mbloggs

I will be staying Ascona with a friend next June and we would like to get down to Isola Bella and back on the ferry. We won't have a car and must rely on public transport. Does anyone know if this is manageable in a single day? We wouldn't mind getting off in Conobbio as well if there is time and if the ferry stops there but that may be pushing our luck. I've tried to look up the Maggiore Express timetable but it won't load on my computer, so any information would be greatly appreciated.

qwovadis

Have done this from Locarno a lot not too far but day trip

not ideal plan more time at least an overnite...

Otherwise you will miss a lot...

There are also daily ferries from Stresa to towns at the north end of the lake (Cannobio, Ascona and ... Train. Stresa is situated on the Domodossola - Milan line ...
visitstresa.com/Travel_and_transport.htm

You can do it by rail pretty complex or rent a car expensive

and drive down/back not too far..beter to stay at a nice hotel

My fav for price Hotel Grand Dino usually negotiate direct

with mangager a stern but fair frau that rules the roost there

110 euro my best price for lake view no breakfast was best

I could do but perfectly located great views over Isola Bella

truly the highlight of my stay.

Happy Travels!

mbloggs

Thanks qwovadis. We're locked into staying in Ascona so a day trip it must be. I don't want to rent a car - lived in Italy for a year and still not happy to drive round the lakes district on those roads - but am happy to sit on a ferry for hours to see what needs to be seen. The train trip through Domodossola looks very long indeed so I was hoping there might be an early ferry that picked up at either Ascona or Locarno, went down to Stresa and came back in the early evening. This is a first trip to Italy for my friend and I wanted her to see one of the lakes so Isola Bella is not critical as it will all be new to her anyway. But it would be nice....

bobthenavigator

That should be quite doable by ferrry, but you will likely need to go to Stresa first. Try to see the gardens at Villa Taranto if time permits.

tower

Small ferry stop for Isola Bella is just across the street from the entrance to Villa Taranto. Bob is right, the Villa is one of the prettiest gardens in the lake district. It's acreage is not that large and you can stroll through it, take pics and be out in a fairly short time if time is tight.

mbloggs

Thanks - I'll put Villa Taranto on the list and even if we don't have time for Isola Bella we should be able to fit that in. Does anyone know if there is a commuter ferry from Locarno or Ascona to Stresa in the mornings? I've found information about the Maggiore Express but it's a sort of round trip going by train to Domodossola and then on to Stresa and switching back to a ferry or hydrofoil for the return journey. I'd rather just jump on a boat to Stresa in the morning and return in the early evening.

bobthenavigator

There has to be, but I do not have the details. I know there is from Locarno--not sure about Ascona.
Try a search under "Navigazione Lago Maggiore".

bobthenavigator

Here is a graphic of the lake. I could not find a comprehensive schedule:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-umZSFQlP4x...2BColor-01.bmp

mbloggs

Thanks so much for that - the graphic even has the line number on it so it should be easy enough to find once we get there. It looks like it goes right to Isola Bella.