Top 10 Places to Visit on Lake Maggiore
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Latest page update: 14 April 2025
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By: Dion Protani
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This selection of ten destinations highlights the variety and beauty of Lake Maggiore, from grand lakeside villas and botanical gardens to elegant resort towns and atmospheric islands.
The list includes well-known spots like Stresa and Isola Bella, as well as quieter places such as Luino and Santa Caterina del Sasso, offering a broad look at what makes this lake such a memorable part of northern Italy. Each place has its own character — whether it’s the gardens of Villa Taranto, the peaceful charm of Isola Madre, or the panoramic views from Laveno-Mombello. |
Isola dei Pescatori, Lake Maggiore
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Isola Bella
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Isola Bella is one of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore, known for its lavish baroque palace and terraced gardens. The island has been transformed from a rocky outcrop into a grand estate by the Borromeo family since the 17th century.
Visitors can explore ornate halls filled with tapestries, statues, and chandeliers inside the Palazzo Borromeo. The Italianate gardens are laid out in geometric precision, offering sweeping lake views and sightings of rare white peacocks. Boats connect Isola Bella with Stresa, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre. |
Isola Bella, Lake Maggiore
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Villa Taranto
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Located in Verbania, Villa Taranto is one of Italy’s finest botanical gardens. Established in the 1930s, it contains thousands of plant species from across the globe, carefully arranged over terraced paths.
From spring through autumn, the gardens are filled with colour, including seasonal displays of tulips, dahlias, and water lilies. Shaded walkways and fountains complete the tranquil setting. The gardens are open seasonally and easily reached on foot from central Verbania. |
Villa Taranto, Lake Maggiore
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Isola Madre
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The largest of the Borromean Islands, Isola Madre is famed for its exotic plants and serene atmosphere. The 16th-century villa and English-style gardens are known for their rare trees and roaming birds.
Peacocks, pheasants and parrots can be seen throughout the island, which offers quiet walking paths and panoramic lake views. The historic interiors include antique furnishings and family portraits. Access is by ferry from Stresa, Baveno or Verbania. |
Isola Madre, Lake Maggiore
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Verbania
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Verbania is the largest town on Lake Maggiore, formed from the merging of Pallanza and Intra.
It offers a mix of lakeside promenades, cultural sites, and connections to nearby islands. Attractions include the civic art gallery, botanical gardens at Villa Taranto, and boat trips across the lake. The town also hosts regular markets and lakeside events during the summer. Verbania serves as a key base for exploring the western shore. |
Verbania, Lake Maggiore
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Stresa
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Stresa is one of the most popular destinations on the lake, known for its grand hotels, lakeside promenade, and views of the Borromean Islands.
It has welcomed writers, artists and royalty over the centuries. The cable car to Mottarone offers views of seven lakes, while boat services run regularly to Isola Bella and Isola Madre. Stresa also has a charming old town with shops and cafés. It’s a good starting point for exploring the central lake area. |
Stresa, Lake Maggiore
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laveno - Mombello
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Located on the eastern shore, Laveno-Mombello is a relaxed lakeside town with a working harbour and ferry links to Verbania.
It offers a different feel from the western shore, with fewer crowds. The cable car to Sasso del Ferro provides sweeping views over Lake Maggiore and the Alps. The town also has a ceramics museum and a small lakeside beach. Laveno is well connected by train and car from Milan and Varese. |
Laveno-Mombello, Lake Maggiore
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Santa Caterina del Sasso
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The 13th-century hermitage Santa Caterina del Sasso is built dramatically into a cliffside overlooking Lake Maggiore.
The site includes a church, cloister, and frescoes, with steep stone steps down to the water. Visitors can reach the monastery by boat, lift or a staircase carved into the rock. The views from the terrace are among the most striking on the lake. Santa Caterina is often visited on boat tours between Stresa and Laveno. |
Santa Caterina del Sasso, Lake Maggiore
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Isola dei Pescatori
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Also known as Fishermen’s Island, Isola dei Pescatori is the smallest of the Borromean Islands.
It retains a traditional village layout with narrow lanes and lakeside restaurants. The island is popular for its rustic charm, local fish dishes, and artisan shops. It offers a different experience from the grandeur of Isola Bella or Isola Madre. Regular boat services connect it with Stresa and the other islands. |
Isola dei Pescatori, Lake Maggiore
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Luino
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Located on the eastern shore near the Swiss border, Luino is best known for its Wednesday market, one of the largest in northern Italy.
The town has a long lakeside promenade and a historic centre. Luino’s position makes it a gateway between Italy and Switzerland, with direct rail links to Bellinzona and Milan. It’s a good stop for shopping and local food. The town is also close to trails and viewpoints in the surrounding hills. |
Luino, Lake Maggiore
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Baveno
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Baveno sits just north of Stresa and offers similar views of the Borromean Islands with a quieter feel.
It has a lakeside promenade, ferry terminal, and a Romanesque church with a pink granite baptistery. The town is known for its quarries, which supplied stone for famous buildings in Italy and abroad. A short ferry ride takes you to Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. Baveno has a small-town atmosphere and elegant villas along the shore. |
Baveno, Lake Maggiore
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