Garda is a land of sports, the paradise of outdoor activities par excellence: from trekking to climbing, water sports such as sailing, wind and kite surfing, biking and running, which is practiced here in the form of trail-running and skyrunning, but also as road running. The mild and temperate climate makes this location the ideal place for running. Now since 2021, the beautiful setting of northern Lake Garda, where the mountains meet the waters of the lake, has hosted one of the most striking and popular events: the Garda Marathon, or Lake Garda 42. A route that crosses and connects the three regions bordering Italy’s largest lake: Lombardy, Trentino and Veneto. A marathon with a lake view. The course is practically flat: it starts in Limone sul Garda and then runs through Riva del Garda and Arco to the finish line in Malcesine. It runs along the Gardesana road passing through small village streets in the midst of nature, where the mountains provide the backdrop and the sound of the lake’s waves are the soundtrack. You will get to know the beautiful landscapes and villages that host this event. It starts from the eastern shore of the lake, on the beautiful lakefront of Limone sul Garda, then continues to Riva del Garda and, crossing orchards and countryside, reaches Arco. Running along the Sarca River, it crosses Torbole
and then cross the finish line on the eastern shore in beautiful Malcesine. Here the awards ceremony takes place. At the start there will be 5,000 runners (between marathon and marathon) from many countries, with a predominance of Italians and Germans, the two nationalities that have always been prevalent in Garda tourism. The FILA Lake Garda 42, or Lake Garda Marathon, will take place this year on Sunday, April 6, 2025. This race will run on the two routes:
- the 42-kilometer classic marathon from Limone to Malcesine starting at 9 a.m. from Limone;
- the 21-kilometer half marathon from Arco to Malcesine starting at 9:30 a.m. from Arco.
For the little marathon runners, the Lake Garda KIDS will take place on Saturday, April 05, 2025 at 6 p.m., starting from the Rocca in Riva del Garda on a 1.3-kilometer course. The entire weekend will see an agenda of side events: Cheering Zone in Torbole; Running EXPO in Riva del Garda, to discover the latest news and trends in the world of sports; and Gastronomic EXPO in Malcesine, where you can taste and enjoy the local specialties of Lake Garda. For three days the northern shore of Lake Garda will be transformed into the location of what has now become a widespread “running festival” along the marathon route.
To run on the Garda in 2025 there will then be another possibility. On Sunday, November 9, 2025, the Garda Trentino Half Marathon 2025, or Garda Trentino Half Marathon, starting in Arco and finishing in Riva del Garda, passing through Torbole. 4 routes available to participants:
- 21 km half marathon
- 10 km
- “run4fun” of 4 km
- “kids run”
The program includes many events, starting on Friday, November 07, 2025. Registration opens in March. The Garda Trentino Half Marathon was created to promote and publicize the unique features of tourism from the upper Garda region. Running along the shores, on the crystal clear waters of Italy’s largest lake, on a Sunday morning in November encapsulates the essence of this magical place. Garda Trentino is an extraordinary combination of history, culture, traditions and hospitality.
We look forward to welcoming runners from all over the world for the Garda Marathon, along with their families, friends, and coaches. Palazzo Riccamboni offers accommodations for 2/6 people, equipped with all comforts. For guests staying for at least 3 nights, departing on Sunday, April 6, 2025, late check-out on the day of departure is included. You can then conveniently leave your luggage in the apartment until departure and freshen up in total peace after the race.