Villas on the Italian Lakes

About the Italian Lakes

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.

Lake Maggiore

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.

Lake Como

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.

Lake Garda

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!

Best time to visit 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.

Frequently asked Questions

What are the Italian Lakes?

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.

How long to spend in the Italian Lakes?

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.

Are there beaches in the Italian Lakes?

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.

Which is the biggest Italian Lake?

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.