Lake Garda day trip from Verona: Wine tasting & Roman ruins

Underground winery in a medieval village, three wines paired with local cheeses and cold cuts

A private day trip from Verona to Lake Garda with a local guide covers the Roman excavations at Desenzano, an 18th-century lakeside residence, Castello Belvedere, and a wine tasting in an underground winery in the medieval village of Pratello. The tour runs seven hours with all tickets, tastings and transport included. Pickup and drop-off from your Verona accommodation are part of the booking.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Desenzano del Garda1h 30m
2. Lake Garda1h 30m

Explore Lake Garda and Surroundings

• Travel from Verona to Lake Garda
• Visit Desenzano excavations
• Explore 18th century historical residence
• Tour underground winery in Pratello
• Enjoy wine tasting with cold cuts and cheeses
• Visit quiet town with lake and mountain views
• See castle apartment hotel with lake views
• Learn about Azienda Agricola Pratello winery

The experience

The day starts with pickup from your hotel in Verona and a drive through the Veneto countryside toward Lake Garda. Your guide handles the route and timing, so you can watch the landscape shift from city outskirts to the rolling hills and vineyards that frame the lake. The first stop is the Roman excavations at Desenzano del Garda, where you see the remains of late antique villas: the archaeological evidence of how wealthy Romans lived in Northern Italy nearly two thousand years ago. Entry is included, and the guide walks you through what the ruins tell about the period.

From there, you visit an 18th-century historical residence with views over Lake Garda itself, then head to the heart of the medieval village of Pratello to an underground winery. This is where the tasting happens: three wines paired with cold cuts and cheeses, all sourced locally. The winery sits in the Valtenesi and Lugana wine region, nestled between the hills that shape the landscape you've been driving through. The guide shares the stories behind the wines and the land.

The final stretch takes you to a quiet town fronted by Lake Garda for more views, and to Castello Belvedere: a castle from the 1700s with its own vantage point over the water. All tickets are included. The car is air-conditioned, and the whole day is carbon-neutral. The operator offsets emissions for every tour. You're back in Verona by early evening.

What’s included

• Pickup and drop-off from your Verona accommodation.
• private guide in English or Italian.
• entry to the Roman excavations at Desenzano.
• access to the 18th-century lakeside residence.
• Castello Belvedere entry.
• three-wine tasting with cold cuts and cheeses at the underground winery in Pratello.
• air-conditioned transport throughout the day.
• carbon-neutral tour with emissions offset.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery day7 departure times: the first at 09:00, the last at 12:00

Book up to1d before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Under 18: can't be booked

GroupPrivate

Live guideEnglish and Italian

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup included.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortPublic transport nearbyNot recommended during pregnancy

Operated by Withlocals

Is this one for you?The guide speaks English fluently, so you follow the commentary and stories without translation or language strain: ideal if you want cultural context and local insight without the effort of interpreting Italian. The fixed seven-hour schedule and included transport mean you don't arrange pickups, tickets or timing. The day holds together without you building it.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Italian.

What exactly do I see at the Desenzano excavations?

The Desenzano excavations show the remains of late antique Roman villas: archaeological evidence of how wealthy Romans lived in Northern Italy. Your guide explains what the ruins reveal about the period and the people who built them.

Is lunch included in this day trip?

Lunch is not included. The wine tasting comes with cold cuts and cheeses, but you'll want to budget for a separate meal if you'd like one during the seven hours.

What kind of wines do I taste, and how many?

You taste three wines at the underground winery in Pratello, paired with local cold cuts and cheeses. The winery is in the Valtenesi and Lugana wine region, and your guide shares the stories behind each wine and the vineyard landscape.

What's included in the price, and what do I pay extra for?

Included are pickup and drop-off from your Verona hotel, the local guide, all entry tickets (Roman villa at Desenzano, Castello Belvedere, and the wine tasting with food pairings), and transport in an air-conditioned car. Lunch and any additional food or drinks beyond the tasting are not included.