Sirmione, the 'Pearl of Lake Garda', juts into the water on a slim peninsula, with a fairytale castle, Roman ruins and thermal spas. From our Lake Garda campsites it is an easy, unforgettable day out.
Why visit Sirmione?
Scaligero Castle – climb the keep and walk the walls of a 13th-century fortress
Grotte di Catullo – Roman villa ruins among olive trees at the peninsula's tip
Jamaica Beach – swim from smooth flat stone slabs below the Roman villa
Thermal Spa – soak in the outdoor pool of Aquaria at sunset
Boat Trips – sail around the peninsula for postcard views of the old town
Practical info
- Time needed
- plan a full day to enjoy the castle, old town, Grotte di Catullo and a swim.
- Best time to visit
- May, June and September are lovely, and an early start gives you the peninsula at its calmest.
- Tickets
- the castle and Grotte di Catullo are free for under-18s; a combined ticket also covers the Roman villa in Desenzano, so book online for the best price.
- Getting there and parking
- the old town is car-free, so park at Monte Baldo, Marconi or Colombare and walk in. Bus LN026 links Peschiera, Desenzano and Sirmione.
- Food and drink
- the old town is full of gelaterias and family-friendly restaurants, and Lugana wine, olive oil and local dishes are the specialities.
- Season
- spring to early autumn is the liveliest time, with ferries from Desenzano and the shuttle bus in season, while boat trips around the peninsula run almost all year.
Practical info
Is Sirmione worth visiting with kids?
Campsites nearby
Campsites near Sirmione
Camping Bella Italia
Butterfly Camping Village
by Happy Camp
Club Del Sole Desenzano Boutique Resort
Baia Holiday Gasparina
Camping Toscolano
Camping hu Altomincio Village
Camping Baia Holiday Garda See
Camping Fontanelle
Camping Resort Onda Blu
Baia Holiday Romantica a lago
Baia Holiday Piccola Gardiola
Camping Cisano San Vito
by Happy Camp
Camping Eden Village
Family Camping Serenella
A day at Sirmione from your campsite
- 08:15Leave Camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda: 11 km, about 14 minutes by car (or take bus LN026 from Peschiera)
- 08:45Park at Monte Baldo, the largest car park, close to the castle, and stroll into the car-free old town
- 09:00Scaligero Castle: climb the keep, walk the wall walkways and take the highest tower
- 11:00Wander the old town, peek into San Pietro in Mavino, the oldest church in Sirmione, and treat the kids to a first gelato
- 12:30Picnic on the shaded lawn at Punta Grò, or lunch in the old town
- 14:00Walk out to the Grotte di Catullo, the Roman villa among the olive trees at the tip of the peninsula
- 16:00Swim at Jamaica Beach, right below the Grotte
- 18:00Back at Camping Bella Italia for a splash in the waterpark and dinner at your pitch
Why visit Sirmione on Lake Garda?
Sirmione is a town on a slim peninsula that stretches into the southern shore of Lake Garda, and its nickname says it all: the Pearl of Lake Garda. A medieval castle guards the entrance, the old town nestles behind it, and at the far tip Roman ruins sit among olive trees. You can climb a tower before lunch, swim from smooth stone slabs in the afternoon and watch the sun go down from a thermal pool.
The best things to do in Sirmione
Start at Scaligero Castle, built at the end of the 13th century and one of Italy's best preserved castles. It even has its own quayside, a rare sight for a fortress. Your ticket includes the keep, and you can walk the wall walkways and climb the highest tower. A museum of Roman and medieval stones sits in the inner portico.
- Grotte di Catullo: a vast Roman villa of roughly 20,000 m² on the tip of the peninsula, set in an olive grove, with an archaeological museum on site. The name comes from an old tradition linking it to the poet Catullus.
- Jamaica Beach: flat stone slabs worn smooth by the water, just below the Grotte. Water shoes are handy, and little swimmers should stay close to you.
- Punta Grò: a free beach with a big lawn, ideal for picnics, and the start of the Literary Walk.
- Aquaria Thermal Spa: an outdoor pool with sunset views, fed by thermal water known since ancient times.
- San Pietro in Mavino: the oldest church in Sirmione, dating to the 8th century.
Opera lovers can follow the Callas-themed walk 'Callas, Arie On Air', a nod to Maria Callas, who had a villa here.
Sirmione with children and teenagers
Little ones will adore the castle, and entry is free for under-18s, as it is at the Grotte di Catullo. In Colombare, Lido Galeazzi has pedal boats, trampolines, ping-pong tables and sunbeds, while Brema Beach adds pedal-boat hire, beach volley and a beach bar. Lugana beach has a playground behind the church, and you will find more playgrounds around town. Teenagers can take on the keep and the highest tower, then cool off at Jamaica Beach or on a boat trip around the peninsula, possible almost all year round.
How to get to Sirmione from your campsite
By car, Camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda is 11 km (about 14 minutes) away. Club Del Sole Desenzano Boutique Resort is 14 km (about 17 minutes) away. The old town is car-free, so park outside and walk in. Monte Baldo is the largest car park, with about 450 spaces close to the castle, Marconi is closest to the centre, and the Colombare car parks have a shuttle bus into town in season.
No car? Sirmione has no railway station, but bus LN026 connects Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano and Sirmione. In season a shuttle bus runs into the old town, and ferries sail from Desenzano in about 20 minutes.
When to visit Sirmione and how long to stay
Give Sirmione a full day. May, June and September are particularly pleasant, and an early start means you reach the castle as it opens and find parking with ease. Spring to early autumn is the liveliest season, with the shuttle bus and ferries in service. Sirmione also suits the end of a day, when sunset at the thermal pool or a gelato in the old town rounds things off nicely before you head back to your campsite.
Our tip: meet Sirmione from the water first. A boat trip around the peninsula, which runs almost all year, shows you the Scaligero Castle with its very own quayside, the rooftops of the old town and the olive-covered tip where the Grotte di Catullo sit. Once you have seen the whole shape of the Pearl of Lake Garda, stepping ashore feels like walking into a postcard you already know. Then head for the castle keep with the children, who love spotting the harbour from the top. Staying at Butterfly Camping Village, 14 km and about 21 minutes away, means a poolside splash waits for you when the day is done.
— Tip from our specialist
Frequently asked questions about Sirmione
Can you drive into Sirmione's old town?
No, the historic centre is a traffic-limited zone and mostly pedestrian, so you park outside and stroll in. Monte Baldo is the largest car park, with about 450 spaces close to the castle, and Marconi sits closest to the centre. Arriving in the morning makes parking easy. From Camping Bella Italia it is just 14 minutes by car.
How long do you need for Sirmione?
Give Sirmione a full day. Spend a couple of hours in Scaligero Castle, wander the old town, then walk out to the Grotte di Catullo at the tip and finish with a swim at Jamaica Beach. Starting early from a campsite such as Butterfly Camping Village, 14 km away, leaves time for a gelato before heading back.
Is Sirmione good for families with young children?
Yes. The castle feels like a fairytale and is free for under-18s, Punta Grò has a shaded lawn for picnics, and Lido Galeazzi in Colombare offers pedal boats, trampolines and sunbeds. Playgrounds are scattered across town. Baia Holiday Gasparina, 16 km away, is just minutes from Gardaland, so a second family day out is close too.
How do you get to Sirmione without a car?
Sirmione has no railway station; the nearest is Desenzano del Garda–Sirmione. Bus LN026 links Peschiera del Garda, Desenzano and Sirmione. In season a shuttle bus takes you into the old town and ferries cross from Desenzano in about 20 minutes. Guests at Club Del Sole Desenzano Boutique Resort can walk to Desenzano.
Which campsites are closest to Sirmione?
Camping Bella Italia in Peschiera del Garda is closest, 11 km or about 14 minutes by car. Butterfly Camping Village, also in Peschiera, is 14 km away, as is Club Del Sole Desenzano Boutique Resort in Desenzano del Garda. All make Sirmione an easy day trip, with a pool or the lake waiting for you when you return.