Compare car hire in Lake Garda,

Italy is a country begging to be explored by car. With its gorgeous long coastlines, stunning mountain regions and winding country roads, it’s made for born explorers. And when it comes to Italian road trips, Lake Garda is one of the best all-round destinations for scenery, food and culture. Fly into nearby Verona and you’ll find plenty of car hire companies to choose from. After that, you just have to hit the open road and begin your adventure…

Rent a Car at Verona Airport (VRN)

The easiest way to get to Lake Garda is to fly into Verona Villafranca Airport (VRN), which serves a number of airlines and destinations. At the airport, you’ll find several car rental agencies, including Sixt and Hertz. You can drive to the coast of Lake Garda from the airport in just 20 minutes, traffic permitting. Another airport can be found outside the city of Brescia, however this serves a limited number of destinations, most of which are in Italy. It isn’t possible to hire a car at this airport, but if you arrive here you will be able to pick up a rental car in the city of Brescia.

Rent a Car in Verona

If you do not want to hire a car at Verona airport, you can travel into the city by taxi or public bus and hire a car once you arrive. Verona, the setting for Shakespeare’s most famous star-crossed lovers, is a lovely place to start your driving tour of Lake Garda. There are several car rental offices located in the city, with the majority close to Verona Porta Nuova train station. From the centre of the city, the coast of Lake Garda can be reached in just 25 minutes. A small number of car rental agencies are also located near the southern banks of Lake Garda itself.

Drive Around Lake Garda

An excellent place to begin a road trip near Garda is Peschiera del Garda, at the southeastern tip of the lake. From here, you can drive up the eastern coast on the SR249, taking a pit-stop in Garda and exploring the historic town centre. From Garda, continue along the SR249 to the towns at the northern side of the lake, such as scenic Torbole, before heading west to the Austrian-influenced Riva del Garda. The route back south along the western coast of the lake is more mountainous, and involves narrower roads and more tunnels. However there are plenty of pretty lakeside towns to stop at along the way.

Unmissable Attractions on Lake Garda

A number of excellent attractions can be explored around the coastline of Lake Garda, including the hillside Vittoriale degli Italiani estate, the island of Isola del Garda, the Grottoes of Catullus and beautiful Scaligero Castle. Families should also make time for the theme parks to the southeast of the lake: Gardaland, Movieland Park and Caneva Aquapark are three great places for a day out. Wherever you choose to go, having your own vehicle will give you freedom to explore at your own pace – browse car hire options today with the Expedia search tool.