How to get to Lake Maggiore, ride the ferries and park
By the TravelCheap Editorial Team · Updated October 28, 2026
From Milan, direct regional trains reach Stresa in about 1 hour 15 minutes, and a few EuroCity trains do it in about an hour. From Malpensa airport, take the Malpensa Express to Gallarate and change there for Arona and Stresa.
On the lake, ferries are the way to get around. A free-circulation day ticket lets you hop between the islands, and in 2026 it cost €19.50 for the Stresa to Isola Madre stretch.
Trains from Milan and Malpensa
| Route | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Milano Centrale to Stresa, regional | About 1 h 11 to 1 h 16 | 10 to 14 direct trains a day |
| Milano Centrale to Stresa, EuroCity | About 1 h | Example: EC 36 leaves Milan at 17:20, arrives 18:20 |
| Milano Porta Garibaldi to Stresa, regional | 1 h 22 to 1 h 35 | Some services |
| Malpensa to Gallarate (Malpensa Express RE51) | 8 min from T2, 15 min from T1 | Every 30 minutes; change for Arona and Stresa |
Sources: Stresa station timetable (e656), EuroCity 36 Milano to Stresa (Orario Treni) and Malpensa to Gallarate trains from 23 January 2026 (Trenord). The Alibus coach also runs from Malpensa to the west shore; you must book ahead (Getting around Lake Maggiore (Il Lago Maggiore)).
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- Treno Gottardo runs direct to Locarno: about 3 h 19 from Zurich and 4 h 21 from Basel (Direct trains to Locarno (Treno Gottardo)).
- The Centovalli railway links Domodossola and Locarno in about 2 hours over 83 bridges. Seat reservations cost CHF 5, and there is a €1.50 supplement on the Italian section (Vigezzina-Centovalli railway (MySwitzerland)).
- The Swiss S30 train links Malpensa with Bellinzona via Laveno and Luino on the east shore (Getting around Lake Maggiore (Il Lago Maggiore)).
Ferry fares (Italian part of the lake, 2026)
| Ticket (adult) | Shortest stretch | Stresa to Isola Madre | Longest stretch |
|---|---|---|---|
| One-way, no stops | €2.50 | €6.00 | €11.50 |
| One-way with stops | €3.50 | €10.00 | €18.50 |
| Free-circulation day ticket | €7.00 | €19.50 | €34.50 |
Fares from 1 April 2026 (Navigazione Laghi fares from 1 April 2026). The day ticket allows unlimited hops between the ports it covers. Over-65s pay less Monday to Friday, ages 4 to 11 pay a child fare, under-4s travel free, and tickets bought on board cost €1 more.
The Intra to Laveno car ferry crosses in about 20 minutes, roughly every 30 minutes, and saves a long drive around the lake (Intra to Laveno car ferry timetable (Navigazione Laghi)).
Parking
- Stresa: paid car parks at Piazza Marconi (254 spaces), by the Lido di Carciano ferry pier (84), at the Palacongressi and on Via G. Borromeo (Stresa car parks (Stresa Servizi)). Published rates were €1.80 an hour or €14 a day from March to October, but that figure dates from 2023 (Stresa parking rates (Telepass Moveo)).
- Arona: the Piazzale Aldo Moro car park has about 530 free spaces, and the centre is a camera-controlled limited-traffic zone (Parking in Arona (Accessibilità Centri Storici)). This information dates from 2019.
- Baveno: the lakefront pay bays become free in winter (Free lakefront parking in Baveno in winter (Verbano News)).
Frequently asked questions
How do I get from Malpensa to Lake Maggiore?
Take the Malpensa Express (RE51) to Gallarate, which runs every 30 minutes, and change there for the line to Arona and Stresa. The Alibus coach also runs to the west shore if you book ahead.
How long is the train from Milan to Stresa?
About 1 hour 15 minutes on a direct regional train, or about an hour on the few EuroCity trains that stop at Stresa.
How much is the ferry to the Borromean Islands?
In 2026 a free-circulation day ticket from Stresa to Isola Madre, with stops at Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori, cost €19.50 for an adult.
Where can I park in Stresa?
At the paid car parks in Piazza Marconi, by the Lido di Carciano ferry pier, at the Palacongressi and on Via G. Borromeo.
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More Lake Maggiore guides
Sources
- Stresa station timetable (e656)
- EuroCity 36 Milano to Stresa (Orario Treni)
- Malpensa to Gallarate trains from 23 January 2026 (Trenord)
- Getting around Lake Maggiore (Il Lago Maggiore)
- Direct trains to Locarno (Treno Gottardo)
- Vigezzina-Centovalli railway (MySwitzerland)
- Navigazione Laghi fares from 1 April 2026
- Intra to Laveno car ferry timetable (Navigazione Laghi)
- Stresa car parks (Stresa Servizi)
- Stresa parking rates (Telepass Moveo)
- Parking in Arona (Accessibilità Centri Storici)
- Free lakefront parking in Baveno in winter (Verbano News)
Prices, timetables and trail status change. We checked the figures on this page on October 28, 2026. Found something out of date? Email contact@travelcheap.online.