I don't know what we were thinking that day but just at the beginning of August we decided to go to Monte Baldo at 1800m where we'd been about 10 years ago. I think we had chosen the worst possible day and we have only ourselves to blame. After all we knew that August is the worst month to see lake Garda because it's very busy with tourists. We found the car park right next to the Monte Baldo cable car. There was a long queue of cars waiting and we could see that all the car parks in vicinity were full as well. We got scared because we saw the information that the average time was 1 hour, we thought they meant the waiting time so we went and looked for another car park. It later dawned on us that it meant the average time the car is parked for in there. Anyway, it cost us dearly, we parked in the Spar car park for half a day and we had to pay 25 euros!!!!!!!!! We will know next time to wait at the cable way car park and then at least we can get a special discount and pay around 7 euros instead.
We got to the cable car ticket office and they told us they didn't take cards so my hubby had to run to get money from the cash dispenser. As a family of 2 adults and 2 children we spent 54 euros and in my opinion it was not worth it. Being such a busy day we had to wait in long queues, sometimes in the bright hot sun. Once we got there, the view over the Garda lake was lovely but it was very busy. We walked a bit and then queued again to go down.
I think people who don't have much time to go and explore the mountains could find it interesting. But if like us you live around here and you have many opportunities to go to the mountains then I would say that it's not for you even though they boast the new rotating cable car. Well the cable car was so full that even the rotating bit didn't help ;)
We went to visit the town of Malcesine which was really lovely. It offers nice narrow streets free of cars, wonderful views of the lake and a very good ice cream. I would definitely like to return there and explore a bit more.
Duration: you could make it a day trip or just half a day, it all depends on you, once you get up to the Monte Baldo, you'll find there plenty of paths on offer.
Level: various walks to suit all the levels. You could take the buggy with you but you will not obviously be able to walk a lot up there with the stroller.
Refreshments and toilet facilities: you'll find toilets at the cable way station and up in the bar on the Monte Baldo.
How to get there: from Trento it took us about 1 hour, take A22 towards Rovereto, come out at Rovereto Sud/ Lago di Garda, then go towards Mori/Arco and follow SS240 then SS249 towards Malcesine. If you really have no choice and have to go there in August then go to Riva del Garda by car (it's easier to park there), leave your car in Riva and then take a boat to Malcesine.
Useful websites:
the website in English with the times, ticket prices etc:
Malcesine website:
http://www.malcesineitaly.com/http://www.lakegarda.uk.com/
http://www.visitgarda.com/en/garda_lake/
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