Desenzano holidays, Italy

Located on the south-west end of Lake Garda, this historic town is centred around the old Harbour and Piazza Malvessi. Desenzano is bustling and diverse with a pedestrianised shopping area offering everything from rustic markets to designer boutiques and many bars, cafés, pizzerias and restaurants. Enjoy cuisine ranging from cheap pizza to award winning restaurants with more than 40 eateries, party in the cosmopolitan late night bars or catch the street entertainers and live music. To find out more about where to eat and drink, visit our Restaurants and Bars pages.

Desenzano has the best transport links on the lake: excellent ferry and hydrofoil services make places like Garda and Peschiera very accessible and bus and train connections (this is one of only two Lake Garda towns to have its own rail station) ensure Verona, Venice and Padua are easy to get to.

Thanks to the size of this lakeside town, you’ll find events throughout the year and something to do whatever the weather. There’s nearly always something on in Desenzano which hosts various events year round – big dates include the Bisse regatta final and the Night of Enchantment.

The town’s excellent transport links with its train station, bus and ferry services make it great for independent travellers, who can visit some of the big Italian towns as well as other Lake Garda resorts. On active holidays, enjoy water sports, walking and cycling. Some of Lake Garda’s best attractions can be found here including the Roman Villa and Desenzano also has a spectacular castle and cathedral – both well worth a visit.

See our events page for what’s on and find out about the various things to do and see here.

Desenzano is a place absolutely steeped in culture and history. The area has a rich artistic heritage, having inspired poets including Dante, Petrarch, Tennyson and Lord Byron. Works of art to visit in the town include Tiepolo's Last Supper, paintings by Andrea Celesti and Todeschini’s legendary architecture.

The town’s deeply rooted history goes back to the Roman era and beyond. Important historic attractions include a Roman villa (one of the best preserved in northern Italy), a striking medieval castle and a 16th century Cathedral. Artefacts from the Paleolithic era, Mesolithic era, Neolithic era and the Bronze Age discovered nearby can be seen in the Archaeological museum.

Local traditions include historic Bisse regatta, carnivals and festivals to celebrate religious and historical dates. To find out all about the history of the area, visit our Desenzano history page.