Lake Garda with Kids – Our Stay at Piani di Clodia

We recently spent a week soaking up the sun (and eating our body weight in gelato) on the shores of Lake Garda, and I can safely say this place is a total gem for families. We stayed at Piani di Clodia, a 5-star campsite with all the bells and whistles – but in a relaxed, family-friendly, not-too-fancy kind of way. It was the perfect mix of adventure, chill, and quality family time.

We flew direct from Dublin to Verona (less than 2.5 hours – ideal for kids). The campsite offers a free private transfer to and from the airport. Yes, FREE. Just email them before you go and they’ll sort it. A brilliant perk, especially when you’re juggling five people and more bags than you intended to bring.

When we arrived, there were porters waiting to help with the luggage, which was a lifesaver because the site is hilly and huge (definitely not the kind of place you want to haul your suitcase uphill in 28-degree heat after a 4am start).

We stayed in a Maxicaravan Crystal Lake which I had researched to death beforehand (you know I don’t book anything lightly!). It was perfect for our gang – one double, a twin, and a pull-out single. The best part? A private hot tub overlooking the lake, which we used every night without fail. The sunsets, the stars, the tired-but-happy feet soaking away – absolute bliss. There is lots of lush grass and flowers/plants around this accommodation, giving you plenty of privacy. Inside we had a hob, microwave, fridge (with freezer box) and plenty of utensils to cook when we needed. There was also air conditioning meaning the space was nice and cool as it got up to 30C outside some days.

On-Site Fun

Piani di Clodia has seven pools (yes, SEVEN) and slides for all ages. The main kids’ pool is heated – which meant it was very popular when we arrived (public holiday weekend in Italy and Germany), but it got much quieter midweek, and it was much more relaxed. Three of the pools weren’t open during our stay (first week of June), but honestly, we didn’t miss them – the open ones kept us more than busy.

There’s a playground, mini golf, a kids’ club (which we obviously didn’t do – I mean, imagine my children voluntarily separating from me for a whole hour… as if), and organised football sessions on the astro which my boys loved.

One evening, we stumbled upon a t-shirt painting activity, which all three of mine got totally stuck into. I thought it might hold their attention for 10 minutes max – but they were so into it, we ended up staying for over an hour!

There was also a mini disco and evening entertainment each evening if that’s something you enjoy as a family. My kids aren’t into evening entertainment, but we walked past on the way home from Lazise one evening and there was a great atmosphere.

Food & Gelato (the Important Stuff)

There are two restaurants on site and honestly, we were really impressed. Plenty of choice, good quality, and very family-friendly. The onsite supermarket is fantastic – way cheaper than the shops we popped into in nearby Lazise. There’s a great deli, cheese and bread counter, but worth noting that it closed from 12 to 4 during our stay – slightly frustrating when your post-pool ravenous children need feeding right now.

There’s also a bakery, open until 10am – perfect for picking up fresh croissants or bread before the kids surface. And gelato? Obviously. Two gelato spots on site, and at €2 a scoop, it would’ve been rude not to.

Exploring the Area

There’s a shuttle bus into Lazise most evenings (6–10pm), although it didn’t run Saturday or Sunday during our stay. That said, there’s a lovely walk from the back of the campsite all the way into Lazise looking out onto Lake Garda. The walk is around 20–30 minutes depending on how tired/enthusiastic your small people are. The views along the lake are gorgeous and it’s flat the whole way.

We also:

• Rented a boat for an hour (no license needed!) and had the best time zooming around the lake – €60 well spent.

• Hired pedalos and SUP boards from the little rental spot at the bottom of the hill.

• Took the ferry from Lazise to Peschiera del Garda one day (€39 return for all five of us), which was a lovely chilled excursion.

• Ate out in Lazise a few times – our favourites were Classique (stunning lake views) and Cozzeria Mussels and More (so good we went twice – and I don’t say that lightly).

We also squeezed in Gardaland and Movieland, which deserved their own posts.

Final Thoughts

Would we go back? In a heartbeat. Piani di Clodia had the right balance of comfort, fun, and flexibility. We were active when we wanted to be, and lounged with gelato when we didn’t. The setting is just stunning, the kids were endlessly entertained, and that hot tub at the end of each day was the cherry on top.

If you’re considering Lake Garda with little (or not-so-little) humans – I’d highly recommend it! And If you’re looking for more family travel inspiration, click here.