A Travel Price Comparison for Italy Lake Garda vs. Amalfi for Food, Families, Couples, and Nightlife

Should you visit Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Lake Garda or Amalfi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Lake Garda

Lake Garda is a fun, energetic, and scenic lake. The beauty of this spot is also one of the main reasons why visitors come. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Amalfi

Amalfi is a dramatic, charming, and picturesque town. It's considered by many to be an absolutely beautiful destination, too. Visitors also love the hiking, shopping, and museums.

Lake Garda and Amalfi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Visitors will usually find more to do in Amalfi than Lake Garda, as it offers more sights, attractions, and activities. Amalfi is better known for its food, scuba diving & snorkeling, historical sights, and impressive beauty, while Lake Garda is more popular for its beaches. Amalfi is more touristy than Lake Garda and is popular for its dramatic views, charming character, and excellent limoncello. Also, Amalfi is famous for the dramatic coastline. Lake Garda is well known for its beautiful setting, charming towns, and fun amusement parks.

How is Lake Garda different from Amalfi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Amalfi and Lake Garda. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Visiting museums and landmarks is a fun activity in both Lake Garda and Amalfi.

Lake Garda offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. While most people come for the natural beauty, there are also great castles that you can explore. Castello Scaligeri, Grotte di Catullo, and Castello Scaligero.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Amalfi. The town is an attraction in and off itself. It's filled with charm and character and visitors spend much of their time simply walking around and soaking up the atmosphere.

Is the Food Better in Lake Garda or Amalfi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Amalfi is terrific for its restaurants. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its restaurant scene.

For foodies, Amalfi is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. The town's access to the beautiful sea means that many dishes use a variety of seafood. Eggplant is also a common ingredient and you'll find everything from pastas to elegant desserts around town.

Dining out in Lake Garda is an experience not to be missed. You'll find many great local restaurants in the area. Most make use of local ingredients such as olive oil, lemons, wine, and fish. Pasta and risotto are both popular throughout the area as well.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Nightlife?

Both Lake Garda and Amalfi have excellent vibes after the sun sets.

Lake Garda has a lively atmosphere and nightlife is popular here. You'll find clubs and bars in various towns that make for a great nightlife scene. You'll even find beach parties and fireworks shows during the most popular times of the year.

The people in Amalfi know how to have a good time. There's a good number of bars and clubs in town that often have live music or DJs. Alternatively, there are also clubs that dot the entire coastline.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Amalfi is a popular place for its diving and snorkeling. However, Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Amalfi has a few good snorkeling spots. You'll find snorkeling trips that take you along the coastline and stop at several places so you can take a peak at the underwater world.

Lake Garda is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Beaches?

Lake Garda is well known for the beache. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for the beach.

The beaches at Lake Garda attract visitors from all over. Despite there being no ocean, there are many great swimming beaches in the area. Many have sand and great places to relax. There's also plenty of watersports to choose from.

Amalfi offers a nice beach destination. The beaches tend to be pebbly and rocky. During the summer months they can get very crowded, but taking a swim is a great way to escape the heat for a bit.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for its Old Town?

Amalfi is an excellent place to visit for its old town. However, Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Amalfi. The town is charming and filled with great shops and restaurants. It's the perfect place to soak up the atmosphere of the Amalfi Coast.

Lake Garda does not have a historic old town.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Hiking?

If you're looking to go hiking, Lake Garda and Amalfi both have excellent trails.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Lake Garda. There are many great walking and hiking trails in the area that take you through the natural beauty, connect the charming towns, and offer spectacular viewpoints.

You'll find a nice variety of hiking trails around Amalfi. The coastline is filled with great trails that offer stunning views. Hiking is a top way to see the natural beauty of the Amalfi Coast and catch a glimpse at some of the best beaches.

Is the Shopping Better in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Shoppers can find a variety of notable stores in both Lake Garda and Amalfi.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Lake Garda. Many villages around the lake are great for shopping. You'll find clothing stores, jewelry shops, and souvenir vendors with something for everyone.

Many visitors go to Amalfi to go shopping. You'll find many great shops that sell everything from clothing to fine wine, local foods, or limoncello.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Families?

Lake Garda is an amazing lake to visit for its family-friendly activities. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for its kid-friendly activities.

Lake Garda is an extremely popular lake to visit for families. The nearby amusement parks, including Gardaland, make this a popular destination for families. The area also has many places to swim, trails to explore, and castles to experience. Kids and adults alike will love this amazing kid-friendly area.

Amalfi offers lots of family activities. The town is positioned in the middle of the Amalfi Coast, making it a great base for exploring the area. It's also one of the larger towns so you'll find more energy and things to do with kids, including the Museum of Paper.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Couples?

Amalfi is terrific for its romantic activities. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Amalfi makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. The Amalfi Coast is a world class honeymoon destination and couples will enjoy staying in the lively town of Amalfi. It's a quaint and beautiful town in the middle of everything, so you'll have access to all that the area has to offer.

Couples visit Lake Garda frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. You'll find a lot of families in the area because of the amusement parks, but that doesn't mean that this isn't a romantic and beautiful spot for couples. There are many charming towns to explore and scenic viewpoints to check out. There are also excellent romantic restaurants that you should try.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Lake Garda is a lake with good options for backpackers. However, Amalfi is not particularly known for backpackers and budget travelers.

Lake Garda is a good lake to visit for backpackers. There are a few good hostels around the lake that are affordable and fun. The area also see enough backpackers to keep the atmosphere fun and social.

Amalfi is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. The area has a couple of hostels around, but in general this is a difficult place to visit as a backpacker. There are SITA buses that offer transportation, and because the town is in the middle of the coastline, it offers decent access to everything.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Lake Garda is well known for its public transit. Also, Amalfi is still popular, but not quite as popular for times when you don't have a car.

The public transit in Lake Garda can get you around easily. There are ferries, buses, and trains in the area.

While Amalfi offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The SITA buses offer transit between many of the towns along the Amalfi Coast.

Is Lake Garda or Amalfi a more walkable city?

Amalfi is terrific for its high level of walkability. Also, Lake Garda is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

It's very easy to get around on foot in Amalfi. It's a compact and charming town that is a bit flatter than some nearby villages so it's easy to explore on foot.

Lake Garda is a very walkable destination. There are walking trails that connect the villages around the lake and this how many people choose to get around.

For even more information, also check out Is Lake Garda Worth Visiting? and Is Amalfi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Amalfi or Lake Garda?

How long in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Both Lake Garda and Amalfi have a number of activities to choose from. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Amalfi than in Lake Garda. Usually, 2-4 days is a good amount of time for Lake Garda, and 2-7 days is enough time in Amalfi.

Families should spend more time in Lake Garda than Amalfi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Lake Garda, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Amalfi than Lake Garda. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Amalfi that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Lake Garda than Amalfi if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Lake Garda.

One day in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Many travelers enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting the destination of Lake Garda. Hikers are also drawn to this area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With food and scuba diving and snorkeling around the charming town of Amalfi, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Lake Garda is a great place to explore. It is common to spend a weekend here. With all of its activities, you can easily fill a weekend here. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

With scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping around the destination of Amalfi, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. One of the main draws to the area is the food. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Five days in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

It's hard to know how much time to spend in Lake Garda. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Amalfi, a popular town, is full of activities for travelers. This is a popular place to visit for five days. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. In five days, you should have a good grasp of this town. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the playful destination of Lake Garda. This lake offers a variety of activities to choose from. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

Amalfi is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. If you have one week, this town makes for a great vacation. One of the main draws to the area is the food. One week should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Italy, The Best Contiki Tours to Italy, The Best G Adventures Tours to Italy, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Rome.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lake Garda and Amalfi, we can see that Amalfi is more expensive. And not only is Lake Garda much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lake Garda would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lake Garda and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Amalfi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amalfi than you might in Lake Garda.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Lake Garda Expensive? and Is Amalfi Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Lake Garda or Amalfi?

Both places have a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. As both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Lake Garda or Amalfi in the Summer?

Both Amalfi and Lake Garda during the summer are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Lake Garda in the summer for the beaches, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences. Furthermore, most visitors come to Amalfi for the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

Lake Garda is around the same temperature as Amalfi in the summer. The daily temperature in Lake Garda averages around 24°C (75°F) in July, and Amalfi fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

In Amalfi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Lake Garda. In the summer, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 286 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amalfi receives 313 hours of full sun.

Lake Garda usually gets more rain in July than Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 62 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lake Garda or Amalfi in the Autumn?

The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Lake Garda and Amalfi. Most visitors come to Lake Garda for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area during these months. Furthermore, the autumn months attract visitors to Amalfi because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area.

In the autumn, Lake Garda is cooler than Amalfi. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Lake Garda in October average around 14°C (57°F), and Amalfi averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Lake Garda usually receives less sunshine than Amalfi during autumn. Lake Garda gets 137 hours of sunny skies, while Amalfi receives 189 hours of full sun in the autumn.

Amalfi receives a lot of rain in the autumn. In October, Lake Garda usually receives less rain than Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 82 mm (3.2 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 132 mm (5.2 in) of rain each month for the autumn.

Should I visit Lake Garda or Amalfi in the Winter?

The winter brings many poeple to Lake Garda as well as Amalfi. The winter months attract visitors to Lake Garda because of the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine. Additionally, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Amalfi this time of year.

The weather in Lake Garda can be very cold. In January, Lake Garda is generally much colder than Amalfi. Daily temperatures in Lake Garda average around 2°C (36°F), and Amalfi fluctuates around 8°C (47°F).

In the winter, Lake Garda often gets less sunshine than Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 98 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Amalfi receives 115 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Amalfi. Lake Garda usually gets less rain in January than Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 55 mm (2.1 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 111 mm (4.4 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Lake Garda or Amalfi in the Spring?

Both Amalfi and Lake Garda are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The beaches and the natural beauty are the main draw to Lake Garda this time of year. Also, many travelers come to Amalfi for the beaches and the natural beauty.

Lake Garda is around the same temperature as Amalfi in the spring. The daily temperature in Lake Garda averages around 13°C (55°F) in April, and Amalfi fluctuates around 13°C (55°F).

Lake Garda usually receives less sunshine than Amalfi during spring. Lake Garda gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Amalfi receives 189 hours of full sun in the spring.

In April, Lake Garda usually receives around the same amount of rain as Amalfi. Lake Garda gets 69 mm (2.7 in) of rain, while Amalfi receives 71 mm (2.8 in) of rain each month for the spring.

Typical Weather for Amalfi and Lake Garda