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Maggiore Ferry Logistics

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I've been trying to get a head start in planning which towns I would like to visit during the four days my wife and I will spend on Lake Maggiore this July. I've already been using the current ferry timetables to do a lot of this planning.

We're staying in Baveno, and would like to take the ferry up to spend the day in Cannobio and possibly cross the lake to Luino at some point. I can easily see how/what time we would be able to make the trip north to Cannobio, but it appears that the last ferry of the day leaves Cannobio at 14:20. Can that really be? If taking the ferry, we wouldn't even arrive to Cannobio until 13:15. That doesn't even give us much time to have lunch, let alone explore the town.

I was just surprised that it seems almost all of the ferry activity stops around 15:00 every day. I do see the car ferry between Intra-Laveno is available late into the night, but that doesn't help with leaving Cannobio. I understand that there are busses and trains in the area to also help facilitate transportation. Are there private/charter boats in these towns that we can hire to move us around the lake after the ferry stops running (I don't mind paying the extra money)?

Any advice on moving around the lake in the evenings would be appreciated!

Posted by
4170 posts

This doesn't sound right . When I was last in Stresa , we took an early boat to Cannobio , about 9 AM , and came back around 6 PM . I don't know where you are looking , but this is the official ferry and boat information for the lake - https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/

Posted by
4170 posts

I just looked at the schedule , and while I see a boat at 17:05 Cannobio to Baveno , I do see the issue with Baveno to Cannobio arriving at 13:15 . Seems odd , in that it's high season in July , and demand for service would warrant more of it . I'll look further

Posted by
10 posts

This doesn't sound right . When I was last in Stresa , we took an early boat to Cannobio , about 9 AM , and came back around 6 PM . I don't know where you are looking , but this is the official ferry and boat information for the lake - https://www.navigazionelaghi.it/.

It didn't seem right to me either, but the website you shared is the one that I had been looking through. On the timetables that I found from the drop-down bar at the top of the screen, the Locarno-Arona line just appears to stop around 15:00.

Where did you find that 17:05 from Cannobio to Baveno? Even this would be a dramatic improvement from what I had seen previously! I really appreciate you looking into this.

Posted by
1806 posts

Don't I see one leaving at 17:05 when I scroll down to the 2nd page of the schedule?

Posted by
10 posts

Haha I'm such a dummy. Of course there's a second page. (facepalm)

Thanks for pointing that out, regardless.

Posted by
4170 posts

i'm just running out for a while , but after looking at the schedule further , I think I found the answer to going up earlier . I'll get back to you

Posted by
21274 posts

Note on the 17:05 boat is "8" in a square. That means Saturdays and Holidays only.

Posted by
4170 posts

Sorry for the delay , a couple of domestic chores . The boat routes seem to reflect the past two pandemic years of slimmed down travel . When we took this trip (2018 ) , the boats , while not crowded , were pretty full. I would suggest that service has been drastically reduced due to the virus . Two solutions - First , keep an eye on the boat schedules . There is already evidence that travel has dramatically picked up this season , and as a result, you may find that between now and your departure for Switzerland , the boat schedules could greatly improve . Second , there is bus service along the lakeshore ( sit on the right side of the bus for lake views ) from Baveno to Canobbio . Rome to Rio shows the options , not bad at all , and a day in Canobbio is well worth it . Have a look here -https://www.rome2rio.com/map/Baveno/Cannobio

Posted by
10 posts

This is all so helpful, Steven. Thank you.

You also make terrific points about COVID-affected travel schedules. I'll certainly have to keep my eye on the timetables and even discuss some of these things with a local travel expert once we arrive.

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