Stresa has drawn well-heeled travelers to the shores of Lake Maggiore since the 19th century, when Belle Époque hotels rose along its promenade to house visitors on their way to, or resting from, the Grand Tour. Ernest Hemingway set part of “A Farewell to Arms” here, and the town’s genteel lakefront atmosphere, framed by the Borromean Islands just offshore, still feels like a step into that earlier era of leisurely European travel.
Related: Best Things To Do in Lake Maggiore: Borromean Islands & Stresa lakefront
What to See and Do
Island-Hop to the Borromean Islands
A short boat ride from Stresa’s harbor reaches Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, each with a distinct character, from Isola Bella’s elaborate Baroque palace and terraced gardens to the fisherman’s-village charm of Isola dei Pescatori. Spending a day moving between all three is the classic Stresa itinerary.
Tour Isola Bella’s Palace and Gardens
Built by the Borromeo family in the 17th century, this palace’s tiered Italian garden, complete with white peacocks and an elaborate shell grotto, is one of the most theatrical garden designs in Italy, shaped almost like a ship’s stern rising from the lake.
Ride the Cable Car to Mottarone
A cable car climbs from Stresa’s outskirts to the summit of Monte Mottarone, where on a clear day views stretch across Lake Maggiore toward the Alps and, in the other direction, toward Lake Orta. It’s a genuinely dramatic contrast to the lakeside scenery below.
Walk the Lungolago Promenade
Stresa’s lakefront promenade, lined with grand hotels, palm trees and flowerbeds, remains the town’s social heart, with views directly across to the Borromean Islands and the mountains rising behind the far shore of the lake.
Visit the Botanical Gardens of Villa Taranto
A short boat or drive from Stresa, this extensive botanical garden on the lake’s far shore holds plant collections gathered from around the world, arranged across terraced grounds that are especially vivid with color in spring and early summer.
Top-Rated Stresa Tours & Experiences
Best Time to Visit
Late spring through early autumn offers the warmest weather for boat trips and garden visits, with May and June particularly good for the gardens in full bloom. Summer weekends draw the heaviest crowds to both the town and the islands.
How to Get There
Stresa sits about an hour from Milan by train, making it an easy day trip or a relaxed base for a few nights on Lake Maggiore. The town’s harbor is a short walk from the train station, with regular ferries running to all three Borromean Islands throughout the day.
Good to Know
Ferry tickets between the islands can be bought individually or as a day pass, which is generally the better value if you’re visiting more than one island. Isola Bella’s palace and gardens can get busy by midday in summer, so an early crossing helps avoid the worst of the crowds.
Stresa’s appeal lies in that easy combination of lake, mountain and garden scenery within reach of a single walkable town. Give yourself at least a full day for the islands alone, and the town’s unhurried charm does the rest.
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