Best Hotels for Families in Lake Garda

The Du Lac et Du Parc Grand Resort, a short walk from the beach, is an upscale hotel with beautiful grounds and modern interiors. Multiple pools, restaurants, and fitness and wellness facilities are among the many amenities here. A kids’ club offers activities six days a week, plus there’s a playground on the surrounding grounds. Room decor isn’t as elegant or modern as the rest of the hotel, and air-conditioning is only available during the summer, but all rooms are equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and balconies with lovely views. With a wealth of diverse amenities and spacious rooms, the property attracts both families and couples aiming to relax.

Hotel Savoy Palace is an aging property that dates back to 1960 and draws families and couples with its convenient location (Pini Beach is a five-minute walk away) and all-inclusive rates. Its 109 rooms are modern, though basic, with amenities like flat-screen TVs, minibars, and furnished balconies. However, some don’t have coffee/tea facilities and only provide partial waterfront views, plus some guests complain of problems with the Wi-Fi and noise issues due to thin walls. A number of amenities are particularly aimed at families, such as the free kids' club during the summer that provides activities for children. There are also indoor and outdoor pools, a playground, and outdoor ping-pong. The hotel provides all-inclusive dining options, including breakfast, lunch, and dinner buffets.

Hotel Castello Lake Front is a peaceful, family-run boutique hotel with a patio overlooking Lake Garda and a private beach and pier. Rates are competitive, and include a hot breakfast buffet from the hotel's excellent restaurant, plus guests receive a substantial discount for lunch and dinner. The hotel’s 36 rooms are starkly modern but still cheery thanks to big windows and a few brightly colored details. Most have balconies and patios with exceptional views. The spacious lawn and garden area between the hotel and beach has loungers, as well as a children’s play area with a trampoline and ping-pong table. Self-parking is free at the hotel’s surface lot and underground garage, and Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.

This mid-range, 185-room hotel has beautiful grounds and plenty of amenities, but the beautiful waterfront location and the expansive spa steal the show. The price includes access to thermal pools, saunas, and steam baths, though individual treatments cost an extra fee. Rooms are a bit bland given the hotel's advertised four-star status, but some have outdoor balconies with lake views. Families with young children will also find two kids' pools and play equipment, as well as the option of hiring babysitting services.

Set among lemon trees and bougainvillea bushes, this quiet resort draws a mix of families and couples seeking both a quiet escape and point of departure to the surrounding historic attractions and dramatic landscape. The rooms -- including Family Rooms and Triple Rooms -- have a chalet-like feel, with minimal furnishings and light-wood floors. There are three on-site restaurants, two open during summer and the other available year round. Rates include breakfast, afternoon tea and snacks, and Wi-Fi.

The Poiano Resort Hotel is a three-pearl property situated in a beautiful countryside setting above Lake Garda, a five-minute drive from the village of Garda. Its 120 rooms all offer a balcony or terrace -- and some have spectacular views of the lake and countryside -- but old blond furniture is dated, as are the color palettes and accents. Half-board rates include breakfast and dinner, and there are two bars in addition to the restaurant. Tennis, archery, volleyball, and soccer are on offer, and there are three pools (one indoor, one outdoor, and one for kids) and an outdoor playground. Gardaland amusement park, popular with families, is a 25-minute drive to the south.

The four-pearl Hotel Parchi del Garda opened in 2010 on a lovely plot of land overlooking Lake Garda. Its proximity to the lake and to popular amusement parks, which are within walking distance, make it especially popular with families in the summer. Its 233 rooms are spacious, with a sleek, minimalist design, mini-fridges, and beautiful marble bathrooms. The 236-square-foot Family Rooms have two double beds. Rates include a hot breakfast buffet, parking, a kids' club with supervised activities, and Wi-Fi. Other features include a large pool and three restaurants, although it lacks a spa or fitness facilities.

The three-pearl Hotel Benacus Malcesine is a clean and pleasant family-run hotel located on the Garda highway, just outside of Malcesine. The lovely promenade that runs along Lake Garda is behind the hotel, making the stroll into town a pleasure. It’s a peaceful and friendly place, with a lovely lawn, outdoor pool, whirlpool, and children's play set. Rates include breakfast, and the bar serves salads and sandwiches. The 29 rooms are bright and clean, with basic, modular furniture and minimalist decor. Many have balconies with lake or mountain views, and newly renovated rooms on the top floor have mini-fridges and attractive bathrooms. The hotel is popular with couples and families alike who seek a peaceful and scenic place to relax near the lake and the historic towns along it.

The Majestic Palace Hotel is a three-pearl hillside property overlooking Lake Garda, a five-minute drive from Malcesine. The 200 rooms are inconsistent, with some needing an overhaul and others a bit more modern. All have mini-fridges and flat-screen TVs, and some have excellent lake and mountain views. Rates include a buffet breakfast and the restaurant serves buffets for lunch (most days) and dinner as well, though the selection and quality both get mixed reviews. The two outdoor pools are pluses, and families make good use of the kids' pool, playground, and kids' club. However, fees for everything from Wi-Fi to safes add up.

The 94-room Grand Hotel Liberty is an upper-middle-range option that’s less than a five-minute walk from the shores of Lake Garda. Proximity to the lake is a main draw here, and it's near to restaurants, shops, and public transport. The hotel’s wellness area includes an indoor heated pool, gym, and beauty treatments, as well as a lovely outdoor pool with scenic views of a nearby mountain. Other perks include a free breakfast served in the on-site restaurant, as well as a bar, kids' club with toys and activities, and meeting rooms. Guest rooms are quite dated in terms of decor and furnishings, but they're equipped with flat-screen TVs, minibars, and free Wi-Fi (though it can sometimes be spotty). On-site parking is free, and airport transfers can be arranged for a fee.

This massive campsite on Lake Garda is an inexpensive way to visit the beautiful lake and surrounding spots in northern Italy. There are 605 accommodations available, including large apartments, bungalows, and mobile homes with kitchenettes. It also has a large water park with five swimming pools, two restaurants, and an on-site market. A mini club provides entertainment and activities for children, and there is also table tennis, as well as a playground, soccer field, and volleyball and basketball courts. Bicycles are available to rent for a fee and there are laundry facilities. There is a small fee to use the Wi-Fi network.

The Garda Village is a basic hotel that can be a good jumping-off point for exploring the area around Lake Garda (a car is recommended). This property is comprised of individual mobile homes and bungalows, spread out over grounds set with small trees. Rooms are basic and decor is dated, but they do have kitchenettes and small flat-screen TVs (and some bungalows are more modern than others). There are tennis courts, a beach, an outdoor pool, windsurfing facilities, mini-golf, and laundry machines all on-site, but there is a fee for Wi-Fi and the location isn't accessible by public transportation.

The Camping del Garda site has a range of sleeping accommodations, including campsites, bungalows, and mobile homes. Some of these, the bungalows in particular, are worse for wear, but the mobile homes are generally newer and nicer. The grounds are right off the shores of Lake Garda, and there are two large pools and two children’s pools on-site. Camping del Garda attracts mostly young families and others traveling on a budget.