Arona: Escaping Milan for Lake Maggiore

After a quick flight from Palermo, we touched down in Milan. If you’ve followed my travels from last year, you know Milan isn't exactly my favorite spot—too much city for my liking. So, instead of battle the crowds and the concrete, we made a beeline out of town to Arona

Our departure from Sicily was pretty straightforward. We flew EasyJet from Palermo to Milan, a short one-and-a-half-hour flight that went off without a problem.

Once we landed at Malpensa, we took the transfer bus over to Terminal 1 to sort out where to leave our gear, as this terminal was our departure back to Dubai. We found a luggage storage area where you can pay a daily rate to keep your bags secure while you go out and explore.

Travel Tip: If you’re heading to Lake Maggiore from the airport, book your bus tickets online in advance! We had pre-purchased ours the night before, and glad we did. The bus was a small 20-seat commuter and every seat was taken. If you just show up hoping to get on, you won't.

Had no problems with Easy-Jet

Arona: A Peaceful Escape from the Chaos of Milan

We didn’t know much about Lake Maggiore before we arrived, but everything I’d read was telling me it was well worth the visit—especially the lakeside towns of Arona and Stresa.

The moment we arrived in Arona, calmness and receding stress levels came flowing back. Situated right on the lake with stunning views of the mountains, the town was incredibly quiet. There were no cars or motorcycles racing up and down, and not a "Street-side-stall" or a flouting tout to be seen.

It was exactly what we needed: a beautiful lakeside town with a long esplanade where you can just walk and take in the views. The restaurants were either right on the water or tucked back a little, and they weren’t overflowing with tourists. It felt authentic, relaxed, and very local.

While we were here, they had "The Water Call" art installation by Cracking Art around Arona, where they use recycled plastic and an artistic message about climate change, and the beauty of nature through vibrant, out-of-scale sculptures. I tried to find out more about it, but I couldn't.

It's not your Lake Como “Bellagio”, but it does have a certain charm and isn't a "must-see" for tourists, which makes it more appealing. Yes, there are the Versace, Rolex, etc, shops a little back from the water, hidden in nice narrow weaving cobblestoned streets, but not right in your face. It was a nice change from the rat race of Palermo to be able to take your time and take photos, look in shop windows, and stroll at your own pace. We arrived during their siesta time which is a three-hour break, so it was very quiet with enough people around to keep the restaurants busy and to enjoy.

Historic Palazzo di Giustizia  also known as "The Broletto" - Arona Italy

The Last Supper: A Redemption for Italian Cuisine

We found a little place perched right on a dock beside the water—any closer and you would have been swimming! As we sat, we watched the ducks and geese battle for scraps while we waited for our final Italian meal of the holiday.

I ordered the Pasta and Mussels, and Leanne had the Burrata Pasta (similar to a ravioli). Both were absolutely delicious, but the real test was the Tiramisù. After the "liquid muck" I’d been served in Palermo, I needed a win. Arona delivered! It was perfect, exactly as it should be. Leanne’s banana split was so massive I had to help her finish that off, too. It was the perfect goodbye to Italy and our 2025 holiday.

Why Arona is the Perfect Base for Lake Maggiore

After our meal, Leanne spotted several shops along the walk, though the staff were still in the middle of their three-hour afternoon siesta. We took one last stroll along the esplanade, weaving through the shops as they slowly began to reopen, before heading toward the bus pickup area.

I had originally hoped to visit Stresa, but prior research showed that the trains were a bit too infrequent to risk it with our flight back. Not to worry—it’s on the list if we ever have a long layover in Milan again. We were more than happy with our choice of Arona and highly recommend it.

There is so much to explore around this lake, and from what I’ve read, it’s even quite easy to reach Lake Como from here. Arona is a fantastic spot to base yourself if you want to enjoy the Italian Lakes without the crowds.

The flight to Dubai took off on time, and after nearly 7 hours with a couple of hours' sleep thrown in, we had arrived at our last overnight stay.