Hotels in Stresa

Stresa: Gateway to the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore

Stresa sits on the western shore of Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, 80 km north of Milan. The town became a fashionable resort in the 19th century, when the Simplon Railway linked it to Paris and London. Today its waterfront promenade, the Lungolago, lines up with clear views of the Borromean Islands — Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Madre — reachable by ferry in under 15 minutes.

Where to Stay and Getting Around

Most hotels concentrate along the lakefront or climb the lower slopes of Mottarone (1,491 m), the mountain directly behind town. The Mottarone cable car, departing from the Lido district, reaches the summit in roughly 20 minutes, revealing views across seven lakes. Visitors arrive primarily for lake scenery, the Borromean palace gardens, and as a base for day trips to Verbania, Cannobio, and the Swiss border at Locarno, 35 km north by boat.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Stresa train station sits on the Milan–Domodossola line; direct trains from Milan Centrale take about 1 hour 10 minutes.
• Ferries: Navigazione Laghi operates year-round services; purchase multi-day passes at the Stresa pier.
• Season: Peak season runs May–September; hotels book weeks ahead for the Stresa Festival of classical music, held each August since 1961.
• Currency: Euro (EUR); most lakefront hotels accept major cards.