Lake Maggiore: A Curated Guide to the Best Things to Do

The best of Lake Maggiore comes down to a handful of things done well: the Borromean Islands and their gardens, time on the water, the food and wine of the hills behind the lake, and the golden hour. This is the short version of each, with the trips worth booking and links to go deeper.

The lake season runs roughly from spring to autumn — gardens at their best in spring, water and sunset in summer, wine and foliage in autumn.

The Borromean Islands

The lake's signature. Three islands in the gulf off Stresa: the Baroque palace of Isola Bella, the quiet garden of Isola Madre, and the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori. The catch is timing — the day-trip ferries flood them at midday, so go early or by private boat. Full method in how to visit the Borromean Islands without the crowds.

The island gardens

If gardens are the point of your trip, the islands deliver two of Italy's best: Isola Bella's terraced Baroque theatre and Isola Madre's gentler English-style garden, at their finest in spring. Which to choose, and when, in our guide to Lake Maggiore's island gardens.

On the water

Beyond the ferries, the lake is a place to paddle, sail and ride. A Canadian canoe to the Santa Caterina hermitage is the easy way on; a catamaran or a morning sail is the way to cross it. The full range — including an e-bike day and a tandem paraglide — is in getting on the water around Lake Maggiore.

Food and wine

Inland from the lake is Alto Piemonte, a serious Nebbiolo country that few travellers think to visit. Taste it on a food and wine day from Stresa, or learn to cook the local way in our cooking-class guide.

The golden hour

The quietest, loveliest time on the gulf is the last hour of light, once the day-trippers have gone. Spend it on a private boat or over a tasting dinner on Isola dei Pescatori — the options are in the best sunset boat trips and dinners.

Lake Orta and the unusual side

For a quieter day, neighbouring Lake Orta and Isola San Giulio is a short hop west. And for the genuinely offbeat — a vast tea plantation, a meal cooked in the wild — see unusual things to do around Lake Maggiore.

With children

The lake is easy with kids if you pick the hands-on things — a canoe to the islands, a Pinocchio to carve, a pizza night by the water. The family-friendly picks are in Lake Maggiore with kids.

When to go

• Spring — the island gardens in bloom; the calmest light before peak season.
• Summer — the water, the sailing, and the long golden evenings.
• Autumn — the Alto Piemonte wine harvest and the foliage in the hills.
• Any time you visit the islands, go early. They are busiest between roughly 11:00 and 15:00, when the day-trip ferries land.

FAQ

What are the best things to do on Lake Maggiore?

See the Borromean Islands and their gardens — Isola Bella's Baroque terraces and Isola Madre's English garden — spend time on the water by canoe or sail, taste the Nebbiolo of Alto Piemonte in the hills inland, and catch the golden hour by boat or over dinner on Isola dei Pescatori.

How many days do you need on Lake Maggiore?

Three to four days is comfortable: a day for the islands and gardens, a day on or by the water, a half-day for a wine tasting or cooking class inland, and an evening for the golden hour. Add a day if you want a side trip to quieter Lake Orta.

What is the best time of year to visit Lake Maggiore?

Spring for the island gardens in bloom, summer for the water and the long golden evenings, and autumn for the Alto Piemonte wine harvest and the foliage. The lake season runs roughly from spring to autumn; many island sites close in winter.

What is the must-do on Lake Maggiore?

The Borromean Islands. Go early or by private boat to avoid the midday day-trip crowds, and give yourself time for at least one of the gardens — Isola Madre if you want calm, Isola Bella for the Baroque showpiece.