This hotel really deserves its number one ranking. We stayed there for a week - although we would have happily stayed a lot longer.

The welcome from the staff, who are all so attentive, sweet, considerate and helpful, really made this stay an absolute favourite for us.

We were in room 301, which had 3 balconies, 2 of which were lake-facing and one that overlooked the quiet piazza. The views were stunning, and for 2 people there was plenty of room to sit out on the balcony with a bottle of Prosecco (or two). The room was large, with a very decent sized bathroom. It was very clean and nice and cool thanks to the remote controlled air con.

Breakfast was fab - a choice of sweet pastries, cakes, cereals, eggs, toast, just about anything you could possibly want and the breakfast staff were always on hand to bring drinks or get you anything. The service is simply fantastic.

It's the little touches that make Hotel Catullo the best in Sirmione, They remember your name, they help with trip planning, they put sweets on your bed and even arranged a birthday cake to be delivered to our room on my birthday. The lounge areas just felt very homely, perhaps it's Fabio's pet cats and dog (all very people-friendly too) that add to this welcoming and elegant hotel.

It is very well located for Sirmione, which is generally a quiet area on the lake compared to some others, but it is certainly one of the most stunning and the hotel is just a 2 minute walk to where you catch the boats to get around the lake.

A big thank you to Fabio and his team - you really made this holiday so fantastic for us.

Jen and Phil. xxx

We went back to the Hotel Catullo on 17-24 Sept 2011. This is the first time we have gone back to a resort and hotel; it had been 2 years since we had been there but Fabio remembered us! The food is excellent, and if you do not like the menu, an alternative is always available. Portion sizes just right for me; rooms very clean and neat. We had a room on the side overlooking the Hotel Pace and it was wonderfully cool. The staff are very friendly and helped us practice our Italian! We are going back in May 2012 - enough said!

We booked this hotel after reading the tripadvisor reviews and its everything we hoped for. Fabio and his staff could not do enough to make our stay any better. Our room had a lovely lake view, very large comfy bed, well equipt bathroom with both shower and bath and was spotlessly clean. The food was delicious and plentiful. There were always spare loungers on the jetty for sunbathing and swimming. I discovered a new favorite drink Aperol Spritz which was so refreshing. All in all it was a wonderful relaxing week and we shall definately be returning to this hotel. A big thank you to Fabio and all his staff.

The Hotel Catullo is all about the fabulous owner, Fabio. Many guests staying there were repeat guests who said that they came back because of their host. He is an omnipresent character, whether sitting at the reception desk with his cats and dog, playing sommelier at dinner (at which he was excellent in advising and also in his subject knowledge) or merely welcoming guests back from private boat trips at the hotel's jetty. As vegetarians, he couldn't have been more helpful in arranging meals to suit us.
However, there is more to commend the hotel than just it's owner. It is a hotel with an intimate feel despite having 54 rooms and the location within the old walls of Sirmione provides the best of two worlds - the town is on your doorstep but when it becomes too crowded with day trippers ( Sirmione is one of the most visited towns on Lake Garda) it provides a peaceful,cool oasis away from it all.The gardens and bathing jetty are fantastic for sun or shade bathing whilst a dip in the lake is a must on a hot day. Towels are provided and drinks are available all day from the bar.
We drove to Sirmione and a car pass is required to get in and out of the old town as it is basically a pedestrian zone (please note that if you take your car out again there are some restrictions as to when you can come back in particularly at weekends). On arrival you can offload your luggage at the hotel and park there for up to an hour before getting directions and moving it to a private, secure car park about 500 meters away. This worked very well.
The hotel itself is comfortable, homely and friendly.Our room on the top floor with front lake view was a little dated and there was only a hand held shower in the bathroom but the view was fantastic and it was all spotlessly clean. A comfortable bed and shutters at the window allowed for great sleep every night of the 10 nights there.
We ate in the hotel restaurant every night as the cost was very reasonable and, as mentioned before, they went out of their way to provide a varied vegetarian menu.
We had 3 nights of entertainment laid on during our stay which was not to our taste and it was a little difficult to get away from, especially when we had 2 singers and a keyboard in the dining room one evening . It was supposed to be romantic but actually killed any conversation.
We loved our time in Sirmione and the Hotel Catullo but because of the shower situation and the "in your face" entertainment I would probably only give it 4 and a half out of 5. However I can't so I have rounded it up to 5!