Macugnaga and Monte Rosa tour
Head to Macugnaga, a picture-perfect alpine village with wooden chalets, a stone church and piazza filled with flower beds. And above it is the Monte Rosa – the second-tallest peak in Europe. Ride the Belevedere gondola to the glacier for a closer look, or maybe take the cable car up for views from the Monte Moro pass.Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Get to know this cosmopolitan city with a guided tour of the best bits, including Sforzesco Castle. You’ll also get to see the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele shopping arcade, and have some free time to browse or stop for coffee in a café – whatever you like.
Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Embark on a half-day tour of Lake Maggiore's Borromean Islands. Visit Isola dei Pescatori's charming streets and Isola Bella's historic palace and gardens, once graced by Napoleon. Then, cruise to the tiny, inhabited Isola dei Pescatori for a glimpse of its picturesque alleys.
Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Morning
Go for a relaxing walk along the lakefront promenade and take in the incredible Maggiore views and grand, ornate villas and hotels.
Lunch
Grab a yummy, freshly made sandwich from Paulon DiVino Caffe and sit along the lakefront for lunch with a view.
Afternoon
Jump on a ferry to the island of Isola Bella for a guided tour of the palace, and stroll around the chocolate-box village.
Evening
Be blown away by the glistening surroundings from the Sky Bar in the Hotel La Palma on the lakefront. Enjoy a fresh cocktail or Italian prosecco.
Known locally as La Cenerentola, or ‘Cinderella’, this lake is small in size but big on views and charm. Get a tour of the most scenic spots along the shore, then take some free time to just wander. If you like, you can catch a boat over to San Giulio island to see the frescoes in the basilica.
Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Tick off two of the Borromean Islands in one day. First, you’ll take a boat over to Isola dei Pescatori to explore the winding alleys and tiny courtyards. Then it’s over to Isola Bella to see grand ballrooms and bedrooms in the palace and stroll around the 10-tiered gardens.
Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Saint Elisabetta Festival - June
Jazz Ascona - Late June to early July
Lake Maggiore Opera Festival - Until early July
Fireworks Festival - July to August
Settimane Musicali of Stresa - July to September
The Spirit of Woodstock Festival - Late July to early August
Locarno International Film Festival - August
Palio Remiero - August
San Vito Feast Day - August
Musical Meditations - August to September
Take a leisurely trip along the shore of Lake Maggiore and over the border to the Swiss town of Zermatt. There, you can wander among picture-perfect chalets, shops and cafés, and hop on the Sunnegga funicular for a closer look at the Matterhorn, one of the world’s most famous peaks.
Some entrance fees and optional extras are payable locally.
Sample some Italian tipples and local cheeses at a cosy wine bar in Stresa, run by your friendly hosts, Massi and Barbara.
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