Malcesine, with is medieval castle, Palazzo dei Capitani and its small cobbled streets, is one of the most charming towns on
Lake Garda. Goethe was once imprisoned in the castle, because he had rowed out onto the lake to paint the castle and was suspected of being an Austrian spy. You can visit the castle today and see the modest museum and enjoy wonderful view of the town and the lake from up in the tower.
Behind the town is Monte Baldo, and if you fancy some fresh air and a wonderful view, there is a brand new and ultra-modern cable car that takes you to the top of the mountain, where you can go trekking or simply enjoy the unspoilt scenery. For the more experienced walker, we can recommend hiking up the mountain. It’s a long and arduous trip although not difficult. In Malcesine you can hire mountain bikes, that you can collect at the top of Monte Baldo, and then it’s up to you how you descend: you can either cycle over the northern face and down to
Nago and back to Malcesine, or over the southern face to
Garda and up to Malcesine. Both trips are great, and there are some amazing views along the way. Also try the lovely Via Panoramica, where you can take a fantastic drive up behind Malcesine and see some amazing views.
The northern part of Malcesine has spectacular wind conditions making it without a doubt the best place for windsurfing on the lake. From the harbour, you can wander on to the lakefront promenade, which goes right out to Val di Sogno (the Valley of Dreams), an exceptionally pretty area south of the town.
