Sirmione – a treasure on Lake Garda!

🍋The Sirmione peninsula in Italy is not just a town literally surrounded by the lake. It’s not just a place full of lemons, Aperol, or shops.

It’s a place where you’ll come across a minimum of tourist traps and a heap of magical experiences.

Accommodation

We return to Sirmione regularly and not once have we put a foot wrong with accommodation. A few places to stay are right in the historic centre of town, where, upon special request, you can drive in by car – but we really don’t recommend this. The road isn’t suited to cars, so the alleys are very narrow, and even if a larger SUV fits here, it’s quite uncomfortable – not only because of the space, but also because of the tourists.

On the east shore of the lake is Lazise, which you can reach from Sirmione by ferry. Where to stay in Lazise is a separate guide: from the municipal campsite inside the walls to the hotels by the harbour.

The top of all top hotels is Hotel Mavino and it is located right in the historic part of the town. It’s strategically well located – it’s literally 3 minutes from everything… the Castello Scaligero Castle, the buzz, the thermal baths, restaurants, and the little train that goes to Jamaica Beach.

Along with your reservation, write parking in the requests and they will arrange a QR code for the nearby Grifo Parking – it’s about a kilometre from the accommodation, but don’t worry, a small golf cart will take you from the parking lot right to the hotel and back again at check-out.

The breakfast area is smaller, but that doesn’t mean a smaller selection of food. You’ll find everything from eggs, sausages, ham to sweet treats. The reception is absolutely amazing and is 24/7 – which we really appreciated, as due to a change of plans we arrived in Sirmione 2 days earlier and checked in at 10 in the evening – and all the comfort was ensured for us.

A hotel that is outside the historic centre but offers active relaxation is Hotel Vittoria. The hotel has a pool with sunbeds available and is therefore ideal for someone who wants to relax after a full day of walking.

No parking is reserved at the hotel, as it is in a side alley; you park right in front of the hotel, where spaces are reserved for it. You don’t reserve parking, but it’s free 🙂

It’s about 2.5 kilometres to the historic centre and there are two great options – either walk along the whole of Lake Garda to the centre or take the bus, which is about 500 metres from the accommodation.

Want to compare accommodation prices in Sirmione?

Accommodation right in the historic centre is the most expensive and disappears the fastest. Browse the current listings in and around Sirmione and filter by price, rating and location – right on the map.

Parking

But if you’re just passing through Sirmione, you’ll definitely want to be sure you park well. And here’s one thing we only learned with time: Grifo Parking inside the historic centre is not a public car park. It’s reserved for guests staying in the centre who have a QR code from their accommodation – the same one we mention above for Hotel Mavino. If you’re only coming to Sirmione on a day trip, head for Parcheggio Monte Baldo or one of the paid car parks in front of the entrance gate. From there it’s a 5-minute walk to the historic centre.

What to see in Sirmione 🤌

Castello Scaligero

The first thing that will majestically present itself to you on the way to the centre is the Castello Scaligero. You just need to cross the bridge and you’ll be treated to a beautiful sight and also straight to the entrance to the castle itself. We recommend coming in the morning hours, when the town isn’t yet full of tourists, so you have the unique chance to be almost alone here. Admission is €10, free under 18, and EU citizens aged 18-25 get a reduced rate of €2. Go straight up to the top of the rampart (when you’re standing with your back to the entrance then to the top right corner – the stairs there lead almost up to the tower).

Jamaica Beach and the little train up

Another small hidden gem is definitely the (now well-known) Jamaica Beach. You can make the climb up more pleasant with a little train that will take you for 1.20 euros as far as it can 🙂 Then you’ll have to head back down along a slightly dusty path – but the result is worth it. Don’t expect a sandy beach; it’s full of huge rocks that can be perfectly used instead of sunbeds. Although, those are here too – and the prices are great, it comes out to 5 euros for 4 hours. Whether you’re splashing your feet in the lake, on a sunbed, or at the bar – there’s an amazing view from here of the opposite Moniga del Garda. Jamaica Beach, like the bar, opens at 10:00 in the morning 🙂

Grotte di Catullo

On the way back from Jamaica Beach, after climbing the hill, there’s also the entrance where the remains of Grotte di Catullo rise, sometimes mistakenly called “caves”. In reality, these are the foundations of a huge Roman villa that once belonged to the poet Catullus. A walk among the preserved walls and mosaics gives a glimpse into the life of the Roman elite, and the atmosphere of the place easily transports you back two thousand years. It’s a magical place where history and gorgeous views combine into an unforgettable experience. Admission costs €10 (a reduced €2 for EU citizens aged 18 to 25), and it’s open Tuesday to Saturday from 8:30 to 19:30, Sunday from 10:00, and Monday mornings only until 13:00 – the ticket office closes 40 minutes before closing. And if you’re planning to visit the castle too, the combined ticket for €20 is worth it: it’s valid for seven days and, besides the Grotte and Castello Scaligero, it also gets you into the Villa Romana in Desenzano.

Terme Catullo and SPA & Thermal Garden: what’s free and what costs

The last, but no less important, stop from Jamaica Beach – almost in the heart of the centre – is Terme Catullo and right next to it Grand Hotel Terme Sirmione. Great for relaxing after a demanding day and perfect for watching the sunset. It’s not just a thermal pool; you’ll also find a Turkish bath, a sauna, and a chill zone. But if you don’t want to push through the crowds and the town, there’s definitely an option right at the edge of the historic centre at Hotel Sirmione Terme.

Just watch out that you don’t expect something different from what you actually get – it took us a while to work this out ourselves. The warm thermal water right at the shore at the tip of the peninsula, just below Grotte di Catullo, is freely accessible and free of charge. The SPA & Thermal Garden spa complex (formerly called Aquaria) run by Terme di Sirmione, however, costs money, and it really isn’t cheap: €44 for five hours Monday to Thursday, €58 Friday to Sunday, €86 for the whole day, and €25 for two hours. Children from 30 months to 11 years pay €28 – there’s no free admission at any age. So a family of 2+2 comes to €172 on a Friday, which is something completely different from an afternoon by the water on the beach.

How much things cost in Sirmione

What	Price	Note
Castello Scaligero	€10	free under 18, €2 for EU citizens 18-25
Grotte di Catullo	€10	free under 18, €2 for EU citizens 18-25
Combined ticket (castle + Grotte + Villa Romana in Desenzano)	€20	valid 7 days
SPA & Thermal Garden – 5 hours Mon-Thu	€44	children 30 months to 11 years €28
SPA & Thermal Garden – 5 hours Fri-Sun	€58	whole day €86, two hours €25
Warm water at the shore at the tip of the peninsula	free	freely accessible
Ferry Sirmione – Desenzano	€3.50	one way, about 20 minutes
Little train to Jamaica Beach	€1.20	sunbed €5 for 4 hours

Prices according to the official price lists of Direzione regionale Musei Lombardia, Terme di Sirmione and Navigazione Laghi, checked in August 2026. Admission to the sights may vary during exhibitions.

The ferry from Sirmione to Desenzano

A Navigazione Laghi line boat connects Sirmione and Desenzano. The crossing takes about 20 minutes and a one-way ticket costs €3.50 for everyone, regardless of age or discount, since it’s the shortest fare zone. It’s especially worthwhile on Tuesdays, when there’s a big market right on Desenzano’s promenade, and also because you can use the same €20 combined ticket for the Villa Romana on the other side. We wrote a whole article about it: Desenzano del Garda: market, harbour and ferry. Just watch out – from roughly the start of November to the start of March the Navigazione Laghi line boats do not run, so the Sirmione-Desenzano link is out of service.

Boat trip around Sirmione

Among other things, you can also learn about Grotte di Catullo during a boat trip, which you’ll notice at the entrance to the centre. This is not a scam; everything is clearly described on the boards – how long the cruise lasts, where the route goes, and what the price is. We were curious too and decided on a half-hour cruise around Sirmione – for 12 euros per person. We recommend, again, coming around ten in the morning, when there aren’t crowds of tourists yet. Then it’s almost certain that there will be a minimal number of people on the boat and it will thus enhance the great experience.

Sirmione’s historic centre: where to eat and what to try

But if we stay right in the centre, you’ll be tempted everywhere by ice cream. Those inconspicuous little spoon tastings will simply lure you in. BUT! Most of these ice creams don’t taste good at all and have an almost poisonous colour – probably not exactly something that we and our stomach would rejoice over. So is it even possible to find good ice cream in the flood of all these temptations? We looked – and found it! 🙂 Unexpectedly, it’s right next to a poorly rated gelateria and is tucked a bit to the side, but it’s Cremeria Bulian. It’s the only one in all of Sirmione with great ratings and we know why – that ice cream is divine.

Find a nice lakeside spot in Sirmione where you automatically get tapas with olives and nuts? Sure, there’s a little gem like that here too! It’s called Bar La Torre and you’ll find it on the eastern side of Sirmione. There’s a great view of the lake and the castle. The prices are very friendly for where the bar is located and all it offers 🙂 About 30 metres from the bar there are public toilets – win win 🙂

The town is also filling up with all sorts of restaurants and cafés, and the truth is that you always know how much you’ll pay. Every restaurant is transparent and has a menu at the entrance. Some restaurants are so kind that they also write the coperto (it’s a “service charge”) right on the sign – the advantage is that Italians then don’t expect a tip; the coperto is standardly included in the price and it’s usually a few euros.

Two restaurants we would like to mention are Ristorante Caruso – which juts out into Lake Garda, and will enchant you with a beautiful view and atmosphere. The setting is breathtaking, the service great. The selection is just right, from pasta to pizza – which is, by the way, not only excellently made, but also quite affordable (about 11 euros for 1 pizza). To be sure, we also tested the “house wine” for you – which was 4 euros per glass and was excellent 🙂

The second restaurant, or rather bistro, is a bit further from the lake, on the way to Jamaica Beach. It’s Bon Ton Bistrot. They’re open only in summer, but when else to visit Garda 🙂 The bistro is small, cozy, and even though it doesn’t offer much, everyone will choose something here – from stuffed ravioli to pinsa.

Another thing we definitely have to highlight is Cristallo Bar – inside it’s a classic restaurant with a garden, but they have a great takeaway window. They’ll make you a great drink to go (Aperol and even a Moscow Mule) and they also do panini or focaccia to take away. For a quick bite, there’s also the newly opened Piadineri Sirmione with its, what else, piadina (a thin tortilla folded in half and filled – well, with whatever you want). They also have a contactless ordering system and within ten minutes you have food to go – we recommend it, great portions and ingredients.

The last tip from travelgingers🍋

If you’re, like me, Veronika, a tattoo enthusiast, just take a 10-minute bus ride into town to the tattoo studio Raw Tattooing. It’s always walk-in – no appointment, and the tattoo artist is extremely nice, fast, and precise. ATTENTION: they take cash only 🙂

Do you want to know more about accommodation in Italy? We have more tips not only in Sirmione in our article Italy by car: Accommodation 👌 You’ll find all our accommodations from our road trip there, honest reviews and tips.