Baroque island palaces, a cliffside hermitage and elegant lakeside towns.
Lake Maggiore (Lago Maggiore, or Lake Verbano) is Italy's second-largest lake — a long, narrow expanse stretching from Lombardy into Piedmont and Switzerland, shaped by centuries of Borromeo family patronage. Its Baroque islands, cliff-hanging hermitage and elegant towns make it one of the most romantic of the northern lakes.
Quick answer
How do I get from Milan to Lake Maggiore?
By car: A8 motorway then follow signs to Lago Maggiore — 80 km, ~1 hour. By train: Cadorna to Laveno (~1.5 h, €8) or Porta Garibaldi to Stresa/Arona. By guided tour: day trips typically include ferry access to the Borromean Islands.
By Ivanka García Mancebo, Civitatis travel specialist
80 km
From Milan
~1 h
By car
Isola Bella
Must-see
Full day
Recommended
Lake Maggiore and its Borromean islands, north-west of Milan.
What to see
The magic of Maggiore is out on the water — the Borromean Islands off Stresa.
Baroque splendour
Isola Bella
An extraordinary Baroque palace and terraced gardens rising straight out of the lake — the Borromeo family's masterpiece.
Gardens & peacocks
Isola Madre
The largest island, with a tropical botanical garden and white peacocks roaming freely.
The gateway
Stresa
An elegant belle-époque resort town, the departure point for ferries to the islands.
Dramatic
Santa Caterina del Sasso
A medieval monastery built into the rock face above the lake near Leggiuno — one of the great sights of the Italian lakes.
Getting around the lake
The easiest and most enjoyable way to explore Lake Maggiore and hop between its villages is by ferry — regular boats from Stresa serve Isola Bella, Isola Madre and the other lakeside towns, and there are car ferries too if you're driving. Thanks to the Borromeo family's wealth, the hamlets around the lake were enriched over the centuries with churches, villas and gardens that still captivate today.
Visiting tips
Base yourself in Stresa and take the ferry out to the Borromean Islands.
A combined island ticket covers Isola Bella and Isola Madre's palaces and gardens.
Don't miss Santa Caterina del Sasso, reachable by boat or a stairway from the road.
The northern end reaches into Switzerland — Locarno is close by.
The easiest way to visit
Lake Maggiore & Borromean Islands day trips
Guided excursions from Milan with ferry access to the islands included.
By trainCadorna → Laveno (~1.5 h, from €8); or Porta Garibaldi → Stresa/Arona.
By carA8 motorway then signs to Lago Maggiore, ~80 km, about 1 hour.
Getting aroundFerries connect the towns and the Borromean Islands.
Best timeSpring and early autumn for gardens in bloom and mild weather.
Frequently asked questions
By car: A8 motorway then follow signs to Lago Maggiore — 80 km, ~1 hour. By train: Cadorna to Laveno (~1.5 h, €8) or Porta Garibaldi to Stresa/Arona. By guided tour: day trips typically include ferry access to the Borromean Islands.
A group of islands owned by the Borromeo family since the 15th century. Isola Bella has an extraordinary Baroque palace and terraced gardens; Isola Madre is the largest, with a tropical garden and free-roaming white peacocks.
A medieval monastery built directly into the rock face above the lake near Leggiuno — one of the most dramatic sights on any of Italy's northern lakes. Reachable by boat from Stresa or by descending the stairs from the road above.
About 80 km northwest of Milan — roughly 1 hour by car or 1.5 hours by train from Cadorna to Laveno.
