lago maggiore: where to stay
 

We will spend three nites at Lago Maggiore starting on Sept 8th.
There are mixed opinions about staying in Stresa.
We would like a place where the ferry stops in September.
Not too touristy, but interesting to walk around.

I've read aboutt Baveno, Stresa--riviera cannero seems a bit isolated.

Hotel suggestions appreciated. would love view of the lake.

Last year I stayed on Isola dei Pescatori:

http://www.belvedere-isolapescatori.it/eng/index.html

I had a lake view, the accommodation was comfortable but basic.

Good news: very quiet at night.

Bad news: packed with tourists during the day, but most of the time I was somewhere else.

More bad news: not many options for dinner, although the hotel food could be good. You could arrange for a boat transfer to the mainland for dinner - the ferries stop quite early.

Last year we stayed in Stresa for a variety of reasons and sprung for a lakeview room in the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees which is one of several "piles" along the lakefront.

The hotel itself is very intensely decorated inside with a veritable art gallery filling each of the long hallways on every single floor.

I am sure that in September many of the town's visitors might be gone but there is a reason people go to that town and it is a good one. However, it is not in any way, shape, or form some "quaint little village" but also not a real metropolis.

The ferry came regularly and it was easy to get over to the various islands, some of which are clearly visible from the hotel, either on the ferry or by other boats.

Perhaps it isn't quite as stunning, scenery-wise, as is staying at mid-Lake Como (which we have done and enjoyed in the past, but we found plenty to do, including the so-called Lake Maggiore Express rail trip. Plenty of places to eat, etc., a short walk from the hotel.

And, of course, one of our favorite activities is always having breakfast lakeside. However, all of those "grand dame" places are separated from the actual lakeshore by a local highway.

We stayed on Isola dei Pescatori back in 2000 at Hotel Verbano. We had a large lake view room with a huge shared terrace. Dinner in their restaurant was very good. Loved the dead silence at night. We did need to make private boat service reservation to catch an early morning train.

Daily boats to all the islands were frequent and easy. We were there in mid May. Weather was perfect and the lake was busy on Sunday.

We stayed just 2 nights and would have liked a third to make a visit to the upper end of the lake.

We thought the hotel was very nice. At the time it was the only lodging on the tiny island. I would check current reviews.

In Sept the area is likely to be still quite busy. I would stay in one of the large traditional hotels on the road along the lake (check for which have the bet rates and the best ratings). Definitely take the tickets for the whole day so you can visit the 3 Borromean Islands - all charming in a different way. We had a lovely lunch on the Isla Pescatori in a restaurant overlooking the lake.

There are also a bunch of villas to explore slightly north up the lake, at least one with beautiful gardens - should still be great that time of year.

I enjoyed staying at Hotel Pironi in Cannobio a few years ago. Not as touristy as other towns on the lake. Town has varied choice for dining. Hotel a block from the ferry stop. Short trip to Lugano by boat. Took the scenic rail trip to Domodossola and back on Centovalli Railway.

You do need a car to drive to Cannobio. The hotel is situated in town about a block from the lake.

I just returned from a stay at Regina Palace. Not as expensive as Ile des Borromees but still an old world style hotel - very nice. Make sure you try the Sky Bar on the 7th floor of La Palma hotel (2 doors down). I went about 11 AM - not for a drink - but to relax on a round 'bed' with a spectacular view of the lake, islands, mountains, boats, hills.... did not want to leave. so beautiful. Stresa is quite nice, laid back, relaxing. I did visit the 3 islands via ferry. There is nothing to do on Pescatori - there is one interior street. Charming -- but correct that piles of people get off the ferry -- I was there just before the hoardes came.

Huggy: <<I enjoyed staying at Hotel Pironi in Cannobio a few years ago... Hotel a block from the ferry stop. Short trip to Lugano by boat. Took the scenic rail trip to Domodossola and back on Centovalli Railway.>>

I think Huggy took a boat to Locarno, not Lugano, for the rail trip. Locarno is in Switzerland. Another shorter excursion from there is a 3-leg progress up the lake shore. The first leg leaves from adjacent to the train station and is a funicular up to the church Madonna del Sasso and Orsellina overlooking the lake and mountains. The next leg is by cable car up to Cardada, parklike with a wider view. And the final leg is a chairlift up to the ski area of Cimetta, at an altitude of 1700 meters or 5500 feet. Cimetta has an even wider view, especially of the Alps.

Baveno has the advantage that the busy highway moves away from the lakeshore. Hotel Rigoli is a three star hotel that is right on the lake, quiet and with a private beach and a charming bar. A short walk to the port where the ferries leave for the Borromaic Islands.

We stayed in Ranco on the eastern side of the lake and took ferries to other areas o including Stressa. Ranco is a charming town with great dining, easier access to MXP.

Like dukey, we also stayed at Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees. It was a beautiful hotel and the breakfasts were amazing. Good location and we had 2 great meals, 1 ok meal and 1 awful meal [all dinners] in Stresa proper.

We took the train to Locarno for the day and enjoyed that trip and we took the ferry to Villa Taranto which was beautiful even though it was early spring.

http://www.visitstresa.com/Lake_Maggiore_Express.htm

http://www.villataranto.it/

Hotel La Palma-Stresa

How many days would you suggest for lago maggiore? we will be coming from hiking in Wengen.
We were thinking about 2 full days. wonder if 3 would be better .

Mimar:

You are correct. Thanks. I always get my "L" towns mixed up.

If you were going to do the Lake Maggiore Express trip that alone takes a large majority of one day by the time you return.

I would still plan on at least two days. Believe it or not, there can be a great deal of satisfaction with simply <B>being there</B> and not having anything in particular as an absolutely must do for one day. Plenty of places to stroll and even perhaps a shorter ferry trip or a visit to a couple of the islands.

First of all, that time of day do you think you will even arrive?