Stresa

Stresa is a small town (population 5,000) on the south side of the Borromean Bay, a western arm of Lake Maggiore in Piedmont, Northern Italy. The Borromean Islands (Isole Borromee) are a group of three small islands, Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori (also called Isola Superiore) and Isola Madre, and two islets in the Borromean Bay and together totalling just 20 ha in area. They are very picturesque, especially the ornate palaces and gardens of Isola Bella and Isola Madre.

Understand
The town centre and main ferry dock are at the southeastern end of the town. At the northwestern end is Carciano, with a lido, secondary ferry dock and the cable car station. Isola Bella is just off shore from Carciano, and Isola Superiore dei Pescatori a little further to the northwest. Isola Madre is half way across the Borromean Bay to Verbania.

By train
Trenord runs regular direct train services from Milan Centrale Station taking around 1 hour.

By bus
S.A.F. runs the Alibus from both terminals of Malpensa Airport through Stresa, terminating at Verbania, seasonally Apr-Oct. Services are 2–3 hours apart. You must book by 11am the previous day (by 11am Sa for Monday trips). Buy tickets on board, cash only. €12.

By car
Follow the directions for the A26 Genova - Gravellona Toce motorway. Take the A26 motorway towards Gravellona Toce. Keep in the direction of Gravellona Toce until the Carpugnino exit. In Carpugnino follow the signs for Stresa.

From Milan by car: Take A8 towards Laghi - Sesto Calende - Varese. Take the A26 towards Gravellona Toce. The closest exit to Stresa is Carpugnino (panoramic road) while the simplest exit is Baveno-Stresa (it stretches about 5 km).

By boat
Navigazione Laghi provides ferry services around Lake Maggiore, from Arona in the south to Locarno at the northern end in Switzerland. The most frequent services are around the Borromean Bay, between Verbania, Baveno, the Borromean Islands and Stresa; a few of these stop at Carciano, as well as the main dock.

Get around
There are two taxi ranks, one at the railway station and the other at the ferry terminal. Bicycles can be rented and the roads are developed if you have a car.

Navigazione Laghi provides ferry services between the main ferry dock, Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Madre, with some services stopping at Carciano also. There are also water taxis that operate from both the main dock and the lido – these are particularly useful after ferry hours, for example, if going or returning from dinner at a restaurant on Isola dei Pescatori or Isola Bella.

Eat
In addition to restaurants in the town, there are about a dozen on Isola dei Pescatori open for lunch or dinner and specialising in fish dishes.
 * Torino. A great restaurant located on the central square. It makes a great schnitzel with french fries.
 * Torino. A great restaurant located on the central square. It makes a great schnitzel with french fries.

Sleep
In addition to accommodation in the town, there are two hotels and a few B&Bs on Isola dei Pescatori.

Stay safe
Stresa is a small town where risk of violent crime is virtually non-existent, however there are several small cons to beware of:
 * Friend Post. A rising problem in many Italian cities, shops that sell postcards will also claim to sell stamps, these however are not real stamps, but rather stickers belonging to a private company named Friend Post. Their service is inferior to the standard Italian Post, with many records of cards not being delivered.
 * Lake Pirates. Tickets for ferries to the islands and other destinations on the lake are sold INSIDE the ferry terminal. Many unofficial people roam the streets outside the terminal wearing sailor hats and trying to lure tourists into paying a higher price to take a small lake taxi to the islands (often lying about the ferry being more expensive and making more stops). There is even a small outhouse-sized brick building just to the left of the ferry terminal that is manned by people performing this scam.

Go next

 * Arona – the southernmost ferry terminal on the lake
 * Baveno – a town very close by to the northwest
 * Verbania – the city on the northern side of the Borromean Bay