This well-known destination on the banks of Lake Maggiore has been attracting tourists since the late 1800s. One of the most famous visitors was the author Ernest Hemingway, who later featured it as a location in his highly-regarded novel ‘A Farewell to Arms’.
Today, Stresa is still as popular as ever, with thousands of visitors flocking to its picturesque shores every year.
One of the best ways to see the town and the lake is by taking a ride on the Stresa-Alpino-Mottarone cable car, which provides you with gorgeous panoramic views once you reach the summit.
On your way to the top, there is also the chance to stop and explore the Botanical Garden Alpinia, which is home to thousands of unique plants.
Back on the lakeshore is where you’ll find another one of the town’s main attractions – a neo-classical mansion set on an estate that’s home to a number of unusual wildlife species, including kangaroos, zebras, coatis, cranes, flamingos, and black swans.
If you can picture yourself spending some time here on your next break, continue reading for a comprehensive list of everything you need to know about Stresa
The 92 Most Popular Things To Do In Stresa, Italy
92. Grotta dei Roccioni
5.0 (1 review)
Location: Via Santa Caterina 11 Leggiuno VA
91. Sentiero del Lazzaretto
5.0 (1 review)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Unnamed Rd. Laveno Mombello VA
90. Chiesa dell’Immacolata
3.0 (1 review)
Credit: Emanuele Dell’Abate, Google Maps
Location: Via Don C Tinelli 22 Laveno Mombello VA
89. Palazzo Bolongaro
4.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Luca Tirnusciolo, Google Maps
Location: 28838 Streetresa Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
88. Grotta degli spiriti
4.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Via Santa Caterina 18E Leggiuno VA
87. Anello di Santa Caterina
4.0 (2 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Lungolago Perabo 2 Laveno Mombello VA
86. Sentiero del Verbano
4.5 (2 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Via Varese 2 Laveno Mombello VA
Tel: 0332-022994
85. Villa Castelli
3.7 (3 reviews)
Location: Via Sempione Nord 2 Streetresa VB
84. Casa Museo Andrea Ruffoni
5.0 (3 reviews)
Credit: Francesco Muzzopappa, Google Maps
Location: Via Lungo Lago Isola Superiore VB
Tel: 340-594-2693
Web Address: https://fondazioneandrearuffoni.it/
83. Villa “Grande” Castellini
5.0 (3 reviews)
Credit: DroneScapes By Atellani, Google Maps
Location: SP69 90 Laveno Mombello VA
82. Murales di Andrea Ravo Mattoni
5.0 (3 reviews)
Location: Unnamed Rd. Leggiuno VA
Web Address: http://varesenews.it/2018/03/dipinto-del-morazzone-diventa-un-grande-murales/697864/
81. Officine dell’Acqua
4.7 (3 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Viale G Garibaldi 12 Laveno Mombello VA
80. Sentiero per Rebolgiane
4.7 (3 reviews)
Credit: antonella luche, Google Maps
Location: Via Profare 32 Laveno Mombello VA
79. Associazione Culturale LetterAltura
4.0 (4 reviews)
Location: Via Fratelli Cervi 14 Verbania VB
Tel: 0323-581233
Web Address: http://associazioneletteraltura.com/
78. Montorfano
4.8 (4 reviews)
Credit: Strafforello, Gustavo, 1820-1903,, License, Wikimedia commons
77. Villa Simonetta
4.5 (4 reviews)
Credit: Sergio Villa, Google Maps
Location: Via sco Simonetta Intra VB
76. Church of Saint Victor
4.4 (5 reviews)
Credit: Tamás Melcher, Google Maps
Location: Via Lungo Lago Vittorio Emanuele 18 Streetresa VB
75. Grotta del Beato Alberto
4.4 (5 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: Via Santa Caterina 5 Leggiuno VA
74. Consorzio Motoscafisti delle isole Borromee
5.0 (7 reviews)
Credit: Consorzio Motoscafisti delle isole Borromee, Google Maps
Location: Piazzale Lido Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-31358
Web Address: http://isoleborromee.com/
73. Sentiero di Costaccia
4.3 (7 reviews)
Credit: Michele Mombelli, Google Maps
Location: 2 Casere VA
72. Strona
4.6 (8 reviews)
71. Scoglio della Malghera
4.3 (9 reviews)
Credit: qwesy qwesy, License, Wikimedia commons
70. Isolino di San Giovanni
4.4 (9 reviews)
69. Chiesa di San Fabiano
4.5 (10 reviews)
Credit: Gennaro Mannna, Google Maps
Location: Via S Fabiano Intra VB
68. Centro Internazionale di Studi Rosminiani
4.6 (12 reviews)
Location: Corso Umberto I 15 Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-30091
Web Address: http://rosmini.it/
67. Falò mount
4.8 (12 reviews)
Credit: Simone Nerviani, Google Maps
66. NAVIGAZIONE ISOLE BORROMEE
4.5 (13 reviews)
Credit: Elliott Brown, License, Flickr
65. Balconata del Picuz
4.5 (14 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Spertini, Google Maps
Location: 21038 Sangiano Province of Varese
64. Antica Mulattiera Laveno- Casere
4.6 (14 reviews)
Credit: Lolly Cecilia, Google Maps
Location: Via Vararo Laveno Mombello VA
63. Villa Intragnola
4.3 (15 reviews)
Credit: Emanuele Andreoli, Google Maps
Location: Via Gerolamo Pirinoli 2 Laveno Mombello VA
Web Address: https://intragnola.org/
62. Museo La Casa del Lago
4.6 (15 reviews)
Location: Via Felice Cavallotti 16 Pallanza VB
Tel: 0323-53814
Web Address: http://lacasadellago.it/
61. Sentiero dei Castagni
4.5 (19 reviews)
Credit: Ekaterina Kiseleva, Google Maps
Location: SP125 33 Belgirate VB
Web Address: https://illagomaggiore.it/it_IT/21877,Itineraries.html
60. San Bernardino
4.5 (19 reviews)
Credit: Mario Gabinio, License, Wikimedia commons
59. Chiesa di San Defendente
4.8 (22 reviews)
Credit: Fabrizio Morlotti, Google Maps
Location: Via S Defendente 12 Laveno Mombello VA
58. Monte alle Croci
4.7 (24 reviews)
Credit: Mauro Rossi, Google Maps
Location: Via per Calogna 12 Lesa NO
57. Church of Our Lady ‘del Buon Rimedio’
4.4 (32 reviews)
Credit: Marco Gottardo, Google Maps
Location: Via Venti Settembre Cavandone VB
56. Lungolago di Feriolo
4.4 (33 reviews)
Credit: Cristina Conca, Google Maps
Location: 28831 Feriolo Baveno Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
55. Lungolago di Cerro di Laveno
4.5 (33 reviews)
Credit: Fabio Cannone, Google Maps
Location: Lungolago Perabo 2 Laveno Mombello VA
54. Monte Camoscio
4.6 (34 reviews)
Credit: Katja Höger, Google Maps
Location: 28831 Baveno Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
53. Villa Alessandro Poss
4.0 (34 reviews)
Location: Via Selasca Biganzolo VB
Web Address: http://museodelpaesaggio.it/it-it/home/paesaggio/schede/villa_poss_1
52. Monte Cornaggia
4.8 (36 reviews)
Credit: francesco maugeri, Google Maps
51. Ferrata Picasass
4.7 (37 reviews)
Credit: Bert Dauwe, Google Maps
Location: 28831 Baveno Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
Web Address: http://bavenoturismo.it/itinerario/vie-ferrate-baveno/
50. Piccola Cascata del diavolo
3.8 (37 reviews)
Credit: Walking Trek, Google Maps
Location: Via Vararo Laveno Mombello VA
Web Address: https://cascatetrekking.com/cascate/italia/lombardia/varese/laveno-mombello-cascata-del-diavolo/
49. Fortino Beach
3.6 (39 reviews)
Credit: Gianfranco Salerno, Google Maps
48. Associazione Casa della Resistenza
4.5 (40 reviews)
Credit: Associazione Casa della Resistenza, Google Maps
Location: Via Filippo Turati 9 Verbania VB
Tel: 0323-586802
Web Address: http://casadellaresistenza.it/
47. Parco del Lavorascio
3.8 (42 reviews)
Credit: Proloco Ispra, Google Maps
Location: Piazzale Dante Alighieri Ispra VA
Tel: 0332-783-3100
Web Address: http://comune.ispra.va.it/
46. Monte Zughero
4.6 (49 reviews)
Credit: Sebastiano Edoardo Tavolazzi, Google Maps
Location: 28838 Streetresa Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
45. Chiesa di San Vittore
4.4 (59 reviews)
Credit: Zairon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 28838 Isola Superiore Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
44. Spiaggia delle Rianne
4.0 (62 reviews)
Credit: erika r.l. shaw, Google Maps
Location: SP69 23 Laveno Mombello VA
43. Sabbie d’oro
3.5 (66 reviews)
Credit: Paolo Cardoso, Google Maps
Location: 21020 Brebbia Province of Varese
42. Parco Forte Castello
4.2 (77 reviews)
Credit: Susan Verboon, Google Maps
Location: Via alla Torre Laveno Mombello VA
Web Address: https://fondoambiente.it/luoghi/parco-forte-castello
41. Palude Bozza di Besozzo
4.4 (77 reviews)
Credit: Marco Giannotti, Google Maps
Location: Via Lago Besozzo VA
40. Lido di Monvalle
4.3 (89 reviews)
Credit: Roberto Orsenigo, Google Maps
Location: Via delle Piane 30 Monvalle VA
Web Address: https://campinglidomonvalle.it/
39. Sasso del Ferro
4.6 (91 reviews)
38. Chiesa di Santa Maria – Vecchia
4.6 (92 reviews)
Credit: Dodi Degattis, Google Maps
Location: Via IV Novembre 58 Belgirate VB
37. Riserva Naturale Speciale di Fondotoce
4.5 (106 reviews)
Location: Via Canale 48 Verbania VB
36. International Museum of Ceramic Design
4.4 (115 reviews)
Credit: MIDeC – Museo Internazionale Design Ceramico, Google Maps
Location: Lungolago Perabo 5 Laveno Mombello VA
Tel: 0332-625551
Web Address: https://midec.org/
35. Spiaggia Isolino Vecchio
4.3 (118 reviews)
Credit: Valerio Dardi, Google Maps
Location: 28924 Verbania Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
34. Basilica di San Vittore – Verbania Intra
4.5 (121 reviews)
Location: Piazza S Vittore 5 Verbania VB
Tel: 0323-402506
Web Address: http://diocesinovara.it/diocesi/le-upm-unita-pastorali-missionarie/upm-16-verbania/
33. Mottarone Adventure Park
4.5 (130 reviews)
Credit: Mottarone Adventure Park, Google Maps
Location: Str privata Borromea Gignese VB
Tel: 0323-199-1031
Web Address: https://mottarone.it/adventure-park/
32. Spiaggia dell’ Erno
4.1 (131 reviews)
Credit: Tanguy Morvan, Google Maps
31. Lungolago
4.4 (133 reviews)
Credit: Mauro Cavallo, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Lungolago Alessandro Volta Laveno Mombello VA
30. Mastrolino
4.7 (139 reviews)
Credit: Ivan Libralon, Google Maps
Location: 28887 Omegna Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
Web Address: http://asdtrailrunningmastrolino.com/
29. Castle
4.2 (145 reviews)
Credit: slayer, License, Flickr
Location: Via Visconti 2 Massino Visconti NO
Tel: 0322-219713
Web Address: https://comune.massinovisconti.no.it/it-it/vivere-il-comune/cosa-vedere/castello-visconteo-28422-1-12a4214c9389f011d6b0b67e8f1d3590
28. Lungolago di Intra
4.5 (178 reviews)
Credit: abdelmajid ouazine, Google Maps
Location: S da Streetatale 34 del Lago Maggiore 28921 Intra VB
27. Museo dell’ombrello
4.3 (181 reviews)
Credit: Paulo Faria, Google Maps
Location: Via Golf Panorama 4 Gignese VB
Tel: 377-084-1032
Web Address: http://museodellombrello.org/
26. Toce Park
4.5 (187 reviews)
Credit: Thomas Bianchi, Google Maps
Location: Via Piano Grande Localita La Garlanda Fondotoce VB
Tel: 366-466-0268
Web Address: https://tocepark.com/
25. Santino beach
4.4 (195 reviews)
24. Sentiero Azzurro Mergozzo – Montorfano
4.6 (226 reviews)
Credit: Anna Pedrocchi, Google Maps
Location: 28802 Mergozzo Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
Web Address: https://distrettolaghi.it/it/percorsi/b-slow-trek-n6-lago-di-mergozzo-mergozzo-montorfano
23. Fondazione Museo Arti e Industria di Omegna
4.0 (259 reviews)
Credit: Mony Molteni, Google Maps
Location: Parco Pasquale Maulini 1 Omegna VB
Tel: 0323-866141
Web Address: http://forumomegna.org/
22. Sass Dal Pizz
4.8 (285 reviews)
Location: 28010 Nebbiuno Province of Novara
21. Poggio Sant’Elsa ( Pizzo dell’Orsera)
4.7 (296 reviews)
Credit: Julia Kerner, Google Maps
Location: Sentiero sasso del ferro Laveno Mombello VA
20. “Passeggiata Dell’Amore”
4.5 (365 reviews)
Credit: Alessandro Vergani, Google Maps
Location: 21027 Ispra Province of Varese
19. Le fornaci
4.4 (450 reviews)
Credit: Turista non per caso, Google Maps
Location: 21027 Ispra Province of Varese
18. Reno’s Beach
4.3 (490 reviews)
Credit: Gale Onen, Google Maps
17. Lago di Mergozzo
4.7 (537 reviews)
16. Spiaggia Guree Monvalle
4.2 (644 reviews)
Credit: EPIC Studio, Google Maps
Location: Lago Maggiore
Tel: 351-692-8031
15. Cerro Beach
4.2 (664 reviews)
Credit: Tom Peeters, Google Maps
14. AquadventurePark Lake Maggiore
4.1 (727 reviews)
Credit: AquadventurePark Lago Maggiore, Google Maps
Location: Strada Cavalli 18 Baveno VB
Tel: 0323-919799
Web Address: http://aquadventurepark.com/
13. Lungolago Ispra
4.5 (1,395 reviews)
Credit: roberto rosini, Google Maps
Location: Via F Magellano Lungolago 29 Ispra VA
12. Giardini Botanici dell’Isola Madre
4.7 (1,407 reviews)
Credit: DestinationFearFan, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Isola Madre Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-933478
Web Address: https://isoleborromee.it/isola-madre/
11. Alpyland
4.5 (2,874 reviews)
Credit: mitch81, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: 28838 Mottarone Province of Verbano Cusio Ossola
Tel: 0323-199-1007
Web Address: http://alpyland.com/
10. Santa Caterina del Sasso
4.7 (6,465 reviews)
Location: Via Santa Caterina 13 Leggiuno VA
Tel: 0332-647014
Web Address: https://eremosantacaterina.it/
Our Top picks
9. Borromean Islands
4.5 (103 reviews)
Credit: Archangel12, License, Wikimedia commons
8. Isola Madre
4.5 (427 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
7. Isola dei Pescatori
4.5 (614 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
6. Garden Alpinia in Alpino
3.9 (647 reviews)
Location: Via Alpinia 22 Alpino Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-927173
Web Address: http://giardinobotanicoalpinia.altervista.org/chi-siamo/
5. Mottarone
4.6 (846 reviews)
Credit: MOs810, License, Wikimedia commons
4. Isola Bella
4.7 (1,320 reviews)
Credit: Daderot, License, Wikimedia commons
3. Lungolago di Stresa
4.7 (1,419 reviews)
Location: Corso Umberto I 73 Streetresa VB
2. Park Villa Pallavicino
4.6 (3,972 reviews)
Credit: mariejirousek, License, Flickr
Location: Via Sempione Sud 8 Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-933478
Web Address: https://isoleborromee.it/parco-pallavicino/
1. Palazzo Borromeo
4.7 (4,041 reviews)
Credit: Zairon, License, Wikimedia commons
Location: Isola Bella 1 Streetresa VB
Tel: 0323-933478
Web Address: https://isoleborromee.it/isola-bella/cosa-vedere/palazzo-borromeo/
Final Words:
Thank you for reading our list of the best things to do in Stresa, Italy! We hope it helped you plan the perfect itinerary for your next trip to this fantastic destination. Happy travels!
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