Well hello to you my reader chums! I'm still reminiscing about my time in Lake Maggiore as I can't believe the sheer beauty I witnessed during my 3 nights there. I wish I spent longer than 3 nights as there's so much of the lake to explore and endless lakeside towns with residential charm.

If you're planning a short or long trip to Lake Maggiore, here is everything you need to know on your first lake trip.

Lake Maggiore is a huge lake/area

Lake Maggiore is the second-largest lake in Italy and the largest in southern Switzerland, divided between the regions of Piedmont and Lombardy in Italy and the Swiss region of Ticino. As it's a lake across Italy and Switzerland, it makes for an easy way to experience two countries in one trip, travelling from Italy to Switzerland by public transport. Due to its sheer size, there are plenty of spots you can choose to stay from the south to the north. On my trip, we stayed in Laveno as it was easy to travel from Parma and experience some of the lake's highlights. The further north you go, the clearer the water of the lake becomes.

You can travel between different towns 

As Lake Maggiore covers two countries, there are many hotspots and places you can choose stay, depending on what you'd like to see. Some renowned towns include Stresa (an easy port destination for boat trips), Lesa, Annobio, Cannero, Ascona, Luino (market town), Laveno and Arona. Wherever you choose to stay, travelling between the towns is easy. Depending on which side of the lake one town is, if the same side, there are train and bus options to choose from. To the other side of the lake, many towns have their own ports to choose from.

Trains in Italy are a dream

Travelling by train is a dream in Italy as you witness many gorgeous sights, whether that's the countryside or the coastline. Reaching Lake Maggiore is simple to get to by train, especially if you're coming from major cities, such as Milan or Bologna. As I've mentioned from single sides of the lake, you can catch the train, travelling to more northern or southern areas of Lake Maggiore.

The climate can vary

Due to the mountainous location, you can expect a mild and slightly cooler climate all year round in Lake Maggiore. May to September are the most popular times, though rainfall peaks in spring and showers are generally short. Temperatures rise in the spring into the summer with highs of 28 degrees Celsius. I visited in early June and the temperature was in the early twenties, with some thunderstorms.

It can be quieter than Lake Como

One of the reasons I chose to visit Lake Maggiore is because I knew it would be a quieter lake location than Lake Como. My predictions were correct and in early June, the lake wasn't bursting with visitors, it was a lot quieter, making it easier to enjoy boat rides and go to attractions without mountains of crowds. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't a ghost town, Lake Maggiore was still popular but not overwhelmingly so, a good amount of tourists. 

Off-seasons can mean experiencing the lake when it's very quiet

I always say when it comes to travelling that you're better off going in the off-season to experience milder climates, fewer crowds and lower prices. This is especially true with Lake Maggiore as I experienced a gorgeous taste of lake life without the crowds and the warmth of summer in Italy. It was honestly a dream and the scenery was everything.

I hope you enjoyed this post. When are you planning to visit Lake Maggiore?

Thank you for reading <3