Islands, monasteries, gardens, castles and wild valleys: the complete overview of the top sights on Lake Maggiore – with planning tips and boat tours.
Over 65 km in length and 10 km in width, Lake Maggiore combines everything that makes an unforgettable holiday: baroque palaces on islands, monasteries in rock faces, botanical gardens with over 20,000 plant species, medieval castles and wild valleys without roads. Anyone looking for the most beautiful sights on Lake Maggiore will find the complete overview here – from the great classics to hidden natural paradises.
The surroundings of Lake Maggiore offer a combination of alpine and Mediterranean atmosphere that is unrivalled in Europe. Three regions share the shore of Lake Maggiore: Piedmont and Lombardy on the Italian side, Ticino in Switzerland. Thanks to the mild climate, camellias, magnolias and even subtropical plants thrive here – right in front of the backdrop of snow-capped Alps and the Monte Rosa massif.
It is precisely this mix of nature, culture and landscape that makes the region a holiday destination that attracts hikers, culture fans and those seeking peace alike. Historic villas, sacred buildings and gardens line both shores, while in the hinterland mountains and valleys invite you on voyages of discovery. Lake Maggiore is equally suited to hikers and culture lovers.
Many of the top sights lie directly on the water or are particularly impressive when seen from the lake – islands, monasteries, castle ruins and lakeside towns only reveal their full beauty from the water. That is exactly why it is worth spending at least one day of your trip on the water, whether on scheduled ferries or aboard a private gaff cutter like the Striga Constanze, which offers individual tours to the most beautiful places from Laveno-Mombello.
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+ €20 p. p.Private tourIf you only have a few days, these ten destinations should be first on your list. They offer the best cross-section of islands, gardens, history and nature around the lake.
The Borromean Islands, Santa Caterina del Sasso and the Castelli di Cannero in particular can be experienced impressively on a private boat tour from Laveno-Mombello – from perspectives that are impossible from the shore.
Perspective
The lake itself is the best connection between the sights. While roads along the shore often lead through narrow villages and parking in high season becomes a test of patience, a boat glides leisurely from highlight to highlight. Monasteries, islands and lakeside towns show themselves in all their beauty from the water, framed by mountains, villas and subtropical vegetation.
The ferry network on Lake Maggiore makes it easy to explore the region. Scheduled ferries and excursion boats connect the most important places on fixed routes and timetables. But anyone who wants to decide for themselves where to stop and for how long will find a private boat tour with a small group worthwhile. The difference: on an excursion boat you share the deck and the schedule with dozens of visitors; on a private charter the boat belongs to your own group.
The Striga Constanze – a traditional gaff cutter with red gaff sails, built in 1979 as a replica of a Northern European working boat – offers exactly this experience: individual routes to sights such as Santa Caterina del Sasso, the Borromean Islands or the Castelli di Cannero, with swim stops, photo breaks and an aperitivo along the way. Up to 8 guests fit on board, up to 12 on request.
Planning
A holiday on Lake Maggiore offers a wealth of possibilities. So that the abundance doesn't turn into stress, five clear steps help with planning.
Choosing the right holiday location determines which sights you can reach quickly. On the western shore, Stresa and Verbania are ideal starting points for the Borromean Islands and Villa Taranto. On the eastern shore, Laveno-Mombello and Luino offer the best access to Santa Caterina del Sasso, Sasso del Ferro and the famous weekly market. In the north, Locarno and Ascona in Switzerland are the gateway to Madonna del Sasso, Cardada-Cimetta and the Isole di Brissago.
The Striga Constanze has its home port in Laveno-Mombello but, by arrangement, also departs from Brebbia, Feriolo, Cannero or Cannobio – ideal if you are staying on one side of the lake and want to discover the attractions on the other.
The region only reveals its charm when you combine its different facets. A pure island day (Isola Bella, Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori) shows its cultural splendour, a day with a monastery and a viewpoint (Santa Caterina del Sasso + Sasso del Ferro) combines history with panorama, and a Swiss day (Locarno, Madonna del Sasso, Cardada-Cimetta) offers lifestyle and mountain views.
A 3-, 4- or 7-hour private tour on the gaff cutter can flexibly connect many of these points: to the monastery in the morning, a swim stop in a hidden bay at midday, past the Castelli di Cannero and the islands in the afternoon.
Some sights are best reached by car or train – the Centovalli railway, for example, is 52 km long and offers panoramic rides through gorges and over viaducts between Locarno and Domodossola. Viewpoints such as Sasso del Ferro or Cardada-Cimetta are served by cable cars and funiculars, so steep roads are not needed.
For the highlights on the water – islands, monasteries, castle ruins, lakeside towns – boats are the most relaxing means of transport. Anyone wanting to avoid traffic jams and full car parks at hotspots should deliberately plan one or two boat days.
Many gardens, island palaces and cable cars are only open seasonally. Villa Taranto welcomes visitors from early March to early November. The Isole di Brissago are accessible from 18 March to 8 November. The Borromean Islands with their palaces and gardens follow a similar calendar. Check the official websites of the respective sights and regional tourism portals before your trip.
For the 2027 season, the Striga Constanze sails from 1 March. In bad weather there is free rebooking – contact via WhatsApp, phone or email.
Plan a maximum of two to three major sights per day. Anything beyond that creates rush instead of enjoyment. Use the hot midday hours for a boat tour, a siesta by the lake or a stroll through shady gardens. Private tours on the gaff cutter deliberately run without a rigid schedule – there is room for spontaneous photo stops, swimming in the lake and an aperitivo with a view of the mountains.
Lake Maggiore is a lake of gardens and islands. Nowhere else in northern Italy are so many botanical treasures and historic parks so close together, embedded in a climate that lets plants from five continents thrive.
The Borromean Islands consist of five islands in Lake Maggiore and form the heart of every trip to the lake. The three islands that can be visited could hardly be more different:
The islands are easily reached by boat from Stresa, as well as from Verbania or Baveno. On a private tour, all three islands can be combined with individual stops and without crowds.
The botanical garden of Villa Taranto has over 20,000 plant species and is one of the most important gardens in Europe. The garden extends over 16 hectares and offers visitors 7 km of footpaths. Villa Taranto was laid out in the 20th century – from 1931 the Scottish captain Neil McEacharn transformed the grounds into a botanical marvel.
The tulip weeks are a highlight in the garden, as are the dahlia bloom in late summer and the tropical water lily Victoria Cruziana with a diameter of almost two metres. Over 150,000 visitors come every year. The 2026 season already started on 6 March. Verbania itself is worth a stroll along the lakeside promenade before crossing by boat to Laveno or the islands.
In the Swiss part of the lake lie the Isole di Brissago – two small islands near the border. Since the late 19th century the larger one, Isola Grande, has been home to a subtropical botanical garden with plants from Asia, America and the Mediterranean, made possible by the particularly mild microclimate at this point of the lake. The smaller island is currently used for educational projects and is not open to the public.
They are reached by scheduled boat from Ascona or Porto Ronco. As the islands are in Switzerland, the currency is the Swiss franc. The garden is open from 18 March to 8 November.
Traditional gaff cutter, red sails, just your group. 3, 4 or 7 hours.
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for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request
Castles, monasteries and pilgrimage churches are among the most impressive sights around the lake. Many of these buildings stand in places that were chosen centuries ago for their strategic location or spiritual power – and today offer spectacular views.
Santa Caterina del Sasso was built in the 12th century and has hung spectacularly in the rock face on the eastern shore near Leggiuno ever since, about 16 metres above the water level. Legend tells of a hermit who found refuge here in 1170 after a shipwreck. Inside there are frescoes from the 13th to the 17th century.
Access is via a steep staircase with 268 steps, a lift built into the rock or directly by boat via its own landing stage. Early morning and late afternoon offer the best light and the fewest visitors. The tour "Magical Morning Atmosphere: Santa Caterina del Sasso" on the Striga Constanze leads directly to the monastery – a perspective only possible from the water.
The pilgrimage church of Madonna del Sasso stands in Locarno on a rocky outcrop above the town. Founded after an apparition of the Virgin Mary in 1480, the church houses important works of art such as Bramantino's "Flight into Egypt" and Ciseri's "Entombment". The panorama from the terrace stretches over the entire northern lake and the surrounding mountains.
The most beautiful way to get there is the historic funicular from 1906, which runs every 15 minutes from Locarno to Orselina. From there further cable cars lead up to Cardada-Cimetta at over 1,300 metres. Those who want to walk follow the Via Crucis with its chapels – a path deeply embedded in the tradition of the Sacri Monti.
The Rocca di Angera dates from the 12th century and towers above the south of the lake. Owned by the Borromeo family for centuries, it features a monumental fresco hall, a historic wine cellar and one of the largest doll and toy museums in Europe. The castle garden in historic style offers a view over Angera, Arona and the southern part of the lake.
On two small rocky islands near Cannero Riviera, the ruins of the Castelli di Cannero rise out of the water – fortress remains from the 14th to 16th centuries, once the seat of the notorious Mazzarditi pirate brothers. After extensive restoration, the ruins were opened as a museum for the first time on 28 June 2025, with multimedia installations on regional history.
The Castelli are an ideal photo stop on a coastal tour by boat. From the gaff cutter, the ruins appear framed by mountains and open lake – a picture you simply don't get from the shore.
Between glamorous resorts with grand hotels and quiet fishing villages with colourful houses, Lake Maggiore offers a variety of places, each with its own character.
Stresa is known for its elegant lakeside promenade and cafés reminiscent of the great era of European spa culture. Grand hotels with faces from bygone eras line the lake road, and floral splendour adorns every corner. Ferries to the Borromean Islands depart from here.
The Alpinia botanical garden on the mountainside at around 800 metres is worth a visit. In the evening a walk along the illuminated promenade is recommended.
Cannobio has a picturesque lakeside promenade and a child-friendly beach. Every Sunday Cannobio hosts a popular market offering regional products, crafts and clothing – tip: come early, as the car parks fill up quickly. The narrow alleys, colourful houses and small church exude Mediterranean flair close to the Swiss border. Swimming at the lido and water sports round off the stay.
Locarno has around 15,000 inhabitants and is the warmest place in Switzerland. Locarno is known for its Mediterranean climate, and the Piazza Grande is the centre of Locarno – in summer the venue of the famous film festival. From here you can quickly reach Madonna del Sasso, Cardada and the Isole di Brissago.
Ascona lies a few kilometres to the west and impresses with its small old town, picturesque harbour and promenade overlooking the lake. Together the two towns form the cultural centre of the Swiss northern shore.
Laveno-Mombello is the starting point for the open-air cable car up Sasso del Ferro, from whose summit the view stretches over seven lakes to the Valais and Bernese Alps. The car ferry to Intra connects the eastern and western shores.
Luino, the largest town on the Lombard eastern shore, attracts thousands of visitors every Wednesday to one of the best-known weekly markets in northern Italy. Laveno is also the home port of the Striga Constanze – the ideal base for individual sightseeing boat tours to the lake's most beautiful attractions.
Lake Maggiore is not only a lake with cultural treasures but also a starting point for some of the wildest and most beautiful natural areas in northern Italy and Ticino. Beyond the lakeside towns, mountains, gorges and forests await, showing a completely different side of the region.
In the north of the lake, deep in Ticino, the Verzasca Valley cuts a dramatic gorge into the rock. The emerald-green river flows under the historic stone bridge Ponte dei Salti – one of the most photographed places in Switzerland. In summer the natural rock pools are wonderful for swimming. Hikers will find marked trails along the river through the landscape. The dam at the entrance to the valley is also famous: the iconic bungee scene from "GoldenEye" was filmed here.
Val Grande National Park covers 14,600 hectares and is the largest wilderness reserve in the Alps. The national park was officially founded in 1992. In the core area there are no inhabited villages, no roads, no mobile networks – just alpine wilderness with gorges, dense forests and ruins of the Cadorna defence line from the First World War.
Val Grande is suitable only for experienced hikers. Hikers need good fitness and equipment in Val Grande, and guided tours with local mountain guides are recommended. The elevation of the surrounding peaks offers panoramas that reach as far as the Monte Rosa massif.
Two viewpoints stand out as highlights: Sasso del Ferro near Laveno-Mombello with its open-air cable car, restaurants at the summit and a view that on clear days reaches the four-thousand-metre peaks. And Cardada-Cimetta above Locarno, reached by a modern cable car and chairlift, with a viewing platform that reveals the view from the lowest point in Switzerland (the lake shore near Ascona) to the highest peaks.
Both spots combine perfectly with a boat tour: a mountain view in the morning, a relaxed trip by gaff cutter to the islands or along the coast in the afternoon.
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Private tourStriga Constanze
With so many highlights, the question arises: how do you experience the sights of Lake Maggiore most intensely? The answer lies on the water – but not on just any boat.
The Striga Constanze is a traditional gaff cutter, built by Baumgartner in 1979 as a faithful replica of a Northern European working boat. 9.20 metres hull length plus bowsprit, 55.7 m² of red gaff sails, wood and GRP. On board, the sound of wind and water replaces engine noise. Up to 8 guests have plenty of space on deck, plus the skipper as a personal guide.
From on board, islands, castles and monasteries reveal themselves from perspectives you get from no lakeside road and no excursion boat. The red sails of the Striga Constanze are themselves a photo motif against the Alpine backdrop.
Every tour belongs exclusively to one group – whether a couple, family, circle of friends or company team. The route is tailored individually. Typical examples:
Swim stops in hidden bays, photo breaks in front of the Castelli and individual wishes – from romance to a family programme – are naturally part of every trip.
All prices are fixed prices for the entire private group of up to 8 people, including skipper:
Up to 12 guests are possible on request. Add-ons such as the exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" (€20 per person) or guided meditation (€20 per person) can be booked. Free rebooking in bad weather, no-obligation enquiry with a reply usually within 24 hours.
The wealth of options can seem overwhelming. So here is some guidance by type of visitor – so you can find exactly the highlights that suit your holiday.
An evening stroll in Stresa, a sunset from the boat with a view of the Borromean Islands, Isola dei Pescatori after 5 pm when the day-trippers have left: the lake offers romance without staging. The Striga Constanze runs special romance tours – from a marriage proposal at sunset to a honeymoon highlight on the water.
Particularly suitable are the Borromean Islands with their gardens and grottoes, the beach in Cannobio, the Santa Anna gorge and short cable car rides. A private boat tour for families offers breaks as needed, splashing in the lake and the exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi", in which children and adults solve puzzles together while castle ruins and islands drift by.
The Verzasca Valley, Val Grande National Park, Cardada-Cimetta and the hiking trails around Monte Mottarone demand fitness and reward you with panoramas. A proven combination: a mountain tour or valley hike in the morning, a relaxed boat trip with a swim stop to recover in the afternoon.
Rocca d'Angera, Madonna del Sasso, Santa Caterina del Sasso and the historic villas (Villa Taranto, Villa San Remigio) form the cultural foundation of every Lake Maggiore trip. On the Striga Constanze, the skipper tells the background stories of the places from the water – from the history of the Borromeo family and old trade routes to the legends of the Mazzarditi pirate brothers.
How many hours on the water make sense depends on which sights you want to combine. There are three options – each as a private tour at a fixed price for the whole group.
Ideal for holidaymakers on a tight schedule or as a first orientation on the lake. In three hours you can, for example, combine Santa Caterina del Sasso with a coastal panorama, take a short island round or stop for a swim in a bay. Fixed price: €490 for the whole group of up to 8 guests.
The most-booked option for couples, families and small groups who want time for a swim stop and an aperitivo break. Typical combinations: island plus monastery, castle ruins plus bay, a sunset tour with a short shore visit. Fixed price: €690. The added value over three hours lies in more stops, less hurry and the chance to enjoy activities such as swimming or photography at leisure.
For connoisseurs, small company or friend groups and everyone who really wants to get to know Lake Maggiore. A possible day route: the Borromean Islands in the morning, a restaurant visit ashore at midday, Castelli di Cannero and Santa Caterina del Sasso in the afternoon, with hidden bays and swim stops in between. Fixed price: €990. Meditation, the exit game or a digital detox retreat can optionally be added.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
The most important questions holidaymakers ask us again and again – with concrete answers.
Two to three major spots per day is a good rule of thumb. More quickly becomes a frantic chase rather than enjoyment. Planning a boat day helps you reach several points on the shore without hunting for parking or sitting in traffic – more relaxed and often faster than by car.
Conclusion
Lake Maggiore rewards everyone who takes their time. Combine islands with historic sites, nature with viewpoints, lively towns with quiet bays – and you'll experience a lake that holds a whole world of impressions in a small space.
Plan fewer stops per day than you think. Let yourself drift instead of ticking boxes. And if you plan one of your travel days as a private boat day on the Striga Constanze, you'll see many of the most beautiful sights on Lake Maggiore relaxed from the water – at your own pace, with wind in the red sails and a skipper who knows the best perspectives.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
