This is a great day trip for spring, summer, or autumn that doesn’t require a car. The
Lago Maggiore Express offers the opportunity to enjoy incredible Alpine scenery, charming mountain villages, beautiful churches, regional cuisine, a leisurely lake cruise, and two countries, all with relative ease and comfort. Does it sound impossible? It’s not. Here’s the basic itinerary:
Begin the day with a cappuccino at the Stresa train station and a 45-minute Trenitalia trip on the red line north to Domodossola.
In Domodossola switch to the Swiss SSIF green line. This smaller train winds its way through Valle Vigezzo and the rugged Centovalli, hundred valley, region, going over deep chasms on spectacular arched bridges, crossing rivers, traveling through meadows and chestnut woods. It makes stops in the picturesque towns of Druogno, Santa Maria Maggiore, Malesco, and Re, each of which has its own delights. The cathedral in Re is, in its simplicity, one of the loveliest I have seen in Italy. stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa
Because there are several trains throughout the day you may disembark and embark in these towns at will. Your one ticket allows the full circular trip in any configuration you choose.
The train continues through the Ticino region of the Swiss Alps before arriving in Locarno, on the northeastern tip of Lago Maggiore. Take a pause for an aperitivo in this Swiss city before meeting the boat at the Locarno embarcadero for the lake portion of the trip on the Navigazione Lago Maggiore sightseeing ship. stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa stresa
On the boat, as on the train, you can choose to hop off and on as you like. Perhaps a quick stop to see the Brissago Islands, or the medieval town of Cannobio. Or, if you’re tired at this point, just relax and enjoy the view of castles, islands, and shoreline as the ship brings you back to your starting point in Stresa. lago maggiore express lago maggiore express
One ticket, countless choices to customize the trip, a little bit of everything for everyone, and no driving for anyone makes this one great day trip. l
The price for the complete, one-day, round-trip ticket is 32 euro for the 2012 season.
This is a great day trip for spring, summer, or autumn that doesn’t require a car. The Lago Maggiore Express offers the opportunity to enjoy incredible Alpine scenery, charming mountain villages, beautiful churches, regional cuisine, a leisurely lake cruise, and two countries, all with relative ease and comfort. Does it sound impossible? It’s not. Here’s the basic itinerary: 