Adelaidean

scrb11 we had 2 ‘ferry days’ (Taranto and Isola Madre, and then Baveno)

As you are driving, I think the lakeside drive to Cannobio would be great.
What draws you to Locarno? It worked well as a base for the Ticino, rather than a destination in itself.

scrb11

I considered basing in Stresa, Locarno and Lugano.

I ended up booking 5 nights each in Stresa and Lugano.

I can day trip from Lugano to Locarno on free transport within Ticino too. In fact that may be more economical than driving there and parking.

I want to go up on the cable car there and looks like the waterfront in Ascona looks nice. It's been described as Mediterranean like.

I hadn't thought too much about Orta San Giuglio but now it's a definite.

I'm wondering if it's worth the admission to go into the palaces in the Borromean islands or just walk around the gardens more.

Hambagahle

I haven't been to the Borromean Islands for a long time now but I doubt they have changed much in character. I loved the time I spent on the Isola Madre - in the Botanical Garden. There was an admission fee but not a lot and well worth it. The gardens at the Villa Taranto are stupendous. We were there in April and the Azealas and Rhododendrons were in bloom. Just an amazing place. I was less keen on the Isola Bella but have enjoyed many lunches over the years on the Isola dei Pescatori.

Finsteraarhorn

Great report of an amazing trip: I enjoyed every single word, picture, step! Thank you very very much for writing it and sharing it.

umretdd

Thank you for your trip report, you planned a really great trip. All the photos look amazing, looking at them made me sad I'm not on holidays right now. I have been to Italy a few times, but it was always in winter. I think I have to go there in summer too. As for Switzerland, I have been wanting to visit it for some time now. I think I might go to Switzerland next year, because my family and I really want to go there. Your trip report definitely encouraged me to plan a trip like that.

yestravel

scrb11 - dont miss lake Orta. We stayed there for 4 nights upon arrival in Italy and absolutely loved it. It does get a fair amount of daytrippers on the square, but walk a block away and its blissfully empty.

scrb11

I did go and loved it, Orta San Giulio is a little gem. Municipio is on the other end from the main piazza but I liked it more, the little garden with little lake frontage.

Also drove up to Madonna del Sasso on the other side, above Pella. Stupendous views up there.

umretdd

That is a really lovely trip report. I really enjoyed reading it, I'm glad you had such an amazing journey. I have been to Italy a few times and I really loved it. Switzerland has been on my bucket list for a really long time now, but I can't really afford to visit it yet. I hope I'll get to go there in the future and see the amazing places you wrote about.

ms_go

Great report and photos as always, thanks for sharing! We are planning to go back to the Dolomites next September and are currently on the fence between the Val di Fassa (which we know and love) and the Alta Badia (which we've only ever driven through). Decisions, decisions...

wilson93david

Wonderful Trip report, Adelaidean

yestravel

Once again, thank you for this outstanding trip report. It gave me great ideas for our trip and so helpful for my planning.

Trophywife007

I'm just getting through all your wonderful photos and narrative. It's very informative and detailed with lots of great ideas for those of us who would follow in your footsteps. Thank you!

Adelaidean

Thanks for your comments, it’s appreciated.

I love reading trip reports, and hope it’s been helpful.

(I have had a bit of digital detox, so haven’t been online as much)

zoewalker

Sounds like a cool trip report! Switzerland and North Italy have some amazing places to visit. I bet they had a blast. 🌍
They probably packed some warm jackets because Switzerland can get pretty chilly, especially in the mountains. Imagine having to wear a cozy jacket while taking in the breathtaking views of the Swiss Alps! 🏔️
In North Italy, they must have enjoyed delicious pizza and pasta. 🍕🍝
I hope they had a fantastic time on their trip and got to see lots of cool stuff! 😄

brandsrope

It’s extremely useful to me.

TDudette

I just re-read this Adelaide. As before, just splendid photos but, as leifields wrote, the helpful info was invaluable. How long was the planning phase?! And what is your camera, please? This time I had fun looking at the different architecture.... Are Swiss windows smaller than Italian? And was that a Russian church spire?

Great TR!

Adelaidean

TDudette my camera was a Panasonic LUMIX FZ200, but it died en route
It has a flip screen which is a great feature.
My quandary now is replacement with a more compact camera or not….

I have too many future itineraries in my collection, always adding tips from trip reports / the local tourism board (so many travel blogs are just self promoting with limited useful info) and links to bus schedules, etc,
I play around with bases and how I might connect them, and build on day to day ideas until I have a sense of how many days I want. I also have to book my leave a long way in advance, so if I don’t get the timing I want for a location, then I need to pull out a different itinerary to match my needs (eg need summer cablecar season in Dolomites).
I love the architecture too. The Engadine architecture so distinct, with really solid thick walls, and tiny windows with angled edges to maximise sunshine, and so pretty in decoration. The Lower Engadine has a lot of particularly charming examples (we stayed in Scuol in 2019, and visited Guarda, and the lower part of Scuol has kept its’ historic core), …actually there are so many delightful villages.

Next year is a new phase for me, travelling solo, as my DH didn’t enjoy our travels and I could’ve stayed on another month, lol.

TDudette

Thanks, Adelaidean. I bought a different Lumix from a colleague and it's pretty big even without the flip screen. I use an Olympus SP-720UZ (14 mp with a 26x optical zoom) -- not as big but on its last legs. Phones are getting good, eh?

Well your great research was evident! Good luck with solo travel. For me, there have been more pluses; no need to have an ear out for anyone else is the biggest. Setting my own time frame, itinerary another plus. Not having a partner removed a level of security... I take more cabs!...but no one else knows I'm solo. And you must downsize the amount of luggage as there is no one to guard you bags when you visit the loo!

Where next??

yestravel

Adelaidean - your great TR got me going to go back to Lake Maggiore. You said basing in either Baveno or Stresa is best. I was [size=13px]thinking[/size] of staying in Baveno in [size=13px]September[/size]. Do you think that is ok or should we just stay in Stresa? I'm thinking Baveno might be less crowded. Thanks!

Also on our way from Switzerland to Bolgona thinking of a couple nights in Domodossola instead of doing it as a day trip from Stresa or Baveno. Our route is a bit odd, Switzerland to Bologna for an event and then Bologna back to Lake Maggiore and then to MXP.

neckervd

Be aware that Domodssola (markets on Saturday) is a excellent transport hub for day trips to Macugnaga, Val Formazza, Antronapiana, Simplon Pass area, Brig and surroundings, Re sanctuary, Piana Vigezzo, Locarno, Verbania, Baveno, Stresa , Lake Orta, Milan....... But the city itself can easily be visited in half a day. Despite the excellent fotos of Adelaiden and Melnq....