Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | A Hidden Gem in Italy’s Lakes

In 2022, we honeymooned in Verona. We clearly hadn’t planned ahead and, when we were aiming for a tour of Lake Garda, we realised that we were travelling on a National Bank Holiday. What this meant was that we became stranded in the town of Peschiera del Garda. After trying for over an hour to get moving again, we asked some locals for help. They recommended a day trip to Borghetto sul Mincio, a small village not too far away. We were told it was one of the prettiest places in Italy and they weren’t lying. Here is all you need to know to plan your trip here. Enjoy.

Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | A Hidden Gem in Italy’s Lakes

Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | Getting to the Village

The nearest ‘hub’ to Borghetto is the city of Verona. I always think that Italy has one of the best cross-country train networks in Europe. We paid less than €4.00 one-way for our train to Peschiara and they ran a few times every hour. Once you arrive at the station, you can then catch the number 46 bus to Borghetto.

If, like us, you decide to travel on a day where nothing is moving, a taxi is another option. The taxi fare cost us €20.00 each way. It wasn’t ideal to pay that much, especially considering that the bus is less than a quarter of that, but we got there quickly. Plus, it was our only option.

If you have rented a car, the drive takes about 45 minutes from Verona. Most of this is on main roads, but it does go a bit off-piste towards the end.

Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | What to See

Most of the sights in Borghetto are either nature or historical. You can also probably cover most of the village in an hour or so.

The first thing I noticed was the greenery and the smells of Italian flowers. The village is nestled in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. All around it you can see the luscious pine forests and crystal clear waters. It genuinely feels like somebody has transported you to Westeros, or a similar mythical land.

The sense of magic is only amplified when the fortified ruins come into view. This is known as the Visconti Bridge, a fortified dam built in the 14th century. It towers over the village and looks more like a castle than a glorified viaduct.

Walking around the village has to be the main attraction. Seeing the quaint and traditional Italian houses is a real highlight. This is even better in the late spring and early summer when the weather isn’t too hot and all of the flowers and colours are out. Make sure that you see the water mills. These are original and were used to mill wheat and cereals.

Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | Where to Eat

Borghetto has become rather touristy over the past few years. As Garda has become more popular, more and more people flock to this previously hidden village. Because of this, the restaurants have clocked on and have a price to reflect it.

Most of the restaurants are by the small bridge that divides the village into two. These have stunning views and the food looked amazing. You won’t find your touristy pizzas here either; the cuisine goes with the setting and is authentically rustic Italian.

We decided to find somewhere a little bit more budget-friendly and sat in the Giardini di Borghetto. The food here was lovely and, surprisingly, was a little bit cheaper too! Borghetto is also just a stone-throw from the town of Valeggio sul Mincio. Because it is lesser-known and doesn’t attract loads of tourists, the prices here are cheaper. Plus, there is a wider selection of restaurants to choose from.

Day Trip to Borghetto sul Mincio | Final Thoughts

If you are planning a day trip to Borghetto sul Mincio make sure that you plan for the entire day. It is really pretty and worth seeing, but there isn’t enough to fill your time. There are some good walking trails nearby and Valeggio has a castle, but just be prepared. Also, when I say prices are inflated I really mean it. The food in Verona was almost half the price! Having said all of this, it is easily one of the prettiest and unique places I have been to in Italy.

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