With the arrival of summer, the desire to spend a day outdoors grows, far from the heat of cities and free from the stress tied to traffic: Lake Maggiore is one of the most appreciated destinations in Northern Italy thanks to the jewel-like villages mirrored in the water and the countless attractions that can be visited in a day or during a weekend.
For the summer of 2026, moreover, there are increasingly more opportunities to reach the lake using public transport, a choice that allows traveling in a more sustainable way and to avoid the parking issues and weekend summer queues.
Here are some of the main options available for discovering the lake’s most fascinating towns.
The Lago Line from Novara
Starting Friday, July 17, the Lago Line begins, the new service launched by STN that enables reaching some of the best-known destinations around Lake Maggiore starting from Novara: the service will operate every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through September 13.
The itinerary connects Novara with several towns along the Piedmont shore: among the main stops is Stresa, long considered one of the most elegant tourist hubs of Lake Maggiore and a privileged starting point to visit the famous Borromean Islands.
The service then continues toward Cannero Riviera, where you can admire the Cannero Castles, recently restored after a long period of neglect: they emerge from the lake waters and are one of the most characteristic symbols of Alta Verbano.
The terminus of the Lago Line is Cannobio, renowned for the lakeside promenade and for the traditional Sunday market, held from 8:00 to 15:00, one of the largest and most distinctive markets in Piedmont.
The bus also stops at Arona, Baveno, Pallanza and Verbania, and the line is integrated with rail connections at the stations of Novara, Oleggio and Arona, while near certain stops, such as Trecate, there are parking areas that facilitate the interchange between car and public transport.
To visit the Borromean Islands, the stops at Baveno and Intra, in addition to Stresa, also provide convenient access to the embarkation docks. Tickets can be purchased on board, via the STN App and on major online platforms dedicated to travel services, with fares starting from 20 euros for a round trip.
Lago Maggiore Express, the Journey that Unites Boat and Railroad
Among the most complete experiences for exploring the area is the Lago Maggiore Express, a route that blends lake navigation with a rail journey through the Vigezzo Valley and the Centovalli, forming a loop that can be tackled in either direction and starting from any of the served locations.
The excursion lets you experience in a single day two different travel modes, crossing both Italian territory and the Swiss canton of Ticino in the southern part of Switzerland. During the cruise on Lake Maggiore you can admire some of the area’s most representative places, such as the Borromean Islands, the Cannero Riviera Castles, the Brissago Islands and the town of Ascona, up to Locarno, at the lake’s northern end.
The journey then continues aboard the characteristic narrow-gauge train of the Vigezzina-Centovalli Railway, a panoramic line that touches one of the most evocative landscapes of the Alpine arc, between forests, valleys, bridges and small towns. During the excursion you can choose whether to dine on board or to organize a picnic lunch.
Trenitalia and Trenord’s rail services also ensure connections between Domodossola and Lake Maggiore in both directions.
From the Center of Milan to Lake Maggiore in Just Over an Hour
Even starting from Milan you can reach Lake Maggiore by train, avoiding the use of a car.
Arona is one of the easiest destinations to reach: regional trains operated by Trenord and Trenitalia departing from Milano Centrale and bound for Domodossola take on average between 56 and 60 minutes. The frequency is high, with nearly twenty connections spread throughout the day, about one per hour.
Stresa is also connected to Milano Centrale with regional trains direct to Domodossola. The journey lasts between 57 and 60 minutes and is one of the most convenient solutions to visit the Borromean Islands or spend a day along the lakeside without worrying about traffic.
To reach the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore you can instead opt for Laveno-Mombello. Regular services depart from Milano Centrale and take about an hour and forty minutes, while on certain specific dates the historic train “Laveno Express” is also available, with departures from Milano Cadorna and a travel time of around one hour and forty-five minutes: the next trip is planned for 20 September 2026.
