Lake Maggiore & Stresa

A resort town on Italy's second-largest lake: take a boat to the Baroque palaces and gardens of the Borromean Islands, and explore cliffside hermitages, castles and Lake Orta around the shore.

Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore) is Italy's second-largest lake, about 65 km long; its western shore belongs to Piedmont, its eastern shore to Lombardy, and its northern tip reaches into the Swiss canton of Ticino. Stresa, midway along the western shore, is the lake's main resort and overnight base. A summer retreat for European aristocracy since the 19th century, its lakeside promenade is lined with grand Art Nouveau hotels. The highlight is island-hopping by boat around the Borromean Islands: the Baroque palace and ten-tiered terraced gardens of Isola Bella, the botanical garden and peacocks of Isola Madre, and the fishing-village lanes of Isola dei Pescatori. All three are just 5–15 minutes by boat from Stresa's pier, and a visit usually takes a full day. Other popular sights around the lake include the Villa Taranto botanical gardens in Verbania across the water, the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso on the cliffs of the eastern shore, Rocca di Angera at the southern end, and the San Carlone colossus in Arona. About 15 km to the west, small and charming Lake Orta makes a great day trip combined with Isola San Giulio and the Sacro Monte di Orta. Taking the Centovalli Railway from Domodossola over the mountains to Locarno in Switzerland and returning to Stresa by boat is the classic "Lago Maggiore Express" loop. Getting there: trains from Milano Centrale reach Stresa in about 1 hour, and Milan Malpensa Airport is about 45 minutes away by car. Public ferries on the lake are run by the state lake navigation company, and private boats also tout for business by the piers. The best time to visit is April–October, with azaleas and camellias at their peak in April–May; from November to March the island palaces and gardens are closed and many hotels shut for the season. The Mottarone cable car has been out of service since the 2021 accident, so you'll need to drive to the summit. Plan to stay 2–3 days.

Top sights

• Isola Bella – The Borromeo family transformed this entire small island into a Baroque palace and a ten-tiered terraced garden, where white peacocks strol…
• Isola Madre – The largest of the Borromean Islands, the whole island is an English-style botanical garden, home to Europe’s largest Kashmir cypress and f…
• Isola dei Pescatori – The only island in the group with year-round residents. Stone-paved lanes, fishermen’s cottages and lakeside restaurants make it a perfect…
• Stresa Lakefront & Old Town – A garden promenade along the lake and a Belle Époque grand hotel facing the Borromean Islands. The old town's narrow streets are lined with…
• Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens – A botanical garden created by a Scottish captain on the shore of Lake Verbania, with about 20,000 plant species. It is best known for its t…
• Santa Caterina del Sasso – A medieval monastery built into the cliffs on the eastern shore, overlooking the water. Its 14th- to 16th-century frescoes are preserved, a…
• Rocca di Angera – A medieval castle on a cliff on the eastern shore at the southern end of the lake. It preserves 14th-century frescoes in the Hall of Justic…
• Orta San Giulio & Isola San Giulio – One of the “most beautiful villages in Italy” on the shore of Lake Orta. On the lake's Isola San Giulio stand a Romanesque cathedral and th…
• Sacro Monte di Orta – A UNESCO World Heritage pilgrimage park on the hill behind the old town. Its 20 small chapels use sculptures and frescoes to tell the life…
• Mottarone – A mountain summit at 1,491 meters above Stresa. On clear days you can see several lakes and the Monte Rosa massif, and the mountain has an…
• Sancarlone (Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo) – A bronze statue of San Carlo Borromeo built in the 17th century. Including its base, it stands about 35 meters tall, and visitors can climb…
• Villa Pallavicino Park – A hillside garden and zoo on the edge of Stresa. Llamas, kangaroos, and flamingos roam the lawns, making it a good choice for families with…
• Cannobio & Orrido di Sant'Anna – A lakeside village near the Swiss border in the northern part of the lake, with colorful old houses along the shore and a lively Sunday mar…
• Castelli di Cannero – The ruins of castles on two small rocky islets in the lake. Once a base for 15th-century lake pirates, they look most picturesque from a to…
• Centovalli Railway (Vigezzina) – A narrow-gauge scenic railway that climbs over the mountains from Domodossola to Locarno in Switzerland, passing through the “Hundred Valle…

Where to eat

• Il Verbano (Isola dei Pescatori) – A Michelin Guide restaurant on Isola dei Pescatori, with a terrace facing Isola Bella and Palazzo Borromeo, specializin…
• Il Vicoletto – A family-run restaurant tucked into a small lane in Stresa's old town, known for Piedmontese beef tartare and lake fish…
• Taverna del Pappagallo – A long-running Stresa pizzeria founded in 1952; wood-fired pizza and fried lake fish platter are the most popular dishe…

Itineraries

• Milan & Lakes Maggiore, Orta, and Como – Depart from Milan to explore three lakes by train and ferry, visiting the Borromean Islands, Orta, and Bellagio.
• in Milan with Day Trips to Bergamo and Two Lakes – Stay near Milano Centrale and take day trains to Bergamo's Upper Town, Lake Como, and the Borromean Islands on Lake Mag…
• Milan, Lake Como & Scenic Trains Loop – An Italy-Switzerland rail loop connecting Lake Como, the Bernina Express, the Glacier Express, and Lake Maggiore