What to do around
La Casa della Ada
The perfect starting point for exploring one of the most varied corners of Northern Italy.
A home base for every kind of traveller
From La Casa della Ada you can reach Lake Garda in five minutes, Verona in thirty, and dozens of fascinating spots in between. This corner of the Veneto has more to offer than most people expect: from the lake to art cities, from theme parks to medieval villages, from vineyards to the peaks of Monte Baldo, everything is within easy reach. Whether you’re travelling as a couple, a family or solo, there’s always something waiting to surprise you.
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Lake Garda
Lake Garda is five minutes by car from Castelnuovo del Garda — and every stretch of shoreline has its own character. The Veronese shore, where we are, is the sunniest and most sheltered, with calm waters ideal for families and water sports lovers. Equipped beaches alternate with small historic harbours, lakeside promenades and restaurants with water views. In summer the lake buzzes with windsurfers, sailors and kayakers; off-season it offers rare quiet and stunning scenery.
- Peschiera del Garda – 5 km, 5 min · UNESCO World Heritage fortress with perfectly preserved Venetian walls, marina, equipped beaches and a lively historic centre. Also the starting point of the Mincio cycle path to Mantua.
- Lazise – 8 km, 10 min · One of the lake’s most picturesque villages, with a Scaligero castle, medieval harbour and Venetian customs house — the only one on the lake. The Thursday market is one of the busiest in the area.
- Bardolino – 12 km, 15 min · Famous for its DOC wine, Bardolino offers an elegant lakeside promenade, historic wineries open for visits, the Wine Museum and numerous waterfront restaurants. In October, the Grape Festival is one of the lake’s most loved food and wine events.
- Garda – 17 km, 20 min · The town that gave the lake its name is also one of its most elegant. Charming historic centre, central beach with island views, ancient harbour and a lively but relaxed summer scene. Don’t miss the scenic stairway up to the Rocca.
- Sirmione – 18 km, 20 min · The lake’s most famous peninsula. The Scaligero Castle, Catullo’s Caves (a 1st-century BC Roman villa), Aquaria thermal spa and Jamaica beach make it unmissable. We recommend visiting in the morning or off-season to avoid the crowds.
- Torri del Benaco – 28 km, 30 min · An authentic, less touristy village with an Anjou castle housing a unique ethnographic museum on fishing and lemon cultivation.
Parks & family attractions
Castelnuovo del Garda sits at the gateway to the Garda theme park district — the highest concentration in Italy within just a few kilometres. But it’s not all adrenaline: the area also offers extraordinary botanical gardens, safari parks and water parks for all ages.
- Gardaland – 3 km, 5 min · Italy’s most visited theme park, with over 40 attractions including roller coasters, live shows and themed areas. The Gardaland Resort also includes themed hotels and SEA LIFE Aquarium, ideal for families with young children.
- CanevaWorld / Movieland – 4 km, 6 min · A double park: Movieland is Italy’s first film-themed park with Hollywood sets and live stunt shows; Caneva is the largest water park in Northern Italy, with slides, wave pools and an adult relaxation area.
- Sigurtà Park & Garden – 12 km, 15 min · Among the ten most beautiful gardens in Europe according to the Guardian, it covers 60 hectares along the Mincio. In spring the tulips are spectacular; in autumn the foliage colours are equally stunning. Visitable on foot, by golf cart or by bicycle.
- Natura Viva Park – 20 km, 25 min · Safari zoo with over 200 animal species, including endangered ones. The route is split between a drive-through safari and a walk-through fauna area. Great for children and nature lovers.
- SEA LIFE Aquarium – 3 km, 5 min · Located inside the Gardaland Resort, it’s one of Italy’s most visited aquariums with underwater tunnels, touch tanks and marine species from around the world.
Villages & Nature
The area around Castelnuovo del Garda is dotted with medieval villages, castles and towns that seem frozen in time. Away from the lake’s main tourist flows, these places offer an authentic experience of cobbled alleys, historic trattorias and local craftsmanship.
- Valeggio sul Mincio – 16 km, 20 min · Famous throughout Italy for its tortellini (called “love knots”), Valeggio hosts every June the Feast of the Love Knot — a spectacular dinner on the Visconti Bridge for 3,500 people. Worth visiting: the Scaligero Castle, Sigurtà Park and the village of Borghetto sul Mincio.
- Borghetto sul Mincio – 18 km, 22 min · One of Italy’s most photographed villages, with its medieval watermills, the 1393 Visconti Bridge and colourful houses reflected in the Mincio. In summer, riverside restaurants serve Valeggio tortellini with water views.
- Castellaro Lagusello – 22 km, 25 min · Listed among Italy’s Most Beautiful Villages, this small medieval village sits on a hill that descends to a heart-shaped lake. The medieval walls are walkable and offer unique views over the Mantuan countryside.
- Soave – 35 km, 35 min · One of the best-preserved medieval villages in the Veneto, surrounded by almost intact 14th-century Scaligero walls and dominated by an imposing hilltop castle overlooking the vineyards. Soave is also one of Italy’s most famous white wine denominations: Soave DOC Classico.
Outdoor activities
Castelnuovo del Garda’s location is ideal for outdoor lovers. The lake offers a variety of water sports year-round; the moraine hills inland are criss-crossed with hiking and mountain biking trails; and the plain towards Mantua is perfect for cycle tourism on flat, scenic roads.
- Mincio Cycling Route – departure from Peschiera del Garda · One of Northern Italy’s most scenic cycling routes: 42 km from Peschiera to Mantua along the Mincio river, through Mincio Park, Valeggio, Borghetto and the Po Valley rice fields. Doable in 3-4 hours, almost entirely flat.
- Monte Baldo and Malcesine cableway – 45 km, 45 min · The panoramic cable car in Malcesine rises in 10 minutes from 90 to 1,760 metres, with 360° views of the lake and Alps. At the top, dozens of trails open up, from easy walks to challenging hikes towards Monte Baldo’s summit (2,218 m). In winter the area becomes a small ski resort.
- Windsurf, SUP and sailing in Peschiera and Lazise · The Veronese shore is ideal for beginners thanks to calm waters. In Peschiera and Lazise you’ll find windsurfing schools, SUP and kayak rental, and sailing trips.
- Trekking among the Moraininc hills · The Garda moraine amphitheatre, formed during the last ice age, offers a unique rolling landscape of vineyards, olive groves and lake views. Numerous CAI trails connect the inland villages from Castelnuovo to Sommacampagna.
- Golf · Within 20 minutes you’ll find some of Northern Italy’s finest golf courses: Golf Club Verona (Sommacampagna), Golf Ca’ degli Ulivi (Marciaga di Costermano), Chervò Golf (Pozzolengo) and Golf Club Bardolino.
Art cities & local flavours
Within less than an hour from Castelnuovo del Garda lie two of Northern Italy’s most beautiful and underrated cities. Verona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is 30 minutes away; Mantua, a triple UNESCO heritage city and former Capital of Culture, is 45. Both deserve a full day — and in both, food is an integral part of the experience.
- Verona – 30 km, 30 min
Verona’s historic centre is compact, walkable and packed with history. The Roman Arena, second only to the Colosseum in size, hosts one of the world’s most famous opera festivals in summer. Around it, elegant squares, Romanesque churches and historic osterie where you can drink a glass of Valpolicella and eat classic Veronese dishes: pastissada de caval, Amarone risotto, bigoli with duck sauce, pandoro and nadalin.
Do not miss: Arena di Verona · Balcone di Giulietta · Piazza Erbe · Castelvecchio & Ponte Scaligero · Ponte Pietra · Basilica di San Zeno · Teatro Romano & Castel San Pietro. - Mantua – 45 km, 45 min
Mantua is one of the best-preserved Renaissance cities in Europe, surrounded on three sides by the Mincio lakes. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2008, it has also been Italy’s Capital of Culture. The Gonzaga Ducal Palace — with Mantegna’s celebrated Camera degli Sposi — and Palazzo Te are two of Italy’s most important Renaissance monuments. In summer, a boat trip on the lakes among lotus flowers is an experience hard to forget. Mantuan cuisine is among the most original in Northern Italy: pumpkin tortelli, sausage risotto, pike in sauce and sbrisolona cake.
Do not miss: Palazzo Ducale · Palazzo Te · Piazza Sordello · Basilica di Sant’Andrea · Boat trip on the lakes. - Wine & wineries
We sit in the heart of four DOC denominations: Lugana, Bardolino, Custoza and Chiaretto di Bardolino. The moraine hills around Castelnuovo are covered in vineyards, many open for tastings by appointment. A few kilometres towards Verona, the Soave and Valpolicella territories begin – two of Italy’s most internationally recognised wine zones.
Recommended wineries: Guerrieri Rizzardi (Bardolino) · Ottella (Peschiera del Garda) · Le Tende (Lazise) · Cantina di Custoza (Sommacampagna).
Personalised tips
Marco and Roberta know every corner of the area. Whether you’re looking for a restaurant with lake views, a trail away from the crowds, a winery for a private tasting or an activity for children – just ask at check-in. They’ll have the right recommendation for you.
