All our Italian Lakes villas hold rather a special place in our heart. After all, it was following a stay in an Italian Lakes villa rental on Lake Maggiore that the idea for Bookings For You first came about! The Italian Lakes are undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking regions in Italy. The three main lakes – Lake Maggiore, Lake Como and Lake Garda – are all popular tourist destinations, with plenty of activities for whatever you’re into. However, each of the Italian Lakes definitely has its own character and it’s important you choose the lake best suited to you. Whether you fancy the glamour of celeb-favourite Lake Como, the authentic vibe and array of water-sports available on Lake Maggiore, or the bustling popularity of Lake Garda, we’re confident that we will be able to find the perfect villa in the Italian Lakes for you.
Can’t find the Italian Lakes villa rental you want? Get in touch with your requirements and we’ll send you our suggestions.
EXCELLENT Based on 50 reviews Miki Leibowitz2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Cassina Rossa in Forte Dei Marmi was a perfectly located villa to enjoy all things Forte & truly feel like a local! The communication with the owner and her representatives was so easy and they were VERY helpful with anything we needed during our stay. We so enjoyed waking up every morning and either taking our coffee intown while it was super quiet and watching everything wake up around us or on most mornings we rode the bikes that were supplied to us to the wonderful market that was literally down the street and picked up anything we needed fresh for the day. The kitchen was beautifully equipped and we made espresso most mornings and either sat outside on ground level patio or on the roof top overlooking the mountains. It was comfortable enough to have lunch and dinner at home a couple of times and fun setting a beautiful table with their pretty dishes, linens, etc. Having Bagno Vasco the very authentic classic beach club included was a dream and a big savings! Great food, easy location to bike or drive to and the position of our chairs, umbrella and sunbed right next to the sea was great. We were there for over 2 weeks and for a nominal amount he supplied us with their towels each day so we didn’t have to bring back and forth. The villa’s proximity to the center of town can’t be beat. It’s quiet enough to be a bit removed and beautiful to see the mountains whenever walking or riding home but so close to all the wonderful restaurants & very upscale & unique shops. Forte has such a unique vibe day and night especially on market days (Wednesday and Sunday). The markets are so full of clothing, housewares, etc that you’ll need to bring an extra bag or ship stuff home. People come from everywhere to take advantage of it. The location of Forte Dei Marmi is so central and close to other towns like Pietrasanta up in the hills which allows you to experience a completely different more typically Tuscan area within a short 15-20 min drive and it’s also very close to Lucca, Pisa & Carrara (where they get the marble) only 1 1/2 hours from Florence and Portofino if you are staying longer and want to take some wonderful daytrips. Forte Dei Marmi doesn’t have the dramatic coastline of the Amalfi coast but the beauty of looking one direction and seeing the beaches and looking the other and seeing the stunning mountains including Carrara is truly unique and offers its own special beauty. Another plus is that it is very flat so much easier than many Italian towns to walk and ride bikes which everyone does everywhere. It’s fun to see everyone (mostly Italians which we loved) fully dressed for dinner on bikes as it’s truly the chosen form of transportation for the young and old. We can’t wait to return!! Victor Johansen2024-10-20Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Jo at Bookings for You is absolutely wonderful to work with. We have booked properties in Sorrento and Sicily over the past two years (2022 & 2024) and have not been disappointed. The properties were 1st class and just phenomenal. Jo lists only the best based on; location, amenities, condition & cleanliness. I highly recommend Bookings for You when planning & booking your stay in Italy; you won't be disappointed. First class service and first class properties! Jackie Morgan2024-10-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Great service , prompt and efficient responses to enquiries . Villa was just what we wanted for a family holiday , and Fiona was a great asset ! Thanks Joy2024-09-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We have just spent a fabulous week in Villa Speracedes booked with Bookings for You. Bookings for You provided excellent communication with us both prior to and during the trip to ensure that everything ran as smoothly as possible for us. The apartment was great: comfortable, very well equipped and the terrace was fabulous with a seating area for meal times, comfortable loungers to relax on and down the steps, loungers beside the pool. All having magnificent views across the valleys. Highly recommended! Rob Aherne2024-09-02Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Fabulous stay in Villa Assisi - a big villa with private pool in a hotel resort complex. It was very peaceful, despite a very central location, and the pool was a fantastic luxury given the super-hot temperatures. We were able to use the hotel facilities, such as the tennis court and bicycles, as well, so it felt like the best of both worlds. We were well looked after by Bookings for You too. Highly recommended. evan sohun2024-08-19Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. An amazing place. Had such a great stay with my family and the hosts were so helpful all along. Thank you! Diane Safran2024-08-07Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. The villa is Beautiful. The staff wonderful especially the chef and Benne. Daniela is a wonderful host. Our family had a wonderful time Thank you Ella Jones2024-08-05Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Absolutely fantastic from start to finish! We had the most amazing holiday at Golfo Gabella on Lake Maggiore and will definitely be rebooking for next year 😊
The Italian Lakes is one of our favourite places in Italy. Not surprising perhaps given that a stay over a decade ago in a villa on the Italian Lakes led to the creation of Bookings For You. It comprises six main lakes – Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Lake Iseo, Lake Lugano and Lake Orta – but there are a number of smaller lakes dotted between these too, such as Lake Varese or Lake Monate. Each lake definitely has its own unique vibe. But what they all have in common is stunning scenery, charming lakeside villages and crystal clear, blue lake waters. Our luxury villas on the Italian Lakes are perfectly positioned to explore everything that the region has to offer.
Our favourite of the Italian Lakes, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s second-largest lake. It actually falls into both Italy and Switzerland. Ascona and Locarno in the north fall into Swiss territory whilst towns such as Stresa, Arona, Luino, Cannobio and Cannero are on the Italian side of the border.
Arguably it is most famous for the Borromean Islands that sit just off the shore of Stresa. These islands are comprised of Isola Madre, Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. The latter is the only one of the islands still inhabited today, famous for its excellent fish restaurants. Isola Madre and Isola Bella are both famous for their beautiful gardens (and their resident white peacocks), best viewed in the Spring as well as for their incredible Baroque palaces. However, these are not the only islands on Lake Maggiore. There are actually 11 islands in total.
Lake Maggiore is also home to other beautiful gardens on shore such as Villa Taranto, famous for its tulip festival each Spring. It is also where you will find the beautiful Santa Caterina del Sasso monastery clinging to the rocks. Reached either by road or also by boat during the summer months, the monastery is entrusted to the care of the Benedictine monks and contains some important well-kept frescoes dating from the XIVth to the XVIIIth century.
And there are also some beautiful lakeside towns and villages on Lake Maggiore too. Not only that, but outdoor and sporting enthusiasts will love the activities on offer. From hiking to cycling, windsurfing to water-skiing, from skiing to tobogganing and from paddle-boarding to paragliding, there are an abundance of outdoor activities to enjoy.
But, of course, if you prefer a more sedate pace on your Italian Lakes villa rental holiday, simply opt to relax on the many lakeside beaches or lidos instead. Or take a ride up in one of the main cable cars to the top of the mountains that circle the lake to just take in the views.
Whatever your interests, you won’t be short of thing to do during you stay in one of our Italian Lakes villa rentals. There is an incredibly diverse range of things to do on Lake Maggiore. Check out our full guide to Lake Maggiore.
If you’re considering a stay in a villa on the Italian Lakes, then Lake Como is another great option. Lake Como’s beauty is long renowned. It was an important destination centuries ago as part of the Grand Tour and visitors continue to flock to its shores today. In fact, its popularity has arguably only increased in recent years, driven in part by George Clooney who purchased Villa Oleandra on Lake Como and seemed to invite a never-ending list of celebrities to stay, adding to the lake’s perceived glamour. Certainly, Lake Como is one of the busiest of the Italian Lakes and if you’re staying in one of our Italian Lakes villa rentals here in the Summer months, you will need to be organised and book activities in advance to avoid disappointment.
Like Lake Maggiore, Lake Como also has an array of picturesque lakeside villages to explore, among them Menaggio, Bellano, Bellagio and Varenna as well as the city of Como itself. It also has outdoor activities to enjoy including a couple of excellent golf courses. However, perhaps what Lake Como is most famous for is its sumptuous lakeside villas and gardens. These include Villa Melzi and Villa Carlotta, home to both a fascinating museum along with 8 hectares of botanic gardens. Also of note are the gardens at Villa del Balbianello, famous for their intricate terraced gardens. Visitors may recognise it as it has served as the backdrop for numerous films including films within the Star Wars and James Bond franchises.
Check out our full guide to Lake Como for more inspiration on what to see and do during your stay in one of our luxury villas on the Italian Lakes.
The third option to consider to find your perfect villa on the Italian Lakes is Lake Garda. Lake Garda is Italy’s largest lake, positioned in between Milan to the west and both Verona and Venice to the east. Its sheer size means that there is quite a dramatic contrast between the landscape and its northern and southernmost points. For example, in the north, it sits at the foot of the Alps and so the landscape is more mountainous and dramatic. However, at the other end of the lake, the geography is much flatter. That said, wherever you choose to base your stay, it’s all extremely picturesque!
The south eastern part of Lake Garda is often recommended to first time visitors. Towns such as Bardolino or Garda itself certainly have excellent boat links to the rest of the lake allowing you to sightsee easily. That said, Sirmione to the south is probably the most popular town on Lake Garda thanks to its picturesque town centre. This is also where you will discover the Scalinger Castle. We also love nearby Peschiera del Garda too. Or, you could opt instead for some of our favourite towns and villages further north to use as your base. These include Cassone di Malcesine, Limone sul Garda and Riva del Garda. Incidentally, the latter is one of the best places to enjoy windsurfing on the lake if you are a water sports fanatic. And actually, if you prefer the mountains and outdoor activities, then you may well be better off in the northern part of the lake instead.
That said, there are opportunities to enjoy plenty of outdoor sports all around Lake Garda. Garda by Bike, for example, is a project very much still in progress but ultimately will ensure that there will be a 140 km cycle path around the lake by the end of 2026. And, with Gardaland, one of Europe’s biggest theme parks, situated here, there is plenty to lure families to the area too.
Our guide to the top 50 things to do on Lake Garda should keep you busy during your stay in one of our luxury villas on the Italian Lakes!
The Italian Lakes are certainly busiest in the peak Summer months of July and August, when people head to the lakeside beaches and lidos. But our Italian Lakes villa rentals are popular from early Spring through to late Autumn. Visit at these times to see the Italian Lakes at their most colourful. The lakes can be a surprisingly good place to visit during the Winter too, particularly if you enjoy winter sports. After all, there are plenty of opportunities to ski in the mountains around the lake.
There are lakes all over Italy. In fact, there are over 1000 lakes in Italy altogether! But the main lakes with the Italian Lakes region are Lake Maggiore, Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Orta, Lake Varese, Lake Lugano, Lake Iseo and Lake Idro. Bookings For You like to share some of the hidden gems with our holidaymakers though so we also offer Italian Lakes villa rentals on Lake Monate too.
To do justice to any of the lakes, you would need to spend at least a week in any of our villas on the Italian Lakes. However, we appreciate that not everyone has that long. If you have less than a week, we would recommend you choose just one lake and focus all your attentions there rather than spending travelling from one to another. That said, opt for one of our villas on the Italian Lakes on Lake Maggiore and you can easily use this as a base to also enjoy day trips to Lake Orta, Lake Como, Lake Varese and Lake Monate. If you’re lucky enough to have 10 days or more, then you can start to look at twin or even triple centre stays in two or even three of our Italian Lakes villa rentals.
Yes! There are plenty of beaches in the Italian Lakes. These can range from small pebbled beaches where you can just park up and enjoy a swim to larger beachside establishments which offer outdoor swimming pools as well as beaches and lake access. You can usually hire sun beds and loungers here although you should expect to also be prepared to pay an entry fee to enjoy the facilities on offer. The beaches can be more accessible to reach on some lakes than others though. We think that the beaches on Lake Maggiore are some of the most accessible of any of the Italian Lakes. One great option is to rent one of our luxury villas on the Italian Lakes that have their own lake access. That way you can essentially make sure you have the beach all to yourself! Just be aware that there are very few sandy beaches on any of the Italian Lakes. They are predominantly pebbled or rocky.
It depends on how you look at it! Lake Garda is the largest lake in Italy, measuring 370 km². However, Lake Maggiore is the longest lake at 66 km. Lake Maggiore actually straddles both Italy and Switzerland, and so can lay claim to also being the biggest lake in Southern Switzerland. And then Lake Como can claim that it’s the deepest lake in Italy. At its deepest point near Argegno it is 425 metres deep. Lake Orta is much smaller at just 13.5 km long and 2.5 km wide at its widest point. It’s still bigger than Lake Varese though which is just 14.5 km² and Lake Monate which is a tiny 3 km long and 1 km wide.