Where to stay on Lake Maggiore
By the TravelCheap Editorial Team · Updated October 28, 2026
Arona and Verbania were the cheapest towns in our price check, at about €137 and €145 a night. Stresa was the most expensive at about €198, but it has the most island boats and the fastest trains to Milan.
On the Swiss side, Locarno costs more than Arona, but hotel guests in Ticino get free trains, buses and boats in the regional network with the Ticino Ticket.
Towns compared
| Town | Typical price per night | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Arona | About €137 (€75 to €211) | Close to Milan and Malpensa by train; cheapest of the main towns |
| Verbania | About €145 (hostel from €52) | Villa Taranto, Pallanza and the Intra car ferry |
| Baveno | About €160 (guesthouses from €68) | Close to the islands for less than Stresa |
| Locarno (Switzerland) | About €173 (€141 to €267) | Free regional transport with the Ticino Ticket |
| Cannobio | About €188 | Apartments, the Sunday market, the north of the lake |
| Stresa | About €198 (€121 to €299) | Most island boats and EuroCity trains |
Our Booking.com search on 28 October 2026 for two adults, 12 to 14 June 2027: the median of the top 10 results per town. One search is a snapshot, so compare your own dates.
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Compare hotels in StresaTourist tax and the Ticino Ticket
- Stresa's 2025 tourist tax ran from €1.00 a night in 1 and 2 star hotels, B&Bs and rentals to €3.50 in 5 star hotels (Stresa tourist tax rates (Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze)).
- In Ticino, guests of hotels, hostels and approved campsites get the Ticino Ticket: free second-class buses, trains and boats in the Arcobaleno network for up to 14 days (Ticino Ticket conditions 2026 (Ticino Turismo)).
How to choose
- Coming by train from Milan with a tight budget: Arona.
- Mostly here for the islands: Baveno or Stresa.
- Want gardens and a quieter town: Verbania (Pallanza).
- Combining the lake with Switzerland: Locarno or Ascona.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest town on Lake Maggiore?
In our June 2027 price check, Arona (about €137 a night) and Verbania (about €145) were the cheapest of the main towns.
Is Stresa or Baveno better?
Stresa has more island boats and faster trains to Milan; Baveno is close to the islands and was cheaper in our search.
What is the Ticino Ticket?
A free pass for guests of hotels, hostels and approved campsites in Ticino, covering second-class trains, buses and boats in the regional network for up to 14 days.
Plan the trip
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More Lake Maggiore guides
Sources
- Stresa tourist tax rates (Ministero dell'Economia e delle Finanze)
- Ticino Ticket conditions 2026 (Ticino Turismo)
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.