Three days on Lake Garda are enough to really feel the region — if you set the rhythm right. Here is a concrete plan, tested with guests visiting the western Lago di Garda for the first time. Recommended arrival on Friday afternoon, departure on Sunday evening.
Friday · Arrive, breathe, settle in
16:00 — Check-in in Toscolano-Maderno
Arrival from Munich classically via the Brenner motorway (4 hrs), from Verona via the Brescia motorway (1 hr), from Milan 1 hr 30. Personal key handover at our apartments in Via Oriolo. Drop off the luggage, take a moment to arrive.
17:30 — Walk to the promenade
15 minutes on foot down to the Maderno harbour. Along the beach promenade towards Salò. The pebble beaches on the right side are perfect for a first exploration. Holding Lake Garda in your hands for the first time.
19:30 — Aperitivo hour
Recommendation: Bar Centrale at the Maderno harbour or the bistro La Veranda. Both come with the sunset included. Aperol Spritz, Hugo or a local Lugana white.
21:00 — First Italian dinner
Trattoria San Marco — right at the harbour, family-run, fish from the lake, pasta from their own kitchen. Reserve in advance, especially in high season.
Saturday · Experience the Lago
08:30 — Breakfast on the terrace
At Smooth Holiday Living every apartment gives you its own terrace — either the pergola at Boutique Sky · M1, the sky terrace at Sunrise Sky · M2 or the rooftop at Skylounge 360° · M3. Cornetti from the bakery around the corner, espresso from your own kitchen.
10:00 — Boat trip towards Isola del Garda
Rent a boat in Maderno (Centro Nautico, no licence required up to 40 hp). An hour south towards Isola del Garda — the only inhabited island on Lake Garda, with the Cavazza family's Villa Borghese. Guided tours by prior booking only.
13:00 — Lunch in Salò
Dock in Salò, the prettiest little town on the west shore. Lunch at Trattoria 100 km — the name is the concept: all produce from within a 100 km radius. Vincisgrassi (the local lasagne) are a must.
16:00 — Olive oil tasting
10 minutes by car to Cantina Comincioli in Puegnago. Tasting with five olive oils, pickled olives and a glass of Lugana. Take a bottle of "Numero Uno" home for your own kitchen.
19:30 — Pool and sunset
Back to the residence. The communal pool at Smooth Holiday Living looks straight onto the lake — perfect for the at-home apero. Sunset by the water, then into the apartment, your own kitchen, a local wine.
Sunday · Climbing the heights
09:00 — Breakfast & departure
The early hours belong to the mountain. Drive up to Tremosine sul Garda, one of the most beautiful villages in Italy.
10:30 — Hike around Tremosine
Three routes to choose from: easy along the "Strada della Forra" (the old gorge road), medium up to the viewpoint Pieve di Tremosine, demanding towards Monte Pizzocolo. All three with a panoramic reward.
13:30 — Lunch with a view
Ristorante Miralago in Pieve di Tremosine — the restaurant with "that photo" over the lake you know from Instagram. Authentic local cuisine, not a tourist trap. Reservation recommended.
15:30 — A last walk & the journey home
Back to Toscolano-Maderno, pack the suitcase. If there is still time: a final loop through the old paper-mill gorge "Valle delle Cartiere" — cool, shaded, full of history. Then home, with olive oil and wine in the trunk.
What these three days give you
A complete Lago experience: water, mountains, wine, olive groves, trattorias and three sunsets on the lake. This is not a "tick-the-sights" weekend, it is real travel at a calm rhythm. Most guests extend their next stay to four or five days — the Lago works slowly.
If you want concrete table reservations or boat-trip bookings sorted in advance: Ezio, our caretaker, is Italian and is happy to handle them for you.