Riva Tourist Information

Known as the "Pearl of the Lake" and the second largest town on Garda Lake, Italy. Riva can be found at the very top of the lake and its long beaches and summer breeze make it (and Torbole) the main centres for windsurfing and sailing on the lake.   The lake in this area is particularly beautiful but don't be surprised when you see how mountainous the scenery gets as you approach Riva by the Gardesana lakeside orbital road.

Riva is not only popular for watersports, the long lakeside park, the Rocca fortress and the long beaches make it very popular with families; there are even pedalloes for hire!  Riva is a very attractive town in its own right with the Piazza III Novembre is lined with hotels, bars, pizzerias and shops overlooking the flowerbeds of the promenade and the lake. Torbole is a younger more lively centre and popular with sailing enthusiasts and surfers.

What is surprising about Riva though, is the shopping.  As the second largest town on the lake it offers a very large shopping area with shops as diverse as Armani to toy shops!   

Closeby there is a 300 feet high waterfall at Varone and at Dro there is a field of enormous boulders at Dro (which is a lot more interesting that it sounds!)

Riva is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the lake and is also close to the Swiss border for day trips to San Moritz.