Are you looking for a fine vacation destination in northern Italy where you won’t be tripping over the crowds but can enjoy clear water, beautiful mountains and plenty of activities for the whole family? Then Lake Ledro with kids is a great choice. This turquoise lake is a short distance from the famous Lake Garda, but is a lot quieter and therefore ideal for families. Kids can swim safely, play on the beaches and have fun on the water with a canoe or paddleboat. And for parents, there are plenty of opportunities for hiking, biking or just relaxing with mountain views. In this blog we list the best children’s activities of Lake Ledro.
Lake Ledro with kids
The turquoise Lake Ledro is known as one of the most beautiful and cleanest lakes in Italy. It is located in northern Italy, in the region of Trentino – South Tyrol. Lake Ledro covers 2.18 km² and has a maximum depth of 48 meters. The lake has a length of 3 kilometers and a maximum width of 1 kilometer.
In Italy, they call this lake Lago di Ledro. Lake Ledro is just 15 car minutes (via a mountain road) from Lake Garda. The water is particularly clear, partly because the bottom is made up of pebbles. The lake is beautifully set among high mountains. You can enjoy supping, renting a pedal boat, canoe or sailboat. There are also beautiful hiking and mountain biking trails in the area. Lake Ledro is more than 600 meters higher than Lake Garda, so the temperature there is often much more pleasant in the summer.
Lake Ledro is a natural lake that today is used for the generation of electricity. As a result, water levels are often much lower in the summer and fall. This might be a disadvantage, but thanks to this difference, ancient settlements of the Etruscans have been discovered.
At the Museo delle Palafitte you can see these remains and get a good idea of how people lived around Lake Ledro around 1700 BC. In the centuries that followed, the area also had a turbulent history. Today it is mostly peaceful and you can experience both active and relaxing vacations. Below we list the best children’s activities of Lake Ledro.
#1 A bike ride or walk around Lake Ledro
One of the most enjoyable activities is a tour around Lake Ledro. The route is 9.5 kilometers long and runs along a fine hiking and biking trail with no significant elevation change. So ideal for families with kids! Along the way, you will constantly enjoy the view of the clear blue water and the mountains surrounding it. And another plus: along the route are cozy joints where you can stop for a drink, lunch or dinner. We ourselves had a wonderful lunch at Barbu, right on the waterfront.
#2 Canyoning in the Ampola Valley
For families with slightly older kids (ages 8 and up), canyoning in the Ampola Valley is highly recommended. Canyoning is a spectacular sport in which you descend through a gorge, sliding down natural slides, making jumps in the water and even having to abseil along the way. A kind of natural water park, then, where the whole family will have enormous fun.
You can book excursions from the campground. There are two routes: Torrente Palvico (for beginners) and Rio Nero (for the more experienced adventurers). The price is around €80 per person. Exciting, but absolutely unforgettable!
#3 Water fun on the lake
Lake Ledro is ideal for all kinds of water sports. You can paddleboat, row, sail or even wakeboard. There are rental stations at various spots around the lake where you can rent equipment or book lessons. We brought our own sup-board and made full use of it. For kids, it’s great to play on the lake and experience freedom while parents enjoy the mountain views.
#4 A trip to Riva del Garda
In just 15 minutes you can drive from Lake Ledro to Riva del Garda, a lively town on Lake Garda. There is always something to do here: stroll along the promenade, eat an ice cream or enjoy shopping in the old streets. In the evening, we went up the glass panoramic elevator. It is open from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. and costs €6 for a single ride or €9 round trip (kids under 120 cm free).
Upstairs at Bastion you can have drinks or dinner with a view, but reservations are smart. You can also visit a beautiful fortress here. If you find the elevator too pricey, you can of course make the climb on foot.
#5 Limone sul Garda
Another fun excursion from Lake Ledro is Limone sul Garda. Here everything revolves around lemons: lemon dresses, lemon accessories and, of course, limoncello. The place is bustling and the terraces are perfect for lunch, dinner or just people-watching.
You can reach Limone by boat from several places around Lake Garda (such as Riva), but we went by car – not a punishment either, as the route along the lake is beautiful. Tip: there is a market on Tuesdays, which makes it even more cozy.
#6 Arco and the Castello di Arco
A short distance from Lake Ledro is the village of Arco. From the center you can walk to the Castello di Arco. Keep in mind that the trail is quite steep – in about 20 minutes you will climb to the top.
At the top, stunning views of the Sarca Valley, Riva del Garda and Lake Garda await. After the climb, we immediately had a drink and ice cream. We found the castle itself less exciting, but the view made up for everything.
#7 Museo delle Palafitte
For a touch of history, a visit to the Pole House Museum is highly recommended. As the water level of Lake Ledro was artificially adjusted for electricity generation, ancient settlements of the Etruscans have been discovered.
These stilt houses date from around 1700 BC. At the Museo delle Palafitte, you can see original remains and a replica of what the houses used to look like. The museum was recently renovated and now doubles in size, making it extra worthwhile.
#8 Hike to the Gorg d’Abiss Waterfall
From the village of Tiarno di Sotto you can walk to the Gorg d’Abiss waterfall in about twenty minutes. The route is clearly marked and takes you first past the old Burgatini water mill, then through a wooded area. After 1.5 kilometers you reach the waterfall, which is 125 meters higher than the starting point. A short and easy hike, perfect to do with kids, with a nice reward at the end.
#9 Strada del Ponale
The Strada del Ponale is one of the most beautiful walks in the area. From Lake Ledro you walk 13 kilometers to Riva del Garda. The trail goes downhill past rocks, waterfalls, orchards (we saw kiwis growing there!) and even a cave with a statue of the Virgin Mary.
Eventually you end up along the side of Lake Garda with beautiful views. Many people also bike this trail (electric or sports), but we found walking to be ideal. The kids were excited about the variety along the way.
#10 Tremalzo mountain pass
The Tremalzo Pass is an impressive mountain pass popular among cyclists and mountain bikers. For families, the car is a nice alternative: the route winds up through the mountains and once at the top you have an insane view. There are short hikes available, but we especially enjoyed a drink at a mountain hut on top. The view is an experience in itself.
#11 The big bench and the heart viewpoint
Finally, a fun tip near Lake Ledro itself: hike to the big bench and heart lookout in Molina di Ledro. The climb is only a kilometer, but quite steep. Once at the top, you have a beautiful view of Lake Ledro. Especially at sunset, it is magical here. Created by Camping Ledro, the bench and heart are an original photo spot for families.
Family-friendly hotel Lake Ledro
You can stay in the Ledro Lake area with kids just fine. We list below some of Lake Ledro’s best-reviewed family-friendly accommodations.
Budget accommodation: Grazioso Trilocale Centro/Stazione
Middle class accommodation: Agritur Michelotti Giancarlo
Luxury accommodation: Eden Reserve Hotel
Also check out the entire list of family-friendly accommodations at Lake Ledro.
Tips Lake Ledro with kids
Family-friendly restaurant Lake Ledro:
You can eat great food at Lake Ledro with kids. Here are some tips!
Val di Ledro: At Camping Al Sole you will find Val di Ledro restaurant. Here we ate one of the most delicious stone-oven pizzas of our vacation. In addition to pizza, there are also delicious steaks and pastas on the menu. The restaurant has both an indoor space and a cozy terrace, which means you can visit it in both good and bad weather. Ideal with kids, as you sit there informally and convivially.
Bar al Lago: An absolute must right on Lake Ledro is Bar al Lago. Located right on the waterfront, this restaurant offers stunning views of the lake. Especially on warm summer evenings, sitting here is fantastic. A tip, though: reserve in time if you want a spot outside, as they are gone quickly. Again, we tasted the typical Italian stone-oven pizzas, but the view completed the experience.
Best Travel Time Lake Ledro
The best period to travel to Lake Ledro is from May to September. During these months, the weather is pleasant, precipitation is relatively low and you can enjoy plenty of sun and water fun. August is traditionally the most popular month, but June and July also tend to have wonderful weather.
We visited Lake Ledro in July and had temperatures around 27 degrees. What we noticed: as soon as we drove to Lake Garda, it was often immediately about 5 degrees warmer there. This makes Lake Ledro a lot more enjoyable for families with kids, because it never got too hot to enjoy being active or sleeping at night.
Transportation in and around Lake Ledro
From the Netherlands, it is a long drive to northern Italy, but with a stopover in Germany or Austria, it is perfectly doable with kids. We chose to spend the night at a campsite just before the Fernpass, so the second day was a lot shorter.
Once on the ground, the bicycle is a very fine means of transportation. We brought our own bikes, but you can rent bikes at the campground. So we made a leisurely 9.5-kilometer round trip around the lake. In addition, once we took the public bus from Riva del Garda to Lake Ledro – at €3 per person it was a convenient and fun experience.
Family-friendly camping Lake Ledro
Along the lake you will find several campsites, often small and cozy. This makes them very suitable for families who like a quiet, varied vacation.
Camping Al Sole
We ourselves stayed at Camping Al Sole and found it highly recommended. The campground is small but cozy and also pet-friendly (dogs are welcome, if leashed). What we noticed: there were many dogs, but we did not experience any barking at all. There is entertainment for the kids and every evening a soccer tournament is organized on the small field – always from 8:45 to 9:30 p.m., because after that it gets dark.
From the campground you walk through a locked gate directly to the lake, where you can lie on a grassy area and swim. There is also a waterfront bar where you can have breakfast, lunch or an ice cream. You cannot dine there, but there is a good campground restaurant. At the pool (with slides) an attentive lifeguard supervises and you don’t have to wear a swim cap here.
The sanitary facilities are clean and modern and there is a playground, beach volleyball court and table tennis table. For adults, there is even a small spa that you can use for a fee. In addition to pitches, you can also rent cottages at Al Sole – convenient for those who want a little more comfort.
Best Ledro Camping
Another fine lakeside campsite is Best Ledro Camping. This is another small campground, but here you have to cross the road to get to the lake. The campground has mobile homes, glamping accommodations as well as some regular camping sites. A good option for families who like a mix of comfort and camping life.
About the author: John & Kim and Tijn and Esmee have visited many countries with their twins. They especially love discovering new places.
