A long Alpine lake of grand old resorts, palm-filled island gardens and mountain views, stretching from Italy into Switzerland. Here's what Lake Maggiore is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
April to June and September are best, with island gardens in flower in spring and warm, calm days. July and August are warm and busier but good for swimming. Most island gardens open from late March to October, and winter is quiet.
A baroque palace with terraced gardens and white peacocks, by boat from Stresa.
Botanical gardens full of exotic plants, on a larger, calmer island.
A small fishing island of lanes and lakeside restaurants.
A cable car or road up for views over seven lakes.
Huge gardens in Verbania, famous for tulips and dahlias.
A scenic train through a hundred valleys from Domodossola to Locarno.
Yes. It's less crowded than Lake Como, with beautiful island gardens, easy boat trips and good-value hotels.
Four to seven days lets you see the Borromean Islands, Villa Taranto and a mountain or railway trip.
April to June and September, around 17 to 25°C.
Fly into Milan Malpensa, which has direct flights from the UK. Stresa is about 45 minutes' drive away, or take the train from Milan.
Stresa is the classic base for the islands. Verbania is quieter, and Cannobio is pretty and close to Switzerland.
Put Lake Maggiore on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.