Situated in Northern Italy, to the west of Lake Garda and Lake Como, is the beautiful Lake Maggiore – the second largest of the Italian Lakes. Bordering Switzerland, the magnificent scenery that surrounds it and the spectacular views from the mountains really are something else. But as we recently discovered, there’s plenty to satisfy all tastes (we’re even not talking food here) whether you’re travelling with young children, tweens or teens. Here are just some of the reasons Lake Maggiore has to be on your must-visit travel list.
Lake Maggiore is easy to reach from the UK with direct flights from London (two-hours from Gatwick), Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Edinburgh and Cardiff. Milan Malpensa airport is the closest – just over an hour’s drive from Maccagno which is where I stayed with 7 of my fellow family travel bloggers. We were on a press trip with Bookings For You who you may remember we went on a family holiday to Puglia with last year – staying a beautiful trullo set the olive groves.
This was my first time in Lake Maggiore and it was just as magnificent as I imagined it would be. The location really is stunning and our apartments at the Golfo Gabella Lake Resort were ideally situated for exploring the region. We’ll be sharing our thoughts on the Golfo Gabella Lake Resort and what’s available locally in a separate post but for now, do have a read of these reviews from Tin Box Traveller, TraveLynn Family and Travel Loving Family. Other accommodation options in the Lake Maggiore region can be found in this post by Flying With A Baby and this post by Travel Loving Family.
We were in Lake Maggiore for a few days and got a good feel for the region. This post features some of what we got up to and includes suggestions of other places to see and activities you might want to have a go at. The area really does have something for everyone whether you’re an adventurer, an explorer, a beachgoer or even a thrillseeker!
Table of Contents
Go for a hike in the mountains
One of the most rewarding ways you can truly appreciate Lake Maggiore is by heading up to the mountains. There are a wealth of treks available in the area with easy, moderate and difficult trails so you can plan which route you take based on who you’re travelling with. Some of our group embarked on a hike, organised by Golfo Gabella, from Campagnano up towards Lago Delio. It’s not one for younger children as the full route, had we made it Lago Delio, is around 7 kilometres.
Although steep at times, the views were sensational and our lunch stop made it so worthwhile. We were surrounded by nature and got to sample the most delicious local produce before making our way downward. We stopped at the pretty village of Musignano en route where there were views of the snow-capped mountains and a whole host of characters made from wood – complete with hair, clothing and even teeth! You can see more of our trek and the village of Musignano in this post by Like Love Do.
Discover the Borromeo islands
We’d planned to visit the Borromeo Islands during our trip but the weather gods had other ideas. The islands are located on the western side of Lake Maggiore, opposite Stresa, and accessible by boat from the main ports. They take their name from the Borromean family who had ownership of the land in the 16th and 17th centuries. Today, visitors can expect to see the luxurious Baroque palace and gardens on Isola Bella with the tranquil Isola Madre, the largest of the islands, known for its 20-acre park with rare plants and exotic flowers. The Isola dei Pescatori fishing village is said to be one of the most picturesque sights in Lake Maggiore and remains as it did, largely unchanged by time. Something else you can expect to see on the Borromeo Islands is white peacocks! The islands are certainly on our must-see visit next time we’re in Lake Maggiore.
Explore the local area by bike
After our mountain trek, a couple of us headed into Maccagno to explore more of the local area while Lisa Jane from Travel Loving Family and Jenny from TraveLynn Family borrowed a couple of bikes. These are free from the Golfo Gabella Lake Resort. They took a fairly flat route to Luino, albeit through a couple of tunnels which you wouldn’t do with young children, taking in the magnificent scenery along the way. Another one to add to the list for next time.
Take in the Santa Caterina del Sasso
The 12th century Hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso is perched on a cliff and one of the top places to visit in Leggiuno. The church entrance is through a portico with four Renaissance-style arches and there are three chapels, each built in a different era. The hermitage leans out towards the Borromeo Gulf, Stresa and the islands. We’d planned to visit by boat after exploring the Borromeo Islands, climbing the 80 steps up to it, but with the weather not playing ball we drove there. You can reach it by walking the 240 steps from the car park or take the lift which is €1 per person each way (concessions available). Entry to Santa Caterina del Sasso is €5 per adult with under 18’s free. For more information on visiting with kids, read this post by Tin Box Traveller.
Visit the pretty town of Cannobio
Some of my fellow family travel bloggers headed to the beautiful town of Cannobio during our stay in Maccagno (on the same day we trekked for cheese!). The trek was of course well worth it for the scenery, the views and the mouthwatering food! I was really torn with which activity to do though as Cannobio, with its pastel-coloured buildings, cobbled streets and picture-perfect views, looks seriously impressive. Accessible via a public ferry, which runs from Maccagno several times a day, the direct route takes around 15 minutes. Extraordinary Chaos has shared some of her photos from her visit to Cannobio so do have a look. They’ve me crave a return visit already!
Brave a Laveno-Mombello cable car
Situated in Laveno-Mombello, the Funivie del Lago Maggiore cable car is one of the most popular attractions in the region offering the most spectacular views across the lake. But the 20-minute journey up (and down again) is essentially in a bucket. Some of us missed this as we were en route back to the UK but I’m still torn on whether I would have done it. It’s fair to say I will do most things for a photograph (I might regret saying that) and things that push you out of your comfort zone usually end up being the best experiences but I think I’d be terrified. You can see how some of my fellow family travel bloggers got on in this post by Mini Travellers about the Funivie del Lago Maggiore cable cars including what age children it’s suitable for.
Funivie del Lago Maggiore cable cars by Mini Travellers
Take the train to the Luino market
The Maccagno train station is walking distance from the Golfo Gabella Lake Resort with the journey time to Luino around ten minutes. Luino is a pretty town south of Maccagno and home to the largest market in Lake Maggiore, founded way back in 1535. Every Wednesday, the Luino market attracts visitors from all over to browse its 350 or so stalls which include food, clothing, flowers, accessories and crafts. Lots of food to sample too so that’s always a bonus!
Visit a real chocolate factory
I cannot imagine how excited POD would be at the prospect of visiting an actual chocolate factory! Visitors are introduced to the world of chocolate making at the Chocolate Factory and Museum in Caslano by seeing how chocolate is made and getting to try some of the products!
Experience a new activity
Lake Maggiore is a great place to experience new activities both in or out of the water. From water-skiing, sailing and scuba diving to treetop adventures, rock climbing and go-karting. I always enjoy having a go at things activities like this, they always prove to be good fun. Thrillseekers might want to check out the bungee jumping on offer!
Take a city break to Milan, Verona or Venice
There’s more than enough to keep you busy in Lake Maggiore doing as little or as much as you like. But if you fancy a city break while you’re in the area, there are several options available. Firstly, there’s Milan which is home to Duomo di Milano, one of the largest cathedrals in the world, Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper mural and Sempione Park. Further away but three hour’s drive away is Verona. Famed for Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, we discovered there is so much more to the city and spent a brilliant weekend there. You can read what we got up to here on a rare couple trip without POD – the only one since she was born! Venice is around 4 hours drive from Maccagno. We visited many times before POD came along but took her last summer and she loved it. There are a wealth of things to do with kids, a few ideas are in this post.
For more ideas of things to do in Lake Maggiore with kids, have a read of these posts from Mini Travellers, Travel Loving Family, Flying With A Baby, Like Love Do and Extraordinary Chaos.
We all had the most amazing time exploring the Lake Maggiore region with Bookings For You. It’s an area I’d definitely like to see more of with the Borromeo Islands, Cannobio and if I’m brave enough, the Funivie del Lago Maggiore cable car! We’re already wondering if we can combine a Lake Maggiore trip into a summer road trip through France and Switzerland. It’s doable, right?
Disclaimer: This trip was hosted by Bookings For You. Opinions are as always my own.
