Rent A Boat On Lake Garda
If you want to see the lake from a whole new perspective then you have to see the lake from the lake. You can do this by using the fantastic ferry service, but the best way to do it is by renting a boat.
Renting a boat on Lake Garda has to be one of the most fun things to do on your Lake Garda holiday. You get to see the amazing landscape from a totally different perspective, you get to see amazing villas and hotels hat you would almost certainly miss from the road and you are able to get up very close to of Lake Garda’s most famous landmarks, including: Isola del Garda, Punto san Viglio, the Scagliero castles at Malcesine and Sirmione and the Gotto di Catullo at Simione. You could see all of these and more in one day.
You could also get around to many of the beautiful lakeside towns, including Lazise, Bardolino, Garda, Salo, or Sirmione all in one day. After a morning on the water you could moor up at one of these or any of the other lakeside towns and have lunch before heading back out in the afternoon for more sightseeing or sunbathing.
There’s nothing quite like taking a dip in the crystal clear, Lake Garda blue water when you are right out in the middle.
If you rent the boat for more than one day you could experience the unique atmosphere of being on the lake as the sun sets behind the mountain, you will have one of those goose-bump moments.
You can read more here.
Lake Garda Garda Boat Tours
There are also many companies with beautiful boats which offer Lake Garda boat tours. Set itineries to see some of the wonders of the lake, or even tailor made tours to take you where you want. These companies make their boats available for special occasions such as weddings, bachelorette parties, business meetings an even wedding proposals. Whatever your occasion they will cater for you.
Lake Garda Taxi Boats
If you don’t have the confidence to rent a boat and drive it yourself it doesn’t mean you can’t have the same experience. There are many Lake Garda Taxi boat companies that will take you where ever you want to go. A tour, a shopping trip to one of the lakeside markets, or even just from A to B to get to your favourite lakeside restaurant.
About Our Lake Garda Boat Rental Map
As with all maps on this website I have tried to provide all the links you require to find the information you require. For best use of the map follow these instructions:
[…] Boats […]
Hi Roy,
I’m coming to Lake Garda in August 2019 with 30 friends, We’ll be staying in Peschiera del Garda and taking some day trips from there. One day I’d like to take a boat tour of as much of the lake as we can see in a few hours, maybe with some wine, then get dropped at Sirmione for dinner. Can you help with some options and an idea of a budget? Thanks! Steve
Hi Steve, sorry for the late response. If you still need help can you please send an email to [email protected]
A presto
Roy
hi, my parents are coming in two weeks time for 4 nights. Staying in Sirmione. Is it possible to do Sirmione, Peschiera, Desenzano and Malcesine in 4 days? Can you suggest an travel itinerary bare in mind both are in their 60s. Thanks
Hi Nik, sorry I missed this, hope I’m not too late…..It would take a full day to get up to Malcesine and back, over 2 hours each way on the fast ferry service. They could easily see Desenzano and Peschiera, they are close by. Why don’t you suggest they skip MAlcesine and visit Bardolino and/or Lazise, otherwise they will spend more time travelling than seeing places.
Hi ,
We are staying in lake Garda next week .
Is it possible to pre book a taxi boat from bardolino to Portese on Tuesday 16/8 in the evening about 22.00 ? If so how much would it cost for 2 adults and 3 children .
Regards,
Stephanie Lewis
Hi Stephanie, using our partners Bertoldi boats the cost is around €220. Bertoldi are based in Sirmione, you may get a better price if you use a local company…..maybe Taxi Boat Salo
Hello, we are getting married in Riva on Wednesday 6th September, 2017. We are looking for a boat tour for around 1 hour for us and guests. Roughly 30 people.
Can you give me an idea of cost and if you’re available?
Many thanks
Clare
Hi Clare,
My partners operate in the souther part of the lake, so their cost would probably be too high. I have contacted them for a price or to see if they can recommend a company in the northern part of the lake. I will let you know when the get back to me. A presto. Roy
Hi Roy,
Where is the cheapest place to rent a boat for the day without a boat license? I would like to take my girlfriend for a boat trip around the lake.
Thanks in advance.
Tom
Hi Tom,
It depends where you are staying. Most companies charge around the same which is around €130 to €150 for half day and €180 to €200 for a full day. You can read about a day on the boat in my blog post. We stay in Salò and use Zanca.
I might add this will be the first week of September. Thank you!
Hi we are staying in Salo in April and wondered if you could tell me the easiest way to get to Venice for the day by train please?
Also would you say the ferries are regular from Salo?
Many thanks
Mandy
Dear Mandy,
Please read our blogpost on getting to Venice from Lake Garda. Yes the ferries in Salo are very regular, here you can keep up to date with the Lake Garda ferry time tables. I hope this help. Ciao Roy
Hi I was just wondering if it is possible to hire a return boat from bardelino to malcesine for around 20 people and how much it would be, we are wanting to stay in the bardelino area and get married in malcesine castle
Hi Hayley, it is possible, can you give me more details, dates/times etc so I can obtain a quote for you. Thanks Roy
Hi could you quote me too please. I am getting married 4th July 2017, staying in bardolino but need to get to hairdresser in malcesine for 3pm and it would be more fun to go by boat than taxi. Can you quote single and return please
Thanks
Sam
Ciao Samantha,
sorry for the very late reply…..I’ve been on the move and having problems with internet. Unfortunately my partners only work on the southern part of the lake so I can’t help you…..but you could try contacting this company in Riva.
Hi, I am coming to Italy with some girlfriends to celebrate my 60th Birthday. We are staying in Malcesine for a few days. ( There will be 6 of us ). Could you let me know if a tour of the lake would be possible on 25th or 26th May, and if so, what would the cost be approximately? Many thanks, Maggie
Hi,
We are a group of 39 children with 5 chaperones.
We have July 25th free for a boat ride. what do you suggest?
Thank you,
Nathan
Hi Nathan, what ages are the children, what town are you staying in? Ciao Roy
Hi! We are going to hire a speed boat for a day from the southern end of the lake (Sirmione). Could I ask you r advice…
1. Which company is the most reasonably priced for a day?
2. Can you moor up at the towns around the lake to explore? I.e. Are thee any rules that we are going to break by mooring up?
Thanks
Hi Jonny, I don’t lily know personally the companies in Sirmione except for the company that provides skippered boats Bertoldi . I use Zanca boats in Salò and you should expect to pay around €220-€240 fo a boat withoutthe need for a licence. Mot companies will be of a similar quality, just the boats may be different so check a couple out and see what you like.
Yes you can moor up in the towns, you just need to be lucky that there is a free public mooring, avoid private ones. You will probably see where to moor up as other hire boats Will be pulling in or out of the ports.
If you want a special place to stop for lunch then I recommend Ristorante Umberto who have their own moorings.
Have a great time.
Roy
Is it possible to get from Peschiera to Malcesine by boat? If yes, how long time will such a trip take, and approx. cost?
We wanna try the Monte Baldo cable car but the traffic is horrible..
Hi Lars, you can find links to the timetable and prices on the page but you would probably be better oof going by car and leaving early in the morning and coming home in the evening…..otherwise you will spend a lot of time on the ferry and only have around three hours to go up in the cable car before you nedd to get the ferry home.
Hi Roy,
We’re in Lake Garda for the week and looking for places to hire jet skis. Where would you recommend,
Thanks.
Are there any Lake Garda boat tours that leave from Riva or Limone in the morning and travel up and down the lake to the different cities, and return about 5 or 6:00 PM??
Hi Bob, you need to check the ferry timetable, you can find a link on our Lake Garda ferrieS Page. You’ll probably see that it’s difficult to stop at many towns in one day as the lake is so large. If you go to the ticket office at the town you are staying in they will have some itineraries that will work. To hire a private boat with a skipper will cost around €1200 for the day.
You can also find boat tours on the Tickets and Tours website
Hi, We are looking for an affordable Water Taxi for 2 from Salo to Sirmione in mid October. Are there one way services? We would hope to leave Salo mid-day, spend the afternoon in Sirmione, and come back to Salo after dinner. What would you recommend?
Hi Audrey, water taxis are quite expensive and usually charge by the hour…..at around €140. I think it would be an expensive way to get to and from Sirmione. Perhaps you could get a ferry across and a taxi back. Let me know if you want me to get a quote for the full trip.
I am looking for options to rent a boat for about 26 people in August of 2018 – we’d like to be on the boat for 6-8 hours to get a good view on the lake – are will be staying in Desenzano – any suggestions?
Hi Alex, sorry for the late response, if you are still interested can you send a request via the contact page. Thanks Roy
Hi. We are planning a day trip to lake Garda from Verona on 30 march 2018. Could you pls recommend a boat tour or a possible itinerary using available ferries to see the main parts of lake Garda. Could you suggest the areas in lake Garda we should visit on our day trip – should we just stick to 1/2 areas?
Hi Bhav,
Really one day is not enough to see much of the lake, you will understand when you see it. You are better off just sticking to one or two towns on the south or east coast. You don’t say how you are travelling to the lake. I would suggest you go to Sirmione and Desenzano or Peschiera. If you really wanted to take a ferry you could maybe catch a ferry to Bardolino. But you need to study the timetable to ensure it fits in with your travel arrangements back to Verona. Hope this helps. Roy
Hi Roy
I’m hoping to get married at Malcesine castle in August 2019 but we plan to stay in Bardolino. Can a boat be hired to take us all (60 guests) to Malcesine and then back again a couple of hours later?
Thanks
Liz
Dear Liz, please contact me by email for this request.
Hi! I’m coming to Malcesine in July and want to hire a private boat at sunset for six of us. Which is the best company to use?
Thank you!
Jenny
Sorry Jenny, I only have partners that operate in the lower part of the lake. Let me know if you want a sunset tour in the south. Ciao Roy
Hello, we are getting married in Malcesine Castle 25th May 2019 and we would like a boat trip for our guests between the ceremony and our reception. We have approx 35 adults and 9 children. Can you give a rough idea of price and if there is a service/boat that can fit us all. Thank you in advance 🙂
Hi Tina, unfortunately my partners only operate in the south of the lake. I have been unsuccessful in trying to find partners in the north. I did find this company though, Garda Express,perhaps you could contact them directly. Hope this helps. Roy
Hi there
We are going to be in Limone at end of May. For a 50th we would like to do a sunset cruise from Limone with Prosecco & anti pasti. Can this be arranged??
Hi Shalli, unfortunately I don’t have a partner that covers the north of the lake, I could arrange a sunset cruise from Gardone, but I’m sure this doesn’t help you. Mi dispiace. Roy
Hi we are coming to a wedding in the castle in August and would like to treat the groom to a surprise speed boat trip from his hotel to the venue with his best man is this possible if so at what cost? Please
Hi Sid, unfortunately I don’t have any partners in the north of the lake so I can’t help you unless you are prepared to come south for the day. Mi dispiace. Roy
Ciao
How much to hire a boat for 30 people for a couple of hours from Lazise on 15th June 2019?
Thanks
Laura
Hi Laura, I replied by email. Please email us if you didn’t receive it. Ciao Roy
Hello, I will be arriving at Peschiera del garda from Milan by train on Sat July 22,2023
I will have 12 people in my group. All with luggage and will be staying in Malcesine.
Would it be possible to hire a boat/taxi to accommodate all of my party and the baggage ?
Hi, it would be possible but would cost an absolute fortune (€500plus) . You would be better off taking a ferry, bus of taxi.