A trip to the Lake Maggiore markets is one of the things we always recommend to clients staying in one of our Italian Lakes villas. It’s a great way to buy the freshest fruit and vegetables grown locally, as well as other foodstuffs. Not only that though, it’s also where you can buy household items, clothes and shoes, leather goods, ceramics and much more. To make sure you don’t miss the markets nearest to your Italian Lakes villa, here’s our guide to what’s on and when throughout the year if you’re staying on the beautiful Lake Maggiore. You’ll quickly see that it’s easily possible to visit a different one of Lake Maggiore markets on each day of your Lake Maggiore villa stay.
Monday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Baveno (8 am to 1 pm): A weekly market popular with locals and held in the Piazza Giacomo Matteotti.
Porto Valtravaglia (8 am until 1 pm): A small weekly market with a dozen or so stalls situated in the Piazza Imbarcadero. A second market is also held in the village every Saturday from 9 am until 1 pm.
Tuesday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Arona (8 am to 12.30 pm): This is a lively weekly market. You will find the stalls running along the main lakeside promenade.
Ascona (9 am to 5 pm between May and October): This picturesque market runs across 6 months of the year and is held at the town’s lakeside promenade. (Please note that when JazzAscona is running, the market moves to nearer the parking area in town). Vendors sell a wide range of products from local crafts to food, hats, clothing and shoes.
Laveno (8 am to 1 pm): Laveno has been an important trading centre for over 200 years. Its market was established by Austria in the first half of the 18th century. At that time, Lake Maggiore marked the border between Austria and the Kingdom of Sardinia. These days, you’ll find a plethora of stalls set up around the Piazza V Vento in Laveno, just a few steps from the lakeside whilst the food stalls tend to be situated nearer to the railway. Again, stalls sell a bit of everything!
Wednesday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Gravellona Toce (8 am to 1 pm): A weekly market held in the Via Corridoni in Gravellona Toce.
Luino (9 am to 4 pm): This is by far the largest of the markets on Lake Maggiore. It originated back in the 16th century when Emperor Charles V granted market rights to the town. These days, you’ll find around 400 market stalls at Luino’s weekly market. The Luino market attracts not just locals but visitors from as far away as Switzerland and Germany. It’s definitely extremely popular with holidaymakers enjoying an Italian Lakes villa holiday.
Orta San Giulio (8 am to 1 pm): Orta San Giulio is actually on neighbouring Lake Orta, but the town is well worth a visit if you’re staying in one of our Lake Maggiore villas. The market is held in the central Piazza Motta.
Thursday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Baveno Feriolo (8 am to 12 pm): A small weekly market on Lake Maggiore.
Locarno (9 am to 1 pm): The Piazza Grande is the location for Locarno’s weekly market. Please note that opening hours vary dependent on the season. During the Winter months, hours are reduced and it runs from 9 am until 1 pm but in the Summer months you will find the market open until mid afternoon. Look out for the stalls selling local handicrafts, for those selling second hand wares and for those offering the best foodstuffs typical of the Ticino region.
Omegna (7 am to 2 pm): Another town on Lake Orta, Omegna has held a weekly market for decades. It takes place on the shores of Lake Orta, from the historic centre of Omegna out to the Bagnella district. Yet again, you’ll find everything from clothes to local produce.
Friday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Arona (8 am to 12.30 pm): The second market of the week to be held in Arona.
Cannero Riviera (7 am to 1 pm): A charming market held in the Piazza Alpini every Friday morning.
Maccagno (8.30 am to 1 pm): This is a very small market with just a handful of stalls but, if you are enjoying an Italian Lakes villa holiday nearby, it’s a good place to stock up on fresh produce.
Pallanza (Verbania) (8 am to 12 pm): A well-known and popular weekly market.
Stresa (8 am to 1 pm): This is a busy, bustling market, particularly during the tourist season. During the Summer months, keep an eye out for the stalls selling locally grown produce – blueberries, homemade juices. You should also find some excellent local honey and salami producers
Saturday – Lake Maggiore Markets
Ponte Tresa (8.30 am to 4 pm): Ponte Tresa is a village located on the border between Italy and Switzerland, close to Lake Lugano. The weekly market here each Saturday takes place on the Italian side of the border and offers seasonal foods, clothes, leather goods, household goods and more.
Varese (8 am to 4 pm): Varese actually hosts a market every Monday, Thursday and Saturday in Piazza Kennedy.
Intra (Verbania) (9 am to 4 pm): This is another of Lake Maggiore’s oldest markets, running since at least the end of the 14th century. Back then it was held in the Sassonia quarter of the town alongside the San Bernadino river. These days, the market is made up of nearly 250 stalls, situated in four squares within the town of Intra.
Como (8 am until 4pm): Whilst Como is situated on neighbouring Lake Como, it’s another market you may want to visit during your Lake Maggiore villa holiday. The market runs from Viale Varese to Viale Battisti. The market is largest and open longest on a Saturday but it also runs on a Tuesday and Thursday morning from 8 am until 1 pm. Again, you’ll find vendors selling a range of merchandise.
Domodossola (10 am until 2 pm): Sitting high in the mountains, the Piazza Mercato in the heart of Domodossola is filled with a plethora of market stalls each Saturday morning.
Sunday Lake Maggiore Markets
Cannobio (8 am to 1 pm): The market in Cannobio is one of the most typical of the area. As soon as you step off the boat, you will see the market stalls running along the lakeside promenade to your right. Here you will find all sorts of leather goods from bags to belts, along with clothes and handicrafts. Further along there is a good food section selling fresh fish, meat, fruit, vegetables, bread and cheese. This is certainly a favourite amongst our Italian Lakes villa holiday guests.