Here’s what you need to know before planning a trip to Lake Maggiore.
Lake Maggiore isn’t exactly known for celebrity sightings—you won’t find A-listers like George Clooney cruising around with their famous friends here. Instead, it’s all about charming small towns, lush botanical gardens, peaceful lakeside beaches, and plenty of chances to hike, bike, or boat. Compared to its glitzier neighbor, Lake Como, Maggiore has a much more relaxed, low-key vibe.
At roughly 82 square miles, Lake Maggiore is Italy’s second-largest lake, after Lake Garda. Its shores stretch across two Italian regions—Lombardy to the east and Piedmont to the west—and even dip into Switzerland at the northern tip, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino. Like nearby Lake Como and Lake Lugano, Maggiore was carved by glaciers, giving it steep shorelines, towering mountain backdrops, and deep, crystal-clear waters fed by several rivers.
The scenery is stunning, but the real magic lies in the lake’s easygoing atmosphere. “When people ask me whether they should visit Lake Como or Lake Maggiore, I always say Maggiore,” says travel writer Beth Graham. “It’s more relaxed, the coastline is gentler, and there’s a wider variety of towns to explore.”
If you love wandering through authentic little towns, dining at simple trattorias with locally sourced food, and soaking up a quieter side of Italian lakeside life, Maggiore might be your perfect spot. Here’s a look at the best things to do, places to stay, and dishes to try on Italy’s effortlessly cool Lake Maggiore.
Top 5 Can’t Miss
- Visit the Borromean Islands—home to stunning palaces and gardens, all reachable by ferry from Stresa.
- Spend a day in Switzerland with a scenic ferry and narrow-gauge rail trip that makes several stops along the way.
- Stay at Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta and enjoy lake views from nearly every room.
- Try alborelle fritte, a local specialty of tiny fried lake fish eaten whole, at a casual waterfront spot like Mirafiori & La Terrazza in Feriolo.
- Relax at a lakeside bar, order something bubbly, and watch the boats glide by.
Best Hotels & Resorts
Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta
When you’re not admiring Isola Bella from your balcony, you can sip a morning cappuccino on the terrace or lounge by the lakeside pool. Luxury travel planner Nicole Bono calls the setting “dreamlike” but says the service is what really won her over: “It’s flawless—the kind of polished hospitality that feels effortless.” She also raves about the spa, a grotto-like retreat that might make you rethink your flight home.
Hotel La Palma
Graham calls this family-run four-star spot “the best hotel on the lake”—quaint, comfy, and affordable. Rooms have a modern, calming vibe, and premium options come with lake-view balconies (worth the splurge). With an infinity pool at lake level, plus a rooftop pool, bar, and spa, it’s a great value, especially in peak season.
Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées
This historic grand dame is dripping with old-world glamour—think gilded details, intricate inlay, and lavish brocade. Families love the sprawling park and pools, and private tours of the Borromean Islands depart right from the hotel’s dock. Book early to snag the Hemingway Suite, where the writer recovered after WWI and later immortalized the hotel in A Farewell to Arms.
Hotel Eden Roc Ascona
If your trip takes you north, this sleek Swiss retreat is one of the best stays on Lake Maggiore’s Swiss side. Fresh from a renovation, it boasts an extensive spa, a two-Michelin-starred restaurant (La Brezza), and a private beach with water sports.
Best Things to Do
Island-Hop the Borromeans
“The Borromeo family, Tuscan nobles, shaped the lake as we know it today,” says Rachael Martin, author of Walking Italy. They began buying islands near Stresa in the 1600s and still own several. On Isola Bella, the 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo houses works by Van Dyck and Rubens. “The gardens are unreal,” says Bono. “White peacocks roam, grottoes shimmer with shells and mirrors, and every hedge is perfectly sculpted—pure Italian extravagance.”
Ride the Lago Maggiore Express
Hop a boat from Italy to Switzerland, then take a scenic narrow-gauge train back. Boats glide up to Locarno (Switzerland), where a slow-moving train winds to Domodossola, connecting you back to Italian lakeside towns.
Sip a Spritz in Cannobio
Bono calls Cannobio “postcard-perfect,” with cobblestone alleys and a dreamy lakeside promenade. After exploring, grab an Aperol spritz at a waterfront café and embrace dolce far niente (the sweetness of doing nothing).
Stroll Villa Taranto’s Gardens
Thanks to the lake’s microclimate, botanical gardens thrive here. Martin loves Villa Taranto’s vibrant blooms (spring through fall), fountains, and woodlands. There’s even a sweet on-site bistro. (Closed in winter.)
Soar on the Laveno Cable Car
This quirky ride takes two passengers at a time in open or enclosed baskets up Mount Sasso del Ferro. The panoramic views of the Alps and lake are jaw-dropping. (Not for the faint-hearted!)
Best Restaurants
Hostaria Vita (Stresa)
Graham’s favorite for people-watching and fresh seafood. “Sit under the trees on Piazza Cardona and enjoy traditional pasta or a dinner-sized salad—rare in Italy!”
Mirafiori & La Terrazza (Feriolo)
Try alborelle fritte (tiny fried lake fish) at this laid-back waterfront spot.
Ristorante Italia (Isola dei Pescatori)
The only permanently inhabited Borromean Island has this gem. “The setting is magical, and lake fish dominate the menu,” says Martin. Free taxi boats run from Baveno or Stresa.
Il Vicoletto (Stresa)
“We found it while hunting for vegan options,” says Graham. “Cozy, quiet, and amazing homemade pasta—plus upscale fish and meat dishes.”
Best Time to Visit
For swimming and boating, July and August are warmest but busiest. Mid-September to October is ideal for hiking (though cooler). November to mid-March is low season—many hotels and attractions close, but ferries still run (on reduced schedules).
How to Get There
The nearest major airport is Milan Malpensa. Stresa is under an hour’s drive away. Direct trains from Milano Centrale reach Stresa and other west-coast towns in just over an hour. For the east coast, drive or transfer in Gallarate.
Towns to Visit
Stresa
The most popular base, thanks to its proximity to the Borromean Islands (just a 5-minute ferry ride) and well-developed tourism scene.
Cannobio
Widely considered the lake’s prettiest town, with pastel houses, a riverside promenade, and the historic Sanctuary of the Holy Pieta.
Laveno
Often overlooked, the Lombardy side offers the same stunning views with fewer crowds and better prices. Plus, it’s just a ferry hop from the west shore.
How to Get Around
A rental car helps for exploring off-the-beaten-path spots, but if you stay in Stresa or another ferry-served town, Navigazione Laghi boats make it easy to explore car-free.