Travelling to Lake Maggiore and Getting around

Stresa is the main point of entry to the lake as it is a very popular tourist town where the jet set can be seen. The best ways to get to the lake are listed below.

FROM MILAN’S AIRPORTS TO STRESA THE MAIN ROUTE TO THE LAKE
Stresa is 45 km from Milan Malpensa (MXP), 110 km from Milan Linate (LIN) and 130 km from Milan Bergamo (BGY). You can hire a car, take a taxi or train.

FROM SWITZERLAND TO STRESA
Enter Italy on the Brig-Simplon (Sempione) or Gotthard-Locarno roads. From Brig (1h30m, 100km).

GETTING AROUND IN STRESA AND THE SURROUNDING AREA

BY CAR

  • You do not need to have a car in Stresa. The main attractions can be reached by other means.
  •  The Borromean Islands are well connected by boat.
  • Mottarone and the Alpinia garden are served by a cableway while Villa Pallavicino can be reached on foot.
  • The other places around Lake Maggiore are connected to each other by boat.
  •  A car is useful if you want to explore inland and you can easily hire one at the airports, at Milan’s Centrale station and at Stresa. If you want to hire a car at Stresa it is advisable to book in advance. Some taxis are available at the railway station and the main landing stage.

BY BOAT

  • Stresa is connected to the major tourist resorts on Lake Maggiore by the public service and by private companies.
  • The boats are spacious and often have a bar. You can buy single tickets or daily tickets which allow you to make an unlimited number of stops. At Stresa the main landing stage is in Piazza Marconi, attached to the tourist office. You can get to the Borromean Islands from a second landing stage (Lido di Stresa).
  • If you want personalized services (for example for evening trips) a taxi-boat can be hired from either of the two landing stages in Stresa.

BY TRAIN

  • The railway line goes only partly around the lake. You will therefore need to use other means to get to the main tourist destinations. However, we must point out the Lake Maggiore Express which connects Domodossola with Locarno along a panoramic railway through the mountains.