HV10777
Baveno
Lake Maggiore
Our pick in Lake Maggiore
The Hidden Voyage guide
Lake Maggiore
Botanical gardens, the Borromean Islands and views to the Alps.
Best months
Apr, May, Jun, Sep
Ideal stay
5 to 7 nights
Fly into
MXP · LIN · BGY · TRN · LUG
Getting around
Car useful; driver for airport transfers
Our villas here
5 private villas
Why go
Why choose Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore stretches for some 65 kilometres from the Piedmont and Lombardy plains into Swiss Ticino, a long ribbon of water lined with Belle Époque hotels, palm filled gardens and grand villas. Its jewel is the Borromean Islands, where baroque palaces and terraced gardens seem to float on the lake. For a villa holiday it offers space, gentle elegance and easy access from Milan Malpensa.
Stresa and Verbania form the classic heart of the lake, while Cannobio and the upper shore feel more intimate and green. The Lombard eastern shore is quieter still, with hermitages and castles. It suits garden lovers, families and travellers who prefer a refined, unhurried pace with Switzerland on the doorstep.
Ideal for: Couples, Garden lovers, Short transfers · Gentle: gardens, islands and lakeside walks
Our villas of the month · October 2026
Chosen this month by our team
HV1633097699
Stresa
Lake Maggiore
Our pick in Lake Maggiore
HV10408
Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore
Our pick in Lake Maggiore
Getting there
Airports and arrivals
MXP
Milan Malpensa
about 45 minutes by car to Stresa or Arona
the closest major airport
LIN
Milan Linate
about 1h15 by car to Stresa
city airport for European flights
BGY
Milan Bergamo (Orio al Serio)
about 1h30 by car to Stresa
low cost network
TRN
Turin Caselle
about 1h30 by car to Stresa
alternative gateway for Piedmont
LUG
Lugano
about 45 minutes by car to Locarno
Swiss airfield for private and business aviation
- Trains on the Simplon line from Milano Centrale stop at Arona, Stresa and Baveno; the journey to Stresa takes about 1h, and international trains continue to Domodossola and Switzerland.
- Navigazione Laghi operates boats and hydrofoils on the Italian part of the lake, with frequent services to the Borromean Islands from Stresa, Baveno and Pallanza; a car ferry links Intra and Laveno across the lake.
- The Vigezzina Centovalli scenic railway links Domodossola with Locarno through the mountains.
We arrange private transfers, drivers, boats and helicopters for every villa.
Where to stay
Choosing your base
Stresa
First visits, couples, car free stays
The lake's classic resort, with grand hotels, a lakeside promenade and boats to the islands every few minutes.
Verbania
Families, garden lovers
Made up of Pallanza, Intra and Suna, with Villa Taranto, a lively market and the car ferry to Laveno.
Baveno
Families, quieter stays
A relaxed town facing the islands, known for its pink granite quarries and lakeside villas.
Cannobio
Couples, foodies
A colourful medieval town near the Swiss border with a Sunday market famous across the region.
Arona
Short stays, business
At the southern end, convenient for Malpensa and Milan, watched over by the giant statue of San Carlo.
Eastern shore (Laveno to Angera)
Privacy, walkers
The Lombard side, with fewer crowds, hermitages and the Rocca di Angera.
Positions are approximate: the exact address is shared once your stay is confirmed.
What to see
The highlights
01
Isola Bella
The Borromeo family's baroque palace and its ten terraced gardens transformed a rocky island into a ship of flowers. White peacocks roam the upper terraces.
02
Isola Madre
The largest of the Borromean Islands, almost entirely given over to a botanical garden with exotic trees and free roaming birds. Its palace houses an antique puppet theatre collection.
03
Isola dei Pescatori
A tiny fishermen's village of narrow lanes and lakeside restaurants. It is lovely for a long lunch between garden visits.
04
Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens, Verbania
Created by a Scottish captain in the 1930s, these gardens hold thousands of species including tulips, dahlias and giant Amazon water lilies. They open from spring to autumn.
05
Rocca di Angera
A medieval fortress above the southern shore, with Gothic frescoes and a doll and toy museum. Views over the lake are superb.
06
Santa Caterina del Sasso
A hermitage built into a cliff above the eastern shore, reachable by boat or by a long stairway. Its frescoed chapels are deeply atmospheric.
07
San Carlo statue, Arona
The colossal seventeenth century copper statue of Saint Charles Borromeo stands on a hill above Arona. On selected days visitors can climb inside to look out through the saint's eyes.
What to do
Experiences worth planning for
Private island hopping
Charter a boat to see all three Borromean Islands at your own pace before the day crowds arrive.
Cannobio Sunday market
Browse cheeses, salumi, linen and leather along the lakeside promenade.
Centovalli railway
Ride the narrow gauge line through a hundred valleys from Domodossola to Locarno, returning by boat.
Orrido di Sant'Anna
Walk above a narrow river gorge near Cannobio, then swim in the clear pools nearby in summer.
Garden tour in spring
Visit the islands and Villa Taranto at the height of the camellia, azalea and tulip season.
Alto Piemonte wine tasting
Discover Nebbiolo based reds from the hills south of the lake around Ghemme and Gattinara.
Outdoors
Nature and walks
Lido di Lesa
A sandy lido with shallow water, popular with families.
Spiaggia di Cannero
A pebble beach facing the ruined castles of Cannero on their islets offshore.
Lake Mergozzo
A small, clear lake beside Maggiore where motorboats are banned, ideal for calm swimming.
Monte Zeda and Val Grande
Gateway to Val Grande National Park, one of Italy's wildest protected areas.
Sasso del Ferro, Laveno
A cable car climbs to a panoramic viewpoint and paragliding launch above the eastern shore.
Where to stay
Private villas in Lake Maggiore
At the table
Food and wine
What to eat
Lavarello and pesce persico
Lake whitefish and perch, served grilled, fried or with risotto.
Margheritine di Stresa
Buttery shortbread biscuits created in honour of Queen Margherita of Savoy.
Bettelmatt
A rare alpine cheese made in summer pastures in the Ossola valleys.
Mortadella di Ossola
A distinctive cured pork sausage flavoured with spices and wine.
Risotto with lake fish
Made with Piedmont rice from the plains of Novara and Vercelli nearby.
What to drink
Ghemme DOCG
Elegant, long lived Nebbiolo from the hills south of the lake.
Gattinara DOCG
Structured, aromatic Nebbiolo from volcanic soils, a classic of Alto Piemonte.
Colline Novaresi DOC
A versatile appellation of reds and whites, good everyday drinking with lake fish.
Beyond the villa
Day trips
Lake Orta
about 30 minutes by car from Stresa
A quiet, romantic lake with the island of San Giulio and a UNESCO listed Sacro Monte.
Locarno and Ascona
about 1h by car from Stresa
Swiss lakeside towns with palm lined promenades and mountain valleys behind.
Milan
about 1h by car or train
Art, fashion and the Last Supper.
Brissago Islands
by boat from the Swiss shore
A botanical garden on two small Swiss islands.
When to go
The year, season by season
April to October. Spring is wonderful for the flowering gardens, with camellias and azaleas.
Spring
From late March the islands and gardens reopen, with camellias, azaleas and tulips in bloom. It is the lake's most beautiful season.
Summer
Warm and lively, with swimming, concerts and full boat timetables. Book island visits and restaurants ahead in July and August.
Autumn
September is warm and quieter, and October brings foliage and the end of the garden season. Many island attractions close in late October or early November.
Winter
The lake is calm and misty, with snow on the mountains. Many hotels close, and the islands are shut until spring.
Weather month by month
Bars: hours of sunshine a day. Above: average daytime high. Shaded: the best months.
Full weather table
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daytime high, °C | 7 | 10 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 28 | 31 | 30 | 26 | 19 | 12 | 7 |
| Night low, °C | 0 | 1 | 4 | 8 | 13 | 17 | 19 | 19 | 15 | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Sunshine, hours a day | 3.3 | 4.6 | 6.1 | 6.6 | 7.6 | 9 | 10.1 | 8.5 | 6.6 | 4.6 | 3.2 | 2.7 |
| Rainy days | 5 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | 8 | 6 |
| Dry days | 26 | 24 | 26 | 23 | 23 | 23 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 24 | 22 | 25 |
Air: averages 1991 to 2020, Milan Linate weather station. The lake shores are a little milder than Milan in winter.. Dry days have less than 1 mm of rain.
Events through the year
July to September
Stresa Festival
A celebrated classical music festival with concerts in Stresa and around the lake.
August
Locarno Film Festival
International cinema screened in the open air in Piazza Grande.
Spring
Camellia and tulip season
The great gardens mark the start of the season with flower displays and shows.
Sundays all year
Cannobio market
The weekly lakeside market draws visitors from Italy and Switzerland.
Planning Lake Maggiore?
Tell us your dates and the group: we reply with availability and the full price, usually within one working day, and arrange transfers, chefs and boats.
Good to know
Practical tips
- The Borromean Islands are open from roughly late March to late October; buy tickets online and arrive early to avoid queues.
- Boat timetables are seasonal and the Swiss section of the lake has its own operator; check connections before planning a cross border day.
- Carry a passport or ID when crossing into Switzerland, and note that Swiss motorways require a vignette.
- Stresa and Verbania charge a nightly tourist tax per person, which varies by town.
- Parking in Stresa is limited in summer; use the boats for island visits rather than driving between towns.
Questions
Lake Maggiore: frequently asked
Is Lake Maggiore or Lake Como better?
Lake Como is more dramatic and fashionable, while Lake Maggiore is broader, calmer and famous for its gardens and islands. Maggiore is also closer to Malpensa airport.
How do I visit the Borromean Islands?
Public boats leave frequently from Stresa, Baveno and Pallanza, or you can hire a private boat. Allow a full day to see Isola Bella and Isola Madre properly.
How long does it take from Malpensa to Stresa?
About 45 minutes by car, depending on traffic.
Is part of Lake Maggiore in Switzerland?
Yes, the northern end around Locarno and Ascona lies in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
When are the gardens of Lake Maggiore open?
Most open from late March to October, with peak blooms from April to May.
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