Camping with dogs at Lake Garda

When camping on Lake Garda with your dog, you can expect a scenic paradise that is perfect for a holiday with your dog. The foothills of the Alps are perfect for long walks with your four-legged friend, the water is perfect for swimming and the surrounding vineyards are perfect for excursions. At PiNCAMP, you'll find the most beautiful campsites for you and your four-legged companion.

Dog-friendly campsites on Lake Garda

There are a whole range of dog-friendly campsites around Lake Garda. Here you will find various services such as dog showers, exercise trails where your four-legged friend can let off steam or dog sitting if you are travelling without your dog. Some campsites even offer first aid specifically for dogs.

Camping Village Europa Silvella

The popular Europa Silvella holiday village on southern Lake Garda is the perfect place for your camping holiday with a dog. Four-legged friends are allowed on all pitches and in selected mobile homes at the 5-star site. There is also a dog park on site for your dog to run around and you can go on perfect walks with your four-legged friend between Manerba del Garda and San Felice del Benaco. There is a dog beach nearby in Salò. On your return, you can clean your dog in the dog showers at the campsite.

Camping Piani di Clodia

At Camping Piani di Clodia in the popular holiday resort of Lazise, tail-wagging fellow travellers are particularly welcome. The extensive meadow area with lots of deciduous trees at the ADAC super campsite is ideal for taking your four-legged friends for a walk. The lakeshore is also not far away. There is a huge swimming area at the heart of the site, although dogs are not allowed in. Instead, there is a large agility course where dogs can let off steam.

Camping Spiaggia d'Oro

Camping Spiaggia d'Oro is a great campsite for families who want to take their four-legged companion with them on camping holidays. The holiday village with a high feel-good factor offers a huge water park with swimming pools and one of the few pure sandy beaches on Lake Garda. Pets are allowed on the pitches for caravans and motorhomes, but not in the rental accommodation. The sanitary building has its own service point with dog showers, bathtub and hairdryer.

Camping La Rocca

La Rocca Camping Village is a particularly dog-friendly campsite near Bardolino. The staff regularly organise exercise classes and games for dogs. There are also two agility courses on the site where the four-legged friends can let off steam. Dog toilets and dog showers as well as a vet nearby are also available. Dogs are allowed on a lead on the beach and on the lakeside promenade, but not in the water.

Camping Fornella

Camping Fornella on the western shore of Lake Garda, which has been awarded 5 ADAC stars, is a lovely dog-friendly campsite with its own dog beach. The family-run and child-friendly campsite is situated on and around a small, wooded hill. In the northern part of the campsite there are many small trees and bushes under which dogs like to take a nap. The campsite also has dog showers in the sanitary facilities, dog toilets with bag dispensers and a play area for dogs.

General information about camping with dogs on Lake Garda

The most popular campsites for dog owners on Lake Garda are located near the well-known towns such as Riva del Garda, Bardolino or Lazise on the eastern shore of the lake, which belong to the Veneto region. The nostalgic villages invite you to stroll and go for a walk during the day and in the evening. In the bars, pizzerias and restaurants, it is generally no problem to take your dog with you if it is on a lead. The western shore of the lake with its wooded hills in the hinterland, which belong to Lombardy , is somewhat greener and more unspoilt. One of the most beautiful places to camp with a dog here is the picturesque little town of Limone sul Garda at the north-western end of Lake Garda.

At many campsites, it is no problem to bring your dog if you are staying on a pitch for caravans or motorhomes. Dogs are sometimes not permitted in rented accommodation or mobile homes. It's best to check with the respective campsite beforehand. Dogs must usually be kept on a lead on the site. An exception to this are the play areas and exercise zones on the particularly dog-friendly campsites. Dogs must also be kept on a lead in towns and on walks and excursions around Lake Garda. Muzzles are also officially compulsory in Italy. However, this is not usually checked. However, to be on the safe side, you should still take a muzzle with you.

To enter Italy with a dog, you need an EU pet passport with a rabies vaccination certificate. The dog must also be microchipped. A maximum of 5 dogs per person may be brought to Italy.

Dog beaches on Lake Garda

Dogs are not allowed to swim in the water on public beaches and the lakeside promenade. However, there are five dog beaches on Lake Garda: - Dog beach in Salò - Bau Beach in Toscolano Maderno - Fido Beach in Manerba del Garda - Bracco Baldo Beach in Peschiera del Garda- Dog beach on Lake Ledro

The dog beaches are usually open every day in summer until sunset. With the exception of Fido Beach and Bracco Baldo Beach, they are also free of charge. Sunshades, deckchairs and showers are available on the dog beaches that charge a fee. Dog trainers even offer courses at Fido Beach.

Favourite destinations for dog owners on Lake Garda

Thanks to its mild climate and beautiful dog beaches, Lake Garda is worth travelling to on its own. But you can discover a whole lot more in the surrounding area on a camping holiday with your dog.

Garda Trentino

Dogs and their owners can follow in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's footsteps in the northern part of Lake Garda. In 1786, he described the beautiful and idyllic Garda Trentino in his diary. The circular trail leads over the slopes of Monte Rocchetta to the Bastione fortress and then to the Chiesa Santa Barbara. The climb is well worth it, as it offers a marvellous view of the town of Riva del Garda and the surrounding area.

A visit to the opera diva in Sirmione

The enchanting coastal town of Sirmione is a particularly beautiful place for sightseeing tours . The historic spa town not only impresses with its thermal springs, but also with the home of Maria Callas, which is located in a small park and can be visited. The ruins of the Caves of Catullus are also worth a detour. To the west of the town, nestled in Mediterranean vegetation, lies Camping Piantelle. The dog-friendly site is divided into a more modern and an older part. The beautiful deciduous trees on the older part of the site are ideal for dog owners.

On the Gardesana around Lake Garda

You can also cycle all the way round Lake Garda. The Gardesana lakeside road, which is around 150 kilometres long, leads from town to town and is one of the most beautiful roads in the world. However, the route should only be travelled with dogs in the early or late season. In spring or autumn, there are no traffic jams or extreme heat. A special highlight is driving round Lake Garda in a vintage car or convertible - many dogs love to hear their ears flapping in the wind. You can hire classic cars to drive around the lake at the south-western tip of Lake Garda.

Best time to go on a camping holiday with your dog on Lake Garda

Most campers travel to Lake Garda in the summer months of June, July and August. Temperatures are usually between 25 and 30 degrees, but it can also be up to 35 degrees. This is the peak season on Lake Garda. For you as a dog owner, this means: it's better to go to Lake Garda in spring or autumn. The temperatures are still pleasantly mild at around 20 degrees and it is also much quieter then. What's more, the climate is generally drier and sunnier in the south of the lake.

Highlights and tips for dog owners

• Lake Garda can be circumnavigated. The 150 km long Gardesana leads from town to town. The route should only be travelled with dogs in the early or late season. In spring or autumn, there are no traffic jams or extreme heat. A special highlight is travelling around Lake Garda in a vintage car or convertible - many dogs love to hear their ears flapping in the wind. Classic cars can be hired to circumnavigate the lake at the south-western tip of Lake Garda.
• Dogs and their masters can follow in Johann Wolfgang von Goethe's footsteps in the northern part of Lake Garda. In 1786, he described the beautiful and idyllic Garda Trentino in his diary. The circular trail leads over the slopes of Monte Rocchetta to the Bastione fortress and then to the Chiesa Santa Barbara. The climb is well worth it, as it offers a marvellous view of the town of Riva del Garda and the surrounding area.

Activities and excursions for dog owners

Dog owners will find numerous great walking and hiking trails around Lake Garda. On the northern shore, the alpine landscape is also ideal for climbing and mountain biking. The south is more urban. Excursions to Verona and Venice are tempting here .

Hikes and walking trails

The northern shore of the lake is undoubtedly a hiking paradise for masters and dogs. The foothills of the Alps around Garda Trentino offer hiking trails of varying levels of difficulty. The challenges range from relaxed walks with a view of the glistening water to steep paths in the Dolomite mountains. Old monasteries, rustic inns and chapels can be visited along the way.

Sightseeing tours

The historic towns of Sirmione, Malcesine and Riva del Garda shine with their old façades, churches and promenades. In summer, the lakeshore can get very busy and the towns are not suitable for walking dogs. Dog owners are better off walking their pets on the pavements of the towns early in the morning or in spring. A piece of salami can be found at the small weekly markets and water bowls await thirsty four-legged friends in front of the ice cream parlours. Excursions to Venice and Verona are wonderful - but less suitable for dog owners. On a campsite with a dog sitter, however, dogs can spend a day without their masters.

A touch of luxury

There is not only a Mediterranean flair on and around Lake Garda, but also a touch of luxury. You can hire motor yachts, there are vintage car rallies and antique markets and some of the most beautiful golf courses in Europe. On some, such as the 36-hole Chervò San Vigilio golf course in the hilly hinterland of Sirmione, dogs are allowed.

Events around Lake Garda

At many events around Lake Garda, not only dog owners but also the four-legged family members have fun.

March

• L'alloro e il bambù: traditional rite at the end of the carnival season with bonfires, carnival parade and tasting of maccheroni with ragù

May

• Bike Festival: annual festival with a great supporting programme in Garda Trentino.

September

• ADAC Lake Garda Classic: classic car tour starting and finishing in Desenzano on the south-west shore

November

• Luna Park: colourful hustle and bustle in Riviera del Garda with carousels, stalls and music

December - January

• Christmas market in Arco: small and romantic wooden stalls in the most enchanting corners of the town