Mulled wine, hot cinnamon cider and panettone will be served from three festive huts on Grand Hotel Fasano’s lakefront terrace this winter. The five-star, family-owned hotel in Gardone Riviera is staying open over Christmas and New Year for the first time, bringing a programme of seasonal celebrations to Lake Garda’s western shore.
The hotel has announced an extended season running from 13 November 2026 to 6 January 2027, with cooking classes, live music, wellness sessions and family activities. Festive activities and entertainment will be available exclusively to resident guests, included at no additional cost. Alongside the Christmas dates, a regular weekly calendar gives guests plenty to join during a November or early-December stay.
Grand Hotel Fasano sits directly beside the lake, within a 12,000-square-metre historic park, with a private jetty and several lake-access points. Its 86 rooms and suites are spread between the main residence and Villa Principe, an annexe within the grounds. Lake-view rooms and connecting accommodation give couples and families different ways to settle in for the season.
A Christmas market beside the water
The terrace market will open each evening from 5pm to 7pm, serving hot chocolate, spiced punch and teas alongside the mulled wine and cider. Pandoro, apple strudel and chestnuts will join panettone, with regional cheeses, cured meats and other seasonal specialities also available during the festive period.
Local producers and artisans will regularly bring handmade gifts, decorations and regional products to the market. Guided tastings of wine, cheese, olive oil and other local produce are planned several times a week.
Salò’s festive markets offer another lakefront outing, with illuminated stalls and local crafts. Guests can also join guided visits to Museo Il Divino Infante at weekends in December and daily during the festive period. Its collection explores sculptures of the infant Jesus in materials including carved wood, wax, terracotta and papier-mâché, alongside a Neapolitan nativity scene.
Pasta-making, fondue and Sunday tea
Saturday cooking experiences will be led by the hotel’s chefs, with fresh pasta-making, seasonal recipes and Italian festive traditions providing the inspiration.
Bistrò 1888 will host a weekly Saturday Fondue Night, taking on a winter-chalet setting for cheese fondue. The new bistro occupies a garden location with glimpses of the lake, and its name recalls the residence’s founding year, when it was established for the Austrian imperial family’s hunting use.
Sunday afternoons will bring tea to the lobby, where finger sandwiches, petits fours and homemade cakes will be served among the winter decorations. Fine teas and infusions accompany the food. For another evening’s dining, Il Fagiano offers tasting menus with wine or cocktail pairings, plus an à-la-carte menu. The Michelin-starred restaurant requires reservations and specifies smart-casual dress.
Warm water and winter spa rituals
AQVA Spa will complement the festive calendar with an Autumn/Winter treatment menu developed with Sothys Paris. A new Hot Stone Massage joins sensory rituals, personalised massages and facial treatments. The hotel describes its winter treatments as using warm-wood scents, balsamic essences and oils, with slow, deep movements.
The hotel’s spa facilities cover more than 3,500 square metres, with relaxation areas, five types of sauna, an indoor pool and hot tub, and two outdoor pools. Listed temperatures include 29°C for the indoor pool, 35°C for the hot tub and 34°C for the heated outdoor pool. Access to the relaxation areas, steam rooms, saunas and pools is included in the stay.
Twice-weekly yoga and Pilates sessions focusing on movement, flexibility and core strength will form part of the programme. Children can use the pools with an accompanying adult, while saunas and steam rooms are reserved for adults. Personalised treatments should be booked in advance; published treatment hours are 10am to 6pm.
Jazz evenings and festive aperitivi
Ramas Lounge Bar will host live jazz on Fridays, with cocktails accompanying the performances. Its plush interiors and historic hotel photographs provide the setting, while the bar’s published selection runs to more than 70 gins and more than 30 tonic waters.
Bar Manager Rama Redzepi and the team will lead a cocktail masterclass every fortnight, exploring signature cocktails, festive aperitivi and winter serves, including traditional vin brulè. Piano Nights are scheduled for Mondays and Wednesdays, adding two further music evenings to the weekly calendar. Guests choosing a shorter stay can plan around the sessions they most want to attend.
Christmas lights, Saint Lucy and a lakeside arrival
The Christmas lights will be switched on on 13 November, with guests gathering for an aperitif as the hotel is illuminated. On 26 November, Il Fagiano’s Executive Chef Maurizio Bufi will host a Thanksgiving dinner combining American and Italian traditions through a seasonal menu.
Saint Lucy celebrations on 13 December will bring sweets, small gifts and surprises for guests. Christmas Eve’s main family occasion will take place on the water: Father Christmas is due to cross Lake Garda by boat before disembarking on the terrace to meet families, with festive music and gifts accompanying his arrival.
Christmas Day will centre on a special brunch, bringing together traditional Christmas dishes, seasonal creations from the hotel’s chefs and classic Italian desserts. The terrace market and wider programme will continue through the extended season, allowing guests to combine the principal celebrations with tastings, music and wellness sessions.
New Year’s Eve across the hotel
New Year’s Eve will feature a festive edition of Albergo da Gustare, the hotel’s culinary experience. Guests will move through different areas of the property, each with its own food offering and festive setting, rather than spending the entire evening at one table.
Fireworks over Lake Garda and a late-night spaghettata, or spaghetti party, will complete the celebrations. New Year’s Day will follow with a brunch of seasonal dishes and comforting classics. The hotel will remain open until Epiphany on 6 January 2027, giving guests the option to stay beyond the New Year festivities.
Planning a festive stay
Nightly rates start at €600 for an Executive room with a lake view and balcony, including breakfast. Bookings are available directly with Grand Hotel Fasano. Check-in is from 4pm and check-out is by noon; dietary requirements can be accommodated when the chefs are notified in advance.
The hotel estimates transfers of around 50 minutes from Verona Villafranca Airport and one hour ten minutes from Bergamo Orio al Serio. Desenzano del Garda railway station is approximately 30 minutes away, and the hotel can arrange private transfers from airports or stations on request. The festive programme is subject to minor changes, so confirm the events that matter to your stay when booking.
