Travel Guide

Stresa

Italy

Best time to go: April–June, September–October

Sights

Isola Bella – The Borromeo family's baroque palace and terraced gardens.
Isola Madre – A botanical garden with peacocks and exotic plants.
Fishermen's Island – A fishing village with narrow lanes and restaurants.
Lakeside promenade – Belle Époque hotels and flowers along the shore.
Giardini Botanici di Villa Taranto – A large garden in Verbania, famous for azaleas and dahlias.
Santa Caterina del Sasso – A hermitage on a cliff face, reachable by boat.

Risotto with perch fillets – The classic dish of the northern Italian lakes.
Margheritine di Stresa – Crumbly butter biscuits named in honour of Queen Margherita.
Aperitivo on the lake – A spritz with a view of the islands.
Gelato – Ice cream on the promenade.

Lake Orta and Orta San Giulio – A quiet neighbouring lake with a monastery island.
Locarno – Across the lake to Switzerland by boat.
Centovalli – A scenic railway from Domodossola to Locarno.

When to go: April–June, September–October
Getting around: By train over the Simplon via Domodossola; Navigazione Lago Maggiore boats to the islands and Verbania.
Tipping: Service is usually included – rounding up is a nice gesture.
Power: Plug type C/F/L, 230 V – pack an adapter for Swiss plugs.
Currency: Euro (EUR)

Create a trip plan and the Travel Guide comes with it – with a map, ideas to suggest and saved for offline use.

General tips without guarantee – please check opening times and prices locally.