Excellence Luxury Villas · Italian Lakes
Luxury Villa Rentals in The Italian Lakes
Lakeside villas below the Alps, on Como, Garda, Maggiore and Orta
As featured in
Deep water, old gardens and a ferry to lunch
Glaciers carved the Italian Lakes long ago, and they lie in a line along the foot of the Alps. People have been building summer houses on their shores for about two thousand years. Pliny the Younger kept two villas on Lake Como, and Milanese nobles, English poets and film stars have followed him. The pull is the same as it always was: cool water, mountains rising straight from the shore, camellias in spring and long, slow lunches in the shade.
Our collection on the Italian Lakes runs to 90+ villas. They range from lakeside houses with their own landings and boathouses to hillside villas above Bellagio, grand old family residences and modern houses with infinity pools facing the water. The largest has 30 bedrooms.
Each lake has a character of its own. Here is how to choose between them, and when to come.
The Italian Lakes at a glance
- Villas
- 90+ across the lakes, with up to 30 bedrooms
- Guide prices
- Typically £3,500 to £9,800 a week, from around £2,400
- The lakes
- Como, Garda, Maggiore and Orta, with Lecco on Como's eastern arm
- Best time
- April to June and September to October; July and August for swimming
- Airports
- Milan Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo for Como, Maggiore and Orta; Verona for Garda
Browse all 90+ villas in the Italian Lakes
Villa numbers and guide prices are updated daily from our live collection.
Il Sereno Lake Como – A Design-Led Masterpiece for Rent30 bedrooms
Rent Villa Pliniana Lake Como17 bedrooms
Villa Palazzo Lake Como Italy17 bedrooms
Rent Villa Modern Myth Lake Garda5 bedroomsWhere to stay in the Italian Lakes
Bellagio and the centre of Lake Como for grand villas and ferries, Lecco for the quieter eastern arm, Lake Garda for sunshine, sailing and Sirmione, Verbania for Lake Maggiore's gardens, and Lake Orta for peace.
Where the three arms meet
Bellagio sits on the point of land where Lake Como splits into its three arms. It is a natural base: ferries leave all day for Varenna and Menaggio, and the gardens of Villa Melzi run along the water just south of the village. Across the lake, Villa Carlotta at Tremezzo flowers with azaleas and rhododendrons in spring. Villa del Balbianello, on its wooded headland at Lenno, is the lake's best-known view.
The eastern arm, towards Lecco, is steeper and quieter. Lecco is the setting of Manzoni's I Promessi Sposi, and the Grigna mountains behind it give the best walking on the lake.
The largest lake, and the sunniest
Garda is the largest lake in Italy and the most open. Its southern shore is broad and gentle, with olive groves and vineyards. Sirmione sits at the tip of its narrow peninsula, with a moated Scaliger castle and the ruins of a great Roman villa known as the Grotte di Catullo.
Further north, the lake narrows between mountains. At Limone sul Garda you can still see the old terraced lemon houses. From Malcesine a rotating cable car climbs Monte Baldo, and at Riva and Torbole the reliable afternoon winds bring out the sailors and windsurfers. Verona is an easy day out from the southern shore.
Browse villas on Lake Garda
Island palaces and a quiet neighbour
Lake Maggiore is grander in scale and a little more stately. Boats from Stresa visit the Borromean Islands: Isola Bella with its terraced baroque gardens and palace, Isola Madre with its botanical gardens, and Isola dei Pescatori, still a fishing village. At Verbania, the gardens of Villa Taranto are at their best in spring.
Lake Orta, a short drive west, is smaller and very peaceful. Orta San Giulio has a cobbled piazza on the water, and boats cross to the island of San Giulio and its Romanesque basilica. Above the town, the chapels of the Sacro Monte form part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Perch, olive oil and the right month
On Lake Como, the dish to order is risotto with perch fillets fried in butter and sage. The braver can try missoltini, a lake fish dried in the sun and grilled. Garda makes its own olive oil and the wines to go with it, Lugana from the southern shore and Bardolino from the east.
April and May bring the gardens into flower, and September and October are warm and mellow with fewer people about. July and August are for swimming, but the ferries and lakeside villages are at their busiest. Our concierge can book boats, garden visits and restaurant tables.
Ask our conciergeFeatured villas in the Italian Lakes
Villa Jovita | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Como Bellagio6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £23,330 a week
Villa Le Camelie Italy7 bedrooms · sleeps 14From £22,468 a week
Villa Sancia Italy5 bedrooms · sleeps 10From £17,000 a week
Villa Del Lago Italy8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £16,620 a week
Bisenzio Tower | 8-Bedroom Villa in ORVIETO Fontanelle di Bardano8 bedrooms · sleeps 16From £16,246 a week
Villa Luce Italy12 bedrooms · sleeps 24From £16,201 a week
Villa Tremezzina Lake Como Italy10 bedrooms · sleeps 20From £15,000 a week
Villa Splendente | 6-Bedroom Villa with Private Pool in Civenna6 bedrooms · sleeps 12From £14,964 a weekWhy book your Italian Lakes villa with Excellence Luxury Villas
The right house, not the nearest one
Each lake has its own character, from grand Bellagio to quiet Orta, and we know which villas have direct access to the water and which are a short walk from a ferry landing. With 90+ properties in the Italian Lakes, we can usually find the house that suits you rather than the one that happens to be free. Search by size, pool, location and price, or tell us what you have in mind and we will put together a shortlist.
Book direct
You book with us directly, with no booking fees. Questions about access, parking, pool heating or how far it really is to the nearest beach go to people who can find out the answer.
A concierge who knows the territory
Private boat hire, garden and island visits, wine tastings around Garda, restaurant reservations, private chefs, drivers and transfers from Milan and Verona airports. Our concierge team arranges all of it, leaving you free to decide which terrace to sit on.
A house for every kind of party
Couples, families with small children, three generations together or a crowd of friends celebrating a birthday: we match the house to the group, down to the number of bathrooms and whether the pool is fenced.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best Italian lake for a villa holiday?
Lake Como is the most dramatic, with the grandest villas and gardens, and Bellagio makes an easy base. Garda is sunnier and more open, which suits families and anyone who sails. Maggiore is known for its island gardens, and Orta is the quietest of the four.
When is the best time to visit the Italian Lakes?
Late April to June and September to October are the most pleasant months, with the gardens in flower in spring and calmer villages in autumn. July and August are warm and good for swimming, but also the busiest.
Do I need a car on the Italian Lakes?
Not always. Public ferries link the main villages on Como, Garda and Maggiore, and they are often the most pleasant way to get about. A car or driver is useful for villas in the hills and for days out to Verona or Milan.
Can you arrange a private chef at a villa in the Italian Lakes?
Yes. Our concierge can arrange a private chef for a single dinner or your whole stay, along with cookery lessons, guided visits, transfers and restaurant reservations.
How much does a luxury villa in the Italian Lakes cost?
Across our 90+ villas in the Italian Lakes, weekly rates typically range from £3,500 to £9,800, with the most affordable from around £2,400 a week and the largest estates well above. Prices depend on the size of the property, its location and the season, with July and August the most expensive. These are guide prices based on current listings; each property page shows its own rates for your dates.
Which airport is closest to the Italian Lakes?
Milan Malpensa is closest to Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta and works well for Lake Como, along with Linate and Bergamo. For Lake Garda, Verona airport is the most convenient, and Brescia and Bergamo are alternatives.
Are there villas in the Italian Lakes for large groups?
Yes. Our Italian Lakes collection includes properties with up to 30 bedrooms. Tell us the size of your party and the occasion, and we will send a shortlist that suits it.
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Find your villa in the Italian Lakes
90+ villas across Como, Garda, Maggiore and Orta, booked direct with our concierge on hand