Is Lake Garda Safe for Solo Female Travelers?

Lake Garda is considered to be very safe for solo female travelers. Italy, in general, is a safe country with an increased emphasis on tourist safety and Lake Garda follows suite. The local residents are friendly and the crime rate is significantly low. The community is very welcoming to tourists and even though it is always prudent to take standard precautions, you are unlikely to encounter any significant safety issues. Public transport facilities are reliable and safe to use. The tourism offices and local authorities are extremely helpful in case of any assistance.

Safety index

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How safe is Lake Garda?

Safety at night:

Safety at night:Safe

Lake Garda is relatively safe during the night time. Like any tourist destination, during the peak season, there are a lot of people and most places are well lit. There's also regular patrolling by local police. However, during off-peak seasons or late at night, some areas might be less populated. As always, it is advised to always remain aware of your surroundings when walking alone at night.
Public transportation:

Public transportation:Safe

Public transportation in Lake Garda is generally safe and efficient. There's a good network of buses and ferries that connect the towns around the lake. Timetables are usually reliable, and the vehicles are clean and well-maintained. However, it can get crowded during peak tourist season, so it's always best to be aware of your surroundings and keep a watch on your belongings.
Street harassment:

Street harassment:Low

Lake Garda is generally safe and respectful towards female travelers. It's a popular tourist destination, populated largely by families and couples on vacation. Street harassment is almost non-existent, and if any incidents do occur, law enforcement is very effective. The locals are friendly and often helpful, contributing to a calm and welcoming environment. However, it's always advisable to be vigilant about your surroundings, especially when traveling alone at night. Personal safety precautions recommended include avoiding secluded areas late at night and not sharing your travel plans with strangers.
Petty crimes:

Petty crimes:Low

Lake Garda is generally perceived as a safe place to visit, as it's a tourist-friendly area. While occasional pickpocketing incidents or purse-snatchings can occur, especially in crowded areas, these are relatively rare, and instances of petty crime have been on the lower end. As with travel anywhere, prudence and awareness of one's surroundings are always advised.

Is Lake Garda worth visiting?

Overall rating

3.9 /5

based on 3 experiences from female travelers

Things to do

4.2/5

Safety

4.6/5

Food

4.2/5

Budget-friendly

3.9/5
Emma

Emma

United Kingdom

Solo travel

I would highly reccomend a visit to Lake Garda. It was very safe, at no points did I feel uneasy or encounter any behaviour or instances which would cause concern. Restaurants, transport, general public were all very friendly and helpful. I've stayed in both Desenzano del Garda and Peschiera del Garda and both were easy to reach by train and gave you great access to travel across the lake to see other towns. They were also beautiful towns in their own right to explore and spend time in. When I stayed in Desenzano del Garda I stayed at Hotel Europa, lovely rooms, staff and breakfast. I stayed for two nights then moved on to Milan and Lake Como afterwards. Desenzano has a lot of food options so would reccomend you wander round and see what menu and view you like the look of. Day one I explored the town and took the bus to Sirmione (buses are a little confusing and don't run to times so would reccomend you take the boat that is a couple euros more expensive but takes half the time and sticks to schedule). Day two I did a boat trip across the lake, I bought the whole lake ticket for around €30-35 as knew I wanted to see Riva at the top of the lake and planned to stop at Garda and Malcensine on the way there and back respectively. Do not visit the lakes without taking a trip to see the other towns, the views from the boats which have upper deck outside seating are amazing. I suggest starting your day early as the boats do get busier throughout the day and you may get stuck sat inside or if you go for the faster service some people were also standing. When I visited Peschiera I was with my partner and we did another boat trip and saw Limone, Lazize and Salo.... My only regret that day was the fast boat service was overcrowded so couldn't run at speed so instead of having a couple hours to explore Limone we had barely 50mins. Limone was stunning (like all the towns I've visited on Lake Garda) and we found a cafe called House of Lemonade & Spritz in a wall selling pizza and limoncello spritz so walked around whilst also enjoying the food and drinks!

Posted: January 7, 2024Experienced: May, 2022
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Couple travel

Es war richtig schön! Der Gardasee ist immer wieder ein tolles Erlebnis. Vorallem in Arco kann man sehr viel unternehmen, sei es eine tolle Radtour, Klettersteig oder ein Trailrun. Für ein paar Tipps, könnt ihr mir gerne schreiben :)

Posted: May 12, 2023
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Solo travel

Lake Garda is wonderful and in my opinion better than Como. It was less crowded, and the ferries were better. I spent 4 days there and I definitely could spend at least one more day there to explore more lakeside towns.

Posted: April 30, 2023
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Is Lake Garda safe right now?

Before your visit to Lake Garda, it's essential to check travel advisories for Italy, including your home country's official travel advisory. These advisories can provide up-to-date information on safety, health, and any specific considerations for travelers.
🇺🇸

United States Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The United States Government advises exercising increased caution due to terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: September 12, 2024
🇨🇦

Canada's Travel AdvisoryExercise a high degree of caution

The Canadian government advises exercising a high degree of caution in Italy due to the threat of terrorism. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: September 24, 2024
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Australia's Travel AdvisoryTake normal security precautions

The Australian government advises exercising normal safety precautions in Italy. Check the full travel advisory.
Last updated: October 8, 2024

Safety in Italy