Tips for Lake Maggiore

•    Visit Milan, the capital of fashion and design 
•    Sample the shopping and cuisine of the Swiss town of Locarno
•    Take the Centovalli train, a spectacular 55-kilometre journey from Locarno to Domossola 

Camping with a view

Lake Maggiore, surrounded by mountains and colourful, Mediterranean flora, is the perfect spot for a relaxed holiday. Both the Swiss and Italian sides of the border offer a variety of well-equipped campsites to choose from. 

For sports enthusiasts, the campsites and surroundings offer activities ranging from gentle hike sand golf to more strenuous cycling, mountain biking, tennis and water sports to even more extreme paragliding and canyoning.

If you don't wish to bring your own tent, caravan or motorhome, you will find that many campsites around Lake Maggiore have accommodation available for hire. 

Sights 

The eastern shore of the lake features a more impressive, wild landscape than the sunnier, western shore with its many villas, parks and gardens. Both sides of the lake, and both countries, offer a range of sights to enjoy. Lake Maggiore at a glance:

•    Villa Taranto
Verbania, 'the city on the lake', is home to Villa Taranto and its beautiful botanical gardens

•    Borromean Islands
The three islands of Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori, which make up the Borromean Islands, are located just off the coast of Stresa, and are home to pretty country houses and botanical gardens 

•    Stresa-Mottarone funicular
Climb to an altitude of 1500 metres and enjoy stunning views of the lake; in the summer you can embark on a hike, while in the winter it's great for skiing

Climate

The weather is influenced by the Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and warm summers, and it is quite common for the mercury to rise above 30 degrees in the summer months. The winters in this region tend to be wetter, with precipitation at higher altitudes often falling as snow. The Swiss side of the lake is prone to heavy, sometimes prolonged showers, although from April to October, temperatures of 15 degrees or more are likely.