Camping base
San Felice is the quieter camping alternative between Manerba and Salò: green surroundings, several true lakeside campsites, Portese, the San Fermo peninsula and views towards Isola del Garda define the area.
Camping between the Valtenesi and the Gulf of Salò
San Felice del Benaco lies on the western shore between Manerba and Salò and is more than a single town centre. The municipality also includes lakeside Portese and rural Cisano, while Isola del Garda sits just offshore. This spread-out structure makes San Felice feel greener and quieter than many better-known resort towns.
For campers, the quality of the local sites is the key advantage. Fornella and Europa Silvella sit directly on Lake Garda and combine pitches with extensive holiday facilities. Weekend Glamping Resort instead occupies an elevated position overlooking the Gulf of Salò and focuses strongly on glamping. Camping Eden in Portese combines direct lake access with pools and water slides.
There is plenty nearby beyond the campsites: the small San Fermo peninsula, Baia del Vento, Portese harbour and boat trips to Isola del Garda. Guests wanting a livelier promenade and more urban atmosphere can reach Salò quickly without having to stay there.
Typical San Felice
San Felice works particularly well for travellers who want high-quality campsites and access to the lake without staying in the busiest holiday centres.
Fornella combines camping with wellness, Europa Silvella with extensive family and sports facilities, Weekend with glamping and panoramic views, and Eden with lakeside access and slides. You can therefore choose very precisely without changing destination.
Several campsites genuinely sit on the water. Beaches and bays such as Baia del Vento plus the shoreline around San Fermo and Portese make swimming and paddling an easy part of the day.
Lake Garda largest island belongs to the municipality of San Felice. Its villa, gardens and island setting create an excursion closely connected to the destination itself.
Salò provides a promenade, shopping and larger restaurants, while Manerba to the south adds the Rocca and long beaches. San Felice is a calm base between the two.
Our selection
All four recommendations are genuinely located in San Felice del Benaco and differ significantly in waterfront setting, pools, glamping, wellness and family facilities.
Lakeside camping resort with two beach areas, pools, wellness and spa facilities, pitches plus a high-quality rental and glamping offer.
Fornella Camping & Wellness Family Resort is our top recommendation for San Felice because it brings several of the destination strengths together in one campsite. It sits directly on Lake Garda, has two beach areas and offers traditional pitches alongside mobile homes and glamping accommodation. Pools and family facilities cover the classic summer holiday, while the dedicated wellness and spa area with lake views gives Fornella a profile that is unusually distinctive among Lake Garda campsites.
The location on the greener side of San Felice is another advantage: San Fermo, Baia del Vento and Isola del Garda are close, while Manerba and Salò are easy to reach. Fornella therefore suits families as well as couples and campers who do not equate a camping atmosphere with giving up comfort.
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Large five-star campsite directly on the lake with three pools, sports, kids club, entertainment, pitches, mobile homes and glamping.
More compact hillside glamping resort overlooking the Gulf of Salò with three pools, whirlpools, water slides and a strong rental accommodation offer.
Terraced four-star campsite in Portese directly on Lake Garda with a private beach, two pool areas, slides and family-oriented holiday facilities.
Experience San Felice
The best local experiences are closely tied to the water and fit a camping holiday where the car can stay parked for part of the day.
Island in the lake
Lake Garda largest island lies directly off San Felice. A guided visit combines the Venetian neo-Gothic villa, gardens and boat journey into an excursion that feels very different from the classic lakeside towns.
Headland & beach
The small church of San Fermo opens towards views of Isola del Garda. A short distance away, Baia del Vento is ideal for combining a brief walk with swimming or a relaxed afternoon by the lake.
Evening by the water
Portese is the lakeside hamlet of San Felice. Around its harbour, waterfront and old lanes the evening feels much quieter than Salò, while the larger promenade remains only a few kilometres away.
Plan well
The municipality is spread out and its campsites follow very different concepts, so choosing by exact location and holiday style matters.
Fornella, Europa Silvella and Eden provide direct access to Lake Garda. Weekend is elevated above the shore and focuses on views and its pool complex. This difference matters more than a few hundred metres on a map.
San Felice includes several hamlets and shoreline areas. Guests wanting to walk to the harbour in the evening should choose differently from those focused on Manerba or Baia del Vento.
Isola del Garda is privately owned and visited on organised tours. Times and departure points vary seasonally, so reserve a preferred date in advance.
For a promenade, shops and evening restaurants, Salò works well as a short excursion. This lets you keep a greener, quieter camping base without giving up the more urban amenities.
Our verdict
San Felice del Benaco does not have the large historic centre of Salò or the long chain of beaches found in Manerba, but it offers an exceptionally varied campsite base. True lakeside sites, family resorts, glamping, wellness, Portese and Isola del Garda create a destination that works very well for a complete camping holiday without long daily drives.