Torbole sul Garda is located in the north-eastern corner of Lake Garda and is one of the best known and most visited tourist centers. Famous for the wind Torbole is the favorite destination for those who practice water sports: sailing, windsurfing, canoeing but not only, rising at the foot of Monte Baldo, Torbole sul Garda is also known and appreciated for the various routes of Mtb and trekking.
Right here Goethe wrote the famous verses “How I wish my friends were for a moment next to me and could enjoy the view in front of me!“
What to see in a day trip in Torbole sul Garda in 90 minutes.
Colonia Pavese.
We leave for our journey to discover Torbole sul Garda from the Colonia Pavese park. This imposing building, which directly overlooks the beach, was built in the early 1900s as the Grand Hotel Torbole. After the war it was used first as a sanatorium and then as a school. After a period of neglect, in the early 2000s it was made safe by lowering it by an entire floor and replacing the roof.
Little church of Santa Maria.
A few meters away we find the small church of Santa Maria, once a private chapel of the Colonia Pavese, now used as an alternative to the main church of Sant’Andrea. Opposite the square is the bar alla Sega, whose name derives from the fact that once upon a time here stood a sawmill fed by the torrent della Fitta which, flowing from the locality Coize to this point of the beach, also fed some mills.
Lakefront Torbole sul Garda.
Continuing along the lake we find Casa Beust, a historic building in the town characterized by a large fresco in the upper part of the facade. A few steps away we find the Ex Dogana. When the Austro-hungarian Empire reigned over these territories, Torbole sul Garda was a borderland and the Austrian customs officers controlled the goods that passed through the port and collected customs duties.
After passing the port passing under the arcades of the Hotel Geier, we walk to the right along the beautiful lakefront of Torbole sul Garda. After having passed the pier of the boat you will reach the Sasso dei Bimbi, a huge boulder now almost completely covered by the pavement of the sidewalk and from which you can enjoy a unique view of Torbole, Riva del Garda up to Fortress of Tremosine. In the Torbolan tradition children, instead of being born under the cabbages, were born here, under the stone kissed by the lake. This boulder has been for centuries the place of the games of the young Torbolani who here learned to dive into the water. Until the 1930s, this point also represented the end of the road. This means that anyone who wanted to travel to Malcesine would have to do it with a boat.
Historic center.
Going back towards the center, just before reaching the port, we turn right at the Bellavista café and through piazza Alpini we reach Via Picalof which represents the main street on which the settlement of Torbole. The name “pica-lof: hang-wolf” derives from the arch overlooking the access to the street under which the wolves captured by hunters were hung.
At the end of the street you reach piazza Goethe which owes its name to the fact that during his famous trip to Italy, Goethe stayed here. A plaque on the building commemorates the event.
From here we climb up via Pontalti up to the stairs that lead to the Church of Sant’Andrea . The main church of the town, developed in three naves and characterized by a painting of the homonymous saint dating back to the 18th century, stands on the remains of a previous Romanesque church. The beauty of the church is combined with a breathtaking panorama overlooking Lake Garda.
Going down the stairs of the Church continue on via Pontalti following the signs for Nago. This was the road that connected Torbole and Nago from the second half of the 19th century to the 30s of the 20th century when the current road was built. Previously, the ancient prehistoric-Roman road of the valletta di Santa Lucia was used. At the first bend you reach the Belvedere: a peak that stands out in front of the lake overlooking the roofs of Torbole. It is certainly one of the best viewpoints in the area. From here you can see the Riva bastion, the Penede di Nago castle and the Manerba fortress. No wonder that in medieval times there was a watchtower right here!
What to do in a day trip in Torbole sul Garda.
Windsurfing on Lake Garda.
Torbole sul Garda is the reference point for Windsurfing on Lake Garda thanks to the surfing club and the international regattas it manages to organize. Every year the best athletes in the world find themselves in the water near the center of Torbole to compete for world and European titles. Windsurfing, the new windfoil find the perfect conditions in this corner of Benaco, strong wind to support the evolutions and constant throughout the day for those who already know how to practice these sports. For those who want to approach these activities there are several schools that offer courses for all levels and all ages.
Sail.
Wind, water and breathtaking views? This is the dream of every sailor, whether he is an athlete or an amateur. Torbole sul Garda is the stage where the sails love to perform. The Circoli Vela Torbole and Arco are the ideal starting points for venturing on the lake. In the morning and in the evening you will see a long line of optimists leaving and returning to the clubs after a long day of training. As for windsurfing in torbolane waters, you can attend world-class international events throughout the summer season.
Trekking.
Not just water sports, let’s remember that Torbole sul Garda rises on the slopes of Monte Baldo and this position makes it an ideal starting point for hiking throughout the upper Lake Garda area.
Panoramic path Busatte – Tempesta: the overhanging stairways on Lake Garda. (more info here)
The Busatte – Tempesta path is certainly the most famous and beaten trekking route. A breathtaking panorama that from north to south of Lake Garda with a feature that makes it a path one of a kind (of about 300 m in altitude over 8 km a/r for about 3 total hours of walk); the presence of 3 stairways of about 400 steel steps overhanging, which pass over woods and olive groves anchored to the living rock. Walking on them is really exciting and fun.
Marmitte dei Giganti.
Absolutely unmissable in Torbole are the glacial wells formed millions of years ago thanks to the erosion of stone. These large cavities have a diameter of 4 or 5 meters and are up to 12 meters deep. We are talking about the famous Marmitte dei Giganti; accessible from the panoramic road that connects Nago to Torbole and Forte di Nago, an Austro-Hungarian fortress built in 1862. For trekking enthusiasts, the Marmitte dei Giganti they are also a path, not too demanding but absolutely not to be missed!
Santa Lucia route.
This path was the old communication route between Lake Garda and the Adige Valley. The history of this wild valley between the overhanging rocks of Penede and the ridge of the Brae (quoted from the book Torbole Nago by F. Martinelli) is fascinating: it was for centuries the main link between the Garda and Nago. It takes its name from a small shrine on the model used in ancient Rome, dedicated to the saint of Syracuse. A bronze plaque recalls the history linked to this magical place: the daring undertaking carried out by the Venetians led by Sorbolo da Candia in 1439: going up the Adige river to Ravazzone, they made large galleys and many boats descend along the rugged path up to in Torbole, where they were put into the water, launched and used in the famous battle of the Ponale.
From Torbole thanks to the cycle-pedestrian path that leads to Riva del Garda it is possible to reach on foot the Sentiero della Ponale, the Monte Brione and the city of Arco.
MTB and E-MTB.
Lake Garda and mtb have always had a deep bond. On two wheels, the beauty that is around us seems to stand out even more, as if, with each pedal stroke, one could grasp every nuance of the landscape, every “unreachable” glimpse on top of a mountain. In the last few years, the EMTB has been established and it is here that enthusiasts and fans of pedal assistance can live unforgettable experiences (look at our offers). Pedaling directly from Torbole sul Garda you can reach the Sentiero della Ponale, Punta Larici, Valle di Ledro, Tremalzo, Lake Tenno, Monte Creino without forgetting the Monte Baldo with the mythical route “601” and the Valle del Diaol.
The most northerly-oil in the world is broccoli from Torbole.
The winds and the microclimate of Alto Garda have determined some peculiarities that are greedy to say the least, first of all extra virgin olive oil further north in the world, beyond the 46th parallel. Despite being in the north and mountainous, this strip of land bathed by the lake is able, thanks to these Mediterranean characteristics, to produce a very delicate DOP extra virgin olive oil whose prevalent variety is Casaliva, native to Lake Garda. But not only that: the climate also allows another precious masterpiece of nature, the Broccolo di Torbole, Slow Food presidium, renamed “Son of the Wind” thanks to the winter winds that blow decisively between Arco and Torbole, guaranteeing this vegetable an unmistakable sweetness and flavor.
Hotels – Restaurants – Experiences on Lake Garda.
On Lake Garda there are many structures in which to stay, from small and well-kept B&B’s to resorts with wellness centers and beauty services, in the section dedicated to hotels find all the information you need to find the most suitable accommodation for you.
The same goes for restaurants, at this link you will find our selection of restaurants on Lake Garda. Remembering that Lake Garda offers several starred restaurants and the quality of the culinary offer is very high.
There are many activities and experiences you can do on Lake Garda, so we recommend you visit the section dedicated to experiences in our magazine by clicking here.
How to get to Torbole sul Garda.
Auto:
Nago-Torbole can be reached both from the south and from the north via the Brennero state road 12 or the A22 motorway (Rovereto sud/Lago di Garda Nord exit), continuing along the state road S.S. 240.
From Trento as an alternative to the motorway you can take the S.S. 45 / bis.
While those coming from the southern area of Lake Garda can take the S.S. 249.
Train:
The Ferrovie dello Stato station is connected to the town with a good bus service.
Plane:
The closest airports are the Catullo airport of Verona, which is about 90 km away, the Marco Polo of Venice which is 195 km away, the Milan Linate airport at 245 km and the new airport of Bolzano at 60 km.
For any questions about Arco or about your holiday on Lake Garda, do not hesitate to contact us by commenting on this article or by writing on our social channels (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter , TikTok), we are always available to help you.
See you next time dear Outdoors!
