Italy's second biggest lake: Maggiore – also called Verbano - is no exception. 34 miles from Milan's Malpensa airport, Lake Maggiore is less glitzy than Como, less crowded than Garda, and is, on the whole, a more natural experience. Until you reach Stresa however, where the fantastical and the grandiose rule.

Lake Maggiore is shared by two Italian regions. While the eastern shores nestle in Lombardia, the western side of the Lake marks the north eastern corner of Piemonte and even the border with Switzerland a few kilometers north of Cannobio. As with all the Italian lakes, the micro-climate means endless sunshine and palm trees, though it's a good few degrees cooler here than on Garda and Como. And the Alpine backdrop: from the eastern shore on a clear day you get to see Monte Rosa, (4633 metres - 15,200 feet), which is not a single mountain but a glacier-covered massif with ten summits no less. Four of these peaks are among the highest in the Alps.
WHEN TO GO : April to October is the best period if you plan on enjoying the botanical gardens or the sun. As with the other lakes, some of the hotels and restaurants are closed between November and March, though Maggiore has a number of working towns which continue to function long after the tourists have gone home.

Having said that, Locarno, Verbania, Stresa and Luino are all much more attractive outside of the winter season. Temperatures can reach mid-30s Celsius in July and August (That's around 95 degrees Fahrenheit), though snow is very common between January and February (even in March!). Expect some spectacular thunderstorms in August, and heavy rain in April and October