Guest User
June 16, 2024
We stayed here for a week without a car, the main purpose was to be able to reach Brescia by train to see the cars arriving for the Mille Miglia race and then have a nice holiday walking and sightseeing by Iseo Lago. Hotel RivaLago is a family run boutique hotel. It is not a full service hotel, but what is provided is of a very high standard. The hotel is located on the side of the lake down a narrow cobbled street a few meters from the main road. All members of staff we came across were charming and attentive. Our room was clean and equiped with towels, robes, poolside towels and slippers. The very large bed was comfortable, the wardrobe space was just about enough for a week, and the lakeside view from room 207 was mesmerising - it was definitely worth booking a room with a lake view. The hotel serves a buffet breakfast (which is truly excellent), drinks and lunchtime snacks could be ordered on the terrace and by the pool. There is a limited bar at night in the small lounge area. The restaurant at night is run by a different company and you may eat inside or on the glass covered terrace. It was very busy on Saturday night. We ate here twice, it is quite expensive and I would say the cooking is merely competent rather than "wow" but the location by the lake and the attractive garden made up for it. Sulzano doesn't offer any good alternatives to eating in but we found that it was easy to take the ferry to the Island of Monte Isola for a more informal evening meal where there are plenty of cafes, restuarants and bars. Public transport to other destinations seemed to stop about 8pm in mid-season but restuarants in the evening often don't open till 7.30pm! There are two ferry terminals only a very short walk from the hotel, the further one serves the Island of Monte Isola and leaves every 15 minutes almost up to midnight. The other had ferries going further along the lake. The train station is equally convenient. The hotel reception is good for information about timetables, and the Information Office in Sulzano was very helpful. We had a lovely week here, we used the local Trenord train service and the ferries frequently. They are relatively inexpensive, but we did buy a 3 day travel pass on the Trenord phone App which covered all of Lombardy - and used it to make trips to Brescia and Iseo, and had long day taking the ferry to Lovere at the head of the lake. Monte Isola is so close and we had two long days walking around the island and up to the Sanctuary at the peak. Iseo Lago is very scenic. We loved it.