Perfect for first-time visitors, this Stresa package highlights the very unique splendor of the lake region of Piemonte its foods and its wines, its breathtaking scenery and its culture.

Switzerland is close to Stresa, about 30 minutes by car to the Sempione Pass to the north or about an hour to Locarno by car along the lake. But if you don't have a car, or if you want the convenience of relaxing with an organized tour, here are three excellent options for seeing Svizzera, one by train, one by boat, and one by bus.

If you like cheese (and we KNOW you like cheese) this is for you! This excursion provides the opportunity to taste local cheese and wine, to understand how it is manufactured, and to give the chance to step back in time in a medieval village in the Italian Alps.

Is shopping the weekly local markets a 'must-do' for you on your vacation? If so, don't miss Luino's Wednesday market, which is the largest anywhere on the lake. Luino is on the Lombardia side of Lago Maggiore, up towards Locarno and Switzerland, and difficult to reach by car. But you can make an easy and fun day of it, including time for a post-shopping rest in Cannero Riviera, by taking this trip organized by Maggiore Discoveries.


 Cooking Class At Ristorante Delfino
Are you interested in a cooking lesson as part of your vacation in Stresa? Fabri will bring you by private water taxi to Ristorante Delfino, on the beautiful Isola Bella, for a private cooking lesson with the chef. Prepare, cook, and eat a tradtional dish. And if you do well there's an apron to keep as your graduation gift.

1st Day: Arrive in Stresa and settle into your lakefront hotel room, close to the center of town and the departure point for boats to the islands. Stroll to the piazza for your welcome aperitivo at Buscion Wine Bar.

2nd Day: Begin by visiting the mesmerizing Borromean Islands. Private water taxi will take you to Isola Bella (“Beautiful Island”) with its outlandish baroque palace and Italian gardens, to Isola dei Pescatori (“Fishermens’ Island”), the quaint home to local fishermen for hundreds of years, and Isola Madre (“Mother Island”) with its grand villa and English garden. A private guide can be arranged to explain the wonders of the Palazzo Borromeo. Enjoy a relaxing lunch overlooking the lake in a famous restaurant on one of the islands (prebooked). Your three-island tour returns you to Stresa in the afternoon, to enjoy the town and a dinner of your choice in one of many restaurants.

3rd Day: In the morning visit Villa Taranto in Pallanza, lovingly created by a Scottish sea captain and now considered one of the most important botanical gardens in Europe. After a cappuccino break on the bank of tiny Lago Mergozzo continue to Lake Orta, said by some to be the most romantic of Italian lakes. Orta S. Giulio is a gem of history and art; medieval buildings in the town centre, Isola San Giulio with its Romanesque church and narrow alleys, the Sacre Monto dedicated to Saint Francis of Assisi, and much more await. End the day
with a dinner of traditional Piemontese cuisine (prebooked).

4th Day: After a good breakfast travel up the mountain by cablecar! The summit of Mt. Mottarone offers 360° views of the Alps, seven lakes, and on a clear day, even the Duomo in Milano! Hike a bit, then enjoy lunch in a restaurant where local mountain dishes are served. Return via cablecar with plenty of time for shopping, strolling, then dinner and gelato in town.

5th Day: Breakfast and departure.

Entry tickets to the palaces on the islands (Isola Bella and Madre, Euro 16.50), Villa Taranto (9.00 Euro), and the Mottarone Cableway (18.00 Euro) are not included.

Rates are based on availability, season, and number of travelers. Please call or write for more information.