We are planning our next trip to Italy and would like to spend a week on Lake Maggiore. What towns do Have you visited that might be good for relaxing, hiking, and exploring the lake via ferries or trains. We aren't planning on having a car rental.
Posted by
Seattle, Wa, USA
663 posts
I've stayed in Stressa, which is a lovely little town with excellent connections to the ferries, trains, etc. I can't imagine you'd find more than about 3-4 days worth of things to do, however.
Posted by
Vernon, Canada
32331 posts
Karen,
I'd also recommend Stresa as it's a beautiful city and also has very good rail and ferry connections. While there you can visit the Borromeo Islands or take the cable car up Mount Mottarone (incredible views if it's not hazy).
One other nice day trip is to take the train to Domodossola and then take the scenic Cento Valli Railway to Locarno (Switzerland), returning by Ferry in the late afternoon. Locarno is also a beautiful city and there are a few interesting sites.
Check the RS Italy guidebook for other sightseeing suggestions as well as hotel and restaurant suggestions for Stresa.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
15899 posts
I would vouch for Stresa too.
There is a lot to do on lake Maggiore (Borromee islands, Cannobio, Locarno on the Swiss side, CentoValli railway, Lake Orta, Orta San Giulio, and much more). I'd go for 4 nights. Any less and you can't even scratch the surface.
Official Tourism Authority website below:
http://www.illagomaggiore.com/en_US/home
Posted by
not here anymore
631 posts
Locarno on the Centovalli railway from Domodossola ( a few stops north of Stresa) is a fantastic journey.
info about the ferries is here http://www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng/m_illago.html don't miss the 52 page PDF broschure from the link at the bottom
Posted by
98 posts
We stayed a few days in Baveno and had a very nice time. It's very much like it's neighbor Stresa except that it's smaller and perhaps a little more homey feeling. The ferries leave from here as well so you can visit the various islands with ease. I'm not normally one for 'kicking back' but sitting on the shore of the lake watching the sun go down with a spritz in hand isn't bad way to end a day by any means.
Posted by
Toledo, Ohio, US
11613 posts
Stresa definitely. I only spent a day there, planning to go back for five nights.
Posted by
California
768 posts
We stayed in Stresa last summer for 2 nights and wished we had 4. Lake Maggiore turned out to be our surprise destination on this trip. We were using Stresa in a practical way to get to MXP and ended up loving our time there.