The smallest of the lakes, Orta and Iseo, are often overlooked by travellers. Venture off the beaten track and you’ll discover one of the most gorgeous towns in Orta San Giulio, while on Lake Iseo, you should spare some time to discover Monte Isola, Italy’s largest lake island. Maggiore is ripe for exploration, with glorious botanical gardens and magnificent vistas.
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Lake Orta
San Giulio
Just a short boat ride from Orta San Giulio lies the gorgeous island of San Giulio, dominated by a Benedictine monastery that is home to a community of cloistered nuns. The island’s only cobbled street is a lovely place for a tranquil stroll, taking you past a small shop, a restaurant and some panoramic viewpoints.
Insider tip: Keep an eye out for the 17th-century magician’s house – recognisable by a statue of the magician pointing to his grimoire outside. It’s now the seat of Poetry on the Lake, which organises magical poetry events throughout the year.
Website: navigazioneorta.it; navigazionelagodorta.it
Santuario della Madonna del Sasso
Perched 638m high on a steep wall of white granite rock, the 18th-century Santuario della Madonna del Sasso houses a wonderful pictorial cycle by Lorenzo Peracino, along with wooden furnishings and a panel dating back to the 16th century. From the square below the church, there is an impressive panorama of the lake that takes in the Alpine valleys of Ossola, Mottarone Mountain and the area around Novara.
Insider tip: Behind the church, a path leads up to a wooded area with picnic tables. It’s a pleasant spot to enjoy a bite and soak in the lake views.
Website: santuariomadonnadelsasso.it
Price: Free
Orta San Giulio
The attractive medieval village of Orta San Giulio is a wonderfully romantic place, with narrow cobbled lanes meandering past stone-roofed palazzi painted in soft mellow shades. Life revolves around the Piazza Motta, the waterside square closed in by caramel-coloured façades on three sides. Terrace cafés, restaurants and boutiques are tucked under the porticoes, while opposite the lake is Salita della Motta, with steep cobbled steps leading up to the yellow 15th-century Santa Maria Assunta Church.
Insider tip: Head north on Via Olina and trace the lakeside promenade for a tranquil stroll away from the crowds that throng the historical centre.
Sacro Monte di Orta
Set high above Orta San Giulio are 20 frescoed chapels housing 376 life-sized terracotta statues that depict the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. The devotional complex of Sacro Monte di Orta attracts pilgrims from far and wide, alongside tourists who come to enjoy the fresh air and wonderful lake views.
Insider tip: The shaded hillside makes for the ideal place for a picnic, with designated tables and benches for eating. The area is great for children too, with plenty of places to run around and enjoy the open air.
Website: sacrimonti.org
Price: Free
Lake Maggiore
Isola Bella
Dominating the Golfo Borromeo is Isola Bella, housing a Baroque palazzo and magnificent gardens where white peacocks roam among sumptuous fountains, statues, and impressive terraces of azaleas and tulips. The English landscaped park of Isola Madre is no less beautiful, housing rare botanical species and a colony of parrots. In the villa, don’t miss the 18th- and 19th-century collection of puppet theatres featuring traditional Commedia dell’Arte characters.
Insider tip: To descend to the lakefront on Isola Madre, take the Wisteria Staircase, interspersed with arches bursting with scented wisteria, in bloom in April and May.
Website: terreborromeo.it
Price: £££
Rocca di Angera
Standing majestically on a hilltop on the lake’s south-eastern shore is the 11th-century Rocca di Angera, a castle and stronghold that once monitored trade routes in the area. Comprising five different constructions spanning from the 11th to the 17th centuries, the castle houses one of the world’s most comprehensive collections of toys, with handmade wood and papier-mâché playthings, more than 1,400 dolls made between the 18th century and today, and wonderfully preserved mechanical music boxes playing well-known arias.
Insider tip: Take a stroll around the castle’s peaceful medieval gardens filled with flowers and medicinal herbs. It has been restored to its original splendour with the help of paintings, historical documents and much painstaking work.
Website: terreborromeo.it
Price: ££
Parco Pallavicino
From the lakefront road, a shaded walkway snakes its way up the mountainside through lush, verdant flora. Dense ferns carpet the hillside, while water cascades down the slopes towards the lakeside. The 44-acre Parco Pallavicino is home to over 60 species of exotic mammals and birds, vulnerable animals that were orphaned, injured or sick. It’s a great spot for families, with plenty of open spaces for children to run around, a playground and a petting zoo with goats, donkeys, llamas, alpacas and Shetland ponies.
Insider tip: At the far end of the Giardino dei Fiori, a couple of stone columns frame lovely views of the lake – a delightful spot for a photographic memento.
Website: terreborromeo.it
Price: ££
Villa Taranto
The magnificent gardens at Villa Taranto are the work of Scottish Captain Neil McEacharn, who created a 40-acre botanical garden to remind himself of his native Scotland. Avenues of tumbling azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias lead to perfectly groomed parterres embellished with statues, ponds and fountains. Carpets of dahlias, heathers and rare lilies burst with colour, all beautifully laid out in geometric shapes and symmetrical patterns.
Insider tip: Walk up to the Winter Garden, the highest part of the gardens, a peaceful spot that visitors often miss; it’s home to a large lily pond and a greenhouse supporting equatorial plants.
Website: villataranto.it
Price: ££
Santa Caterina del Sasso
Hewn into the rock on the eastern shore, this pretty hermitage is best viewed from the water. It was founded in the 12th century by a wealthy merchant who was shipwrecked on these shores, and soon decided to conduct the life of a hermit. Comprising three buildings dating back to the late 12th to early 17th century, it’s particularly evocative at sunset, when a gentle light bathes the rock face in rosy hues.
Insider tip: As the hermitage is best viewed from the water, catch a boat from Stresa to fully soak up all its charm (you can visit the interiors, too). Boats dock at the pier below the hermitage.
Website: santacaterinadelsasso.com
Price: £
Mottarone
Trails crisscross the summit of Mottarone, snaking through centuries-old fir, pine, beech and chestnut woods and opening up onto pastures of grazing livestock and verdant meadows. Rising almost 5,000ft above the lake, the summit offers panoramic lake views, stretching from the Ligurian Apennines and the Monte Rosa massif, taking in the Padana Plain and an incredible vista of the area’s Seven Lakes (Orta, Maggiore, Mergozzo, Biandronno, Varese, Monate, Comabbio).
Insider tip: Rent an e-bike from Bar Stazione by Mottarone Adventure Park and cycle along the panoramic Monte Falò trail, which connects Mottarone to the hamlet of Coiromonte.
Website: mottarone.it
Cannobio
With its pastel-hued townhouses lining the front, Cannobio is one of the lake’s most charming towns, its little core a tangled web of small piazzas, arcaded courtyards and cobbled lanes. Only a couple of miles away, lying inland in the wooded Val Cannobina, is the Orrido di Sant’Anna, a dramatic gorge that’s a lovely spot to enjoy a picnic and a refreshing swim – make for the small river beach by the Roman bridge. A cycle route connects the centre of Cannobio to the valley.
Insider tip: If you’re keen for a home-cooked meal, look no further than Ristorante Sant’Anna, which has a stunning setting overlooking the gorge. Ask for one of the granite tables under the pergola and feast on homemade specialities as you peer down at the torrent below.
Castelli di Cannero
A short boat ride off the northern shores of the lake, close to the Swiss border, lie two rocky islets home to the medieval Castelli di Cannero. Built by the Borromeo family to defend against incursions from the north, the stone fortress is now open to the public – you can walk the ramparts, courtyards and towers, following staircases and walkways offering scenic lake vistas. Smartphone audio guides shed light on the stronghold’s history.
Insider tip: Make sure you download the Castelli di Cannero app beforehand; if you’re travelling with children, challenge them to complete the interactive Heraldry game, with hidden clues and symbols dotted around the ruins.
Website: terreborromeo.it
Price: £££
Lake Iseo
Monte Isola
Europe’s largest lake island, Monte Isola, is a peaceful car-free spot sprinkled with fishing villages. Boats bob along the shore, while narrow streets climb up the mountainside in the pretty village of Peschiera Maraglio, where craftspeople and fishermen produce fishing and hunting nets. The island is best explored on foot or on two wheels, tracing the perimeter promenade that is home to a handful of lakefront eateries.
Insider tip: Head to the Madonna della Ceriola Sanctuary for panoramic lake views. If you have time to spare, pop into the Infopoint in Peschiera Maraglio, where a small exhibition sheds light on the island’s fishing history.
Website: visitlakeiseo.info
Price: Free
Strada del Franciacorta
This hilly region between Lake Iseo and Brescia produces some of Italy’s finest sparkling wine. Gentle rolling hills are carpeted with vineyards and olive groves, while punctuated here and there amid celebrated wineries are fortified farmhouses and medieval castles. The Strada del Franciacorta passes by vineyards and through strings of pretty villages with globally acclaimed restaurants and traditional trattorie aplenty. For a treat, head to Due Colombe, an elegant Michelin-starred restaurant located in a restored medieval building.
Insider tip: Cycle routes crisscross stone-terraced vineyards passing along scenic backcountry roads, offering plenty of adventure for oenophiles and keen bikers.
Website: franciacorta.net
Strada Valeriana
Snaking through olive groves, chestnut woods and vineyards, the ancient trading route of the Strada Valeriana stretches along the eastern shore of the lake, crossing a flourishing hillside and passing through ancient hamlets with gorgeous lake views. This glorious route can be trekked comfortably over the course of a day, with explanatory panels highlighting points of interest along the way. It’s an easy trail that can be enjoyed by families.
Insider tip: Look out for several giant two-metre-high benches by American designer Chris Bangle. Hop on, enjoy the views and feel like a small child again as your legs rest on the oversized seat.
Website: visitlakeiseo.info
Parco della Rocca
Sitting on a slope above the town of Arona is this verdant park dominated by a medieval defensive construction – a major strategic control point of the lakes. A path meanders through the leafy grounds home to meadowsweet and hart’s-tongue fern. You may be able to spot owls, herons, magpies and peregrine falcons, while children will enjoy exploring the grounds that are home to Tibetan goats, donkeys, ducks and turtles.
Insider tip: In summer, take in the lake views as you enjoy a refreshing drink at the Corte della Rocchetta, a café and bar located at the highest point of the park.
Website: parcoroccaarona.com
Price: Free
How we choose
Every attraction and activity in this curated list has been tried and tested by our destination expert to provide you with their insider perspective. We cover a range of budgets and styles, from world-class museums to family-friendly theme parks, to best suit every type of traveller. We update this list regularly to keep up with the latest openings and provide up-to-date recommendations.