Things to do around Montino
A beautiful morning and you're not sure where to go? Here are our favourite spots around the lake, from a forest walk right by our house to a full day of island hopping. You don't always need a car: plenty of these are within reach on foot or by bus.
Island hopping
Lago Maggiore is famous for its three Borromean Islands. Buy a hop-on-hop-off ticket at the Intra ferry stop, then visit Isola Bella (a grand palace museum and gardens), Isola Madre (lush botanical gardens), and our favourite, Isola dei Pescatori (a tiny, picturesque fishing village).
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Suna: beach & bars
Suna is the west waterfront side of Verbania. Go in the afternoon (or morning!) for a dip in the lake, a generous aperitivo at a local bar, and if you still have room, pizza for dinner. Finish with a sunset stroll along the promenade up to the charming Piazza Pallanza for a fine pastry or gelato.
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Morissolo hike
A fairly easy hike to Morissolo peak along the side of the mountain, so you get uninterrupted views the entire time. Once you reach the peak and come back, you can grab lunch at the nearby restaurant.
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Lago Maggiore zipline
For the thrill-seekers: the Lago Maggiore Zipline is a two-minute-long (!) ride flying over this gorgeous region. On the way back, stop at a beautiful panoramic viewpoint to take in the views from the safety of a bench.
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Intra: a classic Italian town
Intra is the town centre of Verbania: a classic, charming Italian town with a lakeside promenade, bars, cafés, restaurants, and shops. Grab a coffee in a cosy café, get lost in the narrow streets, sit down for a local lunch, and have some fine gelato for dessert.
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Caffè Duse & Belvedere di San Salvatore
Caffè Duse Alimentari does coffee, snacks, food, and a nice aperitivo, so it fits any time of day. Afterwards, walk to the Belvedere di San Salvatore for a panorama over the area (our favourite). On the way back, take a stroll through the gardens of Villa Bernocchi.
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Extended forest walk
Start at Lazy Viewpoint, two minutes' walk from Montino. You could head right for a meadow walk or down to the lake (the Mozzola hike), but this time take a left to the Forest Walk: a 25-minute easy hike to the Bench Viewpoint. From there, head back the same way, or drop down to Mozzola and back up to Lazy Viewpoint for a circular route.
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Pizzeria Al Sole & viewpoint
Pian di Sole is our most-visited pizzeria, for a day when you'd like good Italian food close to home. Go for lunch or dinner, then stop by Tornicco Park for a beautiful lookout over the area.
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Alpe Cole café & Spalavera hike
The Spalavera hike starts at Alpe Cole café, which doubles as a second-hand bookstore and has lovely views. From there it's a fairly easy one-hour walk to the peak (and the same way back down), with wide-open views all the way to the top.
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The Buddhist temple
Albagnano Healing Meditation Centre is a Tibetan Buddhist temple, open to the public. Go for coffee and a snack in their café, walk around their vast, beautiful grounds, visit the unique meditation centre, and maybe even join a meditation.
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