Here’s what you’re gonna wanna know before planning a trip to Lake Maggiore.
At about 82 square miles, Lake Maggiore is Italys second-largest lake afterLake Garda.
Its northern tip is even in a different country, in Switzerlands Italian-speaking canton ofTicino.
Scenic view from Bella Gardens.Credit:Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure
The scenery may be hard to beat, but Lake Maggiores vibe is its biggest draw.
Its impeccable, the kind of hospitality thats so polished it feels effortless.
Best Things to Do
Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure
Island-hop the Borromeans.
Grand Hotel des Illes Borromees pool area.Courtesy of Grand Hotel des Illes Borromees
On Isola Bella, 17th-century Palazzo Borromeo is home to works by Van Dyck and Rubens.
This is Italy at its most extravagant.
Ride the Lago Maggiore Express to Switzerland and back.
View of Lake Maggiore from the Borromean Islands.Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure
Sip a spritz in Cannobio.
Bono calls the town of Cannobio impossibly charming, like it belongs on a postcard.
Cannobios combination of twisty cobblestone alleyways and a dreamy lakefront promenade indeed strike a sweet spot.
Restaurant seating along the water.Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure
Stop and smell the flowers at Villa Taranto.
Those atVilla Tarantoare among Martins favorites.
Theres also a charming little bistro on-site.
View of Lake Maggiore from Bella Gardens.Evgeniya Vlasova/Travel + Leisure
The gardens are closed in the winter.
Soar over the lake on the Laveno cable car.
Power up with a meal at the summit restaurant before hiking or riding back down to Laveno.
The town of Arona on Lake Maggiore.Michela Sieman/Travel + Leisure
I love sitting on the piazza and observing as people go about their day.
They also do nice dinner-sized salads, which arent always easy to find in Italy.
Seek them out at this uber-casual bar and restaurant, set right on the lake in Feriolo.
The restaurant offers a free taxi boat service from Baveno or Stresa.
Lake ferry services still run, but with an abbreviated schedule.
How to Get There
The closest major airport to Lake Maggiore isMilan Malpensa.
From here, Stresa, the main town on the lake, is less than a one-hour drive.
Cannobio
Cannobio is regarded by many as the prettiest town on the lake.
Its also just a boat ride away from the western shoreline.
