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Table of Contents:
How to get to Stresa from Milan
When to travel to Stresa
Stresa is considered to be the main town of Lake Maggiore in Northern Italy. The lake is situated on the border of the Italian province of Piedmont and Switzerland. Stresa is located on the western side of Lake Maggiore in Italy. The town is surprisingly picturesque both due to its geographical location between the mountains and the lake, and due to its historical heritage. In particular, here you can find numerous architectural villas of the 19th century, and the Borromean Islands, located on the lake. Borromean islands are a kind of architectural marvel with their palaces, landscaped gardens and peacocks walking around.
After some research, I decided to put together information I have previously found out and create a complete guide on how to organize a holiday in Stresa. I figured out how to get to the town, where to stay & what to see there. I really hope this detailed information will help you plan your trip to Stresa.
The best time for visiting Stresa and Borromean islands is the period from April to October when the natural landscapes and gardens are pretty colorful and marvelous. But in my opinion, the “low” tourist season also has its own charm as the weather is still mild, but the atmosphere is more private. Whenever you choose to travel to Lake Maggiore, it has breathtaking views and developed touristic infrastructure to offer.
How to get to Stresa
Where do you fly into to get to Stresa? Most often, travelers visit Stresa from Milan as the cities have direct train connection. You can check the current flight timetable to Milan via specialized online services such as Aviasales and other similar ones. I usually use Aviasales when planning my trips, because it can compare a great variety of available flight options. Then, from Milan you can take a train or hire a car to reach Lake Maggiore.
How to get to Stresa from Milan
Milan is the central point to the three great lakes of Northern Italy. Lake Garda is to the east, Lake Como is in the center, and Lake Maggiore is to the west. The distance between Milan and Lago Maggiore is about 90 km. Stresa, as the main town of the lake, is connected to Milan by rail and by highway.
By train: Regional RE trains start running between cities every day from 6 am. You can also find high-speed trains of the EC type. The travel time ranges from 1 hour to 1,5 hours, depending on the type of train. Trains in this direction run once every half hour, since the route is considered to be quite popular. When departing, pay attention to the departure station, because trains to Stresa from Milan depart from both Milano Centrale and Milano Porta Garibaldi Train Stations. The last train departs from Milan at 22.50. You can check the current train timetable and buy tickets in advance at the Raileurope booking service. I use Raileurope when planning my own trips around Europe and I can confirm it has a very convenient search with a lot of useful options.
By taxi: As an option, you can get from Milan to Stresa by taxi. The travel time takes you about 1 hour 20 minutes. You can order a taxi on the spot, or in advance via different international transfer services such as Kiwitaxi, Intui.Travel and others. As a rule, a taxi car is designed for 4 passengers and 3 pieces of luggage, so ordering a taxi solves the issue of transporting luggage if you are carrying more than one bag. Based on my research, both online services mentioned above have a lot of positive reviews so I can definitely recommend them. For sure, there are a lot of other taxi services available at the airport.
By rented car: If you have a driver`s license, you can also hire a car to travel to Stresa and discover other Lake Maggiore destinations. The distance between Milan and Stresa is 90 km. They are connected with #A8 highway. The travel time by car is about 1,5 hours (see on the map). You can book a car in Milan in advance via various online services, for example, via Discover Cars, Economybookings, etc. To rent a car you need to have a passport, a driver`s license and a bank card to pay for the services. Based on my experience, both online services are very convenient. I would recommend using both to compare available car rental options.
Where to stay in Stresa
Most of the hotels in Stresa are designed for a small number of guests, which creates an atmosphere of privacy on vacation. Only a small number of hotels here accommodate 50 or more rooms. When choosing a hotel, you should pay attention to such parameters as distance from the lake, the availability of additional options (parking, Wi-Fi, breakfast, luggage storage, view from the rooms), as well as reviews of tourists who have already visited Stresa. To my mind, it is also worth checking whether the town tax (1.5 euros per day) is included in the cost of accommodation or is paid separately.
La Palma 4* is located on the shore of a lake surrounded by a picturesque garden. In addition, the hotel features an outdoor swimming pool, a terrace with lake views, and a bar. A fitness center and sauna are also provided on the upper floors of the hotel. The hotel also offers its guests free private parking on site, no reservation is required. The hotel has rooms of different categories, including classic, superior, deluxe, junior suites and suites;
Hotel Royal 3* is a family-type hotel and is located within walking distance from the lake. The hotel has a garden, a terrace, an outdoor swimming pool, a restaurant, and free parking spaces. As online booking services provide tourists reviews, I found out that all hotel rooms have either lake view or garden one;
B&B Il Foletto del Lago 3* is surrounded by gardens and is located 5 km from the pier and a cable car station. Guests can stay in rooms of various categories, including family rooms. Each room is equipped with a coffee pot or a kettle. Breakfast is included in the price. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free public parking is available nearby;
Villa Maria 4* is located in a cozy picturesque area, 1 km from the pier. It features a restaurant and a swimming pool. You can stay in rooms of various categories. Some rooms have lake views. Breakfasts are paid additionally, if needed. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel and is free of charge. Free private parking is provided on site;
New La Lombardia City Center is located next to the lake. These apartments have a balcony, a microwave, a refrigerator and TV. The apartments have one bedroom. Wi-Fi is available throughout the apartments and is free of charge. Free public parking is provided nearby. Check-in is from 15.00, check-out is until 10.00.
What to see in Stresa
Stresa is considered to be a surprisingly colorful resort, located between picturesque mountains and an equally picturesque lake. But in addition to the local natural beauty, Stresa can offer many interesting activities and excursions, be it a funicular ride up the mountains, a walk around the botanical gardens and villas in the surrounding area, a ride on a tourist boat on the lake or exploring the lake islands belonging to the noble Borromean family.
Stresa is a landmark of Lago Maggiore. There is a beautiful promenade along the lake; the town is landscaped with numerous gardens, while the old quarters have retained their authenticity, and local villas, like pearls, shine against the backdrop of snow-white mountains and a blue lake.
When coming to Stresa, my advice to you is to climb the mountains to see Lago Maggiore from a bird’s eye view, just as don’t miss the opportunity to take a boat trip along the lake and see the snow caps of the mountains, and also be sure to observe the Borromean Islands, where unique villa interiors and landscaped parks with peacocks are located.
Mount Mottarone and Alpinia Botanical Garden
In my point of view, the best way to see Stresa and Lake Maggiore in one is to take the funicular up Mount Mottarone. You can land on the mountain on two levels. The first level is the Alpinia Botanical Garden, which has interesting species of flora and also can boast views of the lake and surrounding area. The garden contains northern alpine species of plants and trees.
The second level is the snow caps of Mottarone. The most complete, panoramic view of Stresa, the lake and the surrounding area are opened here. They say that in good weather you can even see Switzerland from here. The lift has different types of cabins. When going upstairs, it is worth remembering that the air temperature at the highest point is always several degrees lower than in Stresa, so long sleeves are a must here.
Monastery of Santa Caterina
The Monastery of Santa Caterina is the true historical heritage of Stresa. The monastery complex is located right in a steep cliff overhanging the lake, so you can only get here by water. During the day, numerous excursion boats sail here from the Stresa pier. The monastery was built back in the 12th century and has been perfectly preserved to this day. You can observe it not only from the outside, but also from the inside. In particular, a chapel built in the 12th century is open to visitors, in which authentic decoration and paintings of Italian artists have been preserved.
Villa Taranto
Villa Taranto in the surroundings of Stresa is famous not only for its magnificent architecture, but also for the botanical gardens located around the villa. The gardens are open to the public from March to November. The landscape style of the park is English with small splashes of Italian elements. Here you can find all kinds of plants and flowers collected from all over the world. Various events and exhibitions dedicated to a particular plant are often held here, for example, the tulip festival. The Gardens of Taranto also feature magnificent fountains, flower boulevards, hanging and terraced gardens and much more. I did some research to collect practical information for visiting and here it is:
- The villa and gardens are open daily from 8.30 to 6.30, with an entrance fee.
- Tickets can be purchased on site or online on the official Villa Taranto website.
Villa Pallavicino
Villa Pallavicino and its park can delight guests not only with beautiful views of the gardens and lake, but also with a wide variety of animals that live here. You will be surprised, but here you can find flamingos, peacocks, eagle owls, toucans, zebras, llamas, horses and even kangaroos. As I found out, the park is open to the public from March to November every day. A visit to Villa Pallavicino is three in one. You can find here a zoo, a botanical garden and amazing lake landscapes. The plants in the villa are mostly seasonal. There are numerous oleanders, rhododendrons, magnolias and other types of flowering plants.
Borromean Islands
The Borromean Islands are the “pearls” of the lake. You can spend the whole day here. The most convenient way to explore the islands with their many attractions is to board one of the excursion boats that sail between the islands. You can visit any of the islands, and then board the next scheduled boat and continue your journey around the islands in any order that interests you. Tickets for the boat can be purchased at the pier. Boat trips depart from Stresa pier during the whole day.
The Borromean archipelago consists of 5 separate islands; the most popular among tourists are Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatori. The islands are very small and accessible on foot. However, the size of the islands does not in any way affect their picturesqueness. Here you can find palaces, hanging gardens, park areas where rare animals and birds live, sculptures and statues are located, and southern species of plants and trees grow. There is some useful information for visiting that I discovered:
- All of these attractions are open to tourists, although entry costs are paid separately.
- Thus, to visit the Borromean Islands, you must pay the cost of traveling by boat + the cost of entry to the islands.
In general, I would say that Stresa is considered to be the “pearl” of Lake Maggiore, which can delight tourists with many attractions and entertainment. This is favored by the very location of the resort between the mountains and the lake. The tourist infrastructure is greatly developed here; in the town you can find numerous hotels of different star categories, restaurants serving local cuisine, bars, cafes, a picturesque promenade along the lake, a funicular, excursion boats and much more, designed to diversify the leisure time of vacationers on Lake Maggiore. To try different kinds of entertainment here, I would recommend staying in Stresa at least for 2+ more days.
Take a note! When going on a trip to Italy, do not forget to take out travel insurance, which is useful for receiving a tourist visa and for solving emerging medical problems when travelling in another country. You can purchase insurance via online services, for example, via EKTA and others. You can choose from different modes, including quiet, active or extreme rest.
Photo above the article: Matrixia2013
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Julia is an experienced traveller, BA in International Relations and Languages and true lover of planning trips in advance. Learn more about the author…