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The real Stresa lives beyond the tourist trail. In the neighborhoods where locals actually spend their time, you'll find places like Isola Madre that make a city worth knowing. Even around well-known spots like Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori, one street over the crowds disappear entirely.
An elegant lakeside resort on Lake Maggiore, the gateway to the Borromean Islands and their baroque palace gardens.
Roamee Pro, also known as Roamee, offers a free self-guided off-the-beaten-path walking tour route in Stresa. The audio walking tour can include stops such as Isola Bella — a Borromean Island with a baroque palace and ten terraces of Italian gardens, Isola dei Pescatori — a tiny fishing village island with narrow lanes and waterfront restaurants, Lungolago promenade — the lakefront walk with views of the islands and the Alps, plus hidden gems like Isola Madre — the largest and quietest Borromean Island with a 16th-century palace and English garden.
Use this page as a starting point for a Stresa walking tour, a free self-guided route, or the Roamee app for Stresa. Roamee Pro keeps the route flexible so you can follow the stops, skip ahead, or explore nearby streets at your own pace.
Most visitors come to Stresa for the well-known nature and architecture attractions, but the most memorable moments happen off the main path. Side streets one block from Isola Bella, residential quarters, quiet courtyards — these are the parts of Stresa that feel genuine. Places like Isola Madre are the kind of spots locals would actually recommend.
Buy a combined ferry ticket for all three Borromean Islands. Start with Isola Bella, then Isola dei Pescatori for lunch, then Isola Madre.
April through October. The palace gardens on Isola Bella are at their peak from April through June.
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