Lake Maggiore

Explore scenic Lake Maggiore in Italy's beautiful Lake District on a day trip from Milan. The fashionable lakeside town of Stresa is an approximate 1.5-hour drive from Milan and is surrounded by majestic snowcapped mountains. After spending some free time in Stresa, shopping or simply relaxing and enjoying the stunning scenery, you'll take a two-hour panoramic boat cruise on Lake Maggiore, visiting the Borromean Islands – Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella.

Cool, slow and delicious appetize on Lake Maggiore with fantastic and unique panorama for small groups

Immerse yourself in a small group dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from the Lake Maggiore area treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 3-course menu including starter, pasta and dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of 1000+ home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Soak up stunning lake scenery during a private boat tour of Lake Maggiore to the Borromean Islands and Hermitage of Santa caterina cruise. With your own private vessel and captain, travel in style and enjoy total privacy as you bask in the Mediterranean sun. Glide by lush lakeside gardens and towns, stop to view Borromean Palace on Isola Bella or cruise to the other idyllic Borromean Islands and Hermitage. Upgrade to include a local guide, who will accompany you on the trip and reveal more about the history and culture of the region.

You can't visit Italy without trying at least one pasta dish… So, we'll teach you two! Learn how to roll 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand and how to prepare 2 simple different kinds of pasta from scratch with your Cesarina. As the icing on the cake you will learn to prepare also the iconic Tiramisu. Share your passion for the Italian cuisine as you make new friends in this hands-on cooking class. It's a great way to truly experience Italian culture. • Learn to roll 'sfoglia' (fresh pasta) by hand • Learn to make 2 iconic pasta types • Learn to make the iconic tiramisu • Small-group cooking class with a maximum of 12 people. Share your passion for the Italian cuisine with other lovely guests • Enjoy an Italian Aperitivo to warm-up Le Cesarine is Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country. They are welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

Hello, I'm Micaela Lucini, an expert local guide in Stresa. If you wish a tailor made tour, with different timings and options, please get in touch with me. This is a guided tour of lake Maggiore's islands using private charter boat for our transfers to explore beautiful isola Bella, the most famous of the Borromeo islands, and Fishermen's island accompanied by a personal English-speaking tour guide. Discover an incredible island – isola Bella – where art, history, architecture, exotic and mediterranean species make this place at the foot of the Alps something unique in the world. Stroll through the quaint village on isola Pescatori to discover the old island's activities. Enjoy a private water tour around isola Madre to admire it from the lake or make the most of your trip and include also a stop and guided visit to isola Madre to explore its lovely botanical gardens with orange trees, agaves, palms and the island's 16th-century villa which houses a puppet theatre collection.

Feel like a Vip and enjoy a private cruise on lake Maggiore before sunset! This is a beautiful and relaxing way to discover lake Maggiore's beauties accompanied by an experienced tour guide. Admire lake Maggiore's coastline dotted with old towns, lovely gardens and historical villas; the Italian Alps that surround the lake, the islands in the Borromean gulf. You will be accompanied a knowledgeable local guide – fluent in English – who will be happy to answer your questions, tell you interesting stories, point out the most picturesque sites abd by an expert captain in a comfortable private boat. The cruise takes place in the late afternoon, before sunset, when the colours of lake Maggiore are at their best. So whether you are a couple, a family with children, a small group of friends or a larger party, this can really be a very special moment during your stay or trip to lake Maggiore.

Enjoy the beautiful landscapes and share unforgettable moments with your family and friends in the energizing waters of the lake. The 360-degree view and the freedom to travel at your own pace allow you to create your own adventure and connect with nature in a deeper way.

Embark on Italy’s Ultimate Underground Cheese Experience at Guffanti Fiori near Lake Maggiore. Delve into a cool, 10°C (50°F) cellar stocked with over 200 varieties of Italian and international cheeses. Learn expert cheese-handling techniques and enjoy a guided tasting of six seasonal artisan cheeses paired with bread, breadsticks, water, and a glass of wine. A light jacket or fleece is recommended to stay comfortable in the cellar’s cool climate.

The experience of stopping in one of the most evocative places of Lake Maggiore listening to the live notes of an accordion while enjoying a "special" aperitif, the result of a sophisticated search for local products.

Set in the stunning Maggiora hills near Lake Maggiore, embark on a guided winery tour in a historic castle on the Supervulcano's volcanic terrain. Learn winemaking inside the winery with the family led staff. Get guided into 4 tastings of Nebbiolo and Boca grapes, red wines with a character, paired with cheese & cold cuts. This experience offers insights into winemaking, agriculture, grape varieties, and food pairings, perfect for couples, families, and friends

You can learn how to make 3 typical dishes of Italian cuisine and then taste them with us. You can do it with us, during our Italian cooking course in the province of Varese, on the shores of Lake Maggiore. The three typical dishes that you will learn to cook are: • pizzoccheri • Ligurian pesto • the tiramisu

We will teach you how to prepare a good dough, its leavening, spreading, garnishing and cooking tricks to make tasty pizzas. Between one batch and another, you can relax with a glass of wine or beer in the kitchen or in the garden of an early 1900s villa in a town near the shores of Lake Maggiore. It will be possible – at times – to be accompanied by the music of an accordion played live.

This private experience will start with a private pick-up by Mercedes sedan/minivan at your hotel in Milan. Your private and friendly English-speaking driver will take you to explore the beautiful Lake Maggiore. After arriving to the town of Stresa, a nice ferry-boat ride will take you to the Borromean islands. Here you will explore the magnificent Borromean Palace and the stunning gardens offering amazing views on the lake. On the island you can enjoy lunch and then continue the tour with your driver and if you wish you may stop to visit the Eremo of Santa Caterina, an ancient monastery. At the end of the day, your private driver will take you back to your hotel in Milan. This is a private experience and you will not be part of a group

We at BikeBrix are in love with cycling and with the region of Ticino. This is why our objective is to show you the best of it, from the best perspective. With our guidance you will be able to discover Ticino the way you could never do on your own: let us lead you on quiet back roads to small villages, hidden waterfalls, along the river and the lake, and through the woods, and taste the beauty of the region through its ever-changing scents and its food offer. Stay away from traffic and don't lose time planning on your own when you only have limited time in the region. You can rely on our professional guides to do the job for you so you only have to pedal! Please note that the use of a bike is not included in the price and you need to bring your own or rent one on site.

Stresa, known as the pearl of lake Maggiore, stands in front of the Borromean Islands, which got their name by the ancient family who owned them since the 16th century. One one of these, Isola Bella, Carlo III Borromeo built a gorgeous baroque mansion, dedicated to his wife Isabella. This private guided tour will allow you to explore Isola Bella and the splendor of the palace and its garden; once back in Stresa, you'll have a walk on the cosy small streets of the town centre, until you'll reach a local winery for a mouth-watering aperitif, based on local wines, cold cuts and cheese.

Built on the track of an ancient Roman way, connecting Oscella (Domodossola) and Leocarnum (Locarno), the Vigezzina railroad was inaugurated in 1923, becoming a strategic connection for several small villages in the valleys close to lake Maggiore. Still today, even after severe damages caused by a flood in 1978, the railroad has a strong commercial and touristic function, connecting Sempione and Gottardo districts. This exclusive guided tour will allow you to enjoy a panoramic ride on this small and fascinating train, travelling from Italy to Switzerland across hidden and enchanting valleys. Thanks to a stop, you will have the chance to discover nice villages, such as Santa Maria Maggiore. A different point of view on Lake Maggiore beautiful outback.

We are an OFFICIAL family run Boat Charter & Tour company, with all the permissions required by law (unlike some others on the site), and we operate with the HIGHEST standards in Safety and Customer Service. We have designed this experience to make it "The best part of your holidays", exploring the best corners of Lago Maggiore from the best perspective. You decide how long you would like the tour (1 hr, 2hrs, half day, full day, Sunset Cruise) and the itinerary depends on the length of your cruise. This is a PRIVATE cruise on our amazing 6mt RIB boat, spacious and Comfortable, with front Sundeck, sun roof. We offer an ALL INCLUSIVE formula (no surprises) where VAT, Captain and FUEL USED are included, as well as locally made lush snacks and drinks (Including Highest quality Prosecco). The starting booking price is for 1hr cruise ONLY, select other options as required or feel free to contact us for a personalized request/quote.

As the sun sets and the lake shimmers in the golden light, it’s time to unwind with an Italian-style aperitif. In a serene villa surrounded by lush gardens and breathtaking views, you’ll be welcomed into a world where nature and flavor blend in perfect harmony. Savor a selection of elegant, locally inspired appetizers paired with a refreshing glass of fizz. The scent of jasmine in the air, the beauty of the landscape, and the taste of every bite come together to create a sensory experience that feels both timeless and unforgettable. More than just an aperitif, it’s a moment of pure pleasure—an authentic glimpse into Italian living, where simplicity and beauty leave a lasting impression. Hosted by Cesarine, Italy’s oldest network of passionate home cooks, this unique class offers an authentic perspective that no restaurant can provide. Join us to cook, taste, and experience Lake Maggiore like a local!

The two sides of lake Maggiore are amazingly different: Westwards, the sweet sines of the gulf on which Stresa and Baveno lay, in front of the charming Borromean Islands with their botanical gardens and villas. Eastwards, the deep waters in which high and wooded cliffs tumble down. A private cruise will take you across the lake, coasting the Islands, to reach by a cableway an amazing viewpoint on mount Sasso del Ferro, on the East coast. Here you will stare at the astonishing landscape of Lake Maggiore, the Borromean Isles and the Alps during a sunset in which the sun, the sky and the waters below will be as one. An exclusive aperitif will be served on a terrific terrace, where you will enjoy the quietness of the site.