Sirmione walking tour and mini-cruise: private guide

Medieval fortress, Roman villa ruins, and a boat ride around the cape in one morning

A private walking tour and mini-cruise in Sirmione on Lake Garda combines the medieval Rocca Scaligera fortress, the Roman Grotte di Catullo ruins, and a boat loop around the peninsula's northern cliffs—all guided and timed to fit a single six-hour outing. A qualified guide speaks your language, and a skipper operates the private boat; lunch and gratuities are separate.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Sirmione village and landmarks

• Arrive at Sirmione peninsula
• Walk through town centre
• Visit Rocca Scaligera fortress
• Take a mini-cruise around the cape
• View Grotte di Catullo from boat
• Tour Roman villa ruins

The Experience

Sirmione sits on a four-kilometer peninsula jutting into Lake Garda's southern shore, and the tour starts in the town centre with the Rocca Scaligera, a 13th-century fortress built by the Veronese Della Scala family as a defensive stronghold. The guide walks you through the medieval streets before boarding the private boat for a close view of the Grotte di Catullo—the remains of a massive Roman villa from the 1st century B.C. to 1st century A.D., named after the Latin poet who wrote about his stays in Sirmione. The boat circles the rocky northern cliffs where the ruins sit, then returns to the dock.

After the cruise, the walking portion continues with a guided tour of both the fortress and the Roman site itself. The six-hour span means you move between the attractions without waiting for group departures or coordinating separate bookings; the skipper and guide stay with you throughout. The tour suits all fitness levels, though the medieval town centre involves some walking on uneven streets.

What’s included

• A private taxi-boat with skipper at your disposal for the mini-cruise around the cape.
• a qualified private guide in your chosen language for the walking portions and the fortress and Roman villa tours.
• access to the Rocca Scaligera and the Grotte di Catullo archaeological site.

Good to know

Easy physical level

Operated by Book Your Italy

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to see Sirmione's main sights—the medieval fortress, the Roman ruins, and the lake itself—without juggling separate guides, boat operators or timed entry slots. The private guide and skipper mean the day flows as one outing, and you move at your own pace between the attractions.

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Top questions

What exactly are the Grotte di Catullo?

The Grotte di Catullo are the excavated remains of a Roman villa built between the 1st century B.C. and 1st century A.D., covering a massive 167 by 105 metres. The ruins sit on the northern edge of the Sirmione peninsula and were named after the Latin poet Catullus, who wrote about his time in Sirmione; the site has been excavated since the 18th century and is one of the largest Roman villas in northern Italy.

Is the Rocca Scaligera fortress included in the tour?

Yes, the Rocca Scaligera is included in the guided tour. The fortress was built in the 13th and 14th centuries by the Veronese Della Scala family as a defensive hub for Sirmione, and you will walk through it with your guide as part of the itinerary.

What languages does the guide speak?

The private guide speaks English, Spanish, Italian, French and one additional language; you choose the language when you book.

Is lunch included in the six-hour tour?

Lunch is not included in this tour, so you can arrange a meal in the town centre before or after the guided portion, or bring your own refreshments.

Can I do this tour if I'm not very fit?

The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels. The walking involves the medieval town centre and the fortress and Roman site grounds, but the pace is guided and there are no steep climbs or strenuous sections required.