Any tips for Northern Italy - Lakes?

polybear

Hi all,
I'm off to the Italian Lakes (Maggiore) for a week soon. Does anyone have any useful tips please - many thanks.

Brian

bcl999

No tips I'm afraid but I am so jealous. I went to Stresa for the day on atrain from Milan years ago and promised myself I'd go back for a holiday but have never done it. Have a wonderful time.

peachyprice

No specific Maggiore tips here I'm afraid, but we've just come back from Lake Como, it was absolutely beautiful, can't wait to go back. If you have half as good a time as us you'll have a ball.

General tips:
Eat lots of Gelato - for health reasons obviously, it's very cooling
Ditto Peroni beer
Eat lost of pizza, all that tomato sauce has got to be good for you
Italian bread is delicious, especially dipped in the healthy olive oil & balsamic vinegar

More seriously, if there's anyone in your party over 65 take ID because you'll get discount on ferries and museum entrance, (ask for an anziani ticket).

If you're driving, always give way to buses on the narrow streets, even if it means reversing, otherwise they'll just squeeze past and scrape the side of the car.

Take mosquito repellant, there are alot about at the moment.

Most of all, enjoy

mummybearx

Oh I LOVED Lake Maggiore! We stayed in Milan for 2 nights in October last year then got the train up to Stresa for a week, it was wonderful! Hoping to go back again early next year to do some things we didn't have time to do!

One thing we really enjoyed was the Lake Maggiore Express, the mountain train from Stresa up to Locarno in Switzerland. We got tickets from Stresa Travel (located across the road from the main ferry terminal) as part of a two day package deal. Can't remember the exact costs but you can find them on Facebook. First day was the train from Stresa to Domodossola, then a change of train then on to Locarno. Best to sit on the right hand side of the train. Some wonderful views on the mountain pass as you head north, some scary views as well! Few hours in Locarno to wander about, then catch the ferry home to Stresa. It's a few hours, but it's wonderful scenery. Need some Swiss currency though, they don't accept euros. We found it easier to just use my bank card and take £20 out (or whatever that equated to in francs. Enough for a quick lunch and a pot stand from the tat shops at the ferry ports :rotfl:
Second day (as part of the two day ticket from Stresa Travel), it gives you a rover ticket to visit the 3 islands. Isola Madre was beautiful, we paid extra for access to the palace, which was just stunning!

There is a market on in different villages round the lake each week. It's probably the same people over and over again, so you might only need to visit it once, but it's worth a look if it's local to where you are.

If you are staying in Stresa, don't walk past Willy's bar on the main promenade without going in for a cocktail! Also check out Cafe Torrino in the main square, food was delicious aND really well priced. If you are feeling brave you can order from the house specials menu, just ask whoever is serving you. My dh had veal saltimbocca which came with marrowbone, the waitress actually grabbed my dh and kissed him on both cheeks when she realised he had eaten all the marrow :rotfl:

Anything else just ask, I honestly loved being there and can't wait to go back x

michele-p

We will also be at lake Maggiore in a few weeks, for 2 nights as part of our monster Italian/Swiss road trip. We can't wait. We have a night on Lake Garda, then up into Switzerland for a few nights, down to Maggiore, and our last night in Venice.

I will remember to look out for busses, and get out of their way.

Also have made a note that pizza, ice cream and bread are obvioulsy a medical necessity!

poet123

We have just come back from 2 weeks in Lakes Garda, Como and Lugano, with a side trip to Venice. It was wonderful.

A highlight was the Bernina Express from Tirana to St Moritz, it was simply stunning.

Unfortunately, I think the Swiss are developing some secret chemical attack weapon, (that neutrality mask is slipping) and on my first night in Switzerland after two glorious week in Italy I was struck with something akin to double strength flu which completely felled me. Since arriving home I have been in bed for a week straight and am only now coming round. This is the first time in my life that I have been ill in bed for longer than 3 days. All that aside we had a great holiday and I am sure you will too.

bcl999

poet123 wrote: »

I think the Swiss are developing some secret chemical attack weapon, .

No, it is a selective biological agent only affecting those with less than SF10m in a Swiss bank account. They are trying to dissuade "the poor" from visiting.

poet123

bcl999 wrote: »

No, it is a selective biological agent only affecting those with less than SF10m in a Swiss bank account. They are trying to dissuade "the poor" from visiting.

You might have something there....we had lunch in St Moritz and the prices were eye watering. How the average person affords to live there is beyond me.

Slinky

poet123 wrote: »

We have just come back from 2 weeks in Lakes Garda, Como and Lugano, with a side trip to Venice. It was wonderful.

A highlight was the Bernina Express from Tirana to St Moritz, it was simply stunning.

Unfortunately, I think the Swiss are developing some secret chemical attack weapon, (that neutrality mask is slipping) and on my first night in Switzerland after two glorious week in Italy I was struck with something akin to double strength flu which completely felled me. Since arriving home I have been in bed for a week straight and am only now coming round. This is the first time in my life that I have been ill in bed for longer than 3 days. All that aside we had a great holiday and I am sure you will too.

When we went to Garda about 10 years ago my husband picked up the most horrendous chest infection. He couldn't even sleep lying down, he had about 3 nights propped up with pillows.