Boats and Ferries on Lake Garda
Technical details, names and navigation timetables.
The navigation on Lake Garda by boats and ferries has always been a great success with the public. The need to provide a punctual and reliable service that could guarantee the movement of goods and people between the various towns on the lake led some private ship owners to believe in the project, building steamships in the early 1920s.
With the end of the Second World War, due to the extensive damage suffered during the conflict, private management of the service passed to the Italian state. The public authority that today oversees the entire organisation on the main Italian lakes is called Gestione Governativa Navigazione Laghi Maggiore di Garda e di Como.
Over the years the fleet in service on Lake Garda has gradually expanded and today can count on 30 ships, including boats, car ferries, hydrofoils and catamarans. During the summer period, it is possible to embark on some ships with personal bicycles, to make private hire for groups of people, or to explore Lake Garda on a romantic cruise.
On the Torri del Benaco - Maderno route, there is a year-round passenger and vehicle transport service, ideal for commuters who have to travel between the Veneto and Lombardy shores of Lake Garda.
The fleet sailing on Lake Garda
Learn here about the names and the essential specifications of all the ships currently operating on Lake Garda. Some are over a century old, others have been recently launched.
Find out which ones they are in the list below:
- S. Giulio > Year: 1953 - Length: 20.87 m - Width: 3.4 m - Seats: 85
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
- Freccia delle Riviere > Year: 1981 - Length: 28.6 m - Width: 11 m - Seats: 174
- Galileo Galilei > Year: 1982 - Length: 28.6 m - Width: 11 m - Seats: 186
- Goethe > Year: 1988 - Length: 28.6 m - Width: 11 m - Seats: 188
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
- Catullo > Year: 1992 - Length: 21 m - Width: 5.9 m - Seats: 150
- D'Annunzio > Year: 2003 - Length: 27.7 m - Width: 6 m - Seats: 300
- Freccia del Garda > Year: 2002 - Length: 27.7 m - Width: 6 m - Seats: 300
- Parini > Year: 1992 - Length: 21 m - Width: 5.9 m - Seats: 150
- Verga > Year: 2003 - Length: 27.7 m - Width: 6 m - Seats: 300
- Virgilio > Year: 1999 - Length: 23.7 m - Width: 5.9 m - Seats: 162
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
- Adamello > Year: 1992 - Length: 41.6 m - Width: 9.4 m - Seats: 301
- Brennero > Year: 1986 - Length: 54 m - Width: 10.8 m - Seats: 1000
- Brescia > Year: 1989 - Length: 46.3 m - Width: 9.42 m - Seats: 688
- Mincio > Year: 1999 - Length: 46.8 m - Width: 9.61 m - Seats: 570
- Regina del Garda > Year: 1964 - Length: 39.5 m - Width: 6.7 m - Seats: 185
- San Vigilio > Year: 2005 - Length: 46.3 m - Width: 9.6 m - Seats: 295
- Tonale > Year: 1986 - Length: 54 m - Width: 10.8 m - Seats: 1000
Source: navigazionelaghi.it
Boats and Ferries docks
Lake Garda, nestled between the regions of Lombardy, Veneto and Trentino-Alto Adige, is surrounded by many towns that are easily accessible by boat and ferry.
Thanks to an extensive network of connections operating mainly during the summer period, it is very easy to move around the lake and quickly reach your favourite destination.
In the list below, I have listed in alphabetical order all the boarding points on Lake Garda, divided by geographical area.
- Nago Torbole > passenger boarding
- Riva del Garda > passenger boarding
- Assenza (hamlet of Brenzone sul Garda) > passenger boarding
- Bardolino > passenger boarding
- Brenzone sul Garda > passenger boarding
- Castelletto (hamlet of Brenzone sul Garda) > passenger boarding
- Cisano (hamlet of Bardolino) > passenger boarding
- Garda > passenger boarding
- Lazise > passenger boarding
- Malcesine > passenger boarding
- Malcesine traghetto > passenger + motor vehicle boarding
- Pai (hamlet of Torri del Benaco) > passenger boarding
- Peschiera del Garda > passenger boarding
- Torri del Benaco > passenger + motor vehicle boarding
- Bogliaco (hamlet of Gargnano) > passenger boarding
- Campione (hamlet of Tremosine sul Garda) > passenger boarding
- Desenzano del Garda > passenger boarding
- Fasano (hamlet of Gardone Riviera) > passenger boarding
- Gardone Riviera > passenger boarding
- Gargnano > passenger boarding
- Limone sul Garda > passenger boarding
- Limone traghetto > passenger + motor vehicle boarding
- Maderno > passenger + motor vehicle boarding
- Manerba del Garda > passenger boarding
- Moniga del Garda > passenger boarding
- Padenghe sul Garda > passenger boarding
- Portese (hamlet of San Felice del Benaco) > passenger boarding
- Salò > passenger boarding
- Sirmione > passenger boarding
- Tignale > passenger boarding
Travel tip: During the summer period and holidays, the flow of tourists can be considerable, causing queues at the ticket office. I recommend you to go at the ticket office at least 20 minutes before the departure time of the ship. The main towns on the lake have a ticket office near the departure pier. If you embark at docks without a ticket office, you can still buy your ticket on board at no extra cost. In the event of bad weather, services may be suspended. For updates, please call the toll-free number 800 551 801 or contact the ticket offices on land.
Lake Garda boat and ferry timetables
Click on the button below to read the updated timetables on the official website.
Explore Lake Garda
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