Bardolino at a glance
Bardolino lies on the Veneto side of Lake Garda, in the province of Verona, between the town of Garda to the north and Lazise to the south. It gives its name to a red and rosé wine made in the surrounding hills, and the lakefront is the centre of town life. The promenade runs along the water, with cafés, shops and a few small museums.
The town works well as a calm base for a holiday on the east shore. It is about 15 kilometres from Peschiera, where the station and Gardaland are, and the ferry pier connects it with other towns on the lake.
Bardolino wine explained
The name appears on several different wines. Here is what each one means.
| Wine | Status | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Bardolino | DOC since 1968 | The classic light red of the area |
| Bardolino Superiore | DOCG since 2001 | A higher quality tier of the red |
| Chiaretto | Own DOC since 2018 | A rosé from the same grapes |
| Bardolino Novello | DOC since 1987 | A young wine released soon after the harvest |
The main grape is Corvina Veronese, which makes up 35 to 95 per cent of the blend. Rondinella adds 5 to 40 per cent, and other red grapes such as Molinara and Corvinone can make up to 20 per cent. The wine area covers 16 municipalities on the Verona side of the lake and in the hills inland. The local tourist office says the Novello was the first DOC Novello in Italy.
Our pick: wine near Bardolino
A tasting in the vineyards above Lazise.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in euros (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Wine tastings and tours near Bardolino
Cellar visits, tastings and boat trips on the east shore, with live prices and availability.
The lakefront and market
The lungolago, or lakefront promenade, is the main reason to stop in Bardolino. You can walk it at any pace, with the water on one side and the town on the other. A Ferris wheel 30 metres high stands on the promenade, and the museums nearby cover olive oil, wine and the Sisan museum.
The weekly market takes place on Thursday mornings along the lakefront. The smaller districts have their own days: Cisano on Tuesdays in summer and Calmasino on Saturdays. Lazise, 6 kilometres south and pictured here, holds its market on Wednesdays from 7:00 to 14:00.
In winter the town's events calendar lists seasonal events on the lakefront from late November into January. Opening times of the small museums vary, so ask at the tourist office when you arrive.
Wine and Grape Festival
The Festa dell'Uva e del Vino is the biggest event of the year.
When
The 95th edition ran from 1 to 5 October 2026. The festival is held in early October, so check the exact dates for your year before you book.
What to expect
Entry is free. Stalls line the lakefront. Book accommodation early if you plan to visit during the festival.
If you miss it
Wine is on sale and served all year in the town's shops and bars. For cellar visits, look at the tours above or ask at the tourist office.
Bardolino or Lazise?
Bardolino and Lazise are only 6 kilometres apart, about 9 minutes by car, and many visitors see both. The two towns differ in character. Bardolino is built around wine and the lakefront. Lazise has a walled old town and a small harbour, and it holds its market on Wednesdays.
Garda is 4 kilometres north and Peschiera is 15 kilometres south. The east shore road links all of them, so you can stay in one town and use the others for evenings or half-day trips.
For a longer stay, the Lake Garda holidays guide compares the shores of the lake.
Getting to Bardolino
Distances by road, without traffic, as of October 2026.
| From | Distance | Drive time |
|---|---|---|
| Garda | 4 km | 7 min |
| Lazise | 6 km | 9 min |
| Peschiera del Garda | 15 km | 23 min |
By car
Drivers coming over the Brenner Pass on the A22 leave at Affi, which serves the east shore from Bardolino down to Peschiera. From the A4 Milan to Venice motorway, use the Peschiera exit.
By train and bus
There is no train station on the east shore except Peschiera del Garda. ATV buses 163, 164 and 185 run from Verona Porta Nuova to Garda, 4 kilometres north of Bardolino. Plan the connection with our Verona to Lake Garda guide.
By boat
Bardolino has a pier on the lake ferry network. Passenger boats run until 1 November 2026 and return from 13 March 2027. In between only the car ferry operates between Maderno and Torri del Benaco. See Lake Garda ferries.
More towns nearby
Other places within reach of Bardolino.
Gardaland
Tickets, season dates and the free shuttle bus from Peschiera station.
Peschiera del Garda
The fortress town and the nearest railway station.
Malcesine
Castle, harbour and the cable car up Monte Baldo.
Lake Garda holidays
Which shore of the lake suits your trip.
Bardolino: frequently asked questions
What is Bardolino known for?
The town is known for the wine of the same name, a light red made mainly from Corvina grapes, and for Chiaretto, a rosé. The wine area has 16 municipalities.
When is the market in Bardolino?
The weekly market is held on Thursday mornings on the lakefront. Cisano has a market on Tuesdays in summer and Calmasino on Saturdays.
When is the Bardolino wine festival?
The 95th Festa dell'Uva e del Vino took place from 1 to 5 October 2026. It is usually held in early October and entry is free.
What is the difference between Bardolino and Chiaretto?
Both come from the same area and the same grapes. Bardolino is the red wine, and Chiaretto is the rosé, which has had its own DOC since 2018.
Do ferries stop in Bardolino?
Yes, Bardolino has a pier on the lake ferry network. Passenger boats run until 1 November 2026, then only the Maderno to Torri del Benaco car ferry operates until March 2027.
Does Bardolino have a railway station?
No. The nearest station on the east shore is Peschiera del Garda, about 15 kilometres by road. Buses run from Verona to Garda, which is 4 kilometres from Bardolino.