# First day on Lake Garda on landing in Verona: Sirmione, the Grotte di Catullo and lake fish

Direct flight to Verona and 40 minutes by car to Sirmione: a Roman villa above the lake, grilled Garda fish and a night on a farm stay among vineyards.

Fuente: https://www.geocalia.com/en/italy/lake-garda/itineraries/sirmione-grotte-di-catullo-first-day-lake-garda · Revisado: 2026-11-12

## El día
- 10:00 · Salida: 45 min by car (hire car in Verona or at its airport, which has a direct flight from Madrid and Barcelona)
- 11:00 · Grotte di Catullo, Sirmione's Roman villa (€10 · free for under-18s · closed on Mondays)
  - 8 min by car, 3 km
- 13:30 · Trattoria Antica Contrada (booking; open at midday Wednesday to Sunday) · Trattoria Antica Contrada, €€€
  - 12 min by car, 8 km
- 16:00 · Agriturismo Armea (pool and dinner at the house trattoria) · Agriturismo Armea
- 22:00 · Vuelta (night at the farm stay; the next day, to the north of the lake or back to Verona)

The south of Lake Garda is about 40 minutes by car from Verona, whose airport receives direct flights from Madrid and Barcelona. If you land early, you have time to see Sirmione the same day: the Roman villa at the tip of the peninsula, a lake-fish lunch and the afternoon at the pool of a farm stay among vineyards, without taking the car into any historic centre.

## The day, hour by hour

10:00 · Leave Verona. There is a direct flight to Verona Villafranca (VRN) from Madrid and Barcelona. Pick up the hire car and take the road to the lake: from Verona it is about 43 km to Sirmione, and from the airport a little less.

11:00 · Grotte di Catullo. Leave the car in the Piazzale Campiello car park, in Colombare, and take the shuttle to the castle; from there, about 15 or 20 minutes on foot through the village to the villa. Allow an hour and a half among the ruins, the olive grove above the water and the museum. Admission costs €10; under-18s do not pay. Closed on Mondays.

13:30 · Lunch at the Antica Contrada. Back at the car, the trattoria is on the same street in Colombare, at the exit from the peninsula. Grilled Garda fish, bigoli with lake sardine and risotto with perch; in good weather, in the garden facing the water. Book: it is open at lunchtime Wednesday to Sunday.

16:00 · Agriturismo Armea. About ten minutes away, in the countryside of San Martino della Battaglia. Drop off your bags, swim in the pool and dine at the house trattoria with its Lugana.

The next day. Continue to the north of the lake, to Malcesine and Monte Baldo, or return to Verona in about 40 minutes.

## Cómo llegar

### By plane and car
Direct flight to Verona from Madrid or Barcelona, and a hire car at the airport: it is the most comfortable way.

### By plane and train
From Verona airport, a bus to Porta Nuova station and a direct train to Desenzano or Peschiera, on the Milan–Venice line. From there, to Sirmione by bus or taxi. Without a car it is better to sleep at the Hotel Catullo, inside Sirmione.

## Consejos

### Avoid Monday
The Grotte di Catullo are closed and so is the trattoria.

### Do not drive into the centre
Sirmione is a limited-traffic zone; park in Colombare.

### The first Sunday of the month
Admission to the Grotte is free for everyone, and there are more people.

## Preguntas frecuentes

### How long does it take from Verona to Sirmione?
About 42 minutes by car from the centre of Verona, 43 km; from the airport, a little less.

### Are there direct flights to Verona from Spain?
Yes, from Madrid and Barcelona. From other cities, look at Bergamo.

### Can it be done without a car?
Yes, with a bus and train to Desenzano or Peschiera, but it is slower. Then sleep in Sirmione.