Shopping and Souvenirs

Italy, Land of Fashion

Every town around Lake Garda boasts some boutiques. Large and expensive Italian labels like Versace, Prada and Dolce&Gabbana can be found in Desenzano, Riva and Malcesine, chains like Benetton are more widespread. Weekly markets are also tempting. There you can buy anything from cheap clothes imitating the season’s fashion to high-quality clothes at reduced prices.

Popular Lake Garda souvenirs are food, such as the marvellously mild olive oil. The best kinds can be bought from a cooperative, for example in Gargnano or Limone, at very reasonable prices. The olive museum in Cisano near Bardolino is also a good spot for high-quality olive produce. Other popular options are wine, grappa (a strong grape spirit) and unusual kinds of pasta. Wine and spirits are best bought in supermarkets or wine-shops rather than souvenir shops. The prettiest bottles hardly ever contain the best drink.

Leather products are still rather cheap in Italy, especially at the markets, which take place weekly in almost every town along the lake. This is the place to look, no matter if you want to buy shoes, food, handbags or espresso-makers. The markets are frequented by tourists and locals alike.
Boutiques in Salò, Peschiera, in Desenzano, Riva and Bardolino offer Italian designer clothes. Sirmione is almost a shopping centre. Many expensive shops cater for rich tourists in the small lanes of the old town centre.

Being a region famous for its sporting opportunities, there are more than enough sports shops. Torbole caters for a surfer’s every need. Rock-climbers should go to Arco, mountain-bikers to Riva or Arco for spare parts and expertise. It’s all there, but not necessarily cheap. It is better to buy what you can at home, and resort to the local shops in emergencies.

Opening hours vary considerably and are very flexible, according to Italian nature. As a rule of thumb, most shops are open from 9:00 to 12:30 and 15:30 to 19:00. In the summer, opening hours until 22:00 and even longer are no exception. In places with a very high tourist rate, some shops will even be open on Sundays, otherwise very unusual in Italy.