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Orta San Giulio

Nestled in the enchanting Province of Novara, Italy, lies the captivating gem known as Orta San Giulio. With its picturesque cobblestone streets, charming architecture, and breathtaking lake views, this little village feels straight out of a fairy tale. Admire the ancient Sacro Monte di Orta, indulge in delightful gelato, and don't forget to explore Isola San Giulio, the tranquil island that adds an extra sprinkle of magic to this already dreamlike destination. Bellissimo!

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Recommendations

Culture4.6/5

Santuario del sacro monte di Orta

Get ready for an epic adventure at Sacro Monte di Orta, Italy! This UNESCO World Heritage Site takes you on a spiritual journey with 20 chapels depicting the life of Saint Francis of Assisi. Prepare to be awed by the stunning views of Lake Orta as you climb Via al Sacro Monte. Don't forget your camera to capture this enchanting experience!

Outdoor4.6/5

Isola San Giulio

Isola San Giulio, an enchanting island in the heart of Lake Orta, Italy, is a dreamy destination for avid travelers. With a population of just 200, the island offers a peaceful escape from the chaos of everyday life. Explore the charming streets, visit the stunning Basilica di San Giulio, and take a boat tour for breathtaking views. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in this hidden gem!

Outdoor4.8/5

Giardino del Municipio

Nestled in Orta San Giulio, the Giardino del Municipio offers enchanting views of Lake Orta, lush gardens, and charming pathways, making it a serene escape for visitors seeking tranquility and stunning scenery.

Culture4.5/5

OrtArte Gallery

Eat$$$3.9/5

Venus

Nestled in the charming Piazza Mario Motta, Ristorante Venus in Orta San Giulio NO offers a delightful dining experience with panoramic views of Lake Orta. Indulge in traditional Italian dishes with a modern twist while soaking up the vibrant atmosphere of this lively piazza. Buon Appetito!

Eat$$$$4.2/5

Ristorante Bar Bocciolo

Eat$$$$$4.8/5

Ristorante Villa Crespi

Cafe$$$4.5/5

Bar Osteria La Cuccagna

Eat$$$$4.3/5

L'Ustaria Cà dal Rat

Nestled in the charming town of Orta San Giulio, L'Ustaria Cà dal Rat is a cozy Italian gem on Via Novara. This rustic restaurant serves up delicious local dishes with a side of warm hospitality. Don't miss out on trying their mouthwatering pasta dishes and homemade desserts! A must-visit spot for foodies exploring the area.

Eat$$$4.3/5

Olina Ristorante

Eat$$$$4.3/5

Ai Due Santi

Drink$$$3.4/5

Piccolo Bar

Nestled in the picturesque Piazza Mario Motta, Piccolo Bar is an iconic spot in Orta San Giulio, where visitors can savor delightful Italian coffee and pastries while enjoying stunning views of the tranquil lake.

Stays

Stay$$$4.2/5

Hotel Leon d'Oro

Located in the most popular square in the historic centre of Orta San Giulio, Hotel Leon D'Oro features 2 sun terraces with views of Lake Orta and San Giulio Island. The property offers a veranda and rooms with air conditioning. All air conditioned, the rooms are equipped with a private bathroom including hairdryer and free toiletries. Most have lake views and a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. A continental breakfast buffet is available daily and includes croissants, seasonal fruit and fresh bread. fruit, and cereal. At the restaurant with lake-view terrace you can enjoy seafood and local specialities. The Leon D’oro is located in a limited traffic area, a short walk from the docks and 700 metres from a bus stop with links to/from the train station and Borgomanero.

Stay$$4.15/5

La Contrada Dei Monti

Set in a historic building of the 17th century, La Contrada dei Monti is in Orta San Giulio a few steps from the lake. It offers a courtyard with tables and chairs and exposed stone walls. The rooms feature a TV, a work desk and a bathroom with hairdryer and free toiletries. Some have a spa bath and wood-beamed ceilings. Breakfast is served with an extra cost at the partner Hotel Leon D’Oro 150 metres away. The property is located in a limited traffic area, Monte Orta hill can be reached with a 20-minute walk.

Stay$4/5

Hotel Fontaine Bleue

The Fontaine Bleue is a small hotel overlooking Lake Orta, and located 3 km from the centre of town. It offers a restaurant and all rooms come with lake views and free WiFi. The traditional restaurant features an indoor dining room and a terrace overlooking the water. Breakfast is buffet style. Rooms at Hotel Fontaine Bleue are en suite and come with a flat-screen TV and minibar. Some rooms include a balcony. A free internet terminal is available at reception. Boats to picturesque Giulio Island leave from Bagnera, 4 km away. It is a 25-minute drive to the A26 Motorway, and on-site indoor parking is free.

Stay$$$$3.95/5

Hotel San Rocco

Set on the shores of the picturesque Lake Orta, Hotel San Rocco is a renovated 16th-century monastery. It boasts a beautiful garden with swimming pool and views of the enchanting San Giulio Island. The San Rocco was a convent for 150 years. The elegant restaurant features regional and international cuisine and breathtaking lake views. In fine weather you can access and enjoy the views from the Wellness Roof Garden, set on the 4th floor. A bar, billiards table and a fully equipped conference centre are provided. Massages can be organised, on request and at extra charge. Lake and pool views can be enjoyed while having a continental-style breakfast. With free WiFi, the rooms are elegantly furnished with a minibar and a flat-screen TV with Sky channels. Most have lake views. Other elegant rooms in a baroque-style annexe called Villa Gippini are also available. The hotel is close to Switzerland and the Prealpine valleys.

Stay$$$$3.75/5

Hotel Aracoeli

Set in Orta San Giulio's main square, right next to the dock for boats to San Giulio Island, Hotel Aracoeli offers elegant rooms mixing original architectural features with contemporary design. Rooms have wood-beamed ceilings, exposed stone walls, and views of Lake Orta. They are also all air conditioned and feature a minibar, TV with satellite channels and tea and coffee-making facilities. A large buffet breakfast is available each morning at the Aracoeli Hotel. Guests are kindly requested to inform the property at least 48 hours prior to check-in of any dietary requirements or food intolerances. Vegan, gluten-free, and lactose-free options are available upon request at an additional cost of EURO 10 per person. Guests also have free Wi-Fi access in their rooms. Set right on the lakeside, the Aracoeli is surrounded by the town's most popular shops and restaurants. It is easily reached from the A26 motorway and is 30 minutes' drive from Lake Maggiore.

Stay4.8/5

Villa Crespi

Step into a fairytale at Villa Crespi in Orta San Giulio, Italy. This Moorish-style palace boasts stunning architecture, luxurious rooms, and a Michelin-starred restaurant. Let the charm of Lake Orta captivate you as you indulge in a romantic getaway or culinary adventure. Don't forget to snap a selfie in the picturesque gardens!

Stay4.5/5

Hotel Ristorante la Bussola

Looking for a cozy getaway in Orta San Giulio? Look no further than Hotel Ristorante la Bussola! With breathtaking views from Via Panoramica, delicious Italian cuisine, and charming rooms, this hotel is the perfect spot for a relaxing vacation. Don't miss out on exploring the charming town and enjoying the beautiful Lake Orta nearby!

Stay3.6/5

Hotel Santa Caterina

Things To Do
Provided by

5/5

2 h

Private Tour of Orta San Giulio on Lake Orta with Micaela

Lake Orta is a fascinating corner of Italy and Piedmont. Often unheard of, lake Orta is a true gem which is worth discovering accompanied by a local who is a licensed and experienced tourist guide. This private guided tour includes an English-speaking professional guide at your disposal for the visit to the ancient village of Orta San Giulio and a guided tour on the island of San Giulio.

$286.70

5/5

2 h

Tour and guided tour of the island of San Giulio or the island of "silence"

A unique visiting experience! immersed in the silence of the island, not for nothing live there permanently only 70 Benedictine cloistered nuns and a family. The Basilica of San Giulio has a thousand-year history...

$229.36

5/5

3 h 25 mins

Tour Palazzo Borromeo to Isola Bella, Isola Pescatori and DRINK!

If you are looking for a tour that introduces you to the unique beauty of the Borromean Islands, its palaces and Lake Maggiore in a relaxed and fun atmosphere .. This is the best tour! We will talk about history and art but without forgetting to introduce you to the true and authentic atmosphere of this beautiful region. And at the end of the tour, an aperitif is what will make the experience even more genuine, relaxed and friendly Join us!!

$126.15

5/5

Walking tour with a private tour guide in the botanical gardens of Villa Taranto

The gardens of Villa Taranto in Verbania, between Intra and Pallanza, are known the world over for their great beauty and the huge number of plant species they contain. The result of a labour of love on the part of the Scottish Captain McEacharn in 1931, the myriad of colours and scents the marvellously landscaped garden offers continues to enchant visitors from March to October. From spring to autumn there are always flowers in bloom, with “special events” for certain species which are particularly spectacular in their season: the tulip week is in April, dahlias are at their best between July and October. We will discover together this beautiful garden and we will focus on particular botanical species. From Stresa, the gardens are reachable by boat: the shipping company “Navigazione Lago Maggiore” has a landing stage called “Villa Taranto” right in front of the Gardens entrance.

$252.30

5/5

7 h

Lake Maggiore Daytrip from Milan - Private

This private experience will start with a private pick-up by Mercedes sedan/minivan at your hotel in Milan. Your private and friendly English-speaking driver will take you to explore the beautiful Lake Maggiore. After arriving to the town of Stresa, a nice ferry-boat ride will take you to the Borromean islands. Here you will explore the magnificent Borromean Palace and the stunning gardens offering amazing views on the lake. On the island you can enjoy lunch and then continue the tour with your driver and if you wish you may stop to visit the Eremo of Santa Caterina, an ancient monastery. At the end of the day, your private driver will take you back to your hotel in Milan. This is a private experience and you will not be part of a group

$756.89

5/5

6 h

Lake Orta private guided tour from Milan

Come to see Lake Orta and the town of Orta San Giulio: we are talking about a picturesque little ancient town on Lake Orta, a quite small morenic lake located in Piedmont region. Starting from Milan, we will go to Lake Orta, we will have a guided tour across the medieval town of Orta then by public boat transportation sailing for a few minutes we will reach Saint Giulio Island to proceed with this guided tour walking around the medieval town center on the island of Orta; later we will sail back to the harbor of Orta San Giulio town where we will walk across the ancient town center to see the most interesting buildings of the little town. This is a private guided tour for your group only or only for you if you are a single tourist. THIS TOUR IS FOR FOUR PEOPLE MAXIMUM: DON'T BOOK IF YOUR ARE MORE PEOPLE. The amount you pay is the same regardless if you are a single tourist or four people.

$458.72

5/5

2 h 40 mins

Private tour on isola Bella with a tour guide and sunset cruise.

Discover this enchantment island still belonging to a noble family, with a private tour guide. Admire the fantastic halls still all furnished and cross the rooms of the grottoes until you get to the Italian gardens. Reach the highest part of the garden and admire the view of Stresa and the lake. Relax on a beautiful 30-minute lake cruise.

$298.17

4.5/5

Unique Lake Maggiore Day Trip from Milan

Explore scenic Lake Maggiore in Italy's beautiful Lake District on a day trip from Milan. The fashionable lakeside town of Stresa is an approximate 1.5-hour drive from Milan and is surrounded by majestic snowcapped mountains. After spending some free time in Stresa, shopping or simply relaxing and enjoying the stunning scenery, you'll take a two-hour panoramic boat cruise on Lake Maggiore, visiting the Borromean Islands – Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella.

$159.41

4/5

4 h

Lake Maggiore: private cruise and Villa Taranto garden

Verbania is the chief town of the district around lake Maggiore; Pallanza, one of its centers, hosts the City hall and some of its most remarkable attractions. Among these, the outstanding Museum of Landscape, located in Palazzo Viani- Dugnani, keeps a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs related to the culture and history of Lombardy and Piedmont. This private tour will lead you to discover these collections and, after a pleasant walk, to experience a visit to Villa Taranto botanical gardens: a unique 18 hectares park created by a Scottish traveller, featuring rare plants, trees and flowers from all over the world. Two different ways to witness the wonders of the landscapes of Lake Maggiore, which you will surely remember for long.

$549.52

2 h

Villa Taranto, Lake Maggiore: Wonderful Garden Tour

The tour of the Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens, in Verbania on Lake Maggiore, begins at the main entrance and immediately introduces the site’s rich botanical and scenic heritage. You walk along the Conifer Avenue, with panoramic views, and reach the Italian Garden, featuring geometric flowerbeds, fountains, and fragrant rose gardens. The Tulip and Dahlia Maze offers spectacular seasonal blooms, while the Path of Essences hosts aromatic and tropical plants. The Serra Vittoria leads into exotic atmospheres, followed by the Maple Avenue and the Rhododendron Woods. Among the greenery stands the elegant Mausoleum Chapel. In the upper area, admire the Lotus Flower Pond, the Water Lily Pond, and the Terraced Gardens, with waterfalls, manicured lawns, and views over the lake and surrounding mountains. The route continues through the Winter Garden and the succulent area, then crosses the Villa Taranto Garden Bridge. The return passes by the Columned Well and the Staircase of Amphorae.

$436.93

4 h

An art and food tour close to Arona, on lake Maggiore

Arona, a beautiful town laying on the South-Western coast of lake Maggiore, gave birth in the 16th century to the future saint and bishop of Milan Carlo Borromeo. After a few decades from his death, a huge bronze statue dedicated to the memory of the revered citizen was built close to Arona and acted as an inspiration and a technical instruction for Frédéric-Auguste Bartholdi, the designer of the Statue of Liberty in New York. This exclusive tour will lead you from the charming centre of Arona to the hill where you will be able to visit the statue and enjoy a view of the lake, definitely from its "point of view". Later on, you will be guided to a local seasoning cellar, where a full tasting of wine and local, delicious varieties of cheese will be served. A day between amazing art and taste.

$794.81

8 h

Food & Wine Tour on Lake Orta from Milan - Private Tour

This small lake to the west of Lago Maggiore is one of the loveliest places I have ever been. It is telling that the Milanese call it La Cenerentola (Cinderella) because they have long considered it the secretly superior sibling to the larger, money-blighted lakes of Como and Maggiore. But, for me, what sets Orta apart is not its beauty – though the place is absurdly pretty – but the lake's mysterious, ethereal, almost supernatural quality. There is something for the soul there as well as for the eye.

$837.17

5/5

7 h

Full Day Rome Tour

This is a great way to visit the eternal city of Rome. We will drive around the city and we will stop on the sites, after we will have provided all the historical info you want to have by us. We have a great knowledge about the city and, step by step, at the end of the tour, your knowledge about Rome will be complete.

$749.17

5/5

3 h

Lake Maggiore Boat Tour

Experience the beauty of Lake Maggiore on a private boat tour that blends history, culture, and relaxation. Cruise past Isola Madre, admiring its lush botanical gardens and the elegant Palazzo Borromeo from the water. Continue to the breathtaking Eremo di Santa Caterina del Sasso, a monastery perched on a cliff, perfect for stunning photos. Your first stop is Isola Pescatori, a charming fishing village with narrow streets, quaint shops, and lakeside cafés. Take a leisurely stroll, browse for handmade souvenirs, or enjoy a coffee while soaking in the authentic atmosphere. Afterward, dive into the crystal-clear waters for a refreshing swim in one of the lake’s best spots. Finally, visit Isola Bella, where you can explore the magnificent Palazzo Borromeo and its spectacular gardens at your own pace. Choose to stay on the island and return by ferry or enjoy a quick visit before we bring you back to Stresa by boat, completing a memorable day on the lake.

$768.36

5/5

2 h 30 mins

Dining Experience at a local's Home in Stresa with Show Cooking

Immerse yourself in a private dining experience at a local's home, enjoy an exclusive show cooking and taste authentic recipes from Stresa treasured in family cookbooks passed down by real Italian Mammas. Feel the warmth of Italian hospitality as you connect with local people. Enjoy a 4-course menu including starter, pasta, main course with side dish, dessert with drinks included (water, selection of red and white wines from regional cellars and coffee). This experience is held by Cesarine: Italy’s oldest network of home cooks all over the country in more than 500 cities. They are passionate and welcoming hosts that open the doors of their own homes to curious travellers for immersive culinary experiences.

$120.42

5/5

3 h

Isola Bella Fishermen's Island Private Tour with Guide Micaela

Hello, I'm Micaela Lucini, an expert local guide. Please get in touch with me if the tour is not bookable online. This is one of my tours to discover isola Bella and Pescatori with a private guide. Do not hesitate to get in touch with me should you wish a customized tour. Make the most of your time at Lake Maggiore with this 3-hour private tour by private taxi boat. Visit Isola Bella - 'Beautiful Island' - and the name does not lie -- with your own private certified guide and go to Isola dei Pescatori, Fishermen's Island, and stroll around the old fishermen's village, learning about the history and culture of the area from your local guide. This tour starts in Stresa but please get in touch if you would like to arrange for a different start point and I will see if it is possible! IMPORTANT: boat transport and admission tickets are not included in the online price. Check the section about what is not included.

$315.73

5/5

2 h

A unique private boat tour of isola Bella with guide Micaela

Discover isola Bella, the jewel of lake Maggiore, on a unique private tour. Explore the sumptuous Borromeo palace and the incredible gardens on this lovely island in a peaceful atmosphere in the late afternoon ( but morning option is also possible). An experienced local tour guide will meet you in Stresa at your hotel ( if centrally located) or at the pier in Stresa, Baveno, Pallanza to reach isola Bella by private boat and discover all its beauty at a lovely time of the day when most of the crowds have usually gone. Your private boat will tour around isola Bella to enable you to enjoy beautiful views of the spectacular 17th-century gardens built on ten levels and see the whole palace from the boat. Your personal guide will show you the richly decorated rooms and the grottos telling you more about the founders and owners of isola Bella's fairy-tale palace and will then take you on a guided stroll through the lovely gardens and the tiny village on the island.

$435.79

5/5

2 h

Visit and tasting of 3 D.O.C.wines Fontechiara

If you are looking for a charming and welcoming place to savor excellent wines and food and enjoy peace and tranquility surrounded by greenery, the Fontechiara winery is what's right for you. Come and visit us, you can visit the cellar and savor the magic and charm of the process of transforming grapes into wine. We will tell you the history of our company, illustrating the vineyard cultivation techniques and the winemaking and aging methods. In an evocative and familiar setting, you will then taste our wines, Nebbiolo DOC, Vespolina DOC and Rosato DOC, served in combination with typical local, fresh, artisanal and zero km products such as local cured meats and cheeses, specially selected to best enhance aromas, tastes and organoleptic characteristics of each wine.

$57.34

5/5

3 h

Slow boat tour for small groups with appetizer on Lake Maggiore

Cool, slow and delicious appetize on Lake Maggiore with fantastic and unique panorama for small groups

$108.95

5/5

1 h

Lake Maggiore private guided cruise by private boat

Whether you are a small party, a family or a couple, a private boat tour cruising lake Maggiore can be a unique way to discover this lovely lake and its enchanting scenery: green hills, snow-capped mountains, beautiful islands, elegant villas with stunning gardens, villages and pretty towns, gorgeous views....all this while sitting in a safe and comfortable private motorboat accompanied by a licensed local guide and captain. This stress-free tour will enable you to discover lake Maggiore's beauties wihout any effort, away from the crowds, in a relaxed atmosphere. Just you and your party cruising for 1 hour. IMPORTANT NOTES: private boat skipper is certified, fully insured and has a regular license issued by the local authority that entitles him to transport tourists.