What to see and what to do in Luino

Luino, actually called Luvino until 1889, is a renowned tourist resort on the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore in the province of Varese. The easternmost portion of the country borders Switzerland via the Fornasette border.

Luino is a town halfway between the lake and the mountains: from the center and from the lakefront, you can easily reach the hiking trails of the pre-alpine arch to enjoy a day on a mountain bike or a nature walk. The boundary is also partially delineated by the Tresa River which flows into Lake Maggiore at Luino.

Being a highly sought-after tourist destination in the summer there is no shortage of luxurious hotels and summer residences such as the Camin Hotel, overlooking Viale Dante, the main road that separates the lakefront from the rest of the town. Hotel Camin in Luino is housed in a villa constructed in 1898 as a private residence of the Hussy family, contractors Argiovese.

Surrounded by a beautiful garden, the villa is characterized by elegantly decorated ceilings, floors with mosaics of different types of wood and grit, artistic stained glass windows and important fireplaces, such as the one in the main room. In the early 1970s, the Luz family, German entrepreneurs, bought the property in a poor state of conservation as it had been uninhabited for a few decades and transformed it into what is now known as an elegant 4-star hotel, the result of a long renovation that lasted a few years.

What should be seen and visited in Luino

Luino lakeside promenade

The pedestrian promenade of Luino has been extended and renovated a few years ago: it extends for over 1.5 km from the new port along Viale Dante, passing through the landing stage for the ferry dock in Piazza dell'Imbarcadero and reaching the beach of the Serenelle.

Green lawns, fountains, a playground for children and a tree-lined avenue have been created along the lake.

There are many benches and steps right on the lake to enjoy the view. Close to the intersection between Via Dante and Via XV Agosto, the road that connects the lakefront to the center of Luino, is the statue of Giuseppe Garibaldi. There is also Palazzo Verbania, today a tourist Infopoint, and, towards the lake, you can see the Vittorio Sereni Archive, in the same building that houses the Luino Civic Library.

What to do in and around Luino

• a visit to the Luino market: Luino is also known for its historic market, every Wednesday morning until mid-afternoon. The stands are numerous and offer every type of product, from clothing to local crafts, from flowers to food. The history of the Luino market begins in 1535, the year in which Giacomo Mandelli, lord of the small fief of Maccagno, obtained the concession of the weekly market and granted Luino that this was held in the two villages on alternate weeks. The official start of the Luino market, however, took place years later, when the Rusca di Luino counts asked the emperor Charles V to grant the same privilege to their country: they obtained it on 5 September 1541. Initially the market took place every two weeks between Maccagno and Luino, but later he remained alone in Luino
• relax on the beach: the main beach of Luino is called Le Serenelle and is situated at the most northerly end of the lake front, along the road that leads to Maccagno. This is a partially equipped beach that offers the possibility to rent deck chairs and parasols. Parking is available nearby, as well as a bar and a restaurant

Tips about where to sleep in Luino

These are just some of the accommodation facilities in Luino. You can find all the hotels, B & Bs and campsites where you can spend a stay or a holiday in Luino on Lake Maggiore here.

How to get to Luino

Luino can be reached:

• by car: from Milan with the A8 in less than an hour you can reach Lake Maggiore. The quickest way to get to Luino is to go through Varese, taking the branch for Gazzada-Varese. Otherwise it is also possible to exit at Sesto Calende-Vergiate and drive along the banks of the Lombard shore of Lake Maggiore through the SP69. From Sesto Calende to Luino there are about 45 km. Passing from the hinterland, the route is faster but less scenic
• by train: it is also possible to reach Luino with the regional trains of the Milan-Gallarate-Luino connection. From the Canton of Ticino and inland Switzerland you can reach Luino via Bellinzona with the Tilo S30 trains departing from Cadenazzo; from Lugano also via the Lugano-Ponte Tresa railway (S60 + bus connecting from Ponte Tresa)

Luino is 28 km from Varese, 73 km from Milan Malpensa Airport and about 100 km from Milan. From Luino you can easily reach the border with Switzerland: in just 5 km from the lakefront you arrive at the Fornasette border which allows you to quickly reach Ponte Tresa and Lavena Ponte Tresa on Lake Lugano.

In Luino there is a port for the docking of the Navigazione Laghi boats that connect it with the main coastal towns of Lake Maggiore such as Cannero Riviera, Cannobio or Switzerland. Laveno Mombello can be reached from Luino by route SP69 in approximately 20 km. The nearby municipality of Montegrino Valtravaglia offers various hiking trails at the Montegrino Lake or Monte Sette Termini as well as the nearby municipalities of Agra and Dumenza.