’s a shame. There is a mix of hill towns, some historical, and some lakeside (like Sirmione!) — that really help you get a feel for the area’s beauty and history.

Look, the historic core of Sirmione can get very busy during the high season (July and August) as tons of visitors pour in for day visits. Lake Garda is a playground for Italians and many Northern Europeans (especially Austrians, Swiss, Germans, and Dutch). That’s not to say that this historic town on Lake Garda isn’t worth a visit, but, like so many uber-popular spots these days, it can feel like Disneyland if you visit amid the high season.

If you want to visit during the high season, we recommend going very early or late in the day, as most visitors seem to visit between 10 AM and 4 PM.

Like many smaller towns in Northern Italy, many of the main attractions are open seasonally from Easter through October. We suggest you avoid the height of summer and visit in May, June, September, or October when crowds are gone, but the weather is still nice (ie, late Spring and early Fall as we do on our Salt & Wind Italy trips).

Most of our travel clients take day trips to Sirmione from Verona, other parts of Lake Garda, Franciacorta, or Milan. At a minimum, plan to spend a half day eating, shopping, and exploring. However, with everything from wine tasting and ruins nearby, it also makes for a great long weekend getaway.

Beautiful Lakes In Italy

Beautiful Lakes In Italy To Visit Next

Since you’re already planning a visit to Lake Garda to see Sirmione, we highly recommend you read on about the other nearby beautiful lakes in Italy worth visiting. From the lesser-known Lake Iseo with world-class sparkling wine and famed Lake Como to the under-the-radar Lake Orta, you could easily spend a few weeks simply exploring this part of the country. 

Have Us Plan Your Italy Trip

Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency that specializes in Italy travel planning? If you’re looking to plan one of the best trips to Italy, our Italy trip planner services are here to help you plan your perfect itinerary.


Photo Credit: Salt & Wind and Dreamwood

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