Short culinary trip through Veneto - Lake Garda, Verona and Borghetto

The best time to visit the Veneto region is between May and September because of the pleasant summer temperature and little to no rainfall. The highest average temperature is 27°C in July, and the lowest is 6°C in January. Cultural trips are possible year-round, and autumn and spring is the perfect time for sports activities. If you visit in October, the pleasant temperatures and fewer tourists will make your visit unforgettable.

Welcome to Italy! When you land either at Venice or Bologna Airport, a meet and greet await you at the arrivals gate. They will give you tips and information for your culinary adventure through the Veneto region. Afterward, pick up your rental car and begin your journey to the first destination: Lake Garda.

Check into your hotel and end the day with your first delicious dinner.

Travel time from Venice Airport to Lake Garda hotel: approx. 1 hour 45 minutes/about 150 km.
Travel time from Bologna Airport to Lake Garda hotel: approx. 2 hours / about 170 km

Overnight stay with half board on Lake Garda, Italy

Eat up your hearty breakfast before today’s day trip to Verona. As you drive into, what most people consider, the most beautiful art city in northern Italy, you will see the pink marble that characterizes the cityscape. Museums and monuments from the Roman, Gothic, and Renaissance periods dot the city streets, showing the political and economic importance the city has shown for centuries.

During a city tour in the morning, your guide will immerse you in the world of Italian history as you explore the Roman arena, Via Mazzini, Herb Square, Rulership Square, and other highlights.

At noon, drive to the southern part of Verona to the village Isola Della Scala. This destination is where your first culinary highlight commences. The town is known for its risotto rice production. Visit the local rice producer and learn everything about cultivation, manufacture, and working methods. For lunch, you will receive a bowl of traditional risotto.

Afterward, drive to Bardolino on the shores of Lake Garda. Absorb yourself in the relaxed atmosphere while you enjoy a wine tasting experience with the region’s famous red wine.

If you have enough time, we recommend a visit to the Olive Oil Museum in Bardolino. The museum will teach you about the cultivation, processing and use of different olive oils. For an extra charge, we can also arrange a tasting.

In the evening, you will return to your hotel on Lake Garda, where you will enjoy dinner at the end of the day.

Travel time from Lake Garda to Verona: approx. 1 hour / about 76 km

Overnight stay with half board on Lake Garda, Italy

After a refreshing breakfast, drive south toward Mantua. On the way, you’ll stop in Borghetto, a village near Valleggio. Take a stroll along the Mincio River, in front of the old mill’s rushing water, and quickly learn why the village is considered one of Italy's most beautiful. Learn about the history of Valeggio sul Mincio and its castle from high above.

Today’s culinary adventure focuses on the famous Italian pasta, tortellini. Visit a production facility, get a glimpse behind the scenes, and learn about the region’s specialty pasta.

Every year on the 3rd Tuesday in June, the Festa del Nodo d’Amore occurs on the town’s bridge. Around 4000 guests enjoy the village’s famous tortellini together at a single long table. According to local legend, a love story was between a knight and a mermaid, which was tied together by a gold handkerchief with a knot. This shape and color are where the tortellini pasta makers grab inspiration.

After the tour, you will finally get to enjoy a bowl of tortellini! Traditionally, it also includes a side of broth.

Another village custom says that after dinner, you should rest or take 1000 steps. The perfect way to get these steps in is to visit Parco Giardino Sigura, also known as the temple of nature. In the vast park, you will discover lush vegetation, various plants, and tranquil ponds.

Enjoy one last meal at your hotel.

Optional (extra fee): Would you like to end your trip with a typical Italian cuisine? We are happy to organize a pizza dinner for you.

Travel time from Lake Garda to Borghetto: approx. 1 hour / about 50 km

Overnight stay with half board on Lake Garda, Italy

Depending on the flight time, you will drive to the airport after breakfast or add an optional experience to the day. We are happy to organize a trip extension if you haven’t had enough pizza, pasta, and wine.

If you have a little more time, we recommend extending this trip with the module, Short trip to Tuscany: a culinary journey. We will help you with further planning.

itravel — for that moment.

Hotel Belvedere***, Lake Garda (Manerba del Garda), Italy

The beautiful hotel nestles two kilometers from the Lake Garda shores, behind a hill overlooking the stunning surroundings. The modernly styled hotel offers free WiFi in public areas and a gourmet restaurant with delicious Italian cuisine. In the rooms, studios, and apartments, they offer contemporary furniture, airconditioning, and a flat-screen TV. Guests have unlimited access to the lush gardens where they can relax on sun loungers, under umbrellas, or in the pool. Each morning, an included breakfast buffet serves cereals, cakes, croissants, eggs, bacon, and cheese. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are also available.

Closest airport: Venice Marco Polo Airport

Duration of the trip: 4 days / 3 nights

Including

• Three nights at the mentioned accommodations or similar:
  • Three nights at Hotel Belvedere*** with half board in a standard room on Lake Garda
• Meet & Greet at Venice or Bologna Airport
• Guide in the city of Verona (2 hours)

Included experiences

Isola della Scala

• Tour of a rice factory and risotto-based lunch

Bardolino

• Wine tasting

Valleggio sul Mincio:

• A small demonstration of tortellini production
• Tortellini tasting
• Entry to Parco Sigurta

Excluding

• International flights

• Meals and drinks not mentioned in the scope of services

• Excursions not mentioned (visits, admissions, etc.)

• Rental car

• Tips and personal expenses

• Travel insurance

Optional experiences

• Rental car for the duration of the stay

• Pizza instead of half board on day four

• Cooking class

Verona:

• Admission to Arena di Verona

• Entry to Juliet's house

• Admission to the Basilica of San Zeno

Bardolino:

• Olive oil tasting

Emilia:

• Parma ham and Parmesan tasting, entry to the Ferrari Gallery, and guided city tour

• Balsamic vinegar tasting

• Dozza Regional Wine Shop of Emilia near Bologna

• Visit the Lamborghini and Ducati workshops

Cremona:

• City tour and visit to a violin workshop in Cremona & tasting menu with specialties from the region

• In the footsteps of Giuseppe Verdi - guided tour, Verdi's birthplace in Roncole + the Casa Barezzi - the Teatro Verdi.

Bologna:

• City tour Bologna, tasting of mortadella, lunch with pasta a la Bolognese

Treviso:

• City tour, coffee break in a pasticceria, panoramic trip on the Prosecco Street, visit and tasting at a Prosecco production winery

• Venetian wine production with a visit to the winery

Venice:

• Venice city tour

• Music in Venice (concerts, theater, or Wagner museum)

Padua:

• City tour

• Euganean Hills

• Bassano del Grappa with grappa tasting

Notes

• Would you prefer to stay in a four or five-star category hotel? Contact us today! We will find suitable accommodation for you.