A holiday in Lake Maggiore is a tranquil dream, where healthy outdoor living and long, sunshine-filled days meet fine Italian food and wine. It’s a true wellness destination. You’ll split your time between the calm, sunny shores of the lake and the dramatic mountains, taking cable cars and hiking or relaxing as your boat glides over the water’s surface to your next pretty, lake-side town. You can visit spas, sojourn around the sculpted gardens of ornate villas, and spend your days lounging in the sun and dipping in lidos. Alternatively, slip on your walking boots and go on day-long hikes, wild swimming and partake in adventurous water sports – there’s something for everyone. Enjoy an outdoor-focussed family getaway, a friends’ adventure or a romantic trip packed with candlelit dinners on the shore of the lake, in Lake Maggiore.
You can fly to either Milan Malpensa or Bergamo
You can fly direct to Milan from London, Bristol, East Midlands, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Belfast.
Milan Malpensa is approx. 1 hour’s drive from Lake Maggiore, Bergamo is approx. 2 hours
To reach Lake Maggiore via public transport, take the train from Malpensa airport to Gallarate station, then take the train to Porto Valtravaglia, on Lake Maggiore.
There are plenty of reasons to visit picturesque Lake Maggiore at every time of year. Summer, from June to September, is an exceptionally popular time to visit – it’s when a lot of Italians come here – as the temperatures range from 18 to 24 degrees and there are 8–9 hours of sunshine a day.
Because it’s in the mountains, there’s always a chance of cooler evenings and mornings and a possible downpour, but many people enjoy the summer holiday without the over-hot temperatures. Spring, with its abundance of greenery and colourful flowers, and autumn, boasting great autumn colour, are popular with walkers. In winter, the temperatures hover around freezing and the area is snow-dusted near the shore, while the mountains beyond are fully transformed into a ski-friendly wonderland.
Once you’ve reached Lake Maggiore from Milan or Bergamo airport, it’s quite easy to navigate between destinations on the east side of the lake (in the Lombardy region), by train, bus and car, and similarly, getting between places on the west shore of the lake (in the Piedmont region) is quite easy by train and car.
To get from one side of the lake to the other, you can cross the bus at the southern tip of the lake by car or train, or you can take the ferry between Laveno and Intra, in Verbania. A car can be helpful for exploring the wider mountain region, but if you just intend on making the most of the lake and the towns near the shore, the best way to get around is by boat (even as far as Locarno in Switzerland).
Lake Maggiore is in Italy, which is part of the EU so the regular Visa and passport restrictions apply, just like other EU countries. The currency is the Euro and, although card is widely accepted, it is usually sensible to have some cash. The main language here is Italian, but English, German and French are fairly widely spoken.
One of the best ways to truly appreciate the beauty of Lake Maggiore is to take a boat trip or guided tour by boat and let a local expert really open your eyes to the area and its unique history, flora and fauna. While it’s delightful to wander the gardens on Isola Bella in your own time, a guided tour of the Borromeo Palace is essential to get to know the history, architecture and secrets. You can take a tour of the G.V. Schiaparelli Observatory either during the day or at night, when you’ll have a chance to gaze through the large telescope and see the night sky, which is exceptionally clear in the region. You can also often find free or very reasonably priced walking tours of larger towns, like Locarno, if you want to maximise what you see in a short period.
There are plenty of diverting day trips near Lake Maggiore. Locarno is certainly worth a day trip for the architecture, food and shopping. Lake Maggiore can be bustling with tourists in summer, so a top tip is to escape the crowds at nearby Lago d’Orta. This lesser-known lake is just 30 minutes from Verbania or an hour from Laveno and has a very relaxed and tranquil atmosphere. It is great for walking, sunbathing, swimming and boating. Head to the colourful, mountain town of Domodossola in the autumn for a truly unique day trip. From here, you can take the Foliage Train, which runs in October and early November between Italy and Switzerland. This deliberately slow route has been conceived to allow people to admire the autumn colour and stunning panoramas at a gentle pace, following the natural slopes of the Vigezzo Valley and the Centovalli area.
Besides the phenomenal walking, sight-seeing and beach days at the sunny lake, there are several other family-focused activities at Lake Maggiore. Thrill-seeking families – or solo travellers and couples too – might enjoy a wild day out at Lake Maggiore Zipline. Wonder Wood is a children’s adventure park with a woodland focus, including exciting high-ropes courses and smaller play parks for little ones. Alpyland combines family-friendly, mini-roller-coasters with epic views from the mountaintop, right across the lake, and there’s also another high-ropes-based adventure centre nearby at Mottarone Adventure Park.
Besides hiking in the nearby hills and mountains, some of the most popular activities in the Lake Maggiore area are on the water – naturally. You can swim in the tranquil lake at many points, and there are several lidos and beach clubs with convenient facilities, such as Lido di Arona, Baveno Beach Club, Spiaggia di Suna and Cinque Arcate di Castelveccana.
Reno, Cerro and Guree Monvalle are the three most-popular and pleasant swimming beaches. Water sports are a big attraction, with many places where you can rent kayaks or canoes, or – like at DK Summer Club – go jet skiing, hoverboarding or try the e-Foil. At the Baveno Lido you can take banana boat rides, go wakeboarding or water skiing. Some companies also offer canyoning excursions in the nearby countryside.
Most of the beaches along Lake Maggiore are small, shingle spaces, or grassy lido spots running down to the water. Spiaggia Cerro is a popular shingle shore and Ceresolo, just south of Cerro, is a narrow, sandy strip where locals love to enter the water. Reno is one of the most popular beaches, because it’s wide and spacious compared to the others, and has a nice, shallow entry to the water. It’s a family spot where children play on the shore and kayakers launch to explore the lake.
Further south again, Spiaggia Guree Monvalle is a sandy cove with a magical atmosphere, surrounded by trees and dappled woodland. In summer, the sun-trap, sandy beach of Lido Ispra fills with tourists and locals alike heading in for a dip. Those who aren’t as keen on wild swimming should try the opposite shore of the lake and make a beeline for the outdoor pool at Lido Di Meina. Spiaggia dell' Erno in Lesa is a well-organised beach lido, with shade and loungers for rent, and there’s another outdoor swimming pool nearby. Lido Beach Club Baveno (mentioned previously) is one of the chicest spots for a sunny afternoon, with swimming, shade and loungers as well as refreshments on hand. Backed by campsites, Spiaggia Feriolo is one of the most spacious beaches on the lakeside, so you can almost always guarantee a spot.
Stay near some of the best beaches, at Blue Relais Maggiore.
One of the biggest events in the calendar in many Italian towns is the carnival, and here it’s no different. Several towns and villages in Lake Maggiore host their own carnival processions, parades and festivals, such as Verbania, Stresa and nearby Domodossola. The colourful extravaganzas are like a town-wide party, usually taking place in February each year.
There are dozens of events in Swiss Locarno and Ascona every year, from various triathlons, beach-volleyball tournaments and runs, to the organ music festival in July and the Locarno Film Festival in August. A street food festival runs in Locarno in April and early May, shortly followed by the quirky Strawberry Festival. Ascona runs outdoor jazz events throughout the summer and May also sees the local Street Artists Festival, where streets are lined with performers. Stresa International Jazz and Music Festival runs from July through to September.
Enjoy your favourite events in 4-star luxury at B&B Hotel Malpensa Lago Maggiore.
Lake Maggiore is surrounded by splendid hiking opportunities, and generally spending time in the great outdoors is part of the lifestyle here. For relaxed walks that are accessible and easy for families or those with limited mobility, look to the various ‘Lungo Largo’ walks around the lake’s shore. Stresa, Ispra and Laveno all have delightful lake-side promenades, and the lakefront walk at Pallanza is particularly lovely – they’re all flat and well paved.
The various villas and palaces also have gardens designed for gentle walks and contemplation. Isola Madre, Bella and dei Pescatori are all perfect for an afternoon’s stroll. For more serious hiking, head to the hills behind Laveno to Sasso del Ferro or experience the incredible mountain scenery in Parco Naturale Regionale Campo dei Fiori. Slightly further away, Alpe Camasca or Alpe Loccia are fantastic walking areas and the Parco Nazionale della Val Grande is criss-crossed with hiking trails in summer. The densely forested mountain-scape promises shady valleys, epic views, secluded pools and stunning waterfalls.
Less than an hour’s drive from Verbania, on the shore of Lake Maggiore are the Termi di Premia, in the Premia valley. There are indoor and outdoor thermal pools, with a delightful outside relaxation area for the sunny months, and a stunning snow-covered vista in the winter. Three hours is around €40 and you can also book massages or treatments. On the way there or back, stop at Premia itself and witness the beautiful waterfalls and natural pools at Marmitte dei giganti di Uriezzo. Just 45 minutes from Verbania, Óniro Terme di Bognanco is another thermal spa complex with extensive facilities (€30 for two hours). In Stresa itself, 5-star Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta has a day spa open to external visitors as well as guests. A spa day costs around €85, granting access to the Turkish bath, ice waterfall, Aromarium and sensory showers, as well as the hydro-massage geyser tub. There’s also an outdoor pool and lakeside beach.
For budget accommodation in Stresa try Hotel Villa Mon Toc.
If you decide to venture out of your hotel and sojourn the streets in search of delicious local cuisine, you’ll be spoilt for choice in Lake Maggiore. In Stresa, Il Clandestino is an elegant spot for seafood and wine, offering delicate plates of beautifully presented fish and shellfish. Trattoria Due Piccioni is a somewhat-hidden gem, down a small side street, serving delicious pasta, gnocchi and desserts with several vegan options. For authentic, hearty pizza try Il Faro e la Luna. La Verbenella and L'idrovolante Café boast the best waterside views in town – ideal for a sunset aperitif.
In Pallenza, popular, upscale restaurants include romantic Ristorante Milano, Il Burchiello (for sensational seafood), and Il Portale, with its famous tasting menus. Osteria degli Specchi serves exceptional pasta and gorgeous antipasti plates, while Ittico Fish Bar is a tiny yet very trendy joint with a prime lakeside spot and delicious seafood.
As with anywhere in Italy, it’s remiss to visit Lake Maggiore and not sample a few plates of local meats and cheeses. There are too many varieties to name, including mortadella and violini di capra (cured goat), but all the meats and the cows’ and goats’ cheeses here are a true treat. Risotto is a staple that the locals are extremely proud of, using rice from nearby to create their local speciality risotto paniscia or panissa. Risotto al pesce persico or perch risotto is another local treat; it’s made using lake-caught perch, you can’t get more local than this. In winter, try the chestnut soup and – of course – local fish like perch, pike, trout and eel, feature heavily on the lake-side restaurants’ menus. There are dozens of delightful desserts to be sampled here, like the local margheritine di Stresa sugar cookie. If you come across a street vendor, be sure to sample alborelle fritte – tiny fried fish – traditionally served to-go in a paper cone.
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