Holiday in Stresa
City in Italy — tips, highlights & best time to visit 🇮🇹
Country
Italy
Type
City
Best time to travel
April to October (Islands and Lake), May (blooming season of the gardens), September (mild temperatures)
Budget/day
100-170 EUR: lakeside hotel, island tour, cable car, restaurant
Getting there from Germany
Car from Milan 1 h | Train to Stresa (Simplon line) | Flight to Milan Malpensa (40 km)
About Stresa
Stresa on the western shore of Lake Maggiore is an elegant spa town of the Belle Époque and a starting point for the world-famous Borromean Islands. The magnificent lakeside promenade with its grand hotels, the exotic gardens of Isola Bella and Isola Madre, as well as the cable car to Monte Mottarone make Stresa one of the most romantic lake destinations in Italy. Hemingway wrote parts of "A Farewell to Arms" in Stresa — the charm of the Roaring Twenties is still palpable today.
Top 4 highlights in Stresa
The places you absolutely must not miss.
Borromean Islands
Isola Bella with baroque palace and gardens, Isola Madre with botanical park — by boat from Stresa.
Monte Mottarone Cable Car
Cable car to 1,491 m with panoramic views of Lake Maggiore, the Alps, and the Po Valley.
Lakeside Promenade
Elegant waterfront promenade with grand hotels in Belle Époque style and views of the islands.
Villa Pallavicino
Botanical park with exotic animals — flamingos, llamas, and kangaroos in an Italian garden.
Hotels in Stresa
Vergleiche tausende Hotels, Apartments und Resorts auf Expedia – mit Bestpreis-Garantie, kostenloser Stornierung und Bonuspunkten.
* Weiterleitung zu Expedia.de. Es gelten die dortigen Nutzungsbedingungen.
Pauschalreisen & Rundreisen
Berge & Meer – 170 Tage Cookie
Best time to travel for Stresa
Recommended travel time
April to October (Islands and Lake), May (blooming season of the gardens), September (mild temperatures)
Summer
Warm, 25-30°C, pleasant lake breeze
Winter
Cool, 3-8°C, foggy winter romance
How much does a holiday in Stresa cost?
Average costs per person per day
Budget
50-80 EUR: B and B, lakeside promenade free, boat from 12 EUR
Hostel, Street food, Public transport
Mid-range
100-170 EUR: lakeside hotel, island tour, cable car, restaurant
Hotel, Restaurant, Excursions
Luxury
300+ EUR: Grand Hotel des Iles Borromees, gourmet menu, private boat
Boutique hotel, Fine dining
Book a package holiday to Stresa
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Compare package holidays now4 travel tips for Stresa
Insider knowledge that makes your holiday better.
Visit Isola Bella in the morning before day-trippers from Milan arrive.
Take the cable car to Mottarone — the view over 7 lakes at once is breathtaking.
Stroll along the lakeside promenade in the evening — the light on the lake and the islands is dreamy.
Combine Stresa with a trip to nearby Swiss Locarno — only 1 hour away.
Food & drink in Stresa
These specialties you must try!
