A Lake Maggiore loop from Geneva Airport runs over the Simplon Pass to Stresa on the Italian shore, then north along the lake into Swiss Ticino, finishing in Locarno and Ascona. The drive is long and scenic rather than quick, so three to five days is a good length. AirportsTransfers.ch can drive you from GVA across the Alps to the lake and collect you from Locarno at the end.
- Route: along Lake Geneva, up the Rhône valley and over the Simplon Pass to Domodossola
- Border crossing: the route crosses the border into Italy, then back into Switzerland at the lake
- Ideal length: three to five days
- Highlights: Borromean Islands, Villa Taranto gardens, Cannobio, Brissago Islands, Ascona, Locarno, Verzasca
- Best season: spring for gardens and camellias, summer for swimming, autumn for colour
Over the Simplon to Stresa
From Geneva Airport, the motorway follows Lake Geneva past Lausanne, about 61 km away, and Montreux, around 91 km, then climbs the Rhône valley to Brig. There, the Simplon road rises in wide curves to the pass, with a large stone eagle monument at the top, and descends through the Gondo gorge into Italy. Domodossola leads down to the Toce valley and the shore of Lake Maggiore. The pass is kept open in winter, but snow can make conditions demanding, and an experienced chauffeur is a real advantage.
Stresa and the Borromean Islands
Stresa is the classic resort of the Italian shore, with belle époque hotels along the lakefront and boats waiting to take visitors to the Borromean Islands. Isola Bella is almost entirely occupied by the Borromeo family's Baroque palace and its terraced gardens, stacked in tiers above the water and patrolled by white peacocks. Isola Madre is quieter, with a botanical garden of exotic plants, and Isola dei Pescatori is a small fishing village of narrow lanes and lakeside restaurants. Above Stresa, the Mottarone summit gives a wide view across several lakes towards the Monte Rosa massif.
The western shore: gardens and villages
Heading north, Verbania is home to the gardens of Villa Taranto, created by a Scottish captain in the twentieth century and known for their collections of rhododendrons, azaleas and dahlias. Further on, Cannobio is a lively lakeside town with an attractive waterfront and a well-known Sunday market. The road then crosses back into Switzerland near Brissago. The Brissago Islands, reached by boat, hold a botanical garden where subtropical plants flourish in the mild climate of the lake.
For a short trip, two bases work best: two nights in Stresa for the islands and the Italian shore, then one or two in Ascona or Locarno for the Swiss side. Moving between them along the lake road takes you through a string of villages, with the option of sending the luggage ahead by car while you travel part of the way by boat. Food changes too: the Italian shore favours risotto with lake fish and Piedmontese wines, while Ticino adds polenta, chestnuts and its own Merlot.
Ascona, Locarno and the valleys
Ascona has a picturesque lakefront promenade and a history as a haven for artists and free thinkers, linked to the Monte Verità hill above town. Locarno, next door, is known for its Piazza Grande, which hosts an international film festival each summer with open-air screenings, and for the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary perched on a rock above the town, reached by funicular. Ticino is Italian-speaking, and its grotti, rustic stone taverns serving local cheese, salami and Merlot, are a pleasure in warm weather. Just outside Locarno, the Verzasca valley is known for its emerald-green river and the double-arched stone bridge at Lavertezzo, while the Centovalli railway runs through spectacular gorges back towards Domodossola.
- Boats link most towns on the lake, including across the border; combine boat and car.
- Gardens are at their best from spring to early summer.
- Carry identity documents, as the loop crosses between Switzerland and Italy.
On the way back to Geneva, the return can follow the same Simplon route or, for variety, run through the Centovalli and Vigezzo valleys to Domodossola before climbing the pass, adding a final helping of mountain scenery to the journey.
Book your Lake Maggiore transfers
AirportsTransfers.ch quotes a fixed price per vehicle, shown in full before you pay online by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. Your chauffeur greets you in Geneva Airport arrivals with a name sign, tracks your flight and waits if it lands late. Choose a Mercedes E-Class for up to three passengers, an S-Class for longer journeys, or a V-Class van for up to seven with luggage. Child seats can be requested at booking, and return transfers from Locarno or Stresa can be arranged at the same time. Phone or WhatsApp: +41 78 346 56 77.
