Munich Airport to Lake Garda

Lake Garda is the most visited lake in Europe, and Germans are its most frequent visitors - a fact that makes the direct transfer connection from Munich Airport more useful than most people realise. The drive south takes around 2 hours 40 minutes to the southern end of the lake at Desenzano del Garda, and slightly longer to resorts further north. There is no train that gets close enough to make the journey convenient with luggage, and a private transfer puts you at your hotel or apartment door in a single leg.

The route follows the A8 motorway south from Munich, crosses into Austria near Kufstein, passes Innsbruck and climbs over the Brenner Pass, then descends the A22 through Bolzano, Trento, and the Adige Valley. For the southern lake - Desenzano, Sirmione, Peschiera, Bardolino - the route joins the A4 at Verona and exits east of the lake. For the northern lake - Riva del Garda, Limone, Malcesine - the transfer exits the A22 earlier near Rovereto and takes the SS240 westward along the Ledro Valley. Northern Garda is actually slightly closer in distance via this route (~235 km) but the final stretch involves more winding roads than the southern motorway approach.

Austrian motorway vignette and Italian A22 tolls apply. Most carriers include these in the quoted price; confirm when booking.

Lake Garda's peak season runs June through September, with July and August at absolute maximum. The western shore (Salò, Gardone Riviera, Limone) attracts a slightly quieter crowd than the eastern shore and southern resorts. Sirmione, the narrow peninsula jutting into the southern lake, is one of the most photographed spots in Italy and consistently draws high demand. Riva del Garda at the northern tip is a windsurfing hub and draws a younger, more active crowd. Wherever on the lake you're headed, mention your specific resort or hotel address when booking so your carrier can confirm the exact drop-off.