Two winds set the rhythm
If you want to sail or surf on Lake Garda, you plan your day around two regular winds. The Garda Trentino tourist board describes them for the north of the lake as follows:
| Feature | Pelèr | Ora |
|---|---|---|
| Time | about 22:00 to 10:30 or 11:00 | about 11:00 to sunset |
| Season | all year | March to October |
| Direction | from north to south | from south to north |
| Strength | 5 to 10 metres per second | up to 10 metres per second |
The Pelèr was originally called Vent del Sarca, after the river that flows into the lake at Torbole. Garda Trentino also names winds that depend on the weather situation and come in gusts, such as the Ponalot from the Ledro Valley, which accompanies summer thunderstorms and can become dangerous for water sports enthusiasts. The schools plan their courses around this rhythm: Surf Segnana in Torbole, for example, teaches beginners in the morning in light wind and flat water, and advanced students in the afternoon in stronger wind and waves.
Learning to sail, surf and kite
Most schools are in the north, in Torbole and Riva del Garda. The Water Sport brochure from Garda Trentino lists providers there for sailing, windsurfing, wing foiling, kitesurfing, stand-up paddling and kayaking. You can recognise a good offering by small groups, an assessment on site and clear rules for days with too much or too little wind. At Surf Segnana in Torbole, for example, sailing courses are held, according to the provider, with at most three participants and the instructor aboard the same boat; after four to five lessons, beginners should be able to sail without an instructor. Windsurfers can take the internationally recognised VDWS basic certificate there, and if a lesson is cancelled because of the weather, a voucher is issued.
Garda Trentino gives all water sports enthusiasts a few rules: find out about wind, currents and weather beforehand, because the wind can turn quickly and a thunderstorm can build up; know the local regulations; when going out alone, tell someone your route and departure time; use only boats and equipment that suit your own ability, and always wear a CE-certified life jacket. In front of the centre of Riva del Garda, swimming and windsurfing are not allowed because the scheduled boats run there. The schools generally operate from spring to autumn; according to its website, Surf Segnana is open from 9 May to 1 November in 2026.
By cable car up Monte Baldo
From Malcesine the Funivia Malcesine Monte Baldo runs in two sections up to the mountain ridge above the east shore. The first ends at the middle station San Michele at about 562 metres, the second at the top station Tratto Spino at about 1,760 metres. On the second section the cabin rotates once on itself during the journey, offering a panoramic view over lake and mountains; it holds up to 75 people. According to the operator, the whole journey takes around 20 minutes.
| Malcesine cable car | according to the operator, as of October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Summer season | 4 April to 1 November 2026 |
| Annual maintenance | 2 November to 25 December 2026 |
| Winter season | 26 December 2026 to 21 February 2027 |
| First ascent | 9:00 |
| Last ascent and descent | 16:45 and 18:00, from 14 September 15:45 and 17:00 |
The operator recommends buying tickets early online. In summer, bicycles can go up too, as long as the provincial road over the Baldo is open; the bicycle ticket is valid for one ascent, and it is best to reserve your place online.
Hiking: from the ridge to the Ponale road
At the top at Tratto Spino, paths begin across the ridge of Monte Baldo. According to the cable car operator, it is about 30 minutes on a gravel track or about 20 minutes along the ridge to the Prà Alpesina chairlift on the Trentino side. Even in summer, expect wind and rapid changes in weather at this altitude, and take a warm layer.
In the north the Strada del Ponale is a classic. Giacomo Cis, a merchant from the Ledro Valley, planned the road, which was built between 1847 and 1851 on the rock face of the Rocchetta above the lake to connect the valley with Riva. It was closed to traffic in 1990, and in 2004 a local association reopened it as a path for walkers and cyclists. It climbs in hairpins and through tunnels and, according to Garda Trentino, can be walked all year round. You will find shorter destinations with a climb on the west shore with the path to the Santuario di Montecastello in Tignale and on the east shore with the mule track to Campo di Brenzone; both are presented in the article Lake Garda off the beaten track.
Via ferrata routes around Arco and Riva
In the north of the lake, numerous via ferrata routes begin. Garda Trentino names these, among others:
- Colodri (Arco): medium, 4 kilometres, about 2 hours, around 280 metres of ascent.
- Fausto Susatti to Cima Capi (from Riva): medium, 9.9 kilometres, about 6 hours, 900 metres of ascent; from Ledro 7 kilometres and 520 metres of ascent.
- Rio Sallagoni (Drena): medium, 2.7 kilometres, about two and a half hours.
- Laste e Gallerie di Cima Rocca (Ledro): easy, 6.3 kilometres, about 4 hours, 670 metres of ascent.
The routes require a head for heights and equipment consisting of a helmet, climbing harness and via ferrata set. Without experience you are better off booking a mountain guide, and check before setting out that the route is open.
Cycling: the path above the lake near Limone
Since 14 July 2018, a cycle and footpath has led north above the lake near Limone sul Garda. It begins in the town centre, passes old lemon gardens and Cape Reamol, and then runs, anchored to the rock face, seemingly above the water as far as the border between Lombardy and Trentino. According to the Consorzio Turistico Limonese, at a normal walking pace you reach the end in less than an hour; the path has no steep climbs and no steps, is open to all types of bicycle and is lit in the evening. The continuous link to Riva del Garda is still under construction, so you turn back at the border. The section above the water begins at the Arriva bus stop Reamol, and bicycles can be hired in Limone.
If you want more ascent, ride up the Ponale road or take your bike up Monte Baldo on the cable car.
What suits when
- April and May: hiking along the shore and on the slopes, cable car from 4 April, the first water sports schools open in May.
- June to August: reliable Ora for sailors and surfers, water around 23 degrees in July and August according to Garda Trentino; Monte Baldo is the cooler escape on hot days, so start early.
- September and October: pleasant temperatures for via ferrata routes and the Ponale road, water still around 21 degrees in September, the Ora blows until October.
- Winter: winter season on Monte Baldo from 26 December 2026 to 21 February 2027; the Pelèr blows all year.
The Best time to travel tool shows temperatures and crowds for each month. How to reach the cable car, cycle path and sailing school without a car is covered under Lake Garda without a car.
