Lago di Ledro

Updated October 2026 · Sources: Garda Trentino, MUSE, Autonomous Province of Trento, Trentino Trasporti

Find a place to stay near Lake Ledro

Lake Ledro (Lago di Ledro) is in Trentino, northern Italy, at 655 metres above sea level in the Ledro Valley, just above Riva del Garda at the northern tip of Lake Garda. From Riva it is a 15-minute drive: about 12 km to Molina di Ledro on the east shore and about 16 km to Pieve di Ledro on the west shore. Trento is about 56 km away (one hour) and Verona airport about 104 km.

The lake covers just over 2 km² and is up to 47–48 metres deep, surrounded by forest and peaks of more than 2,000 metres. The whole valley forms the municipality of Ledro, created in 2010 from six former municipalities. On the shore at Molina lie the remains of a pile-dwelling village around 4,000 years old, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2011 together with the other prehistoric pile dwellings around the Alps.

In summer you come for the beaches, the walk around the lake and sailing, with cooler water and fewer people than on Lake Garda. In spring and autumn come for the hiking: the Ponale road high above Lake Garda, Cima Parì and Monte Cadria. Below you will find what to see, where to swim, hikes with times and elevation gain, the bus from Riva and where to stay.

The lake is long and narrow. Molina sits at the eastern end, towards Lake Garda, and Pieve at the western end, towards the inner valley. Mezzolago is on the north shore, the hamlet of Pur on the south shore. One day is enough for the museum, a beach and part of the lake walk; for the hikes, allow two or three days.

Pile Dwelling Museum and UNESCO site

In 1929 the lake level was lowered for the hydroelectric works, and the wooden piles of a Bronze Age village reappeared on the shore at Molina. It is one of the best-known pile-dwelling sites in Europe. On 27 June 2011 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps”, together with Fiavé and other prehistoric villages in six countries.

The finds (objects in bronze, bone, stone and pottery) are in the Lake Ledro Pile Dwelling Museum (Museo delle Palafitte), a branch of the MUSE science museum in Trento, at Via al Lago 1 in Molina. It is open every day: March to June and September to December 9am–5pm, July and August 10am–6pm. It is closed in January and February. On the first Sunday of the month from October to March, entry is free for everyone. In summer there are weekly guided tours in English (1 euro on top of the ticket). Tickets and dates on the MUSE website.

Molina di Ledro

Molina is the first village you reach from Riva and the main centre of the valley. It has the lake’s largest beach, in the Besta area, and it is where the road down to Biacesa and the Ponale starts. If you come by bus from Riva, Molina is the most convenient stop for the museum and the beach.

Pieve di Ledro

Pieve lies at the western end of the lake, where the valley opens towards Bezzecca and Tiarno. It has a wide beach with shops and services a few steps from the water: the most practical base for a family holiday without moving the car every day.

Mezzolago

A small village on the north shore between Molina and Pieve, with houses right on the water. Its small grassy beach makes a good stop on the lake walk.

Pur and Ledro Land Art

On the quieter south shore lies Pur. In the woods above the lake, since 2012, Ledro Land Art is a trail of artworks made from natural materials: logs, branches and stones. It is a short walk and works well with children.

Bezzecca and Colle di Santo Stefano

Bezzecca is a couple of kilometres past Pieve. On 18 July 1866 it was the site of the Battle of Bezzecca, in the Third Italian War of Independence: Garibaldi’s volunteers against the Austrian army. On Colle di Santo Stefano above the village there is a memorial and a cross for the fallen, plus First World War positions. The hill gives you a view over the whole valley.

Lake Ampola

At the western end of the valley, about 10 km past Pieve towards Storo, lies the small Lago d’Ampola. A cycle path runs along the valley floor from Biacesa.

Passo Tremalzo

Above the valley, at over 1,700 metres, Passo Tremalzo is known above all to mountain bikers for its old First World War military roads. In summer private shuttles take riders up from Riva. From the Passo Nota area, trails lead back down to Lake Ledro.

Yes, you can swim in Lake Ledro, and for most visitors that is the main reason to come. The water is cooler than Lake Garda and the lake is less crowded. The beaches are free to use, with grass, gravel and trees for shade depending on the spot.

• Molina – Besta: the largest and sunniest beach, with a gently shelving lake bed. Good for children, close to the museum and shops.
• Pieve di Ledro: wide and close to the village, the family favourite along with Besta.
• Mezzolago: smaller, with a lawn and playground, on the north shore.
• Pur: on the south shore, the quietest, with views over the lake and mountains.

The wind often picks up in the afternoon, which is when sailing and windsurfing start. For calm water to swim in, come in the morning. The lake is up to 47–48 metres deep and in places the bottom drops off quickly: stay close to the shore if you are not a strong swimmer and keep an eye on children. Rules for dogs vary from beach to beach, so check the signs on site.

The full loop around the lake is about 10 km and almost flat, partly on quiet tarmac roads and partly on woodland paths. On foot, allow two and a half to three hours without stops. You can start from Molina, Pieve or Mezzolago and stop at the beaches along the way. You can also cycle it; slow down for walkers on the narrow stretches.

Short on time? Walk just the north shore from Molina to Pieve via Mezzolago and take the bus back.

The valley has around 200 km of trails. These are the three most popular routes, with figures from Garda Trentino, the official tourist board. Times exclude breaks: always check the weather and trail conditions before you set out.

Ponale road

The old Ponale road linked Riva del Garda to the Ledro Valley, cut into the cliffs high above Lake Garda. It was built in the second half of the 19th century at the initiative of Giacomo Cis, a merchant from Bezzecca. Since 2004 it has been closed to traffic and reserved for walkers and cyclists.

From the Ledro side you start at Biacesa, at the free car park where the main road meets the road to Pregasina. You walk down to the hydroelectric power station in Riva and back: 10.5 km round trip, about 4 hours, 785 metres of ascent and descent, intermediate. The return is uphill all the way. There are tunnels and lots of cyclists, so keep to the side and keep children close. In midsummer start early, as the cliff is in full sun. Many people walk only the downhill section and return from Riva by bus.

Cima Parì

Cima Parì, almost 2,000 metres high, is the best-known viewpoint over the lake. The hike starts from the Malga Trat car park, reached by car from Lenzumo on a narrow road. The loop suggested by Garda Trentino is 9.7 km, with 580 metres of ascent and about 4.5 hours, intermediate. Follow SAT trails 435 and 413; the last section to the summit is unmarked but easy to see. On the way back you pass near Rifugio Pernici, a mountain hut where you can eat when it is open.

Monte Cadria

Monte Cadria, at 2,254 metres, is the highest peak in the area and the toughest hike in the valley. It starts from the former power station at Concei, above Lenzumo: 11.9 km, about 6 hours, difficult. You climb through the woods to Bocca dei Tortavai and then up a steep final section to the summit; the descent follows SAT trail 423 past Malga Cadria and Malga Vies. There is no shelter on top, so start early and go only in settled weather. For fit, experienced hikers.

In winter the lake is quiet, without the summer crowds, and you can still walk the loop on dry days. The Pile Dwelling Museum stays open until December and reopens in March; entry is free on the first Sunday of the month.

The Ledro Valley is not a ski resort. Cross-country skiing, snowshoeing and ski touring are possible depending on snow: check locally. For proper pistes, the nearest resorts are Andalo (about 62 km, just over an hour), Pinzolo (about 63 km) and Madonna di Campiglio (about 76 km, an hour and a half).

• Summer (June–September): swimming, sailing, the lake loop, museum tours. July and August are the busiest months: get to the beaches early.
• Spring and autumn: the best time for the Ponale road, Cima Parì and Monte Cadria, with less heat and fewer people.
• Winter: a quiet lake and easy walks. The museum is closed in January and February.

• Riva del Garda (about 12–16 km): lakefront, old town and boats on Lake Garda.
• Lake Tenno (about 21 km): the turquoise lake above Riva and the village of Canale di Tenno.
• Arco (about 20 km): the castle on its rock and the climbing crags.
• Lake Ampola and Storo (10–20 km): the western end of the valley, towards the Giudicarie.
• Trento (about 56 km): the old town, the cathedral and the MUSE.
• Molveno (about 57 km): the lake below the Brenta Dolomites.
• Andalo (about 62 km): the Paganella plateau, summer and winter.

For more ideas in the region, see our Trentino guide.

You can stay in the villages of the valley or in Riva del Garda. Choose based on how you get around and what you want to do.

• Pieve di Ledro: on the lake, with the beach and shops on foot. The best choice for families and anyone who wants to park the car and forget it. Apartments, hotels and holiday homes.
• Molina di Ledro: on the lake, near the museum and Besta beach, and the closest village to Riva. Handy if you arrive by bus.
• Mezzolago: smaller and quieter, with houses on the water.
• Bezzecca, Tiarno and Val di Concei (a few km from the lake): quieter, closer to the trails for Cima Parì and Monte Cadria, often cheaper. You need a car.
• Riva del Garda (12–16 km): lots of choice and evening life, if you want to combine Lake Garda and Lake Ledro. Bus B214 links Riva with the valley.

For July and August, book early: there are few places right on the lake and those near the beaches go first.

By car

Take the A22 Brenner motorway to the Rovereto Sud – Lago di Garda Nord exit and follow signs for Riva del Garda. From Riva take the SS 240 road into the Ledro Valley: it climbs through tunnels and reaches Molina in about 12 km, around 15 minutes. From the motorway exit it is about 36 km, 50 minutes. From Milan allow about two and a half hours. You can also come from the west, from Brescia and the Chiese valley, via Storo (Storo to Pieve about 20 km).

By train

The most convenient station is Rovereto on the Brenner line, served by Trenitalia and by Austrian and German ÖBB and DB trains. From the station take Trentino Trasporti bus B332 to Riva del Garda and change there to bus B214 for the Ledro Valley. Buy your bus ticket before boarding.

By bus

From Riva del Garda, Trentino Trasporti line B214 (Riva – Pregasina – Ledro – Storo – Baitoni) runs through the whole valley. The winter timetable is valid from 10 September 2026 to 25 June 2027. With the Garda Guest Card, given out by participating accommodation, all Trentino Trasporti buses are free for your whole stay. Timetables and stops on the Trentino Trasporti website.

By plane

The nearest airport is Verona (about 104 km, an hour and forty minutes by car). A bus runs from the terminal to Verona Porta Nuova station; from there take the train to Rovereto and the bus to Riva and Ledro. Brescia is about 95 km away and Bergamo (Milan Bergamo) about 139 km, two hours by car. For a simpler arrival, book a private transfer from the airport or hire a car.

Parking

There are several car parks around the lake, mainly in Molina and Pieve. Near the museum, parking costs 2 euros an hour in summer. Campervans cannot park near the museum: the designated area is in Bezzecca, about 5 km away. For the Ponale there is the free car park at Biacesa. In July and August the car parks near the beaches fill up early, so arrive before 10am.

Photos from Wikimedia Commons: NeoMeesje (CC BY-SA 4.0), NeoMeesje (CC BY-SA 4.0), Vid Pogacnik (CC BY-SA 4.0), Miloš Hlávka (CC BY-SA 4.0), NeoMeesje (CC BY-SA 4.0), NeoMeesje (CC BY-SA 4.0), Superfraenk (Public domain), Superfraenk (Public domain).