← Verona Marathon·Day trip

Sirmione: A Castle on a Peninsula in Lake Garda

A walled old town on a narrow peninsula at the southern tip of Lake Garda, with a moated castle, Roman ruins and a thermal spa, in the quiet season.

DurationDay trip
TransitTrain to Peschiera del Garda, about 15 min, then a local bus
DepartsVerona Porta Nuova

After the Verona Marathon: Sirmione

The Route: Verona Porta Nuova → Peschiera del Garda → Sirmione → Verona Logistics: A short train and a local bus. The old town is car-free and flat. Marathon Month: November Duration: Day trip

Verona Porta Nuova ──(train ~15 mins)──> Peschiera del Garda ──(local bus)──> Sirmione
                    <───────────────(same route back)──────────────────────────┘

The Verona Marathon finishes beside the Arena, and by Monday morning the best thing to do with sore legs is sit on a train and let somebody else do the moving. Lake Garda is the nearest big lake, and Sirmione is the narrow finger of land at its southern end, with a castle that stands in the water.

November at Lake Garda. The lake in November is quiet, grey and sometimes misty, with the mountains at the northern end often hidden in cloud. Many hotels and some restaurants close for the season, and ferries run a reduced timetable. The air is cool, and a clear day after rain can be sharp and bright. In most years the old town is pleasant for a slow walk, though conditions vary.

Trains from Verona Porta Nuova reach Peschiera del Garda in about 15 minutes, and a local bus covers the rest to Sirmione. Check the winter bus timetable and the Monday service before you set out, because frequencies drop in the off-season. A taxi from Peschiera is an alternative. Check train fares and times at trenitalia.com.

The Old Town

Sirmione's old town is on a narrow peninsula and entered through the Scaliger castle, which stands in the water with a drawbridge. The streets inside are flat, paved and pedestrian, and a slow loop takes about an hour. Check the castle's opening days and the price of the tower climb, because small museums often close on Mondays, and the tower stairs are the wrong challenge for marathon legs.

At the tip of the peninsula, the Grotte di Catullo are the ruins of a large Roman villa, set among olive trees above the lake. The walk from the old town is about 1 km on a gentle slope. Check the opening days and hours, which vary by season.

Sirmione is also known for its thermal water, and spas open to day visitors. Check the current opening hours and prices before going.

Eating

Restaurants in the old town serve lake fish, such as perch and whitefish, and pasta. Many close on one weekday and some shut for the winter, so check before you commit. Ask for the day's fish and a glass of the local white wine, Lugana.

Getting Back

Take the bus to Peschiera and the train back to Verona. Check the last bus and the last train, because the winter timetable is thinner than the summer one.