Pet-Friendly Attractions in Sirmione

The moated 13th-century Scaliger Castle stands at the gateway to the old town, its drawbridge and harbour ringed by lake water, one of the best-preserved fortified ports in Italy. Dogs on a leash are fine in the surrounding piazza and along the moat, where most of the photogenic views are anyway. They cannot climb the towers or go inside the castle museum, so plan to admire it from the outside or take turns visiting.

At the very tip of the peninsula lie the Grotte di Catullo, the sprawling remains of a grand Roman villa set among ancient olive groves with sweeping lake views, the most important Roman site in northern Italy. Dogs are admitted into the open archaeological park on a leash, though not into the indoor museum. The shaded olive terraces and panoramic walkways make it one of the most rewarding dog-friendly visits in Sirmione.

Beyond the big sights, Sirmione's car-free old town is a pleasure to wander with a dog, its narrow lanes opening onto piazzas, gelaterias and lake terraces. Linking the castle, the Maria Callas and Tomelleri parks and the panoramic promenade out to the peninsula tip makes a natural leashed loop. With no traffic in the centre it is calmer for dogs than most Italian towns, though it gets very busy at peak times.