Just message us on WhatsApp – we'll reserve your date for 2027.
Islands, lakeside towns, panoramic mountains and practical travel tips – and why the most intense experience of the lake begins on the water.
Lake Maggiore is Italy's second-largest lake – and one of the most versatile destinations in Europe. Set between the Italian regions of Piedmont and Lombardy and the Swiss canton of Ticino, this body of water combines alpine drama with Mediterranean lightness in a way you only believe once you have experienced it yourself.
What makes this lake so special is its natural landscape: palm trees line the lakeside promenades, camellias bloom in historic gardens, citrus trees bear fruit – all against a backdrop of snow-capped mountains. The mix of a mild climate, crystal-clear water and a culture reaching from Roman times to the Belle Époque has captivated holidaymakers for centuries.
2026/2027 is a particularly good time to go: the season on the lake now starts earlier – mild temperatures and blooming gardens beckon from as early as March. Many providers of boat tours and lake cruises begin operating on 1 March, and the extended season into October makes Lake Maggiore a destination that works far beyond the classic summer months. This article gives you concrete tips on the most beautiful towns, the most important sights on Lake Maggiore and the best activities – and shows why the most intense experience of the lake begins on the water.
Before we get to the highlights, it is worth looking at the facts. The dimensions of this lake are impressive – and explain why it has so many different faces.
Key towns on Lake Maggiore by region:
The climate around the lake is remarkably mild: the average annual temperature is about 12 °C, summers bring a pleasant 21–22 °C, and even in winter temperatures rarely fall below 2–4 °C. With more than 1,900 hours of sunshine a year and the influence of the large body of water, conditions are ideal for boat trips from March to October – and for holiday dreams that almost come true by themselves here.
Matching tours
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Proposal€490
Private tour
Beginners€490
+ €20 p. p.Private tour
Lake Maggiore is not a place you can capture in a single category. Here, historic islands sit alongside lively towns, panoramic mountains alongside quiet valleys, botanical gardens alongside rustic fishing villages. And perhaps the most powerful experience? Seeing all of this from the water – aboard a boat, with the wind in your hair and a view of monasteries in the rock, villas on the shore and islands that seem to have fallen out of time.
The main experience categories can be summed up like this: the Borromean Islands as the historic heart of the lake, the most beautiful lakeside towns in Italy and Switzerland, the panoramic mountains with their viewpoints – and, of course, the special moments on the water itself.
The Borromean Islands are considered the absolute highlight of Lake Maggiore. Located between Stresa and Verbania, they form an archipelago unrivalled in Europe. The Borromean Islands consist of five islands with a total area of almost 18 hectares.
Isola Bella is famous for the magnificent Palazzo Borromeo and its terraced baroque gardens. Isola Bella is home to the 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo – from around 1630, Carlo III Borromeo had the island transformed into a total work of art and named it after his wife Isabella. The gardens of Isola Bella stretch across ten terraces, adorned with statues, fountains and exotic plants. White peacocks strut through the grounds – a sight you won't soon forget.
Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromean Islands. It impresses with an extensive English-style botanical garden, rare plants and old citrus groves. Anyone seeking peace and nature will find paradise here – much quieter than Isola Bella, but no less beautiful.
Isola dei Pescatori (also Isola Superiore) is the only permanently inhabited island, with picturesque narrow lanes. The little fishing village, with restaurants serving the fresh catch, exudes an atmospheric charm – especially in the evening, once the day visitors have gone.
The Borromean Islands are popular destinations with accommodation, and they look particularly impressive from the water. Instead of ferry-hopping with waiting times, a private round trip to the Borromean Islands lets you circle the islands at your own pace and discover perspectives that simply remain invisible from land.
The towns on the Italian side of Lake Maggiore are as varied as the faces of the lake itself – from elegant grandeur to honest fishing-village charm.
Stresa is the elegant, historic main resort on the west shore of Lake Maggiore in Italy. Belle Époque hotels line the lakeside promenade, and the view of the Borromean Islands is legendary. Almost all island tours start in this town.
Verbania is often called the "garden of Lake Maggiore". The gardens of Villa Taranto in Verbania are home to an important botanical collection. With its districts of Pallanza and Intra, Verbania also offers a lively old town and one of the best weekly markets in the region.
Cannobio is known for its lakeside promenade, a historic old town with winding lanes and a long lido on the lake. The Sunday market is an experience, and the nearby Valle Cannobina opens the way into unspoilt nature.
Luino on the east shore is famous for its Wednesday market – the weekly market in Luino has been held since 1541 and is one of the oldest and largest in the region. Weekly markets offer regional specialities, cheese, olive oil and fresh fruit. Art Nouveau façades and a relaxed lakeside promenade make Luino a rewarding destination.
Laveno-Mombello is strategically located on the east shore of Lake Maggiore: the panoramic cable car up Sasso del Ferro starts here, the car ferry links the east and west shores, and the town is the home port of exclusive charter boats such as the traditional gaff cutter Striga Constanze. Anyone planning a private boat tour will find the ideal starting point here.
The Swiss part of the lake may be smaller, but it is exceptionally densely packed in terms of culture and scenery – a compact holiday region with Mediterranean flair.
Locarno lies on the north shore of Lake Maggiore and enjoys the most hours of sunshine in Switzerland. Locarno is the warmest place in Switzerland. The Piazza Grande is legendary – not least because of the international film festival in August. The lakeside promenade and modern lidos appeal to sun worshippers and water lovers alike.
Ascona captivates with a picturesque, car-free lakeside promenade and Mediterranean flair. Ascona has around 5,000 inhabitants but feels like a sophisticated small town. The JazzAscona festival and Monte Verità with its unique cultural history are additional highlights.
Brissago and the Brissago Islands offer a botanical park with subtropical plants that is quieter and more intimate than the Borromean Islands on the Italian side – an insider tip for nature and garden lovers.
Around Lake Maggiore rise mountains offering panoramic views you would otherwise only know from postcards.
Hiking and viewpoints are popular activities around Lake Maggiore – and there are more than 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails leading through every altitude.
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
A change of perspective
The decisive change of perspective happens on the water. From the boat you see monasteries built into rock faces, villas whose façades only reveal their full beauty from the lake, and islands whose silhouettes become unforgettable in the evening light. The best way to explore Lake Maggiore is by boat between the towns and to the islands.
The Navigazione Lago Maggiore network connects all the major towns of both countries: Stresa, Verbania, Cannobio, Locarno, Ascona and many more. Typical routes include the island round trip from Stresa, the connection to Locarno or excursions to the Brissago Islands.
The advantages are obvious: low prices, frequent departures in high season and flexibility in planning your day. However, you have to expect larger crowds, fixed timetables and waiting times at the piers – especially from June to August.
Organised boat excursions come in many variations: island tours near Stresa, combined trips with a market visit in Luino, evening dinner cruises in high summer or sunset cruises. Prices vary depending on duration and services – from moderate group prices per person to premium offers with food and drink on board.
For couples, families and small groups, private charter tours are the most intense way to experience the lake. A traditional gaff cutter like the Striga Constanze departing from Laveno-Mombello offers exactly that: peace instead of crowds, flexible routes instead of rigid timetables, personal guidance by an experienced skipper.
Typical occasions for a private boat tour: weddings and marriage proposals on the water, birthdays, corporate events, family outings – or meditation and digital detox on the lake, while specially designed romantic boat tours for weddings and proposals create unforgettable moments.
Concrete tour ideas:
Private tours on the Striga Constanze have transparent fixed prices per boat: from €490 for 3 hours, €690 for 4 hours, €990 for 7 hours – for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 guests on request. You can find an overview of all private boat tours on the Striga Constanze online. Especially for 2027: book early for weekends and the holiday months of June to September. The season starts as early as 1 March.
Most viewed
Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
Private tour
Bestseller€490
Private tour
The Brissago Islands in the Swiss part of the lake are home to a botanical park with exotic plants, easily reached from Brissago, Ascona or Locarno. Much quieter than the Borromean Islands – a rewarding destination for visitors seeking a conscious slowdown.
The Castelli di Cannero are castle ruins on tiny islets in the lake. The legends of the pirate brothers Mazzarditi, who wreaked havoc here in the 15th century, make them particularly photogenic and exciting – especially from the boat.
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
Lake Maggiore offers numerous leisure activities such as sailing, windsurfing and swimming. Popular lidos and beaches can be found in Cannobio, Cannero Riviera and Maccagno in the north, in Luino, Ispra and Laveno-Mombello in the middle, and in Ascona and Locarno on the Swiss side.
Windsurfing and kayaking are popular water sports on Lake Maggiore. Rentals and schools are available in the larger towns. For water sports enthusiasts seeking to slow down, a trip under sail is the perfect counterpart to the noisy motorboat: wind, water, silence – and the sound of the waves against the hull.
Typical hiking regions are around Trarego Viggiona, Monte Morissolo, Pino–Lago Delio and Cardada–Cimetta. Many trails are very well marked and partly accessible with cable car support (Laveno–Sasso del Ferro, Locarno–Cardada).
Cycling and mountain biking are possible along the lake on leisurely routes or on steeper mountain trails – rentals are available in Locarno, Ascona, Verbania and other towns. For adrenaline fans: paragliding near Laveno, climbing parks near Baveno and bungee jumping in the Valle Verzasca.
Lake Maggiore is also a place for a conscious slowdown. Yoga on the lakeshore, guided meditations on the water or a tea ceremony on board a quiet sailing boat – the possibilities are many. The Striga Constanze offers its own meditation tours: from the 3-hour meditation with breathing exercises and body scan to the 7-hour digital detox retreat with a mandatory phone-free rule.
A suggestion: plan a day without a car, without a to-do list – just lake, boat, a walk and conscious enjoyment. The valleys above the lake, where there is sometimes no mobile reception, are made for it.
The best time to visit Lake Maggiore is spring and autumn – but every season has its charm:
The region also offers many campsites for holidaymakers, as well as numerous family-friendly hotels on Lake Maggiore. Holiday apartments, boutique hotels with lake views, upscale Belle Époque houses and glamping options complete the range. The Borromean Islands are popular destinations with accommodation. Premeno has five hotels for guests – an example of the many small villages above the lake with their own accommodation.
Prices on the Ticino side (Switzerland) tend to be higher than on the Italian side, where more budget options are available. Families and groups often save money in holiday homes, while couples enjoy boutique hotels with panoramic views. Recommendation: book early for school holidays, festival periods (Locarno Film Festival, JazzAscona) and long weekends.
The car and passenger ferry between Intra and Laveno connects the west and east shores of Lake Maggiore conveniently and quickly. Bus and rail networks along the shore make excursions possible without a car – particularly well developed on the Swiss side.
The most flexible and eventful way to get around? The combination of scheduled boat and private charter. This way you can explore the lake in all its facets – from the big picture to the intimate detail.
Arrive in Stresa or Laveno on Friday, evening stroll along the promenade with a view of the lights of the lakeside towns. Saturday: explore the Borromean Islands in the morning – Isola Bella with its baroque gardens, Isola dei Pescatori with lunch in one of the small trattorias. In the afternoon, a private sunset boat tour on the Striga Constanze, with prosecco on board and the panorama of the islands in the evening light. Sunday: cable car up Sasso del Ferro, enjoy the panoramic view and head home with lasting memories.
Stay in a holiday apartment in Cannobio, Luino or Verbania – with a lido nearby. Combine beach days, a trip to the adventure park near Baveno and a family boat tour to the Castelli di Cannero with real pirate stories of the Mazzarditi. The family pirate tour on the Striga Constanze, with a treasure hunt and binoculars, is an unforgettable experience for children aged 4 to 10. A quiet day in the citrus park of Cannero Riviera or in the gardens of Villa Taranto rounds off the week.
Stay in a quiet village above the lake – for example in Trarego Viggiona, Premeno or one of the small villages above Luino. Plan one or two half-day boat breaks with meditation or a tea ceremony aboard the Striga Constanze, without a phone, combined with easy hikes through the hills above the lake. The 7-hour digital detox retreat with several meditation blocks and a tea ceremony on the water is the perfect choice for this.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
At least 3–4 days for a first impression: one day for the islands, one day for mountains and nature, one day for a boat tour and a stroll through the lakeside towns. If you plan a week, you can comfortably combine several destinations and discover the different sides of the lake – from lively Stresa to the quiet villages on the east shore.
Conclusion
Lake Maggiore is a destination of rare diversity: islands with baroque gardens, fishing villages with narrow lanes, panoramic mountains with views of seven lakes, subtropical nature and a culture that has inscribed itself on this area over centuries. Italy or Switzerland, sun or mountains, adventure or silence – this lake has the right corner for every holiday style.
But the decisive moment that turns a good trip into an unforgettable experience almost always comes from the water: when Santa Caterina del Sasso suddenly emerges from the rock, when the silhouette of Isola Bella shimmers in the evening light, when the boat glides quietly across the mirror-smooth water and the world suddenly stands still.
Plan your own Lake Maggiore moment – ideally with a private, skippered boat tour at the heart of your holiday. The Striga Constanze is already taking reservations for the 2027 season. It all starts on 1 March.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
