Weekly markets on Lake Maggiore: markets in Cannobio, Luino and Verbania

Name: Lakeview Camping Resort Cannobio
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Shopping & enjoyment at the weekly markets on Lake Maggiore: Luino, Cannobio, Intra / Verbania, Cannero Riviera, Stresa and more

Weekly markets on Lake Maggiore in Cannobio, Luino, Intra / Verbania, Stresa and more

Italian markets are known worldwide. While in the past they mainly served to supply locals with all the essentials, today the weekly markets on Lake Maggiore are also a major tourist attraction. Anyone visiting Lake Maggiore should not miss a trip to the market. The smells and impressions are hard to describe and absolutely worth seeing.

Around the lake, there’s a market somewhere every day of the week. Here we introduce the most important markets near us; you’ll find an overview of all markets by day of the week further down.

Markets around Cannobio at a glance

Sunday: Cannobio, on the lakeside promenade, approx. 8 AM to 1 PM
Wednesday: Luino, the largest market on Lake Maggiore, reachable by taxi boat from Cannobio
Thursday: Locarno on Piazza Grande
Friday: Cannero Riviera, Verbania-Pallanza and Stresa
Saturday: Verbania-Intra, large market with good parking options
Our tip: arrive early, by 9 AM at the latest

Weekly market in Cannobio

Every Sunday, the market in Cannobio takes place—slightly smaller than the big market in Luino and also on the Italian side of Lake Maggiore. The weekly market in Cannobio is probably the most beautiful on the whole of Lake Maggiore: every Sunday from 8 AM, Cannobio’s entire lakeside promenade turns into one big marketplace. In the Lido Cannobio car park, food vendors sell fresh Italian specialties. You’ll find meat and cured meats, cheese, pasta, fruit and vegetables, and also sweets (“dolci”). Along the promenade, you’ll mainly find clothing and leather goods.

Parking in Cannobio is very limited, and especially in summer the crowds are huge. So you should get to the market very early—by 9 AM at the latest—or be prepared for traffic chaos and a long search for a parking space. Before 9 AM, you can usually still find a spot in the large car park by the football stadium.

Market in Cannobio during the week?

The big weekly market in Cannobio is only on Sundays. On Thursday mornings, however, there are a few food stalls in Cannobio, and in summer there’s a small evening market with handicrafts and hobby stalls in the town center on Fridays. If you want to experience a large market during the week, go to Luino on Wednesdays, Locarno on Thursdays, or Cannero Riviera on Fridays.

Weekly market in Luino

Every Wednesday, the largest weekly market on Lake Maggiore takes place in Luino, a small town on the Italian side of the lake. Almost the entire lakeside part of Luino turns into a huge weekly market with more than 350 stalls. The tradition is old: Luino was granted market rights as early as 1541 by Emperor Charles V. The cafés in the town center invite you to simply watch the lively bustle over a relaxed coffee. The market in Luino is the most popular, best-known, largest and most visited market on Lake Maggiore. If you visit in summer, be prepared for chaos: few parking spaces meet very large crowds. Arriving by public boats, the taxi boat from Cannobio, or public transport is recommended.

The taxi boat departs from the first dock in Cannobio—coming from the large parking lot at the Lido. A ticket booth is located directly across from the dock. During peak season, it is recommended that you buy your tickets 1–2 days in advance to make sure you get a seat.

Weekly market in Intra / Verbania

On Saturdays there is a market in Intra / Verbania. It is almost as big as the one in Luino, but usually not as crowded. Here, too, a large part of the city center turns into a huge marketplace. The large car park in the center mainly hosts the food stalls, while clothing vendors are spread across several streets in the old town. The big advantage of the weekly market in Verbania / Intra: even in peak summer you can often still find a parking space, and thanks to the spacious layout, this market doesn’t feel quite as packed as the markets in Cannobio and Luino. There is also a market on Fridays in the neighboring town of Verbania-Pallanza.

Weekly Market in Stresa

On Fridays, Stresa hosts a market from 8 AM to 1 PM. You can perfectly combine your visit with an excursion to the Borromean Islands, as boats to Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori depart from Stresa. If you prefer to stay closer, markets are also held in Cannero Riviera and Verbania-Pallanza on Fridays.

Weekly Market in Baveno

On Mondays, Baveno hosts a market from 8:30 AM to 2 PM. Baveno is located on the west bank, just before Stresa. After the market, a stroll along the lakeside promenade is highly recommended.

Markets on the Swiss side: Locarno and Ascona

A market visit is also well worth it in Ticino: on Thursdays there’s a market in Locarno on Piazza Grande, and on Tuesdays from May to October in Ascona. Both places can be reached from Cannobio in around half an hour; you’ll find more tips on our pages about Locarno and Ascona.

Tips for visiting a weekly market on Lake Maggiore

You can reach Luino, Cannobio, and Intra by car, but this is less pleasant, especially in summer, as the roads are usually very busy and parking spaces are scarce in the small villages anyway. You are most likely to find parking in Verbania / Intra, but even there you should plan for a slightly longer walk. Depending on where you are staying, you can also arrive by boat; all these places are accessible by public ferry. On Wednesdays, Luino is also served by a taxi boat from Cannobio, which is definitely the easiest and most time-saving option for guests of Lakeview Camping Resort.

The taxi boat takes less than half an hour from Cannobio to Luino, brings you back at set times, and is also not as crowded as the scheduled boat in peak season. Whichever boat you choose, you can combine market day with a boat trip across Lake Maggiore—an extra fun outing, especially for children. Neither the taxi boat nor the scheduled boats are particularly expensive; only carrying your big shopping haul from the weekly markets on Lake Maggiore can make the journey back a bit more tiring.

Lakeview guests can easily reach the weekly market in Cannobio via the “Bimmelbahn” (tourist train), which picks up our guests in the morning and brings them back at lunchtime. This ride is also a special holiday experience, especially for children.

From clothing and household items, shoes and leather goods to authentic Italian food—ham, cheese, oil, fruit and vegetables—you’ll find everything your heart desires at the Italian weekly markets. Be sure to try the food offered by the vendors at the market in Intra, Cannobio or Luino—it’s worth it! And: compare prices, especially for foods like cheese, ham and salami, as there are often big differences. For high-quality and expensive items such as leather jackets (usually excellent quality and often attractively priced!), you should definitely negotiate. The first price you’re quoted is usually the tourist price, and there’s often plenty of room to bargain. At the latest when you decline the purchase and want to move on, sellers will usually reduce the price significantly.

When visiting the weekly markets on Lake Maggiore, especially in peak summer, be sure to bring enough water with you. The stalls provide some shade, but it often gets very hot. Also bring some cash, as not every stall accepts cards. Please also make sure to keep valuables safe. We’re not aware of the weekly markets on Lake Maggiore being a particular hotspot for theft, but lots of people in a small space naturally attracts pickpockets.

Where is the market today? Lake Maggiore markets by day of the week

Sunday:
Cannobio from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Monday:
Baveno from 8:30 AM to 2:00 PM
Santa Maria Maggiore from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Tuesday:
Arona from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Ascona from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM (May to October)
Laveno from 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Lugano fish market from 7:30 AM to 2:30 PM (Piazza Riforma)

Wednesday:
Gravellona Toce from 8:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Luino from 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM
Orta San Giulio from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Thursday:
Angera from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Locarno from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Omegna from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM
Premeno from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Friday:
Cannero Riviera from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Maccagno from 8:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Verbania-Pallanza from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Stresa from 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM

Saturday:
Verbania-Intra from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM

All times may vary; some markets do not take place in late autumn and winter.

You can reach the Sunday market in Cannobio from Lakeview on foot or by bike, eliminating the need to search for parking. You can stay with us in a mobile home in Cannobio, in a holiday apartment on Lake Maggiore, or on a pitch by the lake.