A first family trip to northern Italy with a 1-year-old. From the shores of Lake Garda to the canals of Venice, with a Dolomites detour in between. This itinerary combines scenic drives, alpine adventures, and proper Italian food and wine. If you’re planning something similar, feel free to adapt it to your own pace!

Trip Overview

• Days 1–4: Lake Garda, based in Bardolino

• Day 3: Dolomites day trip — Trento, Bolzano, Lago di Misurina, Cortina d’Ampezzo

• Day 5: Drive to Venice via Verona

• Days 5–7: Venice, based in San Marco

• Day 7: Transfer to Mestre for early morning flight

Day 1 — Arrival: Venice Airport → Bardolino

We flew into Marco Polo Airport, picked up the rental car at Avis in Mestre, and drove straight to Bardolino on Lake Garda. About 1h 45min on the A4 motorway heading west. Arriving mid-afternoon gave us time to check in, walk the lakefront promenade, and ease into the trip with a relaxed first dinner.

13:40  Land at Marco Polo Airport

14:30  Pick up rental car and drive west on A4 motorway (~1h 45min)

16:30  Check in — Blue Lake Residence, Bardolino

17:30  Walk the promenade

19:30  First dinner on the lake

Day 2 — Riva del Garda + Limone sul Garda

Wednesday was our western shore day. A full lake circuit by car that took us from the dramatic northern tip at Riva del Garda down the cliff road to the lemon-perfumed village of Limone sul Garda. The SS45bis road between Riva and Limone is one of the most spectacular drives in Italy — narrow tunnels, hairpin bends, sheer drops into the lake. Take it slowly and enjoy every kilometre.

08:30  Depart Bardolino, drive north on eastern shore

10:00  Limone Sul Garda – a bit overrated to be honest (lemon gelato served inside a fresh lemon was good enough)

13:00  Lunch in Riva — waterfront terrace, lake fish, cold white wine

16:30  Drive back east to Bardolino (~1h)

19:30  Dinner in Bardolino

Day 3 — Dolomites Day Trip: Trento · Bolzano · Lago di Misurina · Cortina d’Ampezzo

Probably the best day of our trip.

We left at 8:30 AM and drove north through Trento (stop for coffee and croissant) and Bolzano (stopped for lunch) before entering the Dolomites. Lago di Misurina with the Tre Cime di Lavaredo reflected in the water is one of those landscapes you don’t forget. Cortina d’Ampezzo was the final stop before the long drive home. We wanted to spend so much more time in the area but unfortunately we had to return back.

08:30  Depart Bardolino — A22 motorway north

09:30  Trento — 60 min stop. Piazza del Duomo, Fontana del Nettuno, espresso & croissant

11:15  Bolzano – Lunch, great walkable streets and shopping street

15:00  Lago di Misurina — 1.5h walk around the lake, Tre Cime views

18:00  Cortina d’Ampezzo. Corso Italia, gelato, main square. Dinner.

20:30  Drive back south via A27 motorway to Bardolino (~3.5h)

23:30  Back in Bardolino

Day 4 — Malcesine · Monte Baldo Cable Car · Boat Rental

Our last full day at the lake. We drove north to Malcesine (very crowded, nowhere to park) to take the famous Monte Baldo rotating cable car up to 1,760m — a bit overrated after seeing the Dolomites the day before.

Dove into the lake at a cute spot and was easy the highlight of our day (instead of Monte Baldo)

Dinner at Bardolino

Day 5 — Bardolino → Verona Stopover → Venice

We checked out of Bardolino, stopped in Verona for a 3-hour morning visit and had lunch there. Great city but I don’t think it needs more than a day. Returned the car at Avis Mestre, and took the vaporetto into Venice for the last leg of the trip.

Day 6 — Venice: Iconic Landmarks

08:30  Doge’s Palace

10:30  Riva degli Schiavoni waterfront walk — Bridge of Sighs free from Ponte della Paglia

11:00  Rialto Bridge and market streets

18:30  Aperitivo — Spritz Select at a bacaro near the hotel

20:00  Dinner

💡 Venice is not good for families, especially with strollers!

Day 7 — Venice + Transfer to Mestre

The final Venice day — we did the islands in the morning and spent the afternoon in the most local parts of the city before transferring to Mestre for the early morning flight home.

Lots of walking around exploring the city, the shops and the cuisine with cicchetti.

Transfer to Mestre in the afternoon and checked in our hotel.

Visited the mall in Venice with lots of shops and restaurants.

Early Morning Departure — Mestre to Marco Polo Airport

With a 05:45 flight, this requires military precision. Pre-book your taxi the night before — do not rely on finding one at 3 AM on the street.

What We’d Do Differently

A few honest reflections after the trip:

• Sirmione: We dropped it from our itinerary to keep the pace manageable, but it’s arguably the crown jewel of Lake Garda — medieval castle on a peninsula, Roman ruins, thermal pools. If you have a fifth day at the lake, make this your priority. Arrive after 5 PM when the day-trippers leave and the town transforms.

• Gardaland: We swapped a Gardaland day for the Dolomites day trip and have zero regrets. The Dolomites in August are extraordinary. Save Gardaland for a future trip when the children are older and can ride everything.

• Limone by ferry vs car: We drove, which gave us total flexibility and the dramatic cliff road experience. But the ferry from Bardolino to Limone is a lovely alternative — 1.5 hours across the open lake with mountain views on both sides.

• More time in Venice: Two full days is the minimum. Three would be better. The islands alone deserve a full day and we found ourselves wishing for more time in Dorsoduro and Cannaregio — the two most liveable neighbourhoods and the ones least affected by tourist crowds.

Where We Stayed

Blue Lake Residence, Bardolino  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Great location — central to everything in Bardolino but surprisingly quiet. Good private parking on site which made a big difference coming and going with luggage. Breakfast was generous and the rooms are big enough for a family. The only thing I’d flag is that there’s no cleaning service during the stay — but it’s an apartment, not a hotel, so that’s to be expected rather than a complaint. Just worth knowing if you’re staying more than a few nights. Lovely, relaxed vibes overall. Would return.

“A charming apartment in the heart of Bardolino — great base for exploring Lake Garda, with generous breakfast, easy parking, and a relaxed vibe that made it feel like home.”

Ai Patrizi di Venezia, San Marco  ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Exceptional location — steps from St Mark’s Square and the Rialto, yet tucked away enough to feel peaceful. The apartment strikes a lovely balance between classic Venetian style and genuine luxury — high ceilings, elegant furnishings, proper character. Spacious enough for a family to actually relax after a long day of sightseeing. The kitchen facilities were a real bonus travelling with a young child — being able to prepare simple meals made the stay considerably more comfortable. Would highly recommend for families looking for a proper Venetian experience without the sterility of a hotel.

“Elegant, spacious and perfectly located — a genuinely luxurious Venetian apartment that works beautifully for families.”

Anda Venice Hostel, Mestre  ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Pleasantly surprised. Came in with modest expectations for a one-night stopover before an early flight and left genuinely impressed. The open spaces, happy atmosphere and easy check-in set the tone immediately — nothing complicated, nothing stressful, just a well-run place with good energy. Clean, comfortable and great value for what it is. Exactly what you need the night before a 5:45 AM departure.

“A genuinely welcoming hostel with great vibes and effortless check-in — far exceeded expectations for a last-night stopover.”

This itinerary gave us the perfect balance of mountain adventure, lake life, culture and Italian food. Northern Italy in August is busy — but with the right timing, a good base and no fear of early mornings, it delivers everything it promises. We hope it helps you plan your own trip. Safe travels!

— George