Hey, what’s up?

Welcome back to Chapter 2 of our Italy trip!

After spending two nights in Milan (where we experienced overpriced food, overflowing rubbish, and a dreamy Airbnb), we were finally heading off to our main destination—the majestic Dolomites!

First on the to-do list: picking up our rental car. We collected a compact SUV from the airport, which, despite being “compact,” still managed to fit five people, multiple suitcases, and all our emotional baggage. As for driving, I gracefully bowed out—I don’t have an international license. A man of many excuses, yes. But also a man of safety. Plus, driving on the opposite side of the road (Europe = right, UK = left) felt like a fast track to disaster. I made the right call.

The road trip to the Dolomites took around 4–5 hours, mostly thanks to traffic. But we made the most of it. Danial and I took over DJ duties, and for reasons still unclear, Mirror by Justin Timberlake became the anthem of our Italian adventure. That song now lives rent-free in my head—and probably everyone. Click the play button above for preview of the song.

Before reaching the Dolomites, we made a quick stop—if you consider 3–4 hours “quick”—at Lago di Garda. It’s this charming little town wrapped around a massive, almost ocean-like lake. Honestly, I’d never heard much about it beforehand. It wasn’t in the reels or itineraries I’d obsessively scrolled through, but I’m convinced it’s a local favourite—the parking situation was a nightmare. We had to park far, and I mean far, then walked about 40–50 minutes just to reach the town centre. It was basically a mini hike before the actual Dolomites.

By the time we were halfway through the walk, hunger levels were rising fast—Sara the Beast was ready to devour a chair, and the rest of us weren’t far behind. Thankfully, we stumbled upon a lovely restaurant called Ristorante Alleria just before reaching town. And oh, what a meal.

As soon as we sat down, something in the air (or maybe the hunger) triggered what I can only describe as Old Money Laughter™. You know the type—refined, restrained, slightly exaggerated as if we all secretly belonged to some elite Italian boarding school. Among us, Hasha definitely had the most natural old money laugh. I’m not sure if we were possessed or just giddy from hunger and heat.

Food-wise, I think Sara won that round—her dish looked (and tasted) the best. The rest of us just pretended ours were just as good while side-eyeing her plate like it owed us something.

The restaurant also had this very Instagrammable wooden dock overlooking the lake—and of course, we took full advantage of it. Posing, pondering, pretending to be models in an Italian perfume ad—you name it, we did it. When in Garda, right?

But if you’re on a budget (or just skipped the restaurant), don’t worry. There’s another wooden dock along the way into town that’s also perfect for photos. It does have a gate… which you can technically hop over. (Disclaimer: We are not responsible for any legal consequences.)

Here’s a shot of Danial, staring soulfully into the distance like he’s reflecting on his life choices—or maybe just trying to remember where the car was parked.

Fun fact break!

According to Google (my trusted but occasionally questionable source), Lake Garda is about 370 square kilometres, making it the largest lake in Italy! So yes, that’s another bucket list item ticked off: ✔️ visited Italy’s largest lake.

If that fact ends up being wrong… blame Google, not me.

After a few more sweaty steps under the blazing sun, we finally reached the town. It was scorching—I’m talking “fry-an-egg-on-the-sidewalk” kind of hot—and we were all thoroughly drenched. But the heat wasn’t about to stop us. We were determined to explore every corner of this lakeside gem.

The town sits just behind the old castle walls, giving it that classic medieval charm. There were loads of water activities available—paddleboarding, boat rides, even parasailing—but sadly, we had to skip all of that. The Dolomites were calling, and if we didn’t want to end up sleeping in the car that night, we needed to get there before check-in closed.

Originally, this place was meant to be a quick pit stop—stretch our legs, grab a bite, maybe snap a photo or two. So, we arrived with zero expectations… and ended up absolutely blown away. Truth be told, it’s one of the most beautiful towns I’ve ever visited!

There’s just something magical about it—the colourful buildings, the towering trees, the sparkling lake, and those narrow, winding alleys that look straight out of a postcard. Every corner was ridiculously picturesque. No wonder we ended up running late for the Dolomites. Thankfully, it was summer, and the sun was still working overtime. Long days = late arrivals forgiven.

We also saw people swimming in the lake—and not just people, dogs too! If it hadn’t been so crowded, I probably would’ve jumped in too. But alas, I didn’t bring a swimsuit… or the confidence to cannonball in front of an entire town.

Everyone was just chilling—families lounging by the water, couples enjoying gelato, golden retrievers doing their best Olympic freestyle. It was wholesome chaos.

Honestly, I’d rate this town a solid 9/10. If you’re planning to visit, I’d highly recommend staying the night. A proper staycation here would be chef’s kiss—though I can’t say for sure if the hotels are affordable or if they require a small mortgage. That’s a mystery for future me to solve.

Would I visit again? Absolutely. Between Lake Como and Lake Garda, I think Lake Garda wins the beauty contest hands down. Sorry, Como—you’re cute, but Garda’s the main character.

After spending several unplanned (but totally worth it) hours in Lake Garda, we dragged ourselves back to the car and resumed our journey to the Dolomites. We finally arrived at our Airbnb around 7 or 8 PM—I can’t remember the exact time, but I do remember this: it was the BEST Airbnb I’ve ever stayed in. Huge shoutout to our incredible tour leader Hasha for picking it. Honestly, it deserves a whole blog post of its own.

Alrighty then, thanks for sticking around for Chapter 2. Catch you in the next one as we finally explore the jaw-dropping Dolomites!

Hashs: Peace and ciao! 🇮🇹✌️