Ten things to do in Malcesine
MALCESINE: A SOLUTION FOR EVERYONE
The small village of Malcesine, in the province of Verona, on the east bank of the magnificent Lake Garda is a destination to be experienced. Famous for the Malcesine – Monte Baldo cableway and for its excellent connection with the other towns of the lake, it has a lot to offer.
It doesn’t matter how old you are, who you come to visit with or what you like to do, there is certainly something here for you! In this article we will therefore see the ten things to do in Malcesine that will make your stay unique.
But before starting, let’s quickly see something about the historic center of this must-see place on Lake Garda.
The Malcesine Castle makes the town a fairytale-like medieval village. The fortress dates back to the medieval period and is what characterizes the village the most. The Scaliger Castle is located on a rocky spur and from the tower that dominates the town you can admire a magnificent panorama!
Inside the castle you can also visit a museum where some drawings by the poet Goethe are kept.
Along the alleys of the historic center, while walking on the cobblestones, you will be able to admire all the small restaurants, shops and ancient houses around you.
In order not to miss anything, take a quick trip to the old port and the Palazzo dei Capitani as well. Otherwise you can rest and sunbathe on some lakeside beach.
Ten things to do in Malcesine
1. Windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons
2. Paragliding descent
3. Trekking or skiing on Monte Baldo
4. Walk with alpacas on Monte Baldo
5. Visit to the Natural History Museum
6. Excursion on a sailing boat
7. Ferry crossing
8. Siora Veronica
9. Picnic on Monte Baldo
10. Assaggia i cibi e vini del territorio
1. Windsurfing and kitesurfing lessons
The first three things I suggest you do in Malcesine are for the more adventurous and sportier.
Malcesine, thanks to the excellent connection with Monte Baldo, is the perfect destination for sportsmen who want to experience an environment different from the classic mountain.
If you are looking for new challenges and want to spend a fun day with friends, try your hand at windsurfing or kitesurfing!
Windsurfing is the water sport that is part of the sailing specialties and consists of moving on a board with a sail thanks to the force of the wind.
Kitesurfing, on the other hand, is always a sailing sport but much more similar to simple surfing. This is because a board is used and to move you will be towed by a kite.
In Malcesine you will find several windsurf and kitesurf schools and rentals that offer courses of a few hours or a few days for both beginners and experts.
If you move to the beautiful Monte Baldo, there is another adrenaline possibility to enjoy this place to visit on Lake Garda.
2. Paragliding descent
Go up to Monte Baldo by car or using the Malcesine – Monte Baldo cable car to start your adrenaline-pumping experience!
Once you get to the cable car station at the top, the take-off point is less than a kilometer away. The landing will then take place on the coast of Lake Garda, 2 kilometers north of Malcesine and will be clearly visible to you while you are flying. Subsequently, to return to Malcesine there is the possibility of taking the Tourist Bus.
The flight altitude difference is 1700 meters, so it will take at least 30 minutes. If you do it privately you will also need to have a patent, insurance and life jacket.
Instead, if it is your first time, there are many associations that offer the possibility of flying in tandem with an experienced pilot. You will be able to enjoy this new experience and the beautiful landscape in safety.
Read our article on what to do on Monte Baldo for more detailed information on this beautiful place to visit on Lake Garda.
3. Trekking or skiing on Monte Baldo
Among the ten things to do in Malcesine, a trip to Monte Baldo cannot fail to be mentioned. This option is perfect in any season because there is so much to do and see on this mountain!
Thanks to its varied vegetation it is called the Garden of Europe. A man who practiced for 40 years of mountaineering told me that the glaciers did not reach the top of the mountain. For this the vegetation has never stopped growing and today we can see the results.
In summer there are several hiking trails of varying difficulty that start from various villages on the mountain. If, on the other hand, you don’t have a car with you or you don’t want to move it, you can also reach one of the peaks via the Malcesine – Monte Baldo cable car.
During winter, try skiing or snowboarding in one of the most beautiful areas in the world. With its 10 kilometers of slopes, it is small but offers a spectacular view! During your descents, in fact, you can admire the magnificent Lake Garda below you.
4. Walk with alpacas on Monte Baldo
The next three things I suggest you do in Malcesine are also perfect for children.
Let’s start with the magnificent trekking with an alpaca from Spiazzi, a fraction of Caprino Veronese. They accept groups of minimum 2 to maximum 15 people and upon departure you will be assigned an alpaca to keep on a leash. The tour takes about 40 minutes in total.
From Spiazzi the walk begins along the path that leads to the Sanctuary of Madonna della Corona and a guide will always be with you.
On our site we have many articles talking about Madonna della Corona. Run and read them to find out more about this unmissable place to visit on Lake Garda!
At the end of the excursion, if you wish, you can also visit the farm that raises alpacas and makes textile products with their wool.
5. Visit to the Natural History Museum
As I have already mentioned before, inside the Scaliger Castle there is the Natural History Museum. A visit is definitely to add to your list of ten things to do in Malcesine.
The museum is divided into nine rooms where you can discover the history of the town and the surrounding area.
There are rooms that allow you to immerse yourself in the depths of Lake Garda and discover all its secrets: from its origins to the fauna and to the construction of the first stilts. Other rooms, on the other hand, will allow you to discover the hidden treasures of Monte Baldo.
In short, a visit not to be missed in this particular museum. Children will have a lot of fun walking around the setting of the various rooms.
Many places to see on Lake Garda are characterized by the presence of a Scaliger Castle, built by the Scaligeri dynasty who ruled over the Verona area from 1262 to 1387.
6. Excursion on a sailing boat
To spend a few hours relaxing on the lake, the sixth of the ten things to do in Malcesine is sailing with a skipper.
There are several possible itineraries that also include a tour to the beautiful Limone where you can observe the famous lemon houses. Otherwise, you can go south up to the Isola dell’Olivo and under the suggestive Tremosine waterfalls.
You will be accompanied by instructors of the Italian Sailing Federation on boats for 2 people but also for 6/8 people if you are in company. During the trip they will transmit you the values of this sport and will guide you to show you the most beautiful views of the lake.
Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy and visited every year by many tourists who want to discover its beauties. To gather information and organize your next vacation in one of the places to see on Lake Garda, visit our blog!
7. Ferry crossing
The next three things I recommend add to the list of ten things to do in Malcesine are perfect for couples, but not only!
Let’s start with the magnificent crossing of Lake Garda by ferry. Throughout the day, the ferry departs from the port of Malcesine and will take you to the other side of the lake, to the magnificent Limone.
Limone sul Garda is one of the most evocative villages of Lake Garda and for centuries it was only reachable by lake. It was connected to neighboring villages also by land only in 1932 with the Gardesana Road. It is a very romantic village with its narrow alleys and lakeside promenades suitable for spending a quiet day in good company.
Collect more information for your visit to this must-see place on Lake Garda by browsing the articles on our website!
To return to Malcesine you will always find the ferry from the port of Limone.
8. Siora Veronica
Probably the most particular experience on this list of the ten things to do in Malcesine is the one I am about to recommend.
The Siora Veronica is an ancient sailing ship from 1926 designed by some blacksmiths from Peschiera del Garda. It was part of a fleet of 100 boats that crossed the lake carrying people and objects. When the construction of the roads began in 1930, these were no longer used. Nowadays we ca admire the only two ships left.
During the war, the Veronica was completely abandoned and remained in the port of Toscolano until it was restored in 2001.
The entire territory of Lake Garda is full of history and hidden treasures such as the Veronica. Come on holiday to one of the places to visit on Lake Garda: they are all beautiful and peculiar.
One of the ten things to do in Malcesine during the summer evenings is to attend one of the live concerts on the sailing ship that is currently moored in Malcesine. It will probably be the most unique and special concert of your life!
Each evening they organize and play a different musical genre, for example swing, blues and soul.
9. Picnic on Monte Baldo
As I said before, Malcesine is the perfect starting point to reach one of the highest peaks of Monte Baldo.
If the weather permits, organize a romantic picnic with a breathtaking view of Lake Garda. During clear summer days you can admire Lake Garda in all its immensity and also the mountains that surround the Brescia side.
When you arrive at the top station of the cable car you will find many open spaces where you can sit down to eat. Choose whether to play some music in the background or listen to the relaxing sounds of nature.
You just have to set the table and enjoy lunch with your sweetheart.
After lunch, instead of immediately returning to Malcesine, take a short walk around the area and immerse yourself in the beauty of Monte Baldo. Near the cable car there is also a refuge where you can stop for a coffee or a snack in the afternoon.
We are almost at the end of the article about the ten things to do in Malcesine, this beautiful place to visit on Lake Garda. Let’s see the last one.
10. Taste the local foods and wines
As a tenth thing, I have to mention the local food and wine! There are two things that you absolutely cannot miss: extra virgin olive oil and whitefish fillet!
You can visit the Consorzio Olivicoltori di Malcesine, a company founded in 1946 that brings together all the small olive producers in the surrounding area.
It is possible to take a guided tour to discover the extra virgin olive oil production process. In addition, you will see the tools that are used for olive harvesting.
At the end of the visit there will be an oil tasting accompanied with bruschetta and wine.
Moreover, you cannot leave Malcesine without having tasted the whitefish fillet. The dish is served with black rice topped with carrots, leeks and fresh zucchini and, of course, olive oil from Malcesine. The fillet is breaded with breadcrumbs and saffron to maintain the light flavors of lake fish and browned in a pan. Delicious!
And here we are at the end of this long list of ten things to do in Malcesine.
I hope they will be useful to you and have found some good advice to make your visit to this place to visit on Lake Garda unique and unforgettable. Malcesine and all the other villages on the lake are waiting for you.
