All,
We are taking the Lake Maggiore Express for one day and going to the Borromean Islands on another day but have one whole day for serendipity. What can we do, without a car, in the town of STresa, Italy? Many thanks.

Chill? Hike? Split the islands and do one one day and one the other?

I'm sure Stresa, like every town in Europe, has an official website that will give you ideas and inform you of any special events. We hiked up high into the hills and back one day, took the big ferry across the lake to a market and to visit other lakeside towns. I'm fairly confident you can find something to suit you.

We visited all the islands, toured the palace on Isola Bella. Another day we took the boat up to Villa Taranto and loved the gardens. We wished we had another day for a boat trip all the way up to the Swiss end of the lake!

You may:
take the gondola to Monte Mottarone (view point: lakes and Alps from Mont Blanc/Gran Paradiso up to Ortles/Bernina)
go by bus (or hike) to Gignese and visit the Umbrella Museum
go by boat to Intra and by bus to one of the many mountain villages with fine views ober the lake: Premeno, Piancompra, Arizzano, Trarego (via Cannero).....
go by train to Verbania and by bus to Lake Orta
go by boat to the sanctuary of Santa Caterina del Sasso
go by boat to Angera and visit the castle
go by boat to Intra, by car and passenger ferry to Laveno, by train to Varese and visit the town and Santa Maria del Monte, and back via Gallarate
etc. etc.

www.visitstresa.com/Plan_Your_Trip.htm

We were there in mid May; it was still quiet but we found lots to do for 4 days.

We loved Villa Taranto
http://www.villataranto.it/en/

We went up to Locarno one day, which was nice.

https://travelsacrossitaly.com/tag/d...s-from-stresa/

People go to Stresa because of the island. See http://www.stresa.com

"The" island? Hardly. There are at least three of interest. I slept on one of them my last visit.

Thank you all for your responses. Yes; we plan on the islands one day and the Lake Maggiore Express another but wanted to stay in Stresa on the final day and really could not find anything in the town of Stresa. Villa Pallovicino comes up but is it a town with shops, markets, etc?