By Car
From Simplon Pass Switzerland, we sugget to go froward when SS 33 becomes Highway A26 and exit Baveno-Stresa. From San Bernardino-Bellinzona-Locarno Switzerland just follow the main road keeping the lake always on your left hand side until you reach Stresa (SS 34 until Verbania, then SS 33 direction Milan).
If you come from Milan, get A8 in direction of the lakes (Laghi - Sesto Calende), go on to A26 direction Gravellona Toce. On highway A26 you may exit Arona and then follow SS 33 up to Stresa for about 18 Km keeping the lake on scenic road on your right hand side. You may also go forward on A26 and exit Carpugnino (forbidden to buses) where you'll find a narrow road going down to Stresa (5 Km) with a wonderful panoramic view.
And you may exit Baveno-Stresa where the road will immediately reach the lakeside: you'll need to drive back to Stresa for about 5 Km with the lake on your left hand side.
Driving distances and times: Firenze Km 390/[4 hours driving]/Milano Km 80 [50 min driving]/Roma Km 650 [7 hours driving]/Torino Km 135 [90 min driving]/Venezia Km 350 [4 hours driving]/Verbania Km 15 [10 min driving]/Locarno Switzerland Km 45 [50 min driving]

By Plain
The nearest airport is Milan Malpensa. From the airport you can reach Stresa by car, by bus, by train or by the Alibus, the new shuttle bus service direct from the airport to Lake Maggiore. reserving your seats. If you prefer renting a car, go from the airport to highway A8 and then follow the above directions in the "by car" section.
Milano Linate National Airport Km 110 [75 min. driving], Milano Malpensa International Airport Km 45 [50 min driving], Turin Airport Km 150 [ 2 hours driving].

By Train
Most of the frequent trains on the Milan-Domodossola line stop to Stresa. Daily trains from/to Milan, Turin, Venice and, through the Simplon Pass to/from Bruxelles, Geneva and Basel are direct to/from Stresa.
The lenght of a train trip to/from Milan is between 50 minutes (Intercity) and 80 minutes (local trains).

Location:
Stresa, a delightful little town, on the shore of Lake Maggiore, in front of the Borromeo Islands, is situated in the perfect setting between the water and the hills of Mount Mottarone. Renamed all over the world, it’s a very prestigious site for high class tourism and business trips. An authentic jewel with a high standard cultural level. It’s the center for meetings and events, sports competitions, and world known artistic espositions. In the past, Stresa has been on of the favourite retreat the british royal and Elisabeth of Sassonia, artists and philosophers also Dickens, Flaubert and Fogazzaro decanted this pretty town in their writing.
Isola Bella [15 minutes by boat from the hotel and from Stresa], it’s is the prettiest of the three islands and is a short boat trip away from Stresa. Count Vitaliano Borromeo started building the monumental baroque palace in 1670, visited by thousands of tourists daily. Inestimable works of art are preserved in the Borromeo residence. The terraced gardens, wich made Isola Bella famous, are rich in all varieties of rare plants and flowers and are a peerless example of an Italian garden of that time. On the island there are many bars, restaurants and shops selling handcraft products and souvenirs.
Isola Madre [15 minutes by boat from the hotel and from Stresa], it’s the largest and the most picturesque of the Borromeo Islands. Famous for international renomed gardens of rare plants and exotic flowers, rich of azaleas, rhododendrons and camellias. The palace is extremely interesting with its period furnishing and collection of uniforms, dolls and porcellains. The exhibition of Teatrini delle Marionette (Puppet theatres) from the eightteenth and niniteenth centuries is exceptional, the only existing Palace Theatre which has come down to us intact through the centuries. The marvellous back-cloths are the work of Alessandro Sanquirico (1777-1849), stage-designer at the Teatro alla Scala of Milan, and Carlo Fontana, stage-designer at the Teatro Regio of Turin.
Isola Pescatori [15 minutes by boat from the hotel and from Stresa], it’s a fashinating fisherman island that owes its name to the activity of its inhabitants. The charme of this island, unchanged over the centuries, is due to the simplicity and rustic candour of its houses. Excellent restaurants offer the opportunity of tasting some of the best fish dishes.