Lake Maggiore—Italy’s second-largest lake—spills from Piedmont and Lombardy into Switzerland’s Ticino, where a mild microclimate fosters palms, camellias, and azaleas beneath snow-dusted peaks. Since Roman times, travelers have loved its blue expanse; in the Baroque era, the Borromeo family crowned its islands with palaces and gardens that still dazzle today.

Expect languid ferries, Art Nouveau villas, and garden masterpieces like Isola Bella and Villa Taranto. On the Swiss shore, Locarno and Ascona pair Mediterranean moods with Alpine backdrops, funiculars, and cable cars to airy lookouts. Spring (March–May) bursts with blooms; summer (June–September) brings warm swims and long golden evenings; October offers crisp days and chestnut dishes.

Practical notes: you’ll use euros in Italy and Swiss francs in Ticino (cards widely accepted). Ferries run year‑round with expanded schedules in high season; always check same‑day timetables at the pier. This 7‑day itinerary bases you in two hubs—Stresa (4 nights) and Locarno (3 nights)—to keep travel smooth while covering signature sights.

Stresa (Italy)

Stresa is Lake Maggiore’s belle époque postcard: elegant promenades, grand hotels, and the perfect jumping‑off point for the Borromean Islands. Morning light gilds the lake; afternoons are for slow ferries and garden strolls; evenings end with an aperitivo as lights twinkle across the water.

• Don’t miss: Isola Bella’s palace and tiered gardens; Isola Madre’s exotic park; Isola dei Pescatori’s fishermen’s lanes; Verbania’s Villa Taranto; the cliff‑hugging Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
• Eat & drink: Classic Piedmont flavors (agnolotti, brasato al Barolo) meet lake fish (lavarello). For aperitivo with a view, the Sky Bar at Hotel La Palma is iconic.
• Stay: Browse lakeside stays and apartments on Hotels.com (Stresa) or characterful villas via VRBO (Stresa).
• Getting there: Fly into Milan (MXP/LIN/BGY) and take a train to Stresa (~1–1.5 hrs from Milano Centrale; €8–15). Search flights and trains on Omio (flights) and Omio (trains in Europe).

Day 1: Arrive in Stresa, lakeside stroll, and Piedmont flavors

Afternoon: Arrive via Milan and check in. Stretch your legs along the lungolago, admiring the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées and the cypress‑lined shore. Coffee and a buttery cornetto at historic Pasticceria Bolongaro set the tone.

Evening: Sunset aperitivo at the Sky Bar – Hotel La Palma for sweeping views. Dinner at Ristorante Il Vicoletto (cozy lanes, seasonal Piedmont cuisine—try agnolotti del plin and lake fish with lemon‑capers). Nightcap gelato back on Piazza Cadorna.

Day 2: The Borromean Islands by boat

Morning: Grab cappuccini at Caffè Torino then board the hop‑on hop‑off ferries. Start with Isola Bella: tour the Baroque palace and shell grottoes, then wander the theatrical terraced gardens (plan 1.5–2 hours). Combined palace/garden ticket for Isola Bella + Isola Madre is ~€35–40.

Afternoon: Lunch with a view at Ristorante Elvezia on Isola Bella (lake fish risotto; terrace tables). Continue to Isola dei Pescatori: peek into the tiny church, shop artisan stalls, and if peckish, share antipasti di lago at Ristorante Verbano’s casual spaces on the island.

Evening: End on Isola Madre, a quieter botanical paradise of peacocks and rare trees. Ferry back to Stresa. Dinner at Lo Stornello (seasonal tasting menus and Alto Piemonte wines like Gattinara). Digestivo: a local amaro or a glass of Moscato d’Asti.

Day 3: Verbania Pallanza and Villa Taranto Gardens

Morning: Ferry 25–35 minutes to Pallanza (Verbania). Explore the elegant lakeside and spend 1.5–2 hours in Villa Taranto Gardens—a botanist’s dream with spring tulip seas and summer dahlias (entry ~€12–13).

Afternoon: Lunch at waterfront Ristorante Milano (homemade tagliolini with perch; excellent wine list). Linger over espresso at Caffè delle Rose on the promenade, then ferry back via Baveno to admire its Romanesque church and lakeside views.

Evening: Taxi 10–15 minutes up to La Rampolina (Baveno hillside) for sunset over the islands—order vitello tonnato and tajarin. Back in Stresa, an easy night stroll along the music kiosk and gardens.

Day 4: East shore icons—Santa Caterina del Sasso and Laveno’s “bucket” cable car

Morning: Boat to the cliff‑clinging Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso near Leggiuno. Descend via steps or elevator to this 13th‑century sanctuary built into the rock; the tiny cloister frames perfect lake views.

Afternoon: Continue to Laveno‑Mombello. Ride the vintage Funivia del Lago Maggiore—standing “bucket” cabins—to Sasso del Ferro for a picnic‑with‑a‑view (return ~€12–15). Lunch at Locanda Pozzetto (panoramic terrace; lake fish and seasonal salads).

Evening: Return to Stresa. For a splurge, book Il Borromeo (in the Grand Hotel) for classic service and Piedmont truffles in season; otherwise, seek a relaxed trattoria on the backstreets and end with a lakeside amble.

Locarno (Switzerland)

Just over the border, Locarno blends Italian soul with Swiss precision: palm‑lined promenades, arcaded piazzas, and a funicular to a mountaintop sanctuary. It’s your launchpad for the Centovalli Railway, the Verzasca Valley’s emerald pools, and Ascona’s celebrated waterfront.

• Highlights: Piazza Grande and the Visconteo Castle precinct; the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary; the Cardada‑Cimetta cable car; lakeside Ascona; the Brissago Islands’ subtropical garden.
• Eat & drink: Rustic grotti for polenta and braised meats; lake fish; Ticino Merlot. Top pastries at Marnin and Al Porto.
• Stay: Compare central hotels and lakeside resorts on Hotels.com (Locarno) or book a stylish apartment via VRBO (Locarno).
• Getting in/from Stresa: Travel the scenic route: Stresa → Domodossola (~35–45 min), then the Centovalli Railway to Locarno (~1h50). Total ~2.5–3 hrs; ~€25–35. Book the Italian leg on Omio (trains); buy Centovalli tickets at the station (seats are unassigned; keep your passport handy for the border).

Day 5: Transfer to Locarno, sanctuary views, and Ascona by night

Morning: Depart Stresa after breakfast and ride the Centovalli line past stone villages, chestnut woods, and gorges into Ticino. Check into your Locarno hotel.

Afternoon: Espresso and a slice of torta di pane at Pasticceria Marnin near Piazza Grande, then take the funicular to Madonna del Sasso in Orselina for sweeping lake views and quiet cloisters.

Evening: Taxi or stroll to Ascona (20–30 minutes on foot from Muralto; or a short bus). Dinner at Grotto Baldoria (no menu: shared antipasti, roast chicken, polenta; cash preferred; reservations recommended) or Osteria Nostrana on the piazza for pizza, risotti, and lake fish. Nightcap at Enoteca Borgo amid cobbled lanes.

Day 6: Verzasca Valley day trip—emerald pools and the 007 dam

Morning: Bus 321 from Locarno Station to Lavertezzo (~40–50 min; CHF 12–20 round trip depending on zones; buy at machines or via app). Walk the Romanesque Ponte dei Salti and follow the riverside path; in summer, the polished rock pools are irresistible for a (careful) swim.

Afternoon: Rustic lunch at Grotto al Ponte (Lavertezzo)—polenta with braised rabbit or mushrooms; simple Ticino charcuterie. Stop at the Contra (Verzasca) Dam on the return for a photo of the 220‑m wall from “GoldenEye”; thrill‑seekers can book the seasonal bungee jump (CHF ~255–270).

Evening: Back in Locarno, dine at Ristorante Cittadella (old‑town ambience, fresh pastas and fish) or Osteria Borghese (market‑led Ticino plates). Dessert at Pasticceria Al Porto in Ascona if you fancy a post‑dinner stroll along the water.

Day 7: Cardada‑Cimetta panoramas and the Brissago Islands; departure

Morning: Coffee at Pasticceria Marnin, then ride the funicular to Orselina and the cable car to Cardada, with an optional chairlift to Cimetta (round‑trip CHF ~38–45). A 30–60 minute ridge walk delivers views from Lake Maggiore to the Valais Alps. Lunch at Ristorante Cardada or the simple Capanna Cimetta with polenta and stew on the terrace.

Afternoon: Time permitting, boat to the Brissago Islands from Ascona or Porto Ronco (garden entry ~CHF 10–12; ferries extra) to wander among palms, lotus ponds, and subtropical flora before heading back to collect luggage.

Evening (Departure): Trains from Locarno to Milano Centrale via Bellinzona take ~2.5–3 hrs; to Zurich ~3 hrs. Compare routes and book on Omio (trains). For intra‑Europe flights home, see Omio (flights). If you’re pairing other European lakes, check Omio (ferries) and Omio (buses).

Where to Stay (quick picks)

• Stresa: For belle époque glamour near the pier, search Hotels.com – Stresa. For family‑friendly apartments with kitchenettes or villas above town, browse VRBO – Stresa.
• Locarno: Lakeside resorts with pools and boutique stays near Piazza Grande on Hotels.com – Locarno; apartments and lofts in Muralto or Ascona via VRBO – Locarno.

Budgeting quick guide (2025): Island ferry day pass €20–25; Borromean palaces combo €35–40; Villa Taranto €12–13; Laveno cable car €12–15; Centovalli route €25–35; Cardada‑Cimetta CHF 38–45; Verzasca bus CHF 12–20; casual dinners €18–35 per person Italy / CHF 25–45 Switzerland.

With two perfectly placed bases, this Lake Maggiore week balances grand gardens and island palaces with mountain air and riverside rambles. You’ll taste both Piedmont and Ticino, travel by boat, train, and funicular, and leave with sunsets—and azalea‑scented mornings—etched into memory.