The town of Garda has an extremely long history and probably dates back as far as the Bronze Age. Located on the shores of the Lake itself, the position on the southeastern end is both strategic and privileged. Chances are that Garda gave it's name to the Lake, so this honour is borne with dignity and pride. Beautifully picturesque as one would only expect, Garda has a marvellous promenade that traverses the shoreline and is heaven sent for evening strolls.
The views of the Lake are magnificent and, of course, the atsmosphere simply seethes with the pursuit of all things water-based. Boats and ferries are in constant procession with streams of visitors milling around adding to the frenetic activity.
Tourism around the Lake really only took off in the mid to late 20th century as agriculture and fishing were the prime earners up to that. The land is fertile and olive groves carpet the surrounding area so much so that the east Lake shore was known as the "Riviera of Olives"; vineyards are also plentiful, so this is good news for wine lovers!
As the land around the shores of the Lake is very flat, the popularity of walking, hiking and cycling is huge. Naturally, the climate is conducive to all outdoor activities and the Lake has immense attraction for boating and yachting. There is actually a small beach attached to the town too and albeit a pebbly beach, it nonetheless attracts sunbathers and swimmers.
Garda is a great town for shopping with trendy fashion stores a speciality and there are plenty of good local trattorias, cafes and restaurants dotted around the narrow streets. There are also has a some art galleries, so the town is culturally active and rich in historical buildings.
The nearby towns of Lazise and Peschiera del Garda are easily accessible from Garda and make for lovely day trips. Car hire is highly recommended too as you can strike out on a personal itinerary to see all your favourite villages and pretty towns like Torbole and Riva del Garda on the northern shores or Salo on the west side of the Lake.
There are no flights direct to Garda, but Aer Lingus has regular flights into Verona airport, just 30 minutes away.