Luxury Villas on Lake Maggiore

Towns and villages on Lake Maggiore

Verbania

As the largest town on Lake Maggiore, Verbania is divided into three main neighbourhoods. To get the most from a day trip here during your Lake Magiore villa holiday, we would recommend choosing to explore the waterfront area of Verbania Pallanza. It’s the perfect setting to enjoy a lakeside promenade and the town’s lively bars and restaurants. Verbania is also where you find two elegant villas – Villa Taranto – famous for its incredible array of tulips, and Villa Giulia whose beautiful yellow facade and balconies provide an idyllic backdrop to its beautiful gardens.

Stresa

Stresa is perhaps the lake’s most famous resort town and both the perfect base for luxury villa rental on Lake Maggiore as well as a wonderful day trip, if your villa rental in the Italian lakes is elsewhere. Make time for a trip over to the Borromean Islands, which are easily reached from the town’s ferry terminal. But, also be sure to take a leisurely stroll along the promenade which is home to some of Lake Maggiore’s most impressive villas.

Lesa

For something more relaxed, head to Lesa. A much smaller town tucked between Arona and Stresa, where you will find some of Lake Maggiore’s best beaches. A day at the beach is an almost essential part of an Italian Lakes villa holiday. And despite its small size, Lesa is home to three wonderful lidos. Spiaggia Dell’Erno is probably the best, with a great bar and plenty of sunbeds to relax on. This is also where the river meets the lake making the water particularly clean – a great spot for a family day out from your luxury villa rental on Lake Maggiore.

Cannobio

Cannobio is a picture-perfect lakeside town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore – not far from the Swiss border.  Make your way from the main Piazza Vittorio Emanuele III, along the waterfront promenade to the lido at the very end of the town. You’ll pass pretty pastel-painted facades, lined with stunning porticoes, charming boutiques, restaurants and cafes. Easily reached by both car and a regular ferry service, it’s one of our favourite places to visit from our luxury Lake Maggiore holiday villas.

Laveno

A bustling lakeside town on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, Laveno is popular with Italians and visitors from further afield for Lake Maggiore villa holidays.

The main attraction in Laveno are the ‘bucket lifts’ situated just outside the town centre. Each bucket accommodates just two people and takes you from Laveno Mombello to the summit 974 metres above sea level. From here, you can enjoy stunning views over Lake Maggiore and the Alps beyond. There is also a bar, cafe and restaurant at the summit so that you can sit and enjoy the view over a drink or a bite to eat.

Luino

And now to where it all began. Luino stole our hearts because of its genuine Italian authenticity. Locals don’t just holiday here, they live here. As a year-round destination for a luxury villa rentals on Lake Maggiore, a highlight is the weekly market – held on Wednesdays. Come early and hungry and spend the day discovering all kinds of local artisan goods and some absolutely delicious food and drink.

Best areas to stay in on a luxury holiday on Lake Maggiore

The Western Shore (Piedmont)

The western shore of Lake Maggiore is a wonderful choice for a luxury villa holiday. It perfectly combines elegant lakeside resorts with lush gardens, historic villas and beautiful mountain scenery. Stretching north from the lively town of Arona towards the Swiss border, the landscape becomes increasingly peaceful, with wooded hills and dramatic Alpine views surrounding the lake.

If you’re looking to explore Piedmont from your luxury Lake Maggiore villa, this is an excellent place to start. The shoreline is dotted with picturesque towns and villages, including Stresa, Baveno and Cannobio. These coupled with plenty of lakeside walks, cycling routes and boat services providing easy access to the Borromean Islands and the eastern shore make it a great place for a luxury villa holiday on Lake Maggiore.

The Eastern Shore (Lombardy)

The eastern shore is a wonderful choice for a Lake Maggiore luxury villa holiday. Think unpretentious lakeside towns, wooded hills and spectacular mountain views. Stretching north from the lively city of Varese towards the Swiss border, this quieter side of the lake is dotted with charming villages and pretty waterfronts. Again, the landscape becomes more dramatic as you travel north.

If you’re looking to explore from your luxury holiday villa on Lake Maggiore, the eastern shore is a wonderful base. The area offers plenty of opportunities for hiking, watersports and cycling, while boat services make it easy to explore the lake and visit popular attractions such as the Borromean Islands on the opposite shore.

Amenities for your luxury holiday on Lake Maggiore

Multi-Generation Luxury Villas on Lake Maggiore

A villa holiday in Italy is all about family and enjoying your luxury muti-generation villa holiday in Italy is a magical way to make memories together. Villa Ermelinda has something for all ages to enjoy. Boasting a magnificent pool and multiple outdoor spaces with endless lake views, there’s plenty of space for an extended family to relax. Inside is perhaps even more impressive with a health and wellness area, including a gym, turkish bath and jacuzzi as well and massage suite. Children will love the table-tennis and table-football, and there’s even your own private playground. And what’s more, this magnificent multi-generation villa is just a short walk from the lakeside shops and restaurants in Baveno.

Luxury Villas on Lake Maggiore with Private Pools

The privacy of a villa with a private pool in the Italian Lakes can offer an unrivalled sense of luxury. And there’s nothing better than having your own sanctuary to cool off in and relax after a day exploring the lake. The view from Villa Ispra is just part of what makes it one of our favourite Lake Maggiore luxury villas with a private pool. Set in magnificent gardens which lead to direct private lake access, it’s one of the finest spots in all of the Italian Lakes.

Apartments & Villas with Disabled Access on Lake Maggiore

We have always strived to offer a good selection of accessible apartments and villas in the Italian Lakes and our Lake Maggiore villas and apartments are some of the best we’ve found in all of Italy. Apartment Casarini goes above and beyond in ensuring access for all. Accessed via a lift, the bathroom is wheelchair accessible and can be adapted with grab handles when needed. Ramps can also be provided and even the pool is designed to provide easy access for those with disabilities. Alternatively, Villa Lago Maggiore is not only all set on one floor but also has direct access to the lakeside from its private garden. A real bonus to this wheelchair-friendly villa on Lake Maggiore is that the extensive garden is flat – not typical for this region. 

Things to do on a luxury holiday on Lake Maggiore

Watersports on Lake Maggiore

From your Lake Maggiore villa rental there are plenty of opportunities to enjoy watersports – particularly during the warmer summer months. Sailing, windsurfing and kayaking are popular choices, while the lake’s calm waters are also well suited to paddleboarding. The northern end of the lake can be particularly rewarding for sailing, where the surrounding mountains create a spectacular backdrop. There are several sailing and watersports centres around the lake offering equipment hire and lessons, making it possible for beginners to try their hand at a new activity as well as more experienced watersports enthusiasts to explore the lake.

Hiking on Lake Maggiore

There are an incredible amount of wonderful hiking routes just waiting to be explored from your Lake Maggiore villa rental. Some of these are mountain top hikes and may involve a ride up a cable car first. The valleys that lead to the lake also offer some spectacular walks including Valle Maggia and Valle Verzasca. There are some beautiful walks in the hinterland above Cannobio too.

Also don’t miss the hike at Cascate di Cittiglio – a series of three waterfalls all approached on pretty pathways where you can also enjoy a refreshing swim in the waterfall pools.

Island Hopping on Lake Maggiore

Visiting the Borromean Islands is something that we recommend to all of our guests staying at a luxury villa on Lake Maggiore. There are four islands in total and three of them are open to the public to explore. The islands have a rich history and are stunningly beautiful. While you can see the islands from the western shore of the lake, there is no substitute for jumping aboard a boat and actually visiting them for yourself.

Family Fun at a Lake Maggiore Waterpark

Do kids love anything more than a day at a waterpark? A good start is the Adventure Park Baveno, where you will find a swimming pool and waterslides as well as lots of adventurous outdoor activities to keep the children entertained.

However, our firm favourite is the Locarno Lido. It’s a great place to spend a whole day with plenty on offer to keep everyone entertained including inflatable obstacle courses, four outside pools and a separate diving pool. Also great for a rainy day, there is just as much indoors. Here you’ll find another 3 pools as well as waterslides.

Frequently asked questions about booking a luxury holiday villa on Lake Maggiore

What is the closest airport to Lake Maggiore?

Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the closest airport to our Lake Maggiore villa rentals. The journey time by round is between 45 and 60 minutes. Milan Linate (LIN) is another good option at around 90 minutes by car from Laveno and Luino on the eastern shore of the lake.

Which is the best town on Lake Maggiore?

It’s difficult to say definitively, but Lesa, Verbania, Arona and Cannobio are probably our favourite towns on the western shore. And, of course, Luino on the eastern shore for its market and year-round attraction, whilst in the Swiss part of the lake, we love Ascona.

Is Lake Como better than Lake Maggiore?

This could be the million dollar question for our guests staying at a luxury villa rental in the Italian Lakes. The answer is not the same for everyone but for us it’s Lake Maggiore every time.

When is the best time to visit Lake Maggiore?

It depends what you want from your holiday. In the Winter, you can enjoy skiing and hiking. Spring and early Summer is when Lake Maggiore is at is most colourful with tulips, camellias and other plants are in full bloom. However the Autumn colours can be equally splendid and the days still pleasantly warm. And, of course, if you want to laze on the beaches and swim in the lake, your safest bet is in the Summer

How do I get to Lake Maggiore from Milan?

A train from Milan Centrale will take you to Stresa, the main town on Lake Maggiore, as well as to other towns on Lake Maggiore such as Arona, Verbania, Calde, Luino and Locarno. However, many of these are slower regional trains so the journey time can easily take up to 2 hours. A faster alternative from Milan Malpensa airport to Lake Maggiore is the seasonal Alibus service.

Do I need a car to explore Lake Maggiore?

No. Bookings For You have plenty of Lake Maggiore villas within an easy walk of public transport options – the boat, buses or trains – which means you don’t need to hire a car during your stay.