Lake Garda beaches: 16 spots you will love

Lake Garda beaches: our guide to the best beaches on Lake Garda for all types of visitors.

Lake Garda has some lovely beaches, perfect for relaxing lakeside on a warm summer day.

Depending on where you go on the lake, you will find the beaches of Lake Garda to be small and relaxing, large and busy, family-friendly or more suited to beach parties on the lakeshore.

In most cases, the beaches of this lake are pebbles however, you also have a peculiar sandy beach and one with large rock slabs.

Whatever type of beach you are looking for, I hope you will find this guide helpful. These are the best beaches on Lake Garda, Italy.

Please note: always double-check opening hours of beach cubs and availability of places the day before going. Access to beaches is subject to change to abide current social distancing regulations.

The best Lake Garda Beaches – top 7

Jamaica beach, Sirmione

Jamaica beach (or Giamaica Beach) in Sirmione is one of the best and most popular Lake Garda beaches and owns its name to the colors of its water, which are reminiscent of that of… Jamaica!

Without getting too carried away with the comparison, there is no doubt that Jamaica Beach is pretty and one of the best in the area.

The water is clean and the characteristic of this beach are large slabs of smooth rocks that are perfect for walking along the lakes or just splash in shallow waters. While smooth, you may want to bring water shoes to prevent slipping, especially for kids.

The beach here is not huge but it has good facilities: you can rent beach loungers, lie close to the water or under the shady trees, and you can use the showers, restrooms and beach cafe-restaurant.

The beach is immediately below the famous Grotte di Catullo and can be visited in the same occasion.

Desenzanino Beach

Desenzanino beach is a very popular beach in Desenzano del Garda.

The beach is of light-colored pebbles, it has a free area and a beach club where you can rent loungers and umbrellas. This is also where you find all restrooms and shower facilities as well as a nice cafe restaurant with views over the lake.

This is a popular beach and one of the easiest to reach since you can park nearby. The train station is also within walking distance from here. Desenzano is one of the getaway towns to the lake if you are coming to Lake Grada by plane or train.

Spiaggia d’Oro (Golden Beach), Rivoltella sul Garda

The Golden Beach of Rivoltella is another lovely beach on the Southern shores of the lake and one of the best Lake Garda beaches for dog lovers since it welcomes small dogs!

Despite its name, the beach is pebbles and has a lawn near the water for umbrellas and loungers.

There is a bar and restaurant, beach club and, in the evening, it turns into a disco type place, which makes it popular with a young crowd who looks for entertainment up to later hours.

Baia Bianca Beach in Manerba – best sandy beach on Lake Garda

Baia Bianca beach in Manerba is a lovely beach on lake Garda with something special: sand!

Unlike other beaches in the area, Baia Bianca hasn’t got a lawn, pebbles or rocky slabs but it is a sandy beach with tons of soft sand that has been imported straight from the Caribbean! To add to the exotic feel, this beach has nice Caribbean style umbrellas that make it rather scenic.

Umbrellas and loungers are for rent, there are changing cabins and a cafe/restaurant: this is a lovely and unique beach club on Lake Garda!

Book your spot in advance: you can get all in the info on their Facebook page

Lido dei Limoni Beach and Bar, Gargnano

Lido dei Limoni is a delightful beach on the Eastern shore of Lake Garda. The beach has parking nearby and has a beach club that rents loungers, umbrellas, pedal boats and SUP boards, that are fun to explore the lake and if you are here with kids especially.

The beach has a popular cafe and tends to attract people day and night, when the cafe becomes a coveted aperitivo spot.

The beach is in a lovely spot and offers some of the best views of the lake you can ask for. Lovely family-friendly Lake Garda beach. Book here.

Fonte Torrente San Giovanni beach – Limone sul Garda

If you are looking for a nice beach near Limone sul garda, then do not miss the beach of Fonte Torrente. Blessed with a stunning position on the upper side of the Lake, this beach offers stunning views of the mountains and it is small and pleasant.

The beach here is made of pebbles (bring water shoes and thick towels!) and it is close to cafes, restaurants, a beach volley pitch and even a surf school.

Some trees for shade add charm to this beach although you will need an umbrella as shaded areas are limited. Great beach for all ages but careful with kids as in several spots the lake floor degraded rather quickly.

Spiaggia dei Pini, Riva – family friendly beach Lake Garda

Riva is one of our favorite places on Lake Garda and its small beach is one of our favorite spots! Rather than sand, what you have here is a nice lawn and pretty trees (hence the name, ‘pini’ means pine trees) and a lovely cafe with bean bags that are just heavenly.

This is a lovely, family-friendly beach right in the village with sandbox and a small playground for kids. Part of the water area is cordoned off to allow safe surfing, popular in this spot.

This is our top pick as best Lake Garda beach for families and Riva, in general, is a great spot if you are visiting Lake Garda with kids.

Parco Baia delle Sirene, Punta San Vigilio – Family-friendly beach Club

Lovely, family-friendly beach in Garda, Parco Baia delle Sirene is a private beach that offers loungers, umbrella, restrooms, showers and tons of entertainment options for kids and teenagers. Here you will find table tennis, playground and mini club.

The beach is rocky and has lovely shaded areas and trees, perfect for a day out in summer. Book here.

Other Lake Garda beaches you may like

On top of the fab beaches mentioned so far, there are many more spots on Lake Garda that are great for a day in the water. Other Lake Garda beaches you may like are:

Spiaggia La Cavalla, Garda – known for its clean waters, this is a small, pretty beach along the Bardolino – Garda promenade and a popular resting spot for walkers. Child friendly.

Spiaggia delle Lucertole, Torbole – scenic access to this beach is what makes this cove stands out. The rock face overlooking this beach is popular with climbers and the steps you need to take to reach the shore make it a little more exclusive than others and appreciated especially by people who look for a more natural type of beach.

Lido di Fasano, Gardone Riviera – lovely, pebble beach with cafe, beach volley pitch and rowing club. Very popular in summer, it is considered one of the best beaches on Lake Garda for swimming, the only one on the Lake to receive the coveted Bandiera Blue award, for the quality of its waters.

Spiaggia della Quercia, Lazise – regularly mentioned as one of the best Lake Garda beaches and one of the biggest, this beach is part of Camping La Quercia and is only open to guests. One to consider if you are looking for a camping option in this area – the beach here is lovely!

Spiaggia Lido di Cisano – family-friendly beach near Bardolino, with grassy areas and shallow waters, appreciated by families with small kids especially.

Spiaggia dei canneti, Desenzano – clothing optional beach

Lido Holiday Beach, Bardolino – a busy beach with evening entertainment, popular with a younger crowd who wants disco style entertainment at night

Spiaggia di Valsogno, Malcesine – famous for watersports lovers, especially sailing and windsurfing.

Best Lake Garda Beaches – Pin this!

FAQ about Lake Garda beaches