39 days in Lake Maggiore (Italy & Switzerland) Itinerary

Stresa is a town and comune of about 5,000 residents on the shores of Lake Maggiore in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola in the Piedmont region of northern Italy, about 90km northwest of Milan. Discover out-of-the-way places like Parco della Rocca Borromea and Santuario della SS. Pieta. Popular historic sites such as Palazzo Borromeo and Chiesa di San Vittore are in your itinerary. You'll find plenty of places to visit near Stresa: Cannero Riviera (Castelli di Cannero & Fortificazioni del Monte Morissolo), Luino (Pista ciclo-pedonale Luino-Valcuvia & Le Serenelle) and Angera (Rocca Borromeo, Oasi della Bruschera, &more). There's still lots to do: take in the architecture and atmosphere at Chiesa di Santa Marta, admire the striking features of Borromeo Palace, appreciate the extensive heritage of Il Centro Storico di Arona, and go for a walk through Lungolago Stresa.

To see more things to do, other places to visit, where to stay, and more tourist information, read our Stresa road trip planning app.

Sydney, Australia to Stresa is an approximately 26-hour flight. The time zone changes from Australian Eastern Standard Time to Central European Standard Time, which is usually a -9 hour difference. Prepare for somewhat warmer weather when traveling from Sydney in August: high temperatures in Stresa hover around 33°C and lows are around 19°C. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 19th (Thu) to allow time to drive to Locarno.

Locarno's Mediterranean climate, palm trees, and 2,300 hours of sunlight per year make this city the warmest in Switzerland.

Deepen your sense of the past at sights like Sacromonte e Santuario Madonna del Sasso and Chiesa di Santa Maria Assunta. Satisfy your inner culture vulture at Chiesa di San Michele and Chiesa San Vittore. There's much more to do: cool off at Lido Locarno, kick back and relax at Bagno pubblico La Lanca, pause for some serene contemplation at Collegiata di San Vittore, and head outdoors with Cimetta.

For traveler tips, more things to do, other places to visit, and more tourist information, you can read our Locarno trip planner.

Getting from Stresa to Locarno by car takes about an hour. Other options: take a bus; or take a train. Expect a daytime high around 26°C in September, and nighttime lows around 15°C. On the 4th (Fri), you're off to home.