An Overture
Lake Maggiore is Italy's second-largest lake, straddling Piedmont, Lombardy, and the Swiss border — known for elegant palm-lined promenades, belle-époque resort towns, and above all the Borromean Islands, a trio of islets crowned with baroque palaces and lavish gardens. Quieter and more genteel than Como or Garda, it's an easy ~1 hr by train from Milan (to Stresa) and a relaxed lake base, especially for garden lovers and travellers wanting beauty without the celebrity bustle.
Top Things to Do
The Borromean Islands (Isole Borromee)
The lake's headline trio of islets: Isola Bella (baroque Borromeo palace and terraced gardens), Isola Madre (botanical garden with peacocks) and Isola dei Pescatori (a lived-in fishermen's island, good for lunch).
Getting there — Frequent passenger boats from Stresa's pier reach all three islets in minutes — buy an island-hopping ticket.
Stresa
The classic resort base; grand lakefront hotels and the boat pier for the islands. Cable car up Mottarone for panoramas
Getting there — ~1 hr by direct train from Milano Centrale; the island boats leave from the lakefront.
Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens
(Verbania/Pallanza) — Renowned gardens on the lake
Getting there — Lake ferry to the Villa Taranto stop (Verbania/Pallanza), or a bus from Verbania.
Day Trips & Beyond
Lake Orta
A short hop west; smaller and dreamier (see its page)
Getting there — ~30 min west by car, or train via Novara to Orta-Miasino.
SearchLocarno/Ascona (Switzerland)
The lake's Swiss end, by boat or train
Getting there — By lake ferry to the Swiss end, or train up the valley to Locarno (carry ID for the border).
SearchMilan
The Lombard capital of the Duomo, the Last Supper and aperitivo — an easy rail day.
Getting there — ~1 hr by direct train from Stresa to Milano Centrale.
SearchTurin
Reachable for a city day
Getting there — ~2 hr by train from Stresa (change at Novara) for a city day.
SearchHidden Gems
Intra & the Lungolago di Intra
(next to Verbania) — An "adorable" lakeside town and promenade with colourful alleys and hidden courtyards; a calmer alternative to the big-name sights — budget 2–3 hrs for lunch, gelato, and views
Getting there — Lake ferry or bus from Stresa/Verbania to Intra (~20–30 min).
SearchCannobio
A medieval town near the Swiss border with a cobbled centre, a famous weekly market, a lake promenade, and the Lido di Cannobio for swimming (camping, B&Bs, hotels available)
Getting there — ~40 min north by lake ferry or SAF bus toward the Swiss border.
SearchSesto Calende
An off-radar lakeside town at the southern tip; lake walks and seaplane spotting (limited English — bring a translation app)
Getting there — At the southern tip — ~20 min by train from Stresa on the Milan line.
SearchFood & Dining
Signature Dishes & Products
Where to Stay
Practical Notes
Getting There & Around
- Getting there (no car): Train from Milano Centrale to Stresa (~1 hr) on the Milan–Domodossola line; some Swiss-bound trains continue along the lake.
- Getting around: Lake boats/ferries link Stresa, the islands, Verbania, Cannobio, and Swiss towns — the main way to explore. A car helps for the western Orta/Maggiore hinterland but isn't needed for the classic island circuit.
Practical Tips
- Combine the three Borromean Islands in one well-paced day from Stresa; buy an island-hopping boat ticket.
- Shoulder seasons (spring for gardens in bloom, early autumn) are ideal; the lake is calmer than Como/Garda even in summer.
- Pair Maggiore with Lake Orta for a two-lake Piedmont escape.
Notable Insights
What Travellers Say
- Maggiore is the gardens-and-grace lake: less glamour and crowding than Como, more refinement than Garda, with the Borromean Islands as a genuinely unique set-piece.
- The quieter shoreline towns (Intra, Cannobio) reward travellers willing to step away from Stresa's resort core.