At Lake Garda, two hours north of Treviso, you can tour the circumference of the gorgeous lake in a classic wooden boat for $50, then stop at one of the old town’s wine cafes. I ordered a Campari and grapefruit juice just to escape the sun, and before I knew it, out came a bowl of potato chips along with a platter of bruschetta topped with tuna and olives, ham, and cheese, as well as several squares of pizza—compliments of the house. This is the way it goes here; there is no tipping anywhere, only graciousness. Smart, too; they make me feel like friends for life.
Tips
- Lake Garda is often crowded, but the mood is festive, high or low. Don’t skip the fort in the middle of the old village. At the top of many stairs, the views are incomparable.
- You can eat at the high end here (we’ll tell you about that soon) or do what Italians do when they vacation here—they eat simple food and gelato day and night. We love that, too, but it’s impossible to tell who has the best gelati; there are too many stands to count. Just dive in.
- Parking is dear here, but locals told me to pull into a hotel parking lot and go inside. For a drink at the bar you can park for free. All day. Viva Italia!
