Loading Page...

Can you drive around Lake Maggiore?

Driving Around Lake Maggiore And Lake Orta From Cannobio, take the sign-posted turn-off to Val Cannobio and take a loop around Parco Nazionale della Val Grande, Italy's largest wilderness area, and the scenic route to Lake Orta.



Yes, you can drive around the entire perimeter of Lake Maggiore, which spans across both Italy and Switzerland. The total driving distance is approximately 170 kilometers (105 miles). Without stopping, a continuous drive takes about 3.5 to 4.5 hours depending on traffic and the narrowness of some lakeside roads. However, the high-fidelity way to enjoy this route is to spend a full day or more on the journey. Key highlights include the Swiss town of Locarno at the northern end, the elegant Italian resort of Stresa on the western shore, and the impressive Rocca di Angera fortress to the south. Because the lake crosses an international border, you should carry your passport, though formal checks are rare in 2026. The roads on the western side are generally wider and more developed, while parts of the eastern shore offer a more rugged, intimate "High-Fidelity" view of the water and mountains.

People Also Ask

The easiest and most enjoyable way of getting around Lake Maggiore and visiting the most popular villages and towns is by taking one of the ferries that cross the lake. You needn't worry if you have a car since Lake Maggiore has vehicle ferries.

MORE DETAILS

Scheduled services up, down and across the lake are run by Navigazione Lago Maggiore. You can cross Lake Maggiore and visit the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Madre) by motorship or by car ferry with your own bike.

MORE DETAILS

Further north, one of the most beautiful areas to live on Lake Maggiore is the village of Cannero Riviera. The village is famous and appreciated for its particularly mild microclimate, which favours the flourishing of luxuriant Mediterranean scrub.

MORE DETAILS

Hiking around Lago Maggiore is one of the best ways to experience more of the landscape, although finding the right route is not always easy.

MORE DETAILS

Most locals are happy to lie down and soak up the sun's rays but if you like to take a dip to cool off, there are plenty of opportunities for swimming in the four lakes where the water has passed official water quality tests: Maggiore, Mergozzo, Monate and Orta.

MORE DETAILS

It's quieter and less touristy Although locations like Stresa, Verbania and Arona are very popular, we can say Lake Maggiore is still less touristy than Lake Como. Lake Como's roads will get clogged up during the peak Summer months.

MORE DETAILS

Lake Maggiore is renowned in Italy and abroad for the numerous beach areas situated all along the shores of the lake.

MORE DETAILS

The market here is a true Italian market, offering fresh dairy products, fish, and meat, as well as delicious smelling fruit and vegetables. You can find accessories for all kinds of activities among the stalls, including items for the kitchen, fishing, music, and gardening.

MORE DETAILS

Spring (April to June) and fall (September to October) are ideal times to visit the Italian Lakes with comfortable temperatures and fewer crowds. The fabulous gardens that line the shores are at their best between April and June and the rising temperatures are a real draw.

MORE DETAILS

The group is composed of (from west to east): Lake Orta, Lake Maggiore, Lake Varese, Lake Lugano, Lake Como, Lake Iseo, Lake Idro and Lake Garda. The three largest are all well over 100 km2, they are: Lake Garda (largest in Italy), Lake Maggiore (largest in southern Switzerland) and Lake Como.

MORE DETAILS

On May 28, 2023, houseboat Gooduria capsized in the Northern Italian Lake Maggiore, killing four people amongst the twenty-three on board. The incident attracted attention when it became clear that almost all of the people on board were associated with the Italian and Israeli national intelligence agencies.

MORE DETAILS

Luino market is the most famous in the Lake Maggiore area. It has been frequented for the past five centuries, since 1541 when Emperor Charles V granted 'market rights' to the people of Luino.

MORE DETAILS

Lake Maggiore is one of the better lake districts in northern Italy. There are three lovely islands to visit such as, Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola Pescatore or sometimes called Superiore. You can take the ferryboats to see them or hire a private motoscaffo, either way, these are islands not to miss.

MORE DETAILS

  • Cheese. The Lake Maggiore area and the valleys in its hinterland are renowned in Italy and abroad for the cheese produced from animals grazing on mountain pastures, which is a feature of the local culinary culture. ...
  • Honey. ...
  • Cured meat. ...
  • Rice. ...
  • Wine. ...
  • Cakes and biscuits. ...
  • Beer.


MORE DETAILS

Beautiful Lago Maggiore is one of Italy's most enchanting lake districts, the perfect destination for a relaxing weekend break away from the hustle and bustle of nearby Milan. The large lake extends into Lombardy and Piedmont as far as Switzerland to the north, so there's plenty to see on a visit to Lago Maggiore.

MORE DETAILS