Lago Maggiore Getting there & around

Getting there & around

Buses leave from the waterfront at Stresa for destinations around the lake and elsewhere, including Milan, Novara and Lago d’Orta. The daily Verbania Intra–Milan bus service operated by SAF (0323 55 21 72; www.safduemila.com in Italian) links Stresa with Arona (20 minutes), Verbania Pallanza (20 minutes) and Verbania Intra (25 minutes), all €1.75; and Milan (€5.70, 1½ hours).

Stresa is on the Domodossola–Milan train line and is well served by hourly trains from both Milan (€4.40 to €8.50, one hour) and Domodossola (€2.65 to €6, 30 minutes).

Ferries and hydrofoils around the lake are operated by Navigazione Lago Maggiore (0322 23 32 00, 800 551 801; www.navigazionelaghi.it in Italian), which has its main ticket office in Arona. Boats connect Stresa with Arona (adult/child one way €6.20, 40 minutes), Angera (€6.20, 35 minutes), Baveno (€3.80, 20 minutes) and Verbania Pallanza (€4.60, 35 minutes). Various one-day passes are also available: departing from Stresa, a ticket covering Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Bella and Isola Madre costs €11.50; and a ticket covering Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella costs €8.50. More-expensive one-day passes include admission to the various villas, too. Services are reduced in autumn and winter.

The only car ferry connecting the western and eastern shores for motorists sails between Verbania Intra and Laveno. Ferries run every 20 minutes; one-way transport costs from €6.40 to €10.90 for a car and driver or €3.90 for a bicycle and cyclist.