I am researching the area around Lake Maggiore. Any favorite villages or towns with easy access from a train?

We spent two days and three nights on Lake Maggiore in 2019, staying in Locarno. We chose that as our base partly because there was a good train connection for us coming from Zermatt. Here are my impressions:

1. The lake views from Locarno are limited to a bay at the top of the lake and, while good, are nothing special. After the fact we were advised to stay in Ascona instead but we never made it there.
2. Locarno itself is kind of an ordinary city. We had pleasant walking, the train station is well located, and found good restaurants. But the main attraction seemed to be the casino. There are sightseeing trips up the mountains by cable car to several lookouts and shrines but we didn't do any of these. We took a boat ride across the bay and it was just a boat ride.
3. In Ticino your hotel gives you a pass that's good for bus and rail transportation throughout the province. Very handy. Don't think it includes the cable cars up the mountains though.
4. We used our Ticino pass to day trip to Lugano by train. Fun day, lots of up and down walking there. The city is more interesting than Locarno.
5. In Lugano the train station is above the city and you walk down into the city. Really down. There is a funicular, which we used to get back up to the train, but it was pretty crowded.
6. We were advised to stay in Stresa (Italy) instead of Locarno but we didn't because of the additional train connection and border crossing. Might have made a mistake.

When we left Locarno we went on to Davos. The trip was half by train and half by bus and took maybe 4 or 5 hours. It was one of the best travel days I've ever had. Absolutely stunning scenery along the way. Part of this route is the Bernina Express scenic train ride.

Are you coming in from Switzerland or Italy? That would effect your itinerary. Have a good trip.

We spent five nights in Locarno last autumn, and although we didn't love the city, the views of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding mountains from Cardada - some 1,340 meters above sea level - were gorgeous. We took the funicular up to Orselina and then the cable car to Cardada. We then took the chairlift to Cimetta at 1,670 meters above sea level - fab views.

We also visited Ascona.

All by train and bus.

My detailed trip report is here if you want to see some photos. Scroll to post #71

Swiss Sojourn

We have stayed in Stresa and across the lake in Ranco , SW area of lake, which we really enjoyed. Ranco is closer to MXP and we went there after we landed from US which was a wonderful choice to recover from jet lag. Less touristed by Americans. Nice hotels, restaurants, and ferry service too.
We always rent cars so I can’t help you with public transportation.

Thank you for your detailed reply. I will be travelling from Zurich. In 2018, I stayed in Stresa. It was a good choice. I would like to stay elsewhere this time. As much as I would like to venture further into Italy, I don't want to use too much time travelling. I thank you for your insight into Locarno. Ascona was on my list, but the accomodations are almost fully booked (or high for my budget).

Thank you for this. I will look into Ranco.

I will look it up - thanks. This is good information.

Train stations around Lake Maggiore:

Locarno
trains to Zurich every hr, 2 hrs journey
trains to Milan evry 30 min, 2 hrs journey
trains to Zermatt every 2 hrs, 4 hrs journey

Luino
trains to Zurich every 2 hr, 2 1/2 hrs journey
trains to Milan evry 2 hrs, 2 hrs journey

Stresa
trains to Zurich about every hr, 4 hrs journey
trains to Milan about every hr, 1 1/4 hrs journey

Nice places around the lake:
Ascona: bus to Locarno every 15 min
Brissago, Ronco, Porto Ronco: bus to Locarno every hr
Fosano, Piazzogna, Vairano, etc. (Gambarogno): bus and/or bus/boat/train to Locarno and Bellinzona about every hr
Maccagno: trains to Zurich and Luino every 2 hrs
Cannobio, Cannero:
Bus to Locarno about every 2 hrs
bus to Verbania Pallanza railway station (close to Stresa) every 1-2 hrs
boat to Luino every 1-2 hrs

so helpful!!! Thanks!

Kelsey, hope you don’t mind me tagging onto your thread.

neckervd, looking at Maccagno, there seems to be a lower village by the lake then some nearby hamlets in the hills?
Doing a route search tends to lead to a bus up a steep hill, not sure if you refer to the more difficult to get to hilltop areas or the lakeside village? - sorry if there’s an obvious answer to this question, lol.

No worries, the more the merrier

In Ranco we stayed at Il Sole do Ranco right on the lakefront, very nice.