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.
How long do you have?
Map: 1 days
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.
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.
Stresa lakefront
Promenade of Belle Époque hotels, gardens and boat landings, with views across the lake to the islands and mountains.
Piazza Cadorna
Stresa's main square near the lake, lined with cafés and restaurants, a good place for a gelato or an aperitivo.
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
Some of these are affiliate links: we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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.
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 andiamotravelapp@gmail.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
Opening hours change; check before you go. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.
