Lake Maggiore

Lake Maggiore – What you should know

Lake Maggiore is slightly warmer than Lake Como — 28°C in July against 26°C — and otherwise shares its basic problem: it is among the wettest areas in Italy. May brings 174 mm, November 172 mm, and October and August 160 mm each. The Alpine rim traps the moist air rising from the Po plain here.

The lake itself is the counterweight. Its body of water holds temperatures stable enough for subtropical gardens to thrive along the shores and especially on the Borromean Islands off Stresa — camellias, azaleas and citrus trees, barely a hundred kilometres from the four-thousand-metre peaks of the Valais. The camellia bloom in March and April is a reason to visit in its own right.

The best months are June and September at 22–25°C, with somewhat less rain than the peak months. July and August are warmest but bring regular heavy afternoon thunderstorms over the mountains. In winter, at 7°C and barely four hours of sunshine in December, it is quiet and often foggy — most hotels and boat services pause then.