If you’re planning a trip to Lago di Garda, Limone Sul Garda needs to be first on your list.
We’ll take you through the old town, the harbour, where we had the best lemon sorbet we’ve ever tasted, where to eat, and the small details that make this place so unique. We’re also gonna list a few things that are actually worth doing if you only have a short time here.
By the end, you’ll know if Limone is actually worth adding to your Lake Garda itinerary.
Limone Sul Garda on Lago di Garda, Italy
Limone sul Garda was one of the most popular stops on our northern Lake Garda route, and honestly, now we know why. We explored this whole part of the lake by boat with Navigarda, which we think is the easiest and best way to see Lake Garda. The views are amazing, views you just don’t get from the road. You arrive straight into each town, and you avoid the stress of parking in peak season, especially in summer.
In this post we’re focusing on Limone because it was one of our favourites, but if you want the full boat route and every stop we did, we’ve got a separate post on that.
Limone is built right into the mountains on the edge of the lake. It’s full of colourful buildings stacked along the water, little boats coming in and out, lemon trees and lemon themed shops everywhere, and huge mountains behind it all.
History of Limone
For a long time, Limone was a small fishing and lemon-growing village that was pretty isolated because the mountains around it made road access difficult. Most people used to arrive by boat. They have done an amazing job of maintaining that authenticity, it definitely feels less touristy than other villages on lake Garda.
A lot of people assume the name “Limone” comes from lemons, but it probably doesn’t. Still, lemons became a huge part of the town’s identity over the centuries. You’ll still see old lemon houses and terraces built into the hills, and the whole town really leans into that lemon theme. One of our favourite details was the street name tiles with lemon details,
And if you’re visiting Lake Garda for the first time, this is one of those places that genuinely feels worth the hype.
Top thing to explore in Limone Sul Garda
We actually first came here by car on another day, but returned by boat as part of our Navigarda route. After trying both, arriving from the water is definitely a better experience. But if you’re driving, we’d recommend parking here and then walking into the centre, because the main part of Limone can only be accessed on foot.
The Old Town and Little Ports
One of the main spots is the old town. The streets are small, colourful, full of purple and pink bougainvillea, and every few steps you get another view over the lake.
Our favourite area was Porto Vecchio, a small harbour tucked between colourful buildings. This is where we found the lemon sorbet everyone talks about.
Famous Frozen Lemon Sorbet
It’s served inside a frozen lemon, and once you finish it, you can actually eat the frozen lemon shell too, which is very refreshing. Inside the shop they also sell loads of lemon products like limoncello, soaps, and gifts, so naturally we had to pick some things up.
It’s very popular with tourists, so we weren’t sure if it would be worth it or just a tourist trap, but it genuinely did live up to the hype. It costs 6 euros, and for the experience, presentation, and taste, it was very worth it. Hands down the best lemon sorbet we’ve ever had. I’m not sure if all locations serve the same quality, so we highly recommend going to this specific one, called Delizia Limone.
After that, we just sat by the harbour watching the boats come and go. Honestly, if this was all we did it would have been enough. But, if you want to add more activities to your itinerary, here are some ideas.
More Things to Do If You Have Extra Time
Limonaia del Castèl
A place worth visiting is the Limonaia del Castèl, one of the old lemon houses where you can see how lemons were grown here centuries ago. Even if you’re not interested in the history, the views from up there are really good.
Walk or bike along the lakefront Bike Path
For beautiful views, you’ve also got the famous lakefront cycle path that runs along the cliffs 50m above the water level. It’s 2,5 km long and connects Limone with Capo Reamol.
Swim and relax by the beach
For swimming on a hot day, there are plenty of beaches and beautiful swimming spots with views of the lake and mountains in the background.
Visit the local church (Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Benedetto)
The Chiesa Parrocchiale di San Benedetto is the main church in Limone and one of the most recognizable landmarks in the town. It dates back to the late 1600s and sits right in the historic center, but what most people notice first is the tall bell tower. It’s the tower you’ll see in almost every photo and video of Limone sul Garda.
Sit down at one of their restaurants with a view of the lake
La bottega dei sapori (4.9 ⭐️): https://maps.app.goo.gl/vm9isBtxka5mA1wd7
HOSTARIA AL BUONGUSTO (4.7 ⭐️): https://maps.app.goo.gl/fVyoMtKC6DudCtX4A
Il Cortiletto (4.6 ⭐️): https://maps.app.goo.gl/San1NrZzCeX9pet8A
Ristorante Pizza Incontro (4.6 ⭐️): https://maps.app.goo.gl/A9A1oeb2UEc5fqW57
Restaurant Speck Stube al Castèl Limone (4.6 ⭐️): https://maps.app.goo.gl/YCkZniEahJHzFteZ8
Where to eat on the go in Limone Sul Garda
Focacceria Dal Piasarot
Other than the sorbet, we stopped for some food at Focacceria Dal Piasarot. It’s a small focaccia spot just around the corner from Porto Vecchio. The vibe inside was amazing with all the ingredients they use for the focaccias and lemons on display. They also had a couple of tables looking out onto the water, but they are of a takeaway spot. We tried a few options on the menu and they were all delicious, but the one that stood out was the O’ Sole Mio. It had mortadella, lemon carpaccio, stracciatella, and a creamy pistachio pesto. The flavours really worked well together and it was delicious. It cost 9 euros and for the size and quality, it was more than worth it.
In Limone, the best thing you can do is just relax, sit by the water, have a drink, walk around, and definitely stay for sunset to see the water and mountains turn a beautiful shade of orange.
If you do want to see more and you come by car, you can take a ferry to nearby towns, we recommend stopping in Malcesine and Riva del Garda. Like we mentioned earlier we have a whole video showing you all the towns we visited, how the ferry works and how much it costs. If this is something you are interested in, definitely go check that video out.
Related Reads You’ll Love…
Planning more trips around northern Italy? Check out our full Northern Lake Garda itinerary (visiting Malcesine, Riva del Garda & more). We also recommend our guides to the Dolomites (2-3h drive from Lago di Garda) and Lake Como (4h drive from Lago di Garda).
We also have a guide on everything you need to know on visiting Rome in a day!
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