Holiday in Lago Maggiore
Lake in Italy — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇮🇹
Country
Italy
Type
Lake
Best time to travel
May–June, September–October
Budget/day
90–170 €
Getting there from Germany
Milan-Malpensa Airport is located directly at the southern end of the lake. By car via the Gotthard Tunnel or Simplon.
About Lago Maggiore
Lago Maggiore is shared between Italy and Switzerland, combining alpine drama with Mediterranean flair. The Borromean Islands in the center of the lake are the jewel: Isola Bella with its baroque palace and ten-tiered terraced gardens looks like a floating castle, Isola Madre houses the oldest botanical garden in the region, and Isola dei Pescatori enchants with its authentic fishing village. Stresa, the elegant main town on the western shore, serves as a base for island excursions and cable car rides to Monte Mottarone (1,491 meters). Verbania impresses with the Villa Taranto gardens, which are among the most beautiful in Europe with 20,000 plant species. Cannobio at the Swiss border is a picturesque harbor town with a Sunday market. The Swiss shore with Locarno and Ascona offers film festival glamour and Mediterranean atmosphere north of the Alps. The Santa Caterina del Sasso, a monastery built against a cliff, is accessible by boat or via a steep staircase. The lake is also a gateway to the wild and romantic side valleys: Val Grande is the largest wilderness national park in Italy. Culinary delights in the region include Ossobuco, Gorgonzola (from nearby Novara), and fish from the lake.
Top 5 highlights in Lago Maggiore
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Borromean Islands
The three islands Bella, Madre, and Pescatori are masterpieces of baroque garden art and charming fishing village romance.
Stresa
The elegant spa town on the western shore is the pearl of Lago Maggiore with Belle Époque hotels and lake views.
Giardini di Villa Taranto
The botanical garden in Verbania is among the most beautiful in Europe with 20,000 plant species.
Santa Caterina del Sasso
The monastery spectacularly clings to a vertical cliff above the lake.
Cannobio
The picturesque border town to Switzerland has a charming Sunday market and a beautiful lakeside beach.
Hotels in Lago Maggiore
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Lago Maggiore
Recommended travel time
May–June, September–October
Summer
Warm, 24–30 °C, subtropical flair
Winter
Cool, 3–8 °C, camellia bloom in March
How much does a holiday in Lago Maggiore cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
50–75 €
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
90–170 €
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
230–500 €
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Lago Maggiore
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Compare package holidays now5 travel tips for Lago Maggiore
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visit the Borromean Islands with a combined ticket – the ferry ticket includes all three islands.
Stresa is beautiful but expensive – cheaper accommodations in Baveno or Verbania.
Visit the Swiss northern shore (Locarno, Ascona) with the same ferry ticket.
The camellia bloom in March/April is a spectacular natural spectacle on the western shore.
Visit the Sacro Monte di Ghiffa (UNESCO) – a chapel complex with lake views.
Food & drink in Lago Maggiore
These specialties you must try!
Ready for Lago Maggiore?
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