If my interests are scenery, gardens, travelling on the lake, and some short hikes, would you recommend visiting Stresa in late April or late June? I'd appreciate your opinion.

Either one will be beautiful but probably more foliage in June and more tourists too.

Thanks, StCirq. Do you think that trees may not have their full summer canopies by then or are you thinking of the spring flowers? I'm a little concerned that June may be too hot for any hiking, even short ones. But may be better weather for just mooching around I guess. I will visit other places on Lake Maggiore while there. Nice problem to have, really!

I was just in Stresa at the end of November and it was horrendous weather (but still beautiful in a scary-weather kind of way). I have also been there in June and August, never May. I do know that here in the Dordogne all the orchards are in full bloom by mid-May, and lots of flowers are beginning to bloom as well, but that's not the same as Stresa,probably.

I don't think that June would be too hot for hiking, though. Even when I was there in August it wasn't too hot for reasonable hikes up in the surrounding mountains, and certainly not oppressive for walking around town or the Borromean Islands.

The weather is unpredictable in both months, April and June. There are every year some hot days in June, but some coald and rather rainy one's too.
In late April, there may be slightly more blooming flowers in botanical gardens. In the mountains around the lake, white narcissus and lilies of the valley will be withered in late April, broom will still bloom and rhododendron will bloom 1 month later.
Boats and cableways will run (summer timetable in both months).
If the weather is fine, count with many weekend daytrippers from cities in Lombardy, Piedmont and Switzerland. Monday to Friday will be rather calm (at least in late April).

Thanks so much for the information, StCirq and neckervd. I don't enjoy the heat and have read that temperatures can be up to the mid-30s in June. However, the weather may just as possibly be cooler than that. I'd like to also visit Lake Orta so that is weighing into my decision. Sounds like the gardens would be better in April.

I went several years ago in early May and it was beautiful. We did have a day or two of rain but crowds were low flowers were beautiful. I don't think late April would be bad. Whatever you choose have a wonderful time!