Italy · One car ferry across the middle of Italy's largest lake
Lake Garda ferry routes & schedules
Lake Garda is 52 kilometres long and the road around it takes most of a day, which is why the crossing between Toscolano-Maderno on the western shore and Torri del Benaco on the eastern one matters more than its 30 minutes suggest. It is the mid-lake link that lets a vehicle cut straight across instead of driving the whole rim, and it runs from spring into early autumn.
About
Ferry travel in Lake Garda
The mid-lake crossing
Toscolano-Maderno to Torri del Benaco is worked by Navigazione Laghi, the state body that runs scheduled services on Garda, Como and Maggiore. The 2026 season timetable covers 16 May to 4 October, with 17 sailings a week in each direction and a crossing time of 30 minutes.
Departures run from 08:00 to 19:15 in one direction and 08:35 to 19:50 in the other, every day of the week. Outside those dates the crossing does not operate and the only way between the shores is the road, north through Riva del Garda or south through Peschiera.
Two shores, two characters
Toscolano-Maderno sits on the Brescian side below the Valle delle Cartiere, where paper mills worked the gorge from the 14th century. Torri del Benaco faces it from the Veronese shore, built around a 14th century Scaliger castle that still stands over the harbour.
The lake also carries passenger boats and hydrofoils between the towns on each shore, but this is the sailing that takes vehicles. Anyone planning a circuit of Garda by road should check the season dates before counting on it.
Quays
Ferry quays in Lake Garda
4 quays with published connections. Open a quay for every route that calls there.
Timetables
Ferry routes in Lake Garda
No routes listed yet.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there a car ferry across Lake Garda?
Yes. Toscolano-Maderno to Torri del Benaco is the crossing that carries vehicles, taking 30 minutes, with 17 sailings a week in each direction during the season.
When does the Lake Garda ferry run?
The 2026 timetable covers 16 May to 4 October. Departures run daily between 08:00 and 19:50 depending on direction; outside those dates the crossing does not operate.
How long is Lake Garda?
About 52 kilometres from Riva del Garda in the north to Peschiera in the south, which is why cutting across the middle by ferry saves a substantial drive.
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