Photo: Torsade de Pointes · CC0, Wikimedia Commons
Lake Maggiore
The Borromean Islands and grand lakeside gardens.
A long Alpine lake where Stresa looks out to the Borromean Islands: a palace with terraced gardens, a fishing village on its own island and grand villa gardens across the water. Lovely, but the boats add up.
Places to see
- Isola Bella and Palazzo BorromeoMuseum · A baroque palace that covers most of an island, with grand rooms, shell-covered grottoes…≈ A$39
Isola dei PescatoriSight · A tiny island of narrow lanes, old fishermen's houses and boats pulled up on the shore,…≈ A$16
Villa Taranto GardensPark · Huge botanical gardens above the lake with thousands of plant species, terraced pools of…≈ A$23
When to go
- Jan7° / 0°Some rainQuiet
- Feb10° / 1°Some rainQuiet
- Mar14° / 4°Some rainQuiet
- Apr18° / 8°Often wetBusy
- May22° / 12°Often wetVery busy
- Jun26° / 15°Some rainVery busy
- Jul29° / 18°Some rainVery busy
- Aug28° / 17°Some rainVery busy
- Sep
Staying and getting around
Good areas to stay
Stresa. The lakefront town with the station and the island ferries; the easy base.
Pallanza (Verbania). A quieter, cheaper town across the bay, with the Villa Taranto gardens.
Flying in
Milan Malpensa (MXP): Bus (or a train via Gallarate) to Stresa, about 1 h, ≈ A$26.
Flewaway's estimate for the usual budget way into Stresa; check times and fares before you fly.
Getting around
You'll need buses or trains. A single ticket is ≈ A$16. Ferries leave Stresa about every half hour for the Borromean Islands and cross to Pallanza and Laveno (fewer in winter, check); trains to Milan run along the west shore.
Borromean Islands ferry day ticket (≈ A$35, 1 day): If you'll visit two or more of the islands.
Tourist tax
Stresa and the lake towns charge a tourist tax of usually about €2–3 a person a night in hostels and B&Bs, more in hotels; under-14s don't pay. Paid at check-in (check).
