Are you wanting to travel outside of Milan to Lake Maggiore?
Lake Como may be the first lake that comes to mind when thinking of Italy. While Lake Como is no doubt glamorous, all of the lakes I have visited in Northern Italy have been incredible. If you arrive at Milan’s Malpensa airport, you are a mere 45 minutes from Stresa on Lake Maggiore. Stresa is a well manicured, beautifully landscaped town. From the Borromean Islands to Parco Pallavicino, you will not find yourself disappointed with a day or two in Stresa. Let me talk you through your trip from Milan to Lake Maggiore and all about Stresa.
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Transportation
Arrival to Stresa via car is relatively simple. One of the first things you will want to do is make sure that you have your international driving permit to drive in Italy. This can be accomplished at your local AAA. There is a small fee and the permit is good for one year. The rental process from the Malpensa airport is relatively painless. You can search and compare your rental options here with Discover Cars. If you plan to spend time in Milan during your trip, I recommend returning the rental prior to going into the city. Driving in Milan does not look pleasant, and it is so easy to get on the train from Malpensa airport and take it into Milano Centrale. The trains leave rather frequently and the system is user friendly. If you do not want to rent a car to explore the lakes, another option would be via train.
I felt the best exit for Stresa was at Baveno off the A26 motorway. You then have to backtrack slightly along the lake for about 5km. I found it helpful to email our hotel in advance, and they gave driving directions for three different routes to the hotel with a small explanation. One of the routes was a scenic mountain route not accessible to buses. This sounded a little intimidating. The final route included a longer more leisurely drive along the lake, which sounded nice. I know with smart phones and navigation in the cars, it seems easy enough to find your destination. However, I have found myself on some slightly scary roads thanks to navigation. Or, your device may tell you cars are not allowed on the route you need to take to get to your destination.
Things to Do Nearby:
Borromean Islands
An absolute must do in Stresa is visiting the Borromean Islands. The Borromean Islands are a group of three islands: Isola Madre, Isola Pescatori, and Isola Bella. From a few different points in Stresa, you are able to buy ferry tickets to visit the islands. I purchased a ticket to visit all three. If you don’t linger, spending half of your day visiting the islands is possible. That being said, you could easily make this a leisurely full day activity. Dependent upon where you stay, your hotel may also provide the ability to arrange a private transfer. The pricing provided by our hotel for all three islands and up to five guests was 130 euros. Here are some other options from Get Your Guide for just the boat transfer versus purchasing an all inclusive ticket with villa entry. I would recommend checking with your hotel for options on how to find the best price.
Isola Madre is the largest of the three islands and also the furthest away from Stresa. The boat transfer is still relatively short in duration. Once you arrive at the dock, you can purchase tickets here that you can use for admission at the other islands. Your costs will come in purchasing the ferry transfer and a separate charge for admission to view the grounds at the islands. Isola Madre has lovely gardens and a number of birds and other wildlife. My favorite was seeing all of the peacocks. As you continue walking, you will make your way to a villa that you will want to tour prior to leaving the island.
Isola Pescatori is very different than Madre. This is a fishing village that is the best place to have lunch. Versus Isola Madre, there are numerous food choices available. If you would like something quick, I recommend following the signs to the mini market. This hidden spot has refreshments, snacks, and sandwiches. I chose my meat and a cheese which were delivered to me on focaccia bread. It was simple, but it tasted absolutely amazing. Maybe I am easily impressed, but I haven’t enjoyed such a simple sandwich with the flavor as readily in the US. There are plenty of other options to sit down and enjoy a slower paced meal. It is fun to wander the picturesque small alleyways. Outside of food, I would plan to spend the shortest amount of time at Pescatori.
You will end your tour of the islands at Isola Bella. This island really puts meaning into the grand finale. I felt rushed at the end of the day and would have preferred to spend the majority of my time at the gardens on Isola Bella. In order to fully enjoy the island, plan to spend at a minimum two hours here. When you arrive, take some time to walk around, but do not get too wrapped up in the area outside of the palace and gardens. There are a number of stores to browse and plenty of gelato to eat, but the real beauty is the palace. We purchased a full access ticket at Isola Madre, so we were able to scan our ticket at Bella and easily go inside. The palace here is quite large compared to Madre. The windows looking onto Lake Maggiore offer expansive views. I didn’t look at any photos in advance of my visit, so when I walked outside to the gardens, I was shocked. They are lavish beyond all imagination.
Day trips to the lakes are also possible. If you would like to visit Stresa as a day trip, here is another option from Get Your Guide that leaves and returns from Milan. This full day tour visits only the Borromean Island of Isola Bella along with Stresa for a total trip time of 10 hours. It may present a nice option for individuals not wanting to rent a car but still explore outside of Milan.
Parco Pallavicino
This Park is barely a 5 minute drive from the main town of Stresa. There is a parking lot across the street from the main entry. In the morning, there were still plenty of parking spaces available. The park is built somewhat vertical, so you will find yourself getting plenty of exercise as you start exploring. There is a lot to see but my favorite part of the park was the gardens. I started by heading up to the farm where you can see everything from llamas, alpacas, donkeys, sheep, deer, and the list goes on. Once you have traveled uphill you can enter a petting zoo and then start making your way to the gardens (a map is provided upon entry for your convenience). There are a couple of really stunning viewpoints over Lake Maggiore from the gardens. The other thing that I recommend is visiting the cafeteria that looks over the gardens. Again, I had another really incredible sandwich here with aged prosciutto, cheese, and basil on a pristine piece of bread. I enjoyed this with a glass of Prosecco, but they have several options for sandwiches and beverages.
Restaurant Considerations
In advance of our stay, I requested a list of recommended restaurants from our hotel. I chose to eat at Mamma Mia, which is in the main town of Stresa. Their outdoor patio had great atmosphere. The food selection includes traditional Italian fare including pizzas and pastas. A great way to start is their selection of meats and cheeses. If you want a more unique dining experience, consider eating at one of the restaurants on the Borromean Islands. There are boat transfers provided in the evening to these restaurants even though the regular ferries are no longer in service. Many are provided by the restaurant. In retrospect, I think this would really be a unique experience and a lovely way to spend the evening. I’m kind of sad that I missed out on this experience! In the future, I would not skip a visit to wander aimlessly around Stresa, but I would book dinner on one of the islands versus in town.
Hotel Review
I decided to stay at the Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta, a member of the leading hotels of the world. This hotel is absolutely fantastic, and I would not hesitate to stay here again. That being said, it is not immediately adjacent to the main town of Stresa. For your convenience, they have a shuttle service that runs into town multiple times throughout the day. The drive is about 4-5 minutes. In the evening, the shuttle does not run. I would not recommend walking into town after dark because the road is two lanes with very minimal walking space. If you have a car, there are easily visualized parking lots near the main portion of town.
Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta is a grand property with views of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands. The inside looks and feels lavish with beautiful chandeliers, ornate ceilings, marble columns, and fanciful decor. Although the lobby is rather small, it branches off to multiple seating areas. After check in, we were told to find a seat in the lobby for our welcome drink. We sat by the grand piano with the lake in the distance. If you want a drink later in the day, there is a beautiful bar and room nearby showcasing their wine selections.
The rooms are tastefully decorated with traditional decor. Although we did not reserve a room with a view, many had lovely patios with views to the Borromean Islands. The bed was comfortable and the room included a small table and chairs. Everything in the mini bar was included in the stay. The bathroom was spacious with a jetted marble tub that was perfect after a long flight. All bath products were Acqua di Parma, which are always fantastic. In the bathroom, you will also find Etro robes in a lovely bright pink with green trim and slippers.
There is a road that separates the hotel (and all the hotels in Stresa) from the lake. For the most part, they all face the lake. Our hotel had chaise lounges and narrow strip of lawn with hydrangeas that was immediately lakeside. You can walk across the street for access.
You can access more information about Hotel Villa e Palazzo Aminta by clicking here. Another wonderful option that is closer to town that I strongly considered was Grand Hotel Des Iles Borromees and Spa. The proximity to the main town of Stresa offers convenience and plenty of options within walking distance for dinner. The inside of this hotel is also quite beautiful and grand. Both would be wonderful options for a stay in Stresa.
In Summary
Here is my full summary of Stresa for all the pertinent points! Plan on visiting all three Borromean Islands and spending a generous half day to one full day exploring everything. Spend a half day walking around Stresa and have lunch in town. For dinner, consider taking a ferry to one of the restaurants on the Borromean Islands. Make a short stop to Parco Pallavicino primarily to admire their gardens and enjoy a bite at their cafe. If you have more time, consider taking a ferry to Verbania on the other side of Lake Maggiore where you can visit the gardens at Villa Taranto (I did not visit, but it looks lovely). I think you will find the trip from Milan to Lake Maggiore well worth your time!
