Lake Maggiore Trips & Tours

Lake Maggiore

Bigger than Como, quieter than Garda & home to some of the most extravagant island gardens in Europe, there's something about Lake Maggiore that feels untouched by trend.

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Lake Maggiore

A romantic and restorative escape to postcard-towns & lake-side beaches.

Stretching across Piedmont, Lombardy and even into Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is all about the quiet life (and definitely no celebrity spotting). It’s characterised by glacial mountain peaks and cold, deep, blue water, yet the camellias, azaleas and palms that spill from the terraces are a reminder of the surprisingly mild Mediterranean microclimate. Along the banks are grand villas and Belle Epoque hotels, charming towns and simple trattorias, and at the centre are the Borromean Islands, owned for centuries by one aristocratic family and still fabulously theatrical. Take a ferry from Stresa and hop between them; Isola Bella and the 17th century Palazzo Borromeo with its 10-tiered, peacock-filled gardens is Italy at its extravagant best, whilst Isola Madre is bountiful and botanical, and Isola dei Pescatori remains delightfully lived-in.

Trips

Lake Maggiore Trips & Tours

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Italy

Little-known Italy

10 nights from $16.6K per person

Langhe and Monferrato wine hills Piedmont Lake Maggiore

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Tessa Dancer

Africa & Asia Travel Specialist

Joanna Rigby-Jones

Italy Travel Specialist

Millie Trotter

Italy Travel Specialist

Things to do

What to do in Lake Maggiore

A 65-kilometre stretch of water that begins in Italy and ends in Switzerland, Lake Maggiore is the Italy of the old-world, grand, Belle Époque hotels still standing watch over the shore. The headline is a private boat trip across the Borromean Islands, the three of them each utterly distinct: Isola Madre for its botanical gardens, Isola dei Pescatori for its old fishing atmosphere and narrow lanes, and Isola Bella for the Borromeo family's 17th-century Baroque palace and tiered terraced gardens. Base yourself in Stresa for easy access to all three, with the cable car up Mount Mottarone offering an aerial view of the lake and the Alps. Oh and garden lovers should most certainly factor in Villa Taranto's lakeside botanical estate.

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Culture

Why you'll love it

Aristocratic glamour without pretension, where centuries-old gardens and island palaces promise adventure from every jetty.

Off the beaten track

Escape the shoreline crowds and trek to tiny mountain villages where time stands deliciously still and homemade polenta reigns.

Something to think about

Midweek visits offer a glimpse of local life beyond the tourist brochures, with quieter pathways and unhurried lake crossings.

When to go

Best time to visit Lake Maggiore

Excellent

Good

Mixed

january

Wet Season — a quieter time to visit

Reviews

Based on 948 Feefo Reviews

Kelly Reeve

August 2026

9 nights in Kenya

Kristen was very helpful and attentive in planning our Safari

Jenna was great to work with! She was very patient and informative throughout the process of figuring out the best itinerary for us.

Dachresha Harris

Great experience….bucket list ✅

August 2026

9 nights in Tanzania

Annie was amazing to partner with through this planning for our group of 14. She was patient, proactive and very communicative. She made sure we had everything we needed in place prior to our travels. She consistently sent reminders and providing me with crucial information. The resources provided to help with keeping our plans organized was great. I will definitely travel with Timbuktu again.

Guest

South Africa & Madagascar

August 2026

16 nights in Madagascar

Kevin has been great to work with. He’s very thorough and efficient and has great knowledge of our chosen destinations. Of course, we haven’t actually taken the trip yet, so I cannot comment on how well it will all flow. I have confidence that it will be wonderful.

Jenni Darling

August 2026

9 nights in Egypt and Morocco

Super professional and knowledgeable, and they were always very responsive to all my questions about the trip!

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