Free Lake Maggiore itinerary

Lake Maggiore day trip from Milan

A day trip to Lake Maggiore from Milan: by boat from Stresa to the fishing village on Isola dei Pescatori, then Palazzo Borromeo and its terraced gardens on Isola Bella, and back to the Stresa lakefront and Piazza Cadorna. Every stop has a typical visit length.

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How long do you have?

Map: 1 day

Lake Maggiore in 1 day

Day 1

Isola dei Pescatori
The only one of the Borromean Islands with a year-round village, a cluster of narrow lanes, fishermen's houses and lakeside restaurants.
about 1 h 15 min
Isola Bella (Palazzo Borromeo and gardens)
Island almost covered by the Borromeo family's Baroque palace and its terraced Italian gardens, home to white peacocks.
about 2 h 30 min
Stresa lakefront
Promenade of Belle Époque hotels, gardens and boat landings, with views across the lake to the islands and mountains.
about 45 min
Piazza Cadorna
Stresa's main square near the lake, lined with cafés and restaurants, a good place for a gelato or an aperitivo.
about 30 min

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Getting there

From Milan, trains from Milano Centrale reach Stresa in about an hour, and by car it is about 1 hour 15 minutes on the A8/A26 motorways. From the Stresa landing stages, boats reach Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori in a few minutes.

Staying in Milan? This day fits into those city plans, and in the Trip Builder it is one click under each of them.

When to go to Lake Maggiore

April to October is the season, when the boats run often and the Isola Bella gardens are open; spring brings flowering camellias and azaleas, and summer is warm and busy. Winter is quiet, with many hotels and the island palaces closed. The Stresa Festival of classical music runs in summer.

Plan the rest of your trip

Where to stay: hotels in Lake Maggiore on Booking.com or Trip.com
Skip-the-line tickets: museums and sights in Lake Maggiore on Tiqets
Tours and day trips: things to do in Lake Maggiore on GetYourGuide
Data on arrival: an eSIM for Italy from Airalo

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Tips for Lake Maggiore

Boats to the Borromean Islands leave from Stresa's landing stages through the day; a day ticket lets you hop between the islands.
Isola Bella's palace and gardens are open from spring to autumn only and close for the winter; check the season dates before going.
Arrive early in summer and at weekends: the boats and Isola Bella fill with visitors from late morning.
Isola dei Pescatori is a good place for lunch, with lake fish served on terraces by the water.
Check the last train back to Milan before you set out; the lakefront is a short walk downhill from Stresa station.

Make it your own

Open the guide in Andiamo Places to see every stop on a map with walking directions, move places between days, check opening hours for your dates, and add your own finds. After the trip, your photos become a journal and, if you like, a printed photo book.

Open the Lake Maggiore guide

Guides are made with the help of AI and public sources such as Wikipedia, and may contain errors. Opening hours and prices change, so check before you go. Spotted a wrong photo, a pin in the wrong place, a missing stop or a better one? Write to hello@andiamoplaces.com: the e-mail opens with this guide filled in.

Photo credits

Isola Bella (Palazzo Borromeo and gardens): CucombreLibre from New York, NY, USA, CC BY 2.0
Isola dei Pescatori: unknown author, CC BY-SA 3.0
Stresa lakefront: Markus Bernet, CC BY-SA 2.0