Riva del Garda & north

Dreaming of the perfect retreat to Italy? Our luxury villas in Riva del Gardaoffer scenic views of North Lake Garda.

We offer a range of breathtaking villas & apartments for rent in North Lake Garda to fulfill your holiday experience including the options of: villas with private pools, villas for couples, villas for groups, family-friendly villas & beachfront villas. Find your ideal villa below.

Where the lake meets the mountains

Riva del Garda sits at the northern tip of Lake Garda, in Trentino, where the lake narrows between steep cliffs and the Dolomite foothills begin. It feels different from the softer southern shores: the air is fresher, the peaks come right down to the water, and the town has an Alpine as well as an Italian character.

The old centre is a compact grid of lanes around Piazza III Novembre and the Torre Apponale clock tower, with a moated castle, the Rocca, on the waterfront. A short walk up the hillside leads to the Bastione, a Venetian lookout with wide views down the lake.

Sailing, cycling and walking

The north of the lake is famous for its reliable winds: a northerly in the morning and the Ora blowing up from the south in the afternoon. Neighbouring Torbole is one of Europe's best-known spots for windsurfing and sailing, with schools for beginners as well as experienced sailors.

The Ponale road, an old route cut into the cliff above the lake, is now a walking and cycling path climbing towards Lake Ledro, a smaller mountain lake popular for swimming. Inland, Arco is crowned by a castle on a rocky spur and draws rock climbers from across Europe. The Varone waterfall, the medieval village of Canale di Tenno and the turquoise Lake Tenno are all close by.

Lake boats connect Riva with Limone sul Garda, known for its lemon houses, and with Malcesine on the eastern shore, whose cable car climbs Monte Baldo.

Food, seasons and getting here

Trentino cooking mixes lake and mountain: trout and char, polenta, canederli dumplings and carne salada, a cured beef. Local olive oil comes from some of the most northerly olive groves in Europe, and the Valle dei Laghi produces wines such as Nosiola and the sweet Vino Santo.

Verona airport is the nearest, a little over an hour's drive away. Spring and autumn are ideal for walking and cycling, while summer is lively and warm without the heaviest heat of the south. The area suits active families, couples and groups who want the lake and the mountains in one place.

Browse the villas listed below to find your base at the top of the lake, or read more about holidays on Lake Garda.