Stresa is the genteel belle epoque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the Borromean Islands - Isola Bella with its baroque palace and terraced gardens, the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori, and the botanical Isola Madre. With grand lakeside hotels, a cable car to Mottarone, and views to the snow-capped Alps, it makes a scenic day trip from Turin.
Stresa sits on the western shore of Lake Maggiore in the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola province, about 130 km north of Turin, and is one of Piedmont's most scenic day trips. Trenitalia trains link Turin Porta Nuova with Stresa in roughly 1h15 to 2 hours - some direct, others changing at Novara (fares around €10-20) - and the station is a short walk from the lakeside ferry pier. The town flourished as a belle epoque resort in the 19th and early 20th centuries, lined with grand hotels, palm-fringed promenades, and villas; Ernest Hemingway set part of A Farewell to Arms at the Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees here. The headline attraction lies just offshore: the three Borromean Islands, reached in minutes by frequent Navigazione Lago Maggiore ferries. Isola Bella is the showpiece, an entire island transformed in the 17th century into a baroque palace with opulent staterooms, a grotto of shells, and ten tiers of terraced gardens crowned by a unicorn statue and roamed by white peacocks. Isola dei Pescatori (Isola Superiore) is a tiny, still-inhabited fishing village of narrow lanes and waterside trattorie serving lake fish - the most atmospheric place for lunch. Isola Madre, the largest, is given over to a lush English-style botanical garden of camellias, rhododendrons, and exotic birds around a Borromeo villa. A practical one-day arc is to take an early train, buy a ferry day pass for unlimited island hops, tour Isola Bella's palace and gardens in the morning, lunch on Isola dei Pescatori, and spend the afternoon in the gardens of Isola Madre - noting that the palace and gardens charge separate admission. Back in Stresa, the Funivia cable car climbs Monte Mottarone (1,491 m) for sweeping panoramas over the lake and the snow-capped Alps, including Monte Rosa. Food centres on freshwater lake fish, risotto, and the local margheritine biscuits. Spring brings the gardens into bloom and autumn the clearest mountain views, making April to October the ideal window; the islands' palaces and gardens generally close in winter.
How to get there
- Train: Turin to Stresa (1h15-2 hrs, some direct, some via Novara)
- Ferry: Navigazione Lago Maggiore from Stresa to Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Madre
- Car: A4 then A26 motorways to Stresa (about 1.5 hrs)
- Cable car (Funivia) from Stresa up to Mottarone for Alpine views
Location
Stresa train station, Piazzale Carlo Borromeo, 28838 Stresa VB
45.8847, 8.5394 View on map
Highlights
- Isola Bella's Borromeo Palace and terraced gardens
- The fishing village charm of Isola dei Pescatori
- Botanical gardens of Isola Madre
- Mottarone cable car for Alpine and lake panoramas
Tips for visiting
- Buy a Navigazione Lago Maggiore day ticket for unlimited island hops
- Isola Bella's palace and Isola Madre gardens charge separate entry
- Lunch on Isola dei Pescatori for lake fish in the fishing village
- Allow a full day to see all three islands comfortably
When to visit
April to October, when the island palaces and gardens are open and the lake is at its most beautiful. Spring brings the gardens into bloom and clear autumn days offer the finest Alpine views from Mottarone.
Accessibility
Stresa's lakeside promenade is flat and accessible, and ferries can carry wheelchairs with assistance. The islands have cobbled lanes, steps, and sloping garden paths that limit access in places; Isola Bella's palace has stairs, so visitors with mobility needs should plan ahead and ask at the ferry ticket office.
Frequently asked questions
How many Borromean Islands are there?
There are three main islands open to visitors: Isola Bella, with its baroque palace and terraced gardens; Isola dei Pescatori, a small fishing village; and Isola Madre, known for its botanical garden. Frequent ferries from Stresa link all three.
Is one day enough for Stresa and the islands?
Yes, a full day allows time for two or three islands, with the palace of Isola Bella and the gardens of Isola Madre as the highlights. Buying a ferry day pass makes hopping between them straightforward.
How do I get from Turin to Stresa?
Trenitalia trains run from Turin Porta Nuova to Stresa in about 1h15 to 2 hours, some direct and others changing at Novara. The ferry pier for the Borromean Islands is a short walk from Stresa station.
Do the island palaces close in winter?
Yes. The Borromeo palace on Isola Bella and the gardens of Isola Madre generally open from around mid-March to late October and close in winter. The fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori and the town of Stresa can be visited year-round.