Lake Garda vs Lake Como for Golf
Two of the most beautiful lakes in Italy, two different golf trips. Lake Garda is the bigger, more varied golf base, with modern resort courses and gentler ground. Lake Como is pure glamour and scenery, fewer courses but classic ones. Here is the honest head to head, with our verdict up front.
Photograph: golf at San Vigilio, Lake Garda, Italy, via Google
The verdict
For a dedicated golf trip, Lake Garda wins. It simply has more golf and more variety, led by the 36 holes at Chervo Golf San Vigilio near Sirmione and the championship course at Gardagolf Country Club, which has hosted the Italian Open, with the charming old short course at Bogliaco for a change of pace. The south of the lake is gentler, flatter ground that suits a course a day, the resorts are geared to golfers, and you can mix the rounds with the medieval towns, the wineries of Franciacorta and a day at the theme parks if there are families along.
But for glamour, scenery and a couple of unforgettable rounds, Lake Como is hard to beat. The golf is more limited, but the headline courses are classics: Golf Club Villa d'Este, a Peter Gannon design from 1926 set among woods by Lake Montorfano, and the spectacular Menaggio and Cadenabbia high on the hillside, the second oldest club in Italy. These are short, hilly, characterful courses rather than modern tests, wrapped in the dolce vita of grand hotels and lakeside villas. Choose Garda for the most and the best variety of golf, Como for the setting, the style and a round or two between long lunches.
Head to head
| Lake Garda | Lake Como | |
|---|---|---|
| Headline courses | Chervo Golf San Vigilio, 36 holes by Kurt Rossknecht; Gardagolf Country Club, 27 holes; Bogliaco, par 69 | Golf Club Villa d'Este, Peter Gannon 1926; Menaggio and Cadenabbia, second oldest club in Italy |
| Depth of golf | The stronger base for golf, with more courses and enough variety for a week without repeating | Fewer courses, better suited to two or three classic rounds rather than a full golf itinerary |
| Style of courses | Modern resort and championship layouts on gentler ground, especially in the south of the lake | Classic, hilly, relatively short courses full of character and history, set among woods and slopes |
| Off the course | Medieval towns, Franciacorta wine, lakeside resorts and theme parks; lively and family friendly | Grand hotels, lakeside villas, designer shopping and the celebrated dolce vita; romantic and glamorous |
| Best for | A golf focused trip, a buddies week or a golf and sightseeing mix with the family | A couples or special occasion trip with a round or two folded into a luxury lake holiday |
| Getting there | Easy from Verona, Brescia, Bergamo and Milan airports; well set up for self drive touring | Closest to Milan and Bergamo airports, around an hour from the city; a quick, scenic arrival |
| Best season | May to June and September to October for the best weather; hot and busy in midsummer | May to June and September to October likewise; the lake is at its most beautiful in the shoulder seasons |
Course facts and details verified June 2026 from club and recognized course sources; green fees move with season and demand, so always confirm directly before booking. Check tee time availability.
Who should pick which
Pick Lake Garda if
You want the golf to lead. Garda has the most courses and the most variety, from the 36 holes at Chervo to the championship test at Gardagolf, on gentler ground that suits a round a day. It is the natural base for a buddies week or a golf and sightseeing trip, with medieval towns, Franciacorta wine and even theme parks for travelling families, all easy to reach from several airports.
Pick Lake Como if
You want glamour and scenery with your golf. Como has fewer courses, but Villa d'Este and Menaggio and Cadenabbia are classics, and they come wrapped in the most stylish lake in Italy, all grand hotels, lakeside villas and long lunches. It is the pick for a couples trip, a special occasion or anyone who wants a beautiful round or two rather than a packed golf schedule.
Plan your Italian lakes golf trip
Lake Garda, Lake Como or a tour that takes in both, with the courses, the towns and the lakeside hotels. Tell us roughly when and who is travelling, and one concierge builds the tee times, base and travel and costs it to the head, with no obligation.
Lake Garda vs Lake Como questions
Is Lake Garda or Lake Como better for golf?
For a dedicated golf trip, Lake Garda is the stronger base: it has more courses and more variety, led by the 36 holes at Chervo Golf San Vigilio and the championship layout at Gardagolf Country Club, with gentler terrain in the south of the lake. Lake Como has fewer courses but unmatched glamour and scenery, headlined by the classic Golf Club Villa d'Este and the spectacular Menaggio and Cadenabbia, making it the choice for a style led trip with a round or two.
What are the best golf courses on Lake Garda?
Chervo Golf San Vigilio, a Kurt Rossknecht design opened in 2008 with 36 holes near Sirmione, and Gardagolf Country Club at Soiano del Lago, a 27 hole club whose championship course has hosted the Italian Open and Challenge Tour events, are the headliners. Bogliaco, a charming short par 69 on the western shore, is one of the oldest courses in Italy and rounds out the lake.
What are the best golf courses on Lake Como?
Golf Club Villa d'Este, a Peter Gannon design from 1926 set among woods by Lake Montorfano, is one of Europe's most charming and demanding par 69 courses and the lake's headline round. Menaggio and Cadenabbia, the second oldest club in Italy, climbs the slopes of Mount Crocione with spectacular lake views. Both are classic, hilly, relatively short courses rather than modern championship tests.
When is the best time to play golf at the Italian lakes?
Late spring and early autumn, roughly May to June and September to October, are ideal, with warm, settled weather and the courses and lakes at their best. July and August are hot and busy with holidaymakers, while the courses generally close or play quietly through the colder winter months. Both lakes are easy to reach from Milan, Bergamo, Verona and Brescia airports.
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Researched and written by the GolfForKings editorial desk. Course facts verified June 2026. Last reviewed June 2026.