Lake Maggiore and Lake Orta
A convent island on quiet Lake Orta, then palace gardens and island hopping on the western shore of Lake Maggiore.
- Distance
- 63 km (39 mi)
- Driving
- 0 h 52 min
- Suggested days
- 3
- Stops
- 7
- Countries
- Italy
- Updated
- September 19, 2026
At a glance: 3-day road trip of about 63 km (39 mi) with 7 stops, from Orta San Giulio to Cannobio. About 0 h 52 min of driving in total.
Route description
Start at Orta San Giulio, whose lakeside centre is closed to traffic: park in the car parks above and walk down, or take the little tourist train. Boats cross in minutes to Isola San Giulio, and the Sacro Monte chapels on the wooded hill behind are worth an hour.
Cross the low hills to Arona on Lake Maggiore and climb inside the giant San Carlone statue, then follow the SS33 north along the shore to Stresa. From Stresa’s landing, public boats serve Isola Bella and the fishermen’s island, Isola dei Pescatori.
Continue round the bay to Verbania for the gardens of Villa Taranto, then take the SS34 towards Switzerland. This lakeshore road is narrow in places, with tight spots at the villages, so large motorhomes should take it slowly.
Finish in Cannobio, whose waterfront fills with a large market on Sundays; the Orrido di Sant’Anna gorge is just up the valley. Spring and early autumn are best, when the gardens are in flower and the boats are less crowded.
Stop-by-stop itinerary
In driving order. Distances are estimates between consecutive stops.
- 1Start
Orta San Giulio
Italy - 21 km
Isola San Giulio
HistoryOrta San Giulio, ItalyA tiny island of convent walls and a Romanesque basilica, a few minutes by boat from Orta’s piazza. Walk the single loop lane, the Way of Silence.
- 315 km
San Carlone statue
OdditiesArona, ItalyA 17th-century copper colossus of St Charles Borromeo on the hill above Arona. You can climb up inside the statue and look out through its eyes.
- 417 km
Stresa
Italy - 52 km
Isola Bella
HistoryStresa, ItalyThe Borromeo family’s Baroque palace and terraced garden, with white peacocks, filling a whole island off Stresa. Public boats leave from the Stresa landing.
- 65 km
Villa Taranto gardens
NatureVerbania, ItalyBotanical gardens laid out by a Scottish captain in the 1930s, at their best in spring for azaleas and in August for the lotus ponds. Open from spring to autumn.
- 723 km
Cannobio
Italy
