Regions, getting there, highlights, swimming, hiking, food and budget – the guide for connoisseurs, written from the perspective of the water.
Lake Maggiore lies between Switzerland and Italy, stretches 64 kilometres from Locarno in the north to Sesto Calende in the south and is Italy's second-largest lake. This Lake Maggiore travel guide is written for independent travellers planning their trip to the lake in 2027 who want more than a list of hotel chains and bus routes. With around 1.49 million visitors, Germany accounts for about 20% of all guests at Lake Maggiore; many come back every year because they know a long weekend works just as well as two weeks' holiday.
The best time to visit Lake Maggiore is spring and autumn: March to May brings camellias and magnolias in bloom with few crowds, June to September is swimming season, October delivers autumn colours and empty paths. The Italian western shore is characterised by grand hotels, palm trees and Art Nouveau villas. The unspoilt Lombard shore exudes calm serenity. The Ticino northern shore offers Swiss order and culture. Which part of the lake you choose determines the atmosphere, budget and pace of your trip.
The focus of this guide: authentic places, quiet bays, culinary discoveries and the perspective from the water. If you want to see the lake from more than just the promenade, you'll find concrete routes, excursion ideas and tips on private boat tours with Striga Constanze. After reading, you can roughly plan your route, prioritise regions and put together concrete daily programmes.
Many travellers tick off Stresa, Locarno and Ascona in three days and move on. What they miss: charming Cannobio with its colourful houses and Sunday market, the quiet swimming bays near Cerro, the view of the Castelli di Cannero from the water. This guide is for couples, families and small groups of friends who value nature, water and good food more than a tightly scheduled sightseeing list.
The contrast is clear: overcrowded promenades and noisy motorboats on one side; on the other, slowing down by sailing boat, easy hikes with lake views, an aperitivo in a bar away from the main squares. Whether it's about hiking or good food, whether culture and history lovers delight in medieval monasteries, or you simply want to spend an afternoon in a bay: this article shows you how.
We at Striga Constanze live and work on the lake. Our home port is Laveno-Mombello on the eastern shore. What we describe here we know from daily experience, not from catalogues. This guide reflects the perspective from the water.
Matching tours
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Proposal€490
Private tour
Beginners€490
+ €20 p. p.Private tourThe lake lies 193 metres above sea level, nestled between the Ticino Alps, the Piedmont hills and the Lombard plain. The climate is insubric: mild, humid-subtropical, with an average annual temperature of 15.5 °C. Lake Maggiore has a Mediterranean climate in an Alpine setting. Camellias bloom from March, magnolias follow in April. The water temperature reaches 20 to 23 °C in July and August.
The typical landscapes:
Borromean Islands with baroque palaces and botanical gardens, open to visitors between March and November
Steep shores with rock faces, such as the medieval monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso, built into the rock above the water
Unspoilt shores in the south and east with reed belts, birdwatching and quiet swimming spots
Villa gardens such as Villa Taranto in Verbania, famous for its botanical gardens, or Villa di Porta Bozzolo, which offers insights into aristocratic culture
Compared with Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore feels quieter and less commercialised. There's no big theme park, no party scene. Instead: grand hotels on the lake with history, botanical gardens, historic villas and a variety of quiet places. Compared with Lake Como, prices on the eastern shore and on the Italian side are often lower, nature more accessible and mass tourism less. If you want to explore the northern Italian lakes and value peace and quiet, this is the place for you.
Every region around the lake has its own character. The following overview helps you find the right base for your trip.
Locarno is known for the Piazza Grande and the film festival. The pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso towers above the town. Ascona has a car-free lakeside promenade and a lively cultural scene; the Mediterranean flair is palpable, the price level Swiss.
The Isole di Brissago are home to a botanical garden with subtropical plants. Both places suit culture- and food-oriented travellers who like to combine town walks with boat trips across the border to Italy. Those who value the Swiss part will find well-kept infrastructure and many events here.
The "postcard coast" of Lake Maggiore. Stresa offers Belle Époque grand hotels, Baveno lies more quietly beside it, and Verbania is home to Villa Taranto with one of Europe's most beautiful botanical parks.
The Borromean Islands are the flagship: Isola Bella is home to a baroque palace and terraced gardens. Isola Madre is known for its botanical garden with rare flora. Isola dei Pescatori is a picturesque fishing island in Lake Maggiore where you can eat fresh fish in small restaurants. From a gaff cutter you see the palace façades in a light that isn't possible from the ferry.
Quiet, Italian, down to earth. Laveno-Mombello is the home port of the Striga Constanze and a good base for tours on the lake. Sasso del Ferro offers a 360-degree view over Lake Maggiore and the Alps; the cable car runs straight up from Laveno. The monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso is a cultural highlight, reachable by boat or via stairs and lift. Small places like Cerro invite you to swim and linger.
The Laveno–Intra ferry links the eastern and western shores in 20 minutes. Staying here often costs less than in Stresa and gives direct access to the water.
The flatter areas near Sesto Calende and the mouth of the Ticino are ideal for bike rides, walks and picnics. Birdwatching, reed belts and unspoilt shores define the scene. The Borromeo castle of Angera towers over the southern outlet of the lake and offers a wide view over the lower lake. The region suits travellers seeking nature and peace.
Getting there
The lake is easy to reach from German-speaking countries: by car over the Swiss Alps, by train via Milan or Domodossola, by air via Milan Malpensa. Here are the concrete options.
Typical routes from Germany and Austria lead over the Gotthard (A2), the San Bernardino (A13) or the Simplon. After the Gotthard Base Tunnel you continue via Bellinzona towards Locarno or further south on the A2. In Italy the A8 and A26 motorways connect Milan and Novara with the lake.
Important rail hubs are Domodossola (Simplon line Basel–Brig–Domodossola–Stresa), Locarno (from Zurich via Bellinzona) and Milan (from there regional trains to Arona, Stresa, Laveno). The Laveno-Mombello–Locarno route takes about 1 hour 27 minutes by train with one change, price approx. CHF 19.
The nearest major airport is Milano Malpensa (MXP). Shuttle buses (Alibus) run directly to Arona, Stresa and Verbania. Travel time from the airport to the lakeshore: around one hour, depending on the shore.
The network of scheduled boats, ferries and trains covers the main towns. Navigazione Laghi operates scheduled and fast boats as well as car ferries between the shores and islands; day passes ("giornaliero") are available. In high season (April to October) the boats run more often; in low season the frequency is reduced. More: Lake Maggiore ferries & timetable.
The difference: scheduled boats follow fixed routes and timetables and are full in high season. A private boat tour with a skipper allows your own stops, your own pace and access to bays no scheduled boat calls at. There are also regional buses, rental bikes and mountain railways, especially around Stresa and in the Ticino hinterland.
The following highlights are the most important stops for first-time visitors in 2027. For each place: a short description, ideal visit length and the best way to get there. More ideas: Lake Maggiore sights.
Three islands, three worlds. Isola Bella is home to Palazzo Borromeo with its baroque ballroom and ten garden terraces where white peacocks stroll among citrus trees. Isola Madre is the largest of the three and known for its botanical garden with rare flora, including Himalayan and Kashmir cypresses. Isola dei Pescatori has no palaces but narrow lanes, colourful houses and restaurants serving fish straight from the lake.
The medieval monastery clings to a rock face above the water on the eastern shore. The frescoes inside date from the 14th to 17th centuries. Reachable by boat (its own jetty), by car or bus plus 80 steps down, or by lift.
Tip: Morning light creates the best photo conditions. Can be combined with a swim stop in a nearby bay if you're travelling by private boat.
Locarno is known for the Piazza Grande and the film festival, Ascona for its car-free promenade and galleries. The pilgrimage church Madonna del Sasso can be reached on foot in 20 minutes or by funicular. Half a day to a full day is enough for both towns, especially combined with a boat trip to the Brissago Islands and their botanical garden on Isola di San Pancrazio.
Stresa offers the best infrastructure for day trips: ferries to the Borromean Islands, grand hotels on the promenade. Villa Taranto in Verbania displays over 20,000 plant species on 16 hectares. Villa Pallavicino combines a park and animal enclosures.
Tip: Stroll around town by day, then enjoy the evening atmosphere from the lake on a private boat tour. The silhouette of Stresa at sunset is one of the most beautiful views on Lake Maggiore.
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
From the water
Seeing Lake Maggiore from the water changes your perception. Villas, monasteries and castle ruins show façades that remain invisible from the shore. There are many ways to go boating on Lake Maggiore: scheduled boats for transport, rental boats without a skipper for self-drivers, private charters with a skipper for individual routes.
The differences:
The Striga Constanze is a traditional gaff cutter, built in 1979 at the Baumgartner yard as a faithful replica of a northern European working boat. Hull length 9.20 metres plus a 3-metre bowsprit, 55.7 m² of red gaff sails, room for up to 8 guests at a fixed price. Home port: Laveno-Mombello.
Prices (fixed price per group, skipper included):
Typical routes lead to the Borromean Islands, Santa Caterina del Sasso, the Castelli di Cannero, and along the shores of Stresa, Pallanza and Cerro. In bad weather, rebooking is free.
Target groups: Couples use the sunset tour for a marriage proposal on the water. Families book the pirate tour with a treasure hunt. Company teams combine sailing with team building. Every tour is private; no strangers on board.
The themed experiences go beyond classic sightseeing:
The exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" is the first exit game on the water on Lake Maggiore. As castle ruins, islands and hermitages drift by, the group solves puzzles, guided by Beppe the cheeky parrot. At the end the group opens the treasure chest together. Surcharge: €20 per person for materials and souvenirs.
Season start: 1 March 2027. No-obligation enquiry via the contact form or WhatsApp (+39 333 3802 383), reply usually within 24 hours.
Lake Maggiore offers more than sights. Swimming, hiking and day trips into the surroundings are part of it. Here are concrete examples.
Swimming season: roughly June to September. The lake reaches water temperatures of 20 to 23 °C in the summer months. With children, watch the depth; some spots drop off quickly.
The travel guide describes twelve hikes around Lake Maggiore, and ten GPS tracks are available free of charge and without registration – a free, registration-free downloadable companion for the road.
Many hikes can be combined with arrival by boat: start in one place, finish in another, return by boat.
By train, Milan, Domodossola and Locarno are the quickest to reach. For the Verzasca Valley and Alpe Devero, a car makes more sense.
Your choice of base determines budget, atmosphere and mobility. Italy is cheaper than Switzerland; the eastern shore cheaper than the western shore.
The region around Lake Maggiore offers numerous culinary options:
Money-saving tip: lunch menus ("pranzo") in Italian restaurants often cost €10–15 for primo, secondo and water. Prices rise in the evening. Small bars away from the main squares are cheaper and more authentic.
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
Season 2027
Combine public transport and boats instead of driving every leg. Support local products and smaller businesses. A full-day boat tour replaces many individual trips and reduces your carbon footprint. Travel more slowly, experience more intensely.
Most viewed
Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
Private tour
Bestseller€490
Private tourSunset cruises with views of the Borromean Islands, a marriage proposal on the water near Stresa, candlelight meditation on the lake. Recommended places: Stresa for the classic backdrop, Ascona for Swiss elegance, quiet bays on the eastern shore for togetherness without an audience. The lake is a place of longing in the heart of Europe; those seeking romance find it here not in staging but in the landscape itself.
Shallow swimming bays at Cannobio and on the southern shore, the Villa Pallavicino animal park, cable car rides up Sasso del Ferro. Families are welcome on board the Striga Constanze (up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 by arrangement). Child-friendly programmes: pirate tour, treasure hunt with the exit game, family dream journey. Children need no sailing experience; the skipper takes care of everything. More tips: Lake Maggiore with kids.
Team building on the boat, combined outings (a stroll through Stresa plus an afternoon on the lake), a shared restaurant visit straight from the boat. The fixed price per group makes the maths easy: €490 for 3 hours divided by 8 people comes to around €61 per person. Cheaper than eight individual tickets for ferries, admission and extras.
Guide prices for 2027 (Italian side):
Ways to save: self-catering from local markets, eating your hot meal at lunch rather than dinner, checking combined tickets for the Borromean Islands. In Switzerland, accommodation and food prices are about 40–60% higher than in Italy.
Extras:
Example: a 4-hour tour for 6 people costs €690 divided by 6, i.e. €115 per person. For that you get: a private boat, skipper, flexible route, swim stop and aperitivo break. A comparable day with scheduled boat tickets, admissions and extras often costs about the same per person, but without flexibility and privacy.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
Guests and Lake Maggiore newcomers regularly ask us the following questions.
March to October, with each season having its own appeal. In spring (March–May) camellias and magnolias bloom, the towns are quiet, the light soft. In summer (June–September) swim stops and long evening cruises are possible. In October, autumn colours create a special atmosphere. The 2027 season at Striga Constanze starts on 1 March.
Season 2027
Lake Maggiore combines an Alpine backdrop and dolce vita in a way no other northern Italian lake offers. The natural beauty, the peace away from the main routes and the perspective from the water make the difference.
Choose two or three regions from this article, combine them with at least one day on the lake and allow enough time to discover the quiet places too. The Lake Maggiore travel guide by experienced authors Eberhard Fohrer and Marcus X. Schmid, with its 372 pages, 208 colour photos and 47 maps and plans, additionally offers detailed hike descriptions as a travel companion for the road. The Badische Zeitung writes that this guide keeps you well informed, whether it's about hiking or good food. The current edition from Michael Müller Verlag includes a fold-out map and is available as a book with enthusiasm from authors, reviews and delivery; ten free, registration-free downloadable GPS tracks complement the book as an app for the trip.
Your next step: reserve a private boat tour with Striga Constanze for your preferred dates in 2027 in good time and let the skipper put together an individual tour for you. The best dates go quickly in high season.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
