Lake Como vs Lake Maggiore

Both are nice. But it depends on your overall itinerary. Where else are you going?

On Lake Maggiore the mountains are set back from the lake whereas on Lake Como they come to shoreline. Both lakes are beautiful and you can’t go wrong.
We have spent a lot of time on Lake Como in rental apartments. However here are some good hotels: Hotel Perla, Hotel Paradido, Villa Flori.
We stayed in Stresa on Lake Maggiore as well as in Ranco. Gran Hotel Il Borromes is near Stresa.
In Ranco we loved our stay at Il Sole di Ranco.

Hi, the nice part of your question is that there’s no bad choice; they’re both nice! Here’s what I wrote from my last trip report to Lake Maggiore about Stresa. It’s my favorite spot to get over jet lag. I’ve stayed there three times. I also like taking the quick ferry over to Isola Pescatori and going through the beautiful Villa Taranto expansive gardens.

Stresa: Stresa on Lake Maggiore is one of my favorites - my definition of a relaxing setting, and I like to begin a trip at a familiar location to just enjoy without needing to make any logistic decisions. After returning to Hotel Milan Speranza Au Lac, I took the morning ferry from Stresa across the lake to visit the Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso. A gorgeous setting clinging above the lake & perfect overcast weather for photos! It gave me a chance to climb & exercise and have a little snack at the cafe above near the parking lot. The rest of the day I just enjoyed being in Stresa again, having dinner on the waterfront. It was Italy’s Republic Day which provided a nice ambiance of being among Italians who came to Stresa to celebrate. My hotel room was old, but they gave me a nice side balcony with views of the lake! And a direct view of the chiming bell tower which I enjoyed.

Last time I was in Stresa, I also stayed one night on tiny Isola Bella at a small boutique hotel, Hotel Boutique Elvezia – wonderful memories I wanted to repeat! I took a morning ferry over to Isola Bella after an early morning stroll one last time at Stresa among the gorgeous flowers, stopping briefly into the historic Regina Hotel. At Hotel Boutique Elvezia I would have one of my nicest rooms during the trip as a perfect afternoon retreat to relax & study. Later, I walked through the Borromeo Villa and their gorgeous formal gardens.

That evening I ate a wonderful meal at the hotel restaurant, having the outdoor covered dining room almost to myself. My favorite part of Boutique Hotel Elvezia is sitting out on the room balcony, watching the evening lights slowly fade into night over the lake as the last boats & ducks quietly float past and the church steeple of Isola Pescatori illuminates in the distance – a magical tranquil ending to the day.

Also consider Lake Lugano. It's gorgeous.

I think a lot depends on what you want to do and your activity level. As Suki mentioned, Lake Como is nice because the mountains come right into town. But that also means hilly streets and stairs, especially if wandering around Bellagio or Varenna. The towns around Lago Maggiore tend to be flatter.

Since I see that you are using Malpensa and plan to take a car service to Lake Como, going to Lake Maggiore would be much closer to the Malpensa airport.

I suspect which lake to choose will depend to some extent on what you want to see & do during your stay. If your inbound fight is to Malpensa, then both lakes are easily accessible. You might find it helpful to have a look at the most recent Rick Steves Italy guidebook for suggestions on activities in both areas, as well as hotels.

For stays on Lake Como, many on the forum like to stay in Varenna, which is on the east shore of the lake and about an hour by train from Milano Centrale. There are a number of good hotels there, and which one to choose will depend to some extent on your budget. The Hotel Royal Victoria is a good choice as it's located right in the centre of the town.

For stays on Lake Maggiore, Stresa is a good home base. I can't remember where I've stayed at in the past, but there are a number of good hotels listed in the guidebook. One thing I've enjoyed in Stresa is to take a day trip on the scenic Cento Valli Railway to Locarno, CH which departs from Domodossola (be sure to take your Passport) and then return by boat in the early evening. Locarno is an incredibly beautiful location, and you could take the cable car up the mountain to Cardada which offers incredible views. I also enjoyed seeing all the towns along the lake on the return trip. You could also take the short boat trips from Stresa to tour the Borromeo Islands, which are only a few minutes away. Isola Bella is spectacular!