Where to Stay in Lake Maggiore: Why I Recommend Stresa

On By saar.decosterIn Europe, Italy

Wondering where to stay in Lake Maggiore?

Okay, I’m going to make this one pretty easy for you.

I recommend staying in Stresa.

I visited Lake Maggiore as a short stop on my way home from Saas-Fee, Switzerland, and although I only spent two days here, Stresa was definitely the place I would choose again.

It’s a cute lakeside town with restaurants, cafés, little shops and plenty of places to sit by the water. There’s also a train station in Stresa, which makes getting here and continuing your trip really convenient. Stresa is also well placed for exploring the Borromean Islands and the rest of Lake Maggiore.

My brother has also visited several different places around Lake Maggiore, and he agrees that Stresa is one of the nicest places to base yourself.

And then there was my hotel.

I stayed at Residence La Luna Nel Porto, and honestly, I loved it.

So if you’re wondering where to stay in Lake Maggiore, here’s why I’d choose Stresa, where I stayed myself and two other options worth looking at.

→ Planning a bigger trip through Italy? Check out my Northern Italy Travel Guide.

Where to Stay in Lake Maggiore at a Glance

If you don’t want to read the whole guide, here’s the short version:

AreaBest forMy take
StresaFirst-time visitors, trains & exploring⭐ My pick
BavenoA quieter lakeside stayGreat alternative
CannobioSmall-town atmosphere & a slower tripLovely if you want to go further north

My top picks

Best area overall: Stresa
Best for train connections: Stresa
Best for restaurants, cafés & shops: Stresa
Best stay I personally experienced: Residence La Luna Nel Porto
Best quieter alternative: Baveno
Best for a charming smaller-town feel: Cannobio

Short on time?

If you don’t want to read through the full guide, here are 3 accommodation options I’d recommend checking out in Lake Maggiore:

  • ⭐ Residence La Luna Nel Porto – My personal favourite, with beautiful lake views, a private terrace and apartment-style rooms in Stresa
  • ⭐ Hotel Simplon – A more traditional hotel in quieter Baveno, with access to pools and wellness facilities
  • ⭐ Le Terrazze Baveno – A peaceful Baveno option with beautiful Lake Maggiore views

For most first-time visitors, I’d choose Stresa, especially if you’re travelling without a car. For more areas, tips and accommodation advice, keep reading below.

Why I Recommend Staying in Stresa

If you’re asking me where to stay in Lake Maggiore, Stresa would be my first choice.

The biggest reason is simply that it makes things easy.

Stresa has a train station, so you can arrive by train without having to organise complicated transfers. It’s on the Milan–Domodossola railway line, which is particularly handy if you’re combining Lake Maggiore with Milan, Switzerland or other parts of Northern Italy.

But it’s not just practical.

Stresa is also actually cute.

You have little cafés, restaurants, shops, a lakeside promenade and plenty of places where you can just wander around without having a specific plan.

And if you’re only staying for a couple of days, I think that’s exactly what you want.

You don’t want to spend half your trip figuring out how to get somewhere just to have dinner.

In Stresa, you can walk around town, grab a coffee, browse some cute shops, have dinner and end the evening by the lake.

What I like about staying in Stresa

  • Train station with connections towards Milan and Switzerland
  • Right on Lake Maggiore
  • Lots of cafés and restaurants
  • Cute little shops
  • Easy to walk around
  • Good base for exploring the lake
  • Close to the Borromean Islands
  • Plenty of accommodation options
  • Great for a short 1–3 day stay

Stresa is also particularly convenient if you’re travelling without a car. The town and lakeside area are walkable, while boats can take you towards the Borromean Islands and other parts of the lake.

The downside

Stresa is one of the more popular and touristy places around Lake Maggiore.

So if you’re looking for a completely quiet little village where basically nothing happens, this probably isn’t your place.

But personally?

I like having a little bit of life around me.

Especially when I’m only somewhere for two days.

If you’re still deciding whether Lake Maggiore is worth adding to your Northern Italy itinerary, I also wrote about whether Lake Maggiore is worth visiting based on my own experience.

Street in Stresa Italy

Where to Stay in Stresa

1. Residence La Luna Nel Porto — My Personal Recommendation

If you want to know where I actually stayed, this is it.

Residence La Luna Nel Porto was honestly one of my favourite stays from this part of my trip.

And the best part was that it didn’t feel like I was staying in a standard hotel room.

I got a whole studio, including a little kitchen, a terrace and a view over Lake Maggiore.

The residence has suites and apartments, many with lake views and kitchen facilities, and it’s located right on Corso Italia, just behind the old town of Stresa.

For the price, I thought the quality was really good.

And waking up with that view?

Yeah.

I’ll take it.

Why I loved it

  • Beautiful lake views
  • Private terrace
  • Studio/apartment-style room
  • Kitchenette
  • Good value for the quality
  • Close to the centre of Stresa
  • Café/bar area
  • Great place to just sit and enjoy the lake

The residence itself has a panoramic terrace overlooking Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands, plus a garden and café area.

They also offer breakfast, and when I stayed, it was only €5, which I thought was a great deal.

And the coffee was actually good.

Which, let’s be honest, matters.

Terrace with Lake Maggiore view at Residence La Luna Nel Porto in Stresa

The double hammock

But my favourite part?

The double hammock.

My friend and I had already checked out, but our train wasn’t for a while yet. We had just come back from a ski trip and were absolutely done with carrying our bags around.

So instead of wandering around Stresa for another few hours, we just lay in the double hammock at the residence and waited.

Honestly, perfect.

And when it was finally time to leave, the hotel even arranged a taxi for us to the train station.

The station is only around a 15-minute walk away, but after coming back from a ski trip, we absolutely did not feel like walking there with our bags.

So that little bit of extra help was very appreciated.

I’d choose Residence La Luna Nel Porto if: you want good value for money, lake views, a little more space than a standard hotel room and somewhere that feels cosy rather than overly formal.

Book Here: Residence La Luna Nel Porto

2. Hotel Simplon — Baveno

If you like the idea of staying by Lake Maggiore but want somewhere a little quieter than Stresa, Baveno is a good alternative.

Baveno sits close to Stresa and opposite the Borromean Islands, but has a slightly more relaxed atmosphere.

One option to look at is Hotel Simplon, part of the Zacchera Hotels group.

It’s surrounded by gardens and has access to the facilities of the nearby Grand Hotel Dino, including pools and wellness facilities.

This is more of a traditional hotel experience than the apartment-style stay I had in Stresa, so I’d look at it if you want something a little more resort-like.

I’d choose Hotel Simplon if: you want a quieter lakeside base while still being close to Stresa and the main attractions around the lake.

Book Here: Hotel Simplon

3. Le Terrazze Baveno — Baveno

Another great option is Baveno, a small lakeside town just south of Stresa. It’s a good alternative if you want to stay somewhere quieter while still being close to the main sights around Lake Maggiore.

Le Terrazze Baveno is worth looking at if a beautiful lake view is high on your list. The accommodation has views over Lake Maggiore, making it a nice choice if you want your stay to feel like part of the experience rather than just somewhere to sleep.

Baveno is also well connected to Stresa and the rest of the lake, so you can still explore the area without having to stay directly in Stresa.

I’d choose Baveno if: you want a quieter lakeside base, beautiful lake views and easy access to Stresa without staying right in the centre.

Book here: Le Terrazze Baveno

Stresa vs Baveno vs Cannobio

Still not sure where to stay?

Here’s how I’d think about it:

Stay in Stresa if…

You want the easiest option.

You want restaurants, cafés, shops, a train station and easy access to the lake all in one place.

This is the option I’d recommend for most first-time visitors, especially if you’re only staying for a few days.

Stresa town on Lake Maggiore Italy

Stay in Baveno if…

You want something quieter but still convenient.

It’s close to Stresa and the Borromean Islands but feels a little more relaxed.

Stay in Cannobio if…

You want a slower lakeside holiday.

You’re further north, closer to Switzerland, and the focus is more on enjoying the town and lake rather than constantly moving around.

Where Should You Stay in Lake Maggiore Without a Car?

If you’re travelling around Northern Italy by train and public transport, I’d definitely look at Stresa first.

The train station makes it much easier to arrive and leave, especially if Lake Maggiore is just one stop on a bigger trip.

This was one of the reasons Stresa worked so well for me.

I was travelling home from Switzerland, stayed for two days and then needed to continue my journey.

Having the train station nearby made everything much easier.

And you don’t have to sacrifice the nice holiday feeling just because you’re travelling without a car.

You can walk around Stresa, eat out, grab coffee, shop, sit by the lake and take boats when you want to explore further.

How Many Nights Should You Stay in Lake Maggiore?

For a short trip, I’d recommend 1–3 nights.

I stayed for two days and that felt pretty perfect for me.

If you’re mainly using Stresa as a base, you can easily spend a day exploring the town and lakefront, then another day taking a boat trip or visiting the Borromean Islands.

If you want to explore more of the lake, hike, visit different towns or simply have a slower holiday, stay longer.

But personally, I wouldn’t feel like you need a whole week unless you’re specifically looking for a relaxing lake holiday.

If you’re planning a bigger Northern Italy trip and aren’t sure how long to spend in each destination, check out my guide to how many days you need in Northern Italy.

Is Stresa Better Than Staying Somewhere Else on Lake Maggiore?

I wouldn’t say Stresa is objectively better.

It depends on what you want.

For me, Stresa is the easiest choice because it combines a good location with practical transport and enough cafés, restaurants and shops to make a short stay enjoyable.

That’s exactly what I wanted.

I wasn’t staying at Lake Maggiore for a week-long luxury holiday. I was there for a short stop on my way home.

So having everything close together was perfect.

If you’re considering Lake Como instead, I also share my honest experience in Is Lake Como Worth Visiting?.

My Honest Recommendation

If you’re asking me where to stay in Lake Maggiore, my answer is simple:

Stay in Stresa.

Especially if it’s your first visit, you’re travelling without a car or you’re only staying for a couple of nights.

And if you want to know where I’d actually stay again?

Residence La Luna Nel Porto.

The studio, the terrace, the lake view, the good coffee and, obviously, that double hammock made it such a lovely little stop.

Was Lake Maggiore the most spectacular place I visited in Northern Italy?

No.

But was Stresa a really nice place to spend two days?

Absolutely.

Sometimes you don’t need the most famous destination. You just need a cute little town, a lake view and somewhere comfortable to sleep.

And Stresa gave me exactly that.

Planning Your Trip to Italy?

Planning a trip to Italy can be surprisingly difficult, especially when you’re choosing between huge historic cities, beautiful coastlines, charming smaller towns, mountains, lakes and islands.

That’s why I’ve created my Italy Travel Guide, where I share destination guides, things to do, local tips and my personal experiences from travelling around Italy.

→ START HERE: Italy Travel Guides

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→ Northern Italy Travel guide
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→ Sicily Travel guide

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Frequently Asked Questions About Where to Stay in Lake Maggiore

What is the best area to stay in Lake Maggiore?

For most travellers, I recommend Stresa. It has a train station, plenty of cafés, restaurants and shops, and it’s a convenient base for exploring Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands. It’s also easy to get around without a car.

Is Stresa or Baveno better for staying in Lake Maggiore?

It depends on what you’re looking for. Stresa is more convenient if you want lots of restaurants, shops, cafés and easy transport connections. Baveno is a little quieter and can be a great choice if you mainly want a relaxing lakeside stay with beautiful views.

Is Stresa a good place to stay without a car?

Yes! Stresa is one of the easiest places to stay in Lake Maggiore without a car. The town has a train station, and you can walk to restaurants, cafés, shops and the lakeside. Boats also connect Stresa with places around the lake and the Borromean Islands.

How many nights should you stay in Lake Maggiore?

I would recommend 2–3 nights for a first visit. Two nights can be enough to see Stresa and some of the main sights, while three nights gives you more time to explore without rushing.

Where should I stay in Lake Maggiore for a lake view?

Both Stresa and Baveno have accommodation with beautiful Lake Maggiore views. I personally stayed at Residence La Luna Nel Porto in Stresa, where I had a studio with a terrace overlooking the lake.

Is Baveno worth staying in?

Yes, especially if you prefer a quieter atmosphere. Baveno is close to Stresa but feels a little more relaxed, making it a good option for a peaceful lakeside stay. Le Terrazze Baveno is one option to consider if lake views are important to you.

What is the best place to stay in Lake Maggiore for first-time visitors?

For a first visit, I would choose Stresa because of its central location, train station, restaurants, cafés, shops and boat connections. It makes exploring Lake Maggiore relatively easy while still feeling like a proper Italian lakeside town.

Is Lake Maggiore worth visiting?

Yes, but I wouldn’t say it is an absolute must if you have to choose between the major Italian lakes. I really enjoyed my time in Lake Maggiore, especially Stresa, but after two days I felt like I had seen most of what I wanted to see. If you want a quieter lake holiday, however, Lake Maggiore can be a great choice.

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