Why this road
The fastest route to Garda heads inland to the motorway and is a few minutes quicker but much longer in kilometres. The lake road is shorter and far nicer: through Torbole with its windsurfers, along the narrow northern stretch with tunnels and olive trees, past the Scaliger castle of Malcesine and the quiet hamlets of Brenzone, to the harbour of Torri del Benaco and the wide bay of Garda. Slow, but every kilometre is by the lake.
The route
- ARiva del Garda
Leave Riva to the east along the shore towards Torbole.
- 1Torbole
The windsurfing village at the north tip of the lake. Here you turn south onto the Gardesana Orientale.
- 2Malcesine
The road squeezes between rock and water, then reaches Malcesine with its castle on a rock above the lake. The cable car to Monte Baldo starts here.
- 3Brenzone sul Garda
A string of small hamlets along the shore, quieter than the bigger towns, with little harbours and olive groves.
- 4Torri del Benaco
A small old harbour with another Scaliger castle. A car ferry crosses to Maderno on the west shore.
- BGarda
The end in the wide bay of Garda, with a long lakeside promenade.
Stops worth it
Plan 45 minutes for the old town and the castle, or more if you want to ride the cable car up Monte Baldo.
Twenty minutes for the harbour and an evening drink by the water, the castle walls glowing in the low sun.
Light and the best time
The road runs north to south with the lake on your right, so the views look west. In the late afternoon the sun is low over the west shore mountains, the lake glitters and the towns on your side, Malcesine, Torri and Garda, face straight into the warm light. That is why this is an evening drive: leave Riva around 4 pm in spring and autumn, later in high summer, and be in Torri or Garda for the sunset. In the morning the east shore lies in the shadow of Monte Baldo, while the cliffs across the water are front-lit.
April to June and September to October are best. In July and August the road is often slow, especially around Malcesine and Garda, and parking is hard. The road is open all year. In the north the wind picks up most afternoons, which the windsurfers love.
By vehicle
Made for an evening with the roof down: lake air, olive trees and the sunset in the windscreen at the end.
Scenic rather than sporty, with lots of traffic and villages. Lovely for an evening ride at an easy pace.
Ideal for short hops between the towns, and parking is much easier than by car.
Easy driving, just slow in the villages. Good for families.
Doable: the road is a main route and buses use it. The narrow sections and tunnels in the north need care, and parking in the towns is limited, so look for camper spaces outside the centres.
Good to know
No tolls on the lake road. Parking in Malcesine, Torri del Benaco and Garda is mostly paid and fills up in summer. Some town centres have limited traffic zones, follow the parking signs. There are a few narrow sections and tunnels between Torbole and Malcesine. Watch for cyclists and pedestrians in the villages.
Route checked against OpenStreetMap on 2 November 2026. Roads, closures and rules change: always check before you go and follow local signs.
Questions
How long does the drive along the east shore of Lake Garda take?
About 1 hour 15 of pure driving from Riva del Garda to Garda. With a stop in Malcesine and one in Torri del Benaco, plan an afternoon.
Which side of Lake Garda is more beautiful to drive?
Both are lovely. The east shore, the Gardesana Orientale, stays close to the water with Monte Baldo above you and is best in the evening light. The west shore has more cliffs and tunnels.
Is there a toll on the Gardesana Orientale?
No, the lake road is free. Only the motorway further inland has tolls.
When is the best time of day?
Late afternoon and evening, when the sun is over the west shore and the towns on the east shore are in warm light.