Lake Maggiore, Italy - Travel Guide

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Plan a free trip to Lake Maggiore

Updated: 2026-10-11

Lake Maggiore is a picturesque gem straddling Italy and Switzerland, offering breathtaking views of mountains, enchanting islands, and elegant towns. It's a perfect destination for a relaxing and luxurious holiday, with an abundance of water activities, stunning botanical gardens, and historic architecture.

Top things to do in Lake Maggiore

Things to do in Lake Maggiore include Isola Bella, Stresa, Santa Caterina del Sasso. Here are 15 places worth knowing, with a short note on each.

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A sample 3-day itinerary for Lake Maggiore

Here is what 3 days in Lake Maggiore look like when the planner builds them: stops grouped by proximity so no day doubles back, one full day at a time. The same route can be built for any length, from two days to a week.

Day 1

Stops
3
  1. 1
    AronaTown
    2.1 km
  2. 2
    Rocca di AngeraCastle · Angera
    12 km
  3. 3
    Santa Caterina del SassoMonastery · Leggiuno
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Day 2

Stops
8
  1. 1
    Isola MadreIsland · Borromean Islands
    1.7 km
  2. 2
    VerbaniaCity
    6.7 km
  3. 3
    Sacro Monte di GhiffaTemple
    8.6 km
  4. 4
    Borromean Islands
    1.6 km (🚶 38 min / 🚌 15 min)
  5. 5
    Isola BellaBorromean Islands
    16 km
  6. 6
    Parco Nazionale della Val GrandeNational park
    17 km
  7. 7
    StresaTown · Stresa
    6.8 km
  8. 8
    Monte MottaroneMountain · Stresa
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Day 3

Stops
3
Walking
1h 16m
  1. 1
    AsconaTown · Ascona
    3.5 km (🚶 58 min / 🚌 23 min)
  2. 2
    Madonna del SassoChurch · Locarno
    1.1 km (🚶 18 min)
  3. 3
    LocarnoCity · Locarno
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This is an example. The planner builds a different route for your dates, real opening hours, how you get around and your own preferences.

Frequently asked questions

What are the top things to do in Lake Maggiore?

Isola Bella, Stresa, Santa Caterina del Sasso, Locarno, Ascona, Isola Madre and 9 more. Isola Bella: A beautiful island with a magnificent Baroque palace and stunning terraced gardens, a must-see for any visitor to the lake.

What can you do in 3 days in Lake Maggiore?

Day 1: Arona, Rocca di Angera, Santa Caterina del Sasso. Day 2: Isola Madre, Verbania, Sacro Monte di Ghiffa, Borromean Islands. Day 3: Ascona, Madonna del Sasso, Locarno.

Which areas should you explore in Lake Maggiore?

The itinerary for Lake Maggiore runs through Angera, Leggiuno, Borromean Islands, Stresa, Ascona and Locarno.

Destinations near Lake Maggiore

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