Experience the best of Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore is a long Alpine lake shared by Italy and Switzerland, with the Borromean Islands, villa gardens and mountains at its back.
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Lake Maggiore stretches for some 60 km from the Swiss canton of Ticino south into Piedmont and Lombardy, and it is the second largest lake in Italy after Garda. Its western shore holds the resort towns of Stresa, Baveno and Verbania, with grand 19th-century hotels along the water and mountains rising behind. The mild climate allows palms, camellias and azaleas to flourish in the lakeside gardens.
Off Stresa lie the Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, with its baroque palace and terraced garden, Isola Madre, a botanical garden of exotic trees where white peacocks wander, and the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori. A cable car climbs Mottarone for views to the Alps and across several lakes. Arona has the giant statue of San Carlo Borromeo, a hermitage clings to a cliff on the Lombard shore, and on the Swiss side Locarno and Ascona face the water.
Fried lake perch served with risotto and other lake fish are the lakeside classics, with reds from Gattinara and Ghemme in the hills to the south. Azaleas and rhododendrons flower in spring, the water is warm enough for swimming in summer, and autumn brings mist and colour. Café terraces line the promenade at Stresa for lakeside lunches.
- 5 hop-on hop-off routes
- Free cancellation on 76% of experiences
- 4.6 across the top 2
Top experiences in Lake Maggiore
![Dining Experience at a local's Home in Stresa with Show Cooking]()
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Hop-on hop-off in Lake Maggiore
Guided tours in Lake Maggiore
36
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Food and drink experiences in Lake Maggiore
21- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
- Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Likely to sell outFree cancellation
Go beyond Lake Maggiore
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Lugano · 32 kmLake Lugano
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Lugano · 32 kmChurch of Santa Maria degli Angioli
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Lake Como · 55 kmVilla del Balbianello
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Lake Como · 55 kmVilla Melzi Gardens (Giardini di Villa Melzi)
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Zermatt · 63 kmMatterhorn
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Zermatt · 63 kmGornergrat Railway (Gornergrat Bahn)
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Milan · 71 kmMilan Cathedral (Duomo di Milano)
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Milan · 71 kmLa Scala (Teatro alla Scala)
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Grindelwald · 87 kmGlacier Canyon
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Lauterbrunnen · 89 kmJungfrau
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Lauterbrunnen · 89 kmSchilthorn
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Bergamo · 90 kmPiazza Vecchia
Questions about Lake Maggiore
- What is there to do in Lake Maggiore?
- We list 82 experiences in Lake Maggiore. The largest groups are day trips (18), hop-on hop-off (6).
- What is the most popular experience in Lake Maggiore?
- By number of traveller reviews it is "Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour", rated 3.8 out of 5 from 303 reviews.
- Is there a hop-on hop-off bus in Lake Maggiore?
- Yes. We list 5 hop-on hop-off bus tours in Lake Maggiore; the most reviewed is "Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour" with 303 reviews.
- How long do tours and tickets in Lake Maggiore take?
- The typical experience in Lake Maggiore lasts about 3 hours; the middle half run between 2 hours and 4 hours.
- Can I cancel a booking in Lake Maggiore?
- The operator lists free cancellation on 77% of the 82 experiences we hold for Lake Maggiore. The cut-off differs by experience and is shown on each product page before you choose a date.
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