5 Things to do on a Holiday in Verbania, Italy

Intra, Verbania

​  In October I had an impromptu holiday, visiting my mother in the north of Italy, in a small town close to Verbania. If you follow me on Instagram, then it should not be a secret to you that I am in love with Lago Maggiore and the nearby towns. Ever since I laid my eyes on it in the summer of 2011, Lago Maggiore has been a favourite place of mine. In this post, I will share with you some things to do on your holiday if you happen to be in Verbania, Italy. 

Pancake with ice cream

​   1. Gelato
​   When in Italy, gelato is a must. There are a lot of gelaterie (Ice cream stores) in Verbania. The one I have been a few times is Gelateria Tomboloni, in Intra, just across from the quay. They even have their own gelato flavour called Zanzi. You should definitely try it if you happen to be there on a warm day. Luckily, this October the weather was unusually hot, so I got one as well.

 
    2. Go to Riva Est LAB
  Riva Est is a café where they serve amazing pancakes. Also, they do great aperitives. If you are looking for something sweet or an aperitive before dinner, this is your place. 


​
3. Go shopping
   Everyone knows that apart from food, Italy is famous for fashion. Most of the shopping centers are reachable by car though. One close to Verbania is a shopping center in the town of Gravellona Toce. There you can find brands such as Benetton, Carpisa, Geox. If you go on a Friday after a day of shopping, you can enjoy a nice seafood dinner with a glass of wine on the first level of the shopping center. One of the most famous places for shopping in North Italy though is Vicolungo, an outlet center with all of the best brands.  The place is one hour by car from Verbania, but if you are planning to go shopping this is one the best places to do it. You should go for a whole day, as I guarantee you that it is so big that you will need a day to go through all of the stores. 

4. Go on a spa day at the Baths of Premia
​    Another favourite thing to do of mine is spend a day at the spa. One hour from Verbania are the Baths of Premia. Imagine an external pool with thermal water with a view of the Italian Alps. Yes, it can’t get any better than that if you want a relaxing holiday. Thermal Baths of Premia also have hydromassage beds, a Jacuzzi, sauna and much more. They also offer massages and beauty treatments. 

---

Terme di Premia

  5. Go hiking at Piancavalo
  Half an hour from Verbania is the beautiful area of Piancavallo. You should be careful when going with a car in the mountains as the roads are very curvy. When you reach the top, the view of the mountains and the lake is worth it. You can take a short walk from Piancavallo to Monte Morissolo and enjoy the beautiful view of Lago Maggiore. On the way to Piancavallo there is a zip line too. I haven’t done that yet, but I plan to do it the next time I visit. It sounds like a great experience. 
 

Autumn at Piancavalo

​  At the end, here is a photo of Lago Maggiore from Monte Morrisolo. I mean, how can you not love this view! Hopefully, I have inspired you to go on a holiday there and see it for yourself.

A view of Lago Maggiore from Monte Morrisolo

P.S. Don't Read This