Italiano
Deutsch
September and October are two of the best months to discover Lake Garda, combining outdoor activities, lakeside towns, wine and local food. In September, temperatures are often still warm enough to enjoy the lake from the water, while as autumn progresses, hiking, vineyards and harvest festivals gradually take centre stage.
With three or four days available, Bardolino makes an excellent base for exploring the eastern shore of Lake Garda. From here, Monte Baldo and Malcesine are within easy reach, while SUP, kayaking or sailing, a winery visit and seasonal events can all be included without spending too much time travelling.
One event in particular has marked the beginning of autumn in Bardolino for decades: the Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival, a celebration deeply rooted in local life that today attracts thousands of visitors from Italy and across Europe.
Lake Garda autumn itinerary: 3–4 days at a glance
- Day 1: Bardolino, the lakefront and a wine tasting at Guerrieri Rizzardi
- Day 2: hiking on Monte Baldo and an afternoon in Malcesine
- Day 3: SUP, kayaking or sailing, followed by the coast between Bardolino, Garda and Punta San Vigilio
- Day 4, optional: lakeside towns, local events and the Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival if your stay falls in early October
Why visit Lake Garda in autumn?
Autumn does not arrive all at once on Lake Garda. September often still brings mild temperatures, long days and excellent conditions for outdoor activities. This makes it possible to spend the morning on the water and the afternoon walking through a lakeside town or hiking in the surrounding mountains.
By October, the landscape gradually changes. At the same time, the morainic hills on the Veronese side of the lake begin to take on autumn colours.
This is also a season closely connected with wine. Around Bardolino and the surrounding countryside, the grape harvest becomes part of everyday life in the wineries, while festivals and local events celebrate the products and traditions of the area.
Day 1 – Bardolino, the Lake and a winery visit
The first day can begin in Bardolino, one of the best-known towns on the eastern shore of Lake Garda.
Its historic centre is compact and just a short walk from the lakefront, where scenic paths stretch in both directions: north towards Garda and south towards Cisano and Lazise. It is an easy way to become familiar with the landscape without planning a long journey on your first day.
In September, the atmosphere still retains much of its summer character. However, just a few minutes away from the waterfront, the scenery quickly changes to vineyards and olive groves.
In the afternoon, leave the lake behind for a few hours and explore another important part of Bardolino’s identity with a visit to the Guerrieri Rizzardi winery, located just outside the town centre on the first hills above the lake.
The visit takes you through the vineyard and the modern production cellar before ending with a wine tasting. The different experiences introduce not only the wines produced around Bardolino but also those from the family’s other estates in Valpolicella and Soave.
At this time of year, the winery is also experiencing one of the most important periods in its production cycle, as freshly harvested grapes arrive in the cellar and begin their journey towards becoming wine.
A good plan for the day? Spend the morning and lunchtime in Bardolino, book your winery visit and tasting for the afternoon, then return to the lakefront for the last light of the day.
Day 2 – hiking on Monte Baldo and visiting Malcesine
The second day offers a completely different perspective.
From the lake, head towards Monte Baldo, the mountain range that rises above the eastern shore of Lake Garda and offers hiking trails for different levels of experience.
Bardolino and Malcesine are around 30 kilometres apart by road, making it easy to combine the mountain and the town in the same day, although travel time along the Gardesana road can vary depending on traffic.
Once in Malcesine, choose a trail suited to your fitness and experience and spend a few hours hiking. There is no need to plan a particularly demanding excursion. For example, even a half-day walk provides panoramic views of Lake Garda from an entirely different perspective.
In the afternoon, head back down towards the lake and explore Malcesine, walking through its narrow historic streets and around the harbour.
Before setting off, always check the weather forecast, trail conditions and the opening status of any lifts you intend to use.
Day 3 – Lake Garda from the water: SUP, kayaking or sailing
Visiting Lake Garda in September can still mean finding distinctly summery days.
When temperatures, wind and lake conditions allow, the morning can be dedicated to stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking or sailing. Exploring Lake Garda from the water offers a completely different view of the shoreline and is one of the advantages of travelling in September rather than later in the autumn.
The area between Bardolino and Garda also makes it easy to continue the day without long transfers. In addition, Punta San Vigilio is only around 7 kilometres from Bardolino, making it a natural stop alongside the town of Garda and the walking routes along the shoreline.
The day can remain deliberately flexible: spend a few hours on the water in the morning, have lunch by the lake and dedicate the afternoon to the coast or the nearby countryside.
Those who prefer to stay on land can instead explore the walking and cycling routes connecting Bardolino, Garda and the neighbouring towns.
Day 4 – local festivals, wine and Lake Garda traditions
If you have a fourth day available, autumn offers another way to discover Lake Garda: through its local festivals.
Between September and October, towns around the lake host events dedicated to wine, olive oil and seasonal produce. These celebrations attract many visitors. At the same time, they remain strongly connected with local associations and communities.
It is therefore worth checking the local events calendar before travelling.
In Bardolino, however, there is one festival that deserves special attention.
Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival 2026
From 1 to 5 October 2026, Bardolino’s lakefront will host the 95th Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival, one of the town’s most important annual events.
For five days, the historic centre and waterfront welcome food and wine stands, tastings of different styles of Bardolino wine, music, entertainment, crafts and events linked to local traditions. Local associations and wineries take an active part in the festival, creating an opportunity to discover both Bardolino wine and the area in which it is produced.
The festival now has an important international dimension, attracting thousands of visitors from Italy and abroad every year and ranking among the best-known autumn events on the Veronese side of Lake Garda. Nevertheless, for Bardolino it remains above all a much-loved local tradition.
It is closely connected with the end of the agricultural season and with the community’s long-standing relationship with its vineyards and wine.
It is precisely this combination that makes the event so interesting for visitors: a large festival with an international audience that still retains a strong connection with the life and identity of the town.
For anyone planning a trip between late September and early October, timing the stay to coincide with the festival also brings together two complementary experiences: visiting a winery to understand how the wine is made, then finding that same wine at the heart of the celebration in the town that gives it its name.
Lake Garda in September or October: which month is better?
The answer depends mainly on the type of trip you are planning.
September is probably the most versatile month. Temperatures can still be warm enough for SUP, kayaking and sailing, while the weather is often more comfortable than in midsummer for hiking and walking.
On the other hand, October is better suited to travellers interested in hiking, lakeside towns, wine, food and autumn scenery. The days become cooler and water activities gradually become less central to the experience.
Early October has an additional advantage for anyone using Bardolino as a base: the opportunity to experience the Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival.
A journey between Lake, mountains and vineyards
In just a few days, Lake Garda allows you to move between remarkably different landscapes.
You can begin the morning overlooking the lake from Monte Baldo, spend a few hours on the water and, later the same day, find yourself among vineyards and wine cellars.
It is this proximity between lake, mountains, historic towns and wine country that makes the eastern shore particularly appealing even after the height of summer.
And if your journey includes Bardolino, discovering the wine that bears the town’s name is also a way to better understand the landscape around it.
Tips for planning your stay in Bardolino
Where to stay in Bardolino
If you choose Bardolino as a base for your Lake Garda itinerary, there are two very different ways to experience the area, both connected with the hospitality tradition of the Rizzardi family.
Rambaldi Apartments is ideal for visitors who want to explore Bardolino on foot. Alternatively, travellers looking for a more outdoor-oriented stay can choose La Rocca Camping Village.
In the heart of the historic centre, Rambaldi Apartments offers accommodation in the buildings of the old Borgo Bardolino, among historic houses, courtyards and spaces that have belonged to the family for generations. Until the winery moved to its current site in 2011, some of these buildings also housed the Guerrieri Rizzardi cellars.
The apartments are only a short walk from the lakefront, restaurants and main squares, making them particularly convenient for visitors who want to explore Bardolino on foot. The property also includes a private park and swimming pool within the historic gardens.
For travellers who prefer to stay closer to nature, La Rocca Camping Village, between Bardolino and Garda, offers a different experience. Founded in 1961 on land belonging to the Rizzardi family, originally planted with vineyards and olive trees, today it offers a range of open-air accommodation, from pitches and mobile homes to apartments and glamping options.
Its position directly on Lake Garda makes it particularly suitable for travellers who want to combine their stay with outdoor and water-based activities.
Where to eat in Bardolino
For dinner, it is also possible to remain within the historic heart of Bardolino. La Loggia and La Barchessa Rambaldi are located in the town centre, opposite the harbour, within the historic Borgo Bardolino spaces connected with the Rizzardi family.
La Loggia offers a more intimate setting and a refined dining experience, while La Barchessa has a more informal atmosphere: two different options within the same historic setting.
Their central location is also particularly convenient for anyone staying in Bardolino: after dinner, the lakefront and streets of the old town are just a few steps away.
Frequently Asked Questions About Lake Garda in Autumn
What can you do in Lake Garda in autumn?
Between September and October, you can combine hiking on Monte Baldo, visits to Bardolino, Garda and Malcesine, walking and cycling routes, winery tastings and local festivals. In September, weather permitting, activities such as SUP, kayaking and sailing are often still possible.
How many days do you need for Lake Garda in autumn?
Three days are enough to combine Bardolino, a winery visit, Monte Baldo and Malcesine with a day dedicated to the lake. With four days, you can add more lakeside towns or seasonal events.
Can you swim or do water sports in Lake Garda in September?
September can still offer temperatures suitable for water activities. SUP, kayaking and sailing are therefore possible, although you should always check the weather, wind and lake conditions before setting out.
Where can you do a wine tasting in Bardolino?
The Guerrieri Rizzardi winery is located just outside Bardolino, surrounded by vineyards and olive groves. Its wine experiences include a winery visit and different tasting options featuring wines from the family’s estates in Bardolino, Valpolicella and Soave.
When is the Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival in 2026?
The 95th Bardolino Grape and Wine Festival will take place from 1 to 5 October 2026 along Bardolino’s lakefront and in the town centre.
Is Lake Garda worth visiting in autumn?
Yes. Autumn is particularly appealing for travellers who want to combine outdoor activities, lakeside towns, food and wine with a different atmosphere from the busiest summer months. September is better suited to those who still want to enjoy the water, while October is particularly good for hiking, autumn scenery and seasonal events.