Malcesine: a castle, the lake, and a cable car to the mountains
Updated October 2026
A castle, the lake, and the Monte Baldo cable car straight up the mountain.
Malcesine at a glance
- Best time
- May to June, September
- Price level
- pricey
- Getting around
- no train: ferries, buses and a cable car
- Best for
- wine, boating, hiking and outdoor sports
- The catch
- No train, and the lakeside road gets jammed in summer.
When to go
Temperatures are average daily highs in °F and °C (WeatherSpark). Ratings are our own. $ = cheapest, $$$ = most expensive. 🔥 = heat, ★ = big event.
Who Malcesine is for
Malcesine suits couples, active families and solo travelers who want mountains and lake in one trip. There are some hills.
When to go
The best months are May, June and September. April and October are good too. The weakest are July, August and November. In January and February many hotels and services are closed. In December the lake villages hold Christmas markets.
Getting around
No train goes to Malcesine. Ferries and buses reach the lake villages, and the cable car climbs Monte Baldo. The narrow lakeshore roads jam in summer, so the boat is often the nicest way to get around.
What Malcesine costs
On a budget, about $110 to $155 per person per day. In comfort or luxury, about $330 to $440. The lower number is the quiet season, the higher one peak season.
Includes your stay, food, activities and local transport, not flights. Converted at about $1.10 per euro. Estimates only.
Flights from the US and Canada
Fly into: Verona (VRN). Typical economy fares per person, round trip, with a connection. Canadian fares are in Canadian dollars. Not live prices, so always check before you book.
What Malcesine does best
Its strengths: wine, boating, hiking and outdoor sports.
Day trips
Malcesine works as a base for the northern half of the lake, by ferry and cable car.
A rotating cable car takes you up the mountain, with the whole lake below. It’s cooler at the top, so bring a jacket.
We haven’t been here ourselves, so this is based on other travelers’ reports.
A village of lemon gardens across the lake.
We haven’t been here ourselves, so this is based on other travelers’ reports.
The north end of the lake, among the mountains.
The promenade and the old town.
A long day, but a direct bus.
Where to eat
Breakfast and brunch
Lunch
Dinner
We picked these places from Google ratings and reviews in October 2026, and we haven’t eaten at all of them. Many Italian restaurants take reservations on WhatsApp, and a reservation only counts once they reply. The Map link opens the restaurant in Google Maps, where you’ll also find a booking button if they take online reservations. Opening hours change, so check before you go.
Food and wine
Veneto on a plate: a typical four-course menu, and the wine to go with each.
Golf
Green fees are estimates and vary by season and day of the week. Most courses ask for a handicap certificate. The links go to the course or a golf directory with booking and contact details.
Shopping
- Franciacorta Village (formerly Franciacorta Outlet Village), Rodengo Saiano near Brescia, a long drive from the north end of the lake: an open-air outlet with over 160 brands, typically 30 to 70 percent off. Usually open daily 10 am to 8 pm. Weekends are busy, so go on a weekday, and add a winery in Franciacorta the same day. 📍 Map
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