Just message us on WhatsApp – we'll reserve your date for 2027.
Shores, travel season, pitch or glamping, prices and experiences: how to find the right campsite on Lake Maggiore – plus a boat tour as the highlight.
Unzipping the tent in the morning, letting your gaze glide across calm water and watching the first rays of sun on the Alpine peaks – camping on Lake Maggiore combines the Italian way of life with Alpine expanse like hardly any other place in Europe. The lake lies on the border with Switzerland, nestled between the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy on the Italian side and the canton of Ticino on the Swiss side. The region offers a mix of Mediterranean flair and Alpine landscapes that attracts campers from all over Europe.
The range of campsites varies from family-friendly resorts to quiet nature sites. Whether you're looking for a classic pitch for a tent or motorhome, or prefer glamping tents, mobile homes or bungalow villages, you'll find what you need. There are 28 campsites on Lake Maggiore – from small nature campsites with basic facilities to large holiday parks with pool, entertainment and their own sandy beach.
This article helps you find the right campsite for your holiday, avoid typical planning mistakes and discover special experiences around the lake – including private boat tours on the gaff cutter Striga Constanze, which many campers describe as the highlight of their stay. The climate on Lake Maggiore is mild and sunny, with water temperatures of around 20–26 °C in summer and a camping season that typically runs from April to October.
Matching tours
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Proposal€490
Private tour
Beginners€490
+ €20 p. p.Private tourThe choice of campsites, shores and types of accommodation on Lake Maggiore can seem overwhelming. The aim of this section is to give you orientation before you get lost in price lists and reviews.
Sites directly on Lake Maggiore book up quickly in high season. Anyone arriving in August without a reservation often faces closed barriers. But beyond availability there are typical pain points too: overcrowded parks with non-stop entertainment, little shade on the pitch, unclear information about pitch size and a location that looks "on the lake" on the map but is actually separated from the shore by a road. That's why it's important to check the exact location of the pitch – GPS coordinates and satellite images often help more than promotional photos.
The key question before every booking is: what really matters to you? Peace or entertainment? Pebble beach or pool? Proximity to lively towns like Stresa, Verbania, Ascona or Locarno – or a secluded site with a view of the mountains? Anyone who knows the lake year-round knows: different types of campers are happy on each stretch of shore. As a provider with our home port in Laveno-Mombello, we at Striga Constanze see every day how different our guests' wishes are – and how important it is to choose the right side of the lake.
Lake Maggiore is a popular camping region in Europe – and for good reason. The lake combines an Alpine panorama, a mild climate and a cultural diversity rarely found on other pre-Alpine lakes.
The climate is humid subtropical with mild winters and warm summers. In spring camellias bloom around Verbania and Locarno, in summer air temperatures often rise above 25–30 °C. Mediterranean vegetation characterises the shores, while snow-capped peaks rise in the background.
Many campsites lie right on the water, with their own pebble or sandy beach. Camping Village Lago Maggiore has a private sandy beach and lies directly on the shore of Lake Maggiore. In the south near Dormelletto and Castelletto Sopra Ticino you'll find gently sloping shores, perfect for families with babies and toddlers. Further north, for example near Cannobio or Verbania, the water gets deeper more quickly.
There are various trekking trails around Lake Maggiore, from easy lakeside paths to demanding mountain tours. Hiking in valleys such as Valle Verzasca or Centovalli, water sports such as stand-up paddling and sailing, canoeing, water skiing – the possibilities on and beside the water are many. Culturally, the Borromean Islands and the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso beckon.
From southern Germany, Austria and Switzerland you can often reach the lake in 5–8 hours by car. Good rail connections run to Locarno, Verbania-Pallanza and Stresa. Enter the campsite's address into the satnav and off you go – a holiday in Italy hardly gets easier.
Piedmontese cuisine, fresh fish from the lake, wine-growing in the hinterland. The restaurant on many sites serves Italian food, including pizza. Weekly markets in Luino (Wednesday), Cannobio (Sunday) and Intra offer local specialities, cheese and fresh fruit.
The Italian campsites on Lake Maggiore are often more relaxed in price than their Swiss counterparts. Simple pitches on the northern shore sit alongside large 5-star parks in Ticino and near Verbania. There's a suitable site for every budget.
In 4 steps
Good planning is crucial for camping on Lake Maggiore – especially because the most popular sites are booked up months in advance for the summer holidays. The following steps help you make the right decisions, one step at a time.
Lake Maggiore has an Italian and a Swiss part. Both sides offer excellent camping – with different character and price levels.
In summer the temperature on Lake Maggiore can get very high – but not every season suits every type of camper.
The choice of accommodation affects comfort, budget and experience alike.
Classic pitch: Pay attention to size (60–80 m² is usual), shade, electricity hook-up (6–16 amps) and distance to the lakeshore. Some sites also offer a water connection right at the pitch. Gas bottle exchange is possible at most larger campsites; at smaller sites you should ask in advance.
Rental mobile home or bungalow: Perfect for families or travellers without their own motorhome. Typical equipment includes air conditioning, a kitchen with microwave, a covered terrace and a private bathroom. Accommodation varies greatly in size and price – from a simple room to a spacious lodge with a lake view.
Glamping (safari tents, lodge tents): For anyone who wants to combine nature and hotel comfort. Glamping accommodation scores with atmosphere, a special location and often direct access to the water. Some sites even offer houseboats right on the lake.
Many campsites on Lake Maggiore don't offer anonymous online booking for all categories. Instead, individual enquiries by form or email are common.
Your enquiry should include: exact travel dates, number of people (adults, children, baby), vehicle size (especially for motorhomes over 7 m), preferred location (on the water, quiet area, near the playground) and whether dogs are coming along.
For the summer holidays we recommend enquiring at least 6–9 months in advance. For May, June and September, 2–4 months is often enough. For special experiences such as a private boat tour on the Striga Constanze, a parallel advance reservation is worthwhile – the 2026 season has ended, tours start again from 1 March 2027.
Each shore has its own character. The following regions give you an overview of where you'll feel most at home depending on your preferences.
Traditional gaff cutter, red sails, just your group. 3, 4 or 7 hours.
from €490
for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request
Straight from your pitch into nature or onto the water – Lake Maggiore offers far more than just a nice spot for your tent. Here are the experiences that make your stay special.
Highlight
Many campers describe a private boat tour as the most unforgettable moment of their holiday on Lake Maggiore. The Striga Constanze is a traditional gaff cutter with striking red gaff sails, home port Laveno-Mombello, with room for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request.
Bookable tours last 3, 4 or 7 hours and lead to destinations such as the Borromean Islands, Santa Caterina del Sasso, the Castelli di Cannero or hidden swimming bays. The 4-hour tour is especially popular – it combines sightseeing with a swim stop and aperitivo break.
For families there's the family pirate tour and the exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" – the first exit game on the water on Lake Maggiore. Couples like to book the sunset tour with an aperitivo on board. Those seeking peace find a special form of slowing down on the meditation tour or the digital detox retreat on the water.
The 2026 season has ended. Tours for 2027 start from 1 March, reservations are already possible now, the enquiry is non-binding, and in bad weather rebooking is free of charge.
Lake Garda, Lake Como, Lake Lugano – they are all wonderful destinations. But Lake Maggiore has some special features that make it particularly attractive for campers.
Other providers
Striga Constanze
Mass experience
just your group
Engine noise
sound of wind and water
To-do-list holiday
holiday at your own pace
No holiday day has to be like the last. Here are three scenarios that show how varied camping on Lake Maggiore can be:
Playing and swimming on the campsite's sandy beach in the morning, a pizza lunch on the mobile home's terrace, in the afternoon a family tour with a swim stop on the Striga Constanze – for example to Santa Caterina del Sasso. In the evening the children wind down on the playground while the parents enjoy a glass of wine at the bar.
Hiking a panoramic trail with lake views in the morning, SUP or canoeing straight from the campsite in the afternoon, and in the evening a sunset tour on the gaff cutter with an aperitivo on board and a view of the sun setting behind the mountains.
Visit the weekly market in Verbania or Luino in the morning, try a restaurant with Piedmontese cuisine at lunchtime, stroll through a botanical garden or museum in the afternoon, and in the evening cook in the camper and watch the rain clouds over the mountains through the steamed-up windows.
Most viewed
Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
Private tour
Bestseller€490
Private tourLake Maggiore appeals to all kinds of travellers. Here's an honest assessment:
Flat beaches, pools with slides, a children's playground, entertainment and facilities such as a water park make the stay uncomplicated. There's a large playground at Camping Village Lago Maggiore. For children aged 5 and over, the family pirate tour or the exit game on the water is a real adventure. The easy journey by car makes the holiday stress-free. More tips: Lake Maggiore with kids.
Romantic sunsets, small terraced campsites with a lake view, wellness offers nearby. On the Striga Constanze romance and wedding tours are possible – including a marriage proposal at sunset.
Water sports such as stand-up paddling and sailing, via ferratas, hiking and cycle routes along the lake and in the valleys. Bike hire is available at many sites.
Smaller, quieter sites on the east shore or in the hinterland, meditation and digital detox boat tours, off-season from March to June and September/October. Here you can enjoy the sea – or rather: the lake – in complete silence.
Team building on the boat, combinable with campsite accommodation and evenings together on site. The exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" brings teams together as castle ruins, islands and hermitages drift by.
Prices for camping on Lake Maggiore vary greatly by season, location, country and comfort. Realistic budget planning helps avoid nasty surprises.
Typical cost items are: pitch fee, per-person charge, tourist tax, electricity, pets and any pool or service fees. Sanitary facilities – showers, toilets, washbasins and hot water – are usually included in the pitch fee, but some sites charge extra for hot water or private washrooms.
Rough guide values: Simple pitches in the off-season start at around €12–25 per night, while well-equipped sites in high season – especially by the lake – can cost €35–50 and more. Premium pitches right on the water ("lake front") can be well over €80 per night at peak times. Camping Lago Maggiore has an average rating of 4.4 out of 5 – good ratings often, but not always, correlate with higher prices. Around 80% of campsites on Lake Maggiore are dog-friendly, with a surcharge of approx. €5–7 per night often charged for dogs.
Boat tours as a premium experience: A private tour on the Striga Constanze costs €490 for 3 hours, €690 for 4 hours or €990 for 7 hours – each as a fixed price for the whole group of up to 8 guests, up to 12 on request. Exit game and meditation surcharge: €20 per person. Wedding celebration on board from €690.
Tip: Split your costs into three categories – fixed travel costs, accommodation and experiences/excursions. That way you quickly arrive at a realistic daily budget. The Italian campsites are often more relaxed in price than the Swiss parks.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
This FAQ block collects the classic questions from camper forums, booking portals and the enquiries we receive most often ourselves.
The camping season runs from March to October. Water temperatures are around 15–20 °C in May, 24–26 °C in high summer and still over 20 °C in September. Families often choose July and August because of the school holidays – but that's when the sites are fullest. Those seeking peace are better off in May, June and September: fewer people, lower prices, pleasant temperatures.
Season 2027
Lake Maggiore offers the right site for every type of camper – whether the family-friendly Village Lago Maggiore with sandy beach and swimming pool, a quiet nature campsite on the east shore or a comfortably equipped park in Ticino. The best preparation is to set your preferred travel time now, choose the right shore and start making reservations early.
Anyone who wants to combine their camping holiday with a day on the water that stays in the memory for a long time can enquire about a private tour on the gaff cutter Striga Constanze. Whether family pirate tour, sunset aperitivo or exit game between castle ruins and islands – every tour belongs exclusively to your group. Enquiries via the contact form on striga-constanze.com or by WhatsApp. Non-binding, personal and with free rebooking in bad weather.
The lake is waiting. So is your pitch – but only if you book in time.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
