Imagine spending the night in a castle and waking up the next morning ready to explore the lakes. Our idea for a family weekend on Lake Maggiore starts in Oleggio Castello, in the hills just above Arona, where you can actually stay in a Neo-Gothic castle surrounded by beautiful parkland.

This is Castello Dal Pozzo, a fairytale-like residence that makes a rather special base for a three-day family road trip taking in Arona, Stresa, the Borromean Islands and Lake Orta.

Think castles and lakeside villages, boat rides and tiny islands, all explored at an easy pace, with plenty of time for children to enjoy the journey as much as the places you visit.

Lake Maggiore with kids: a family weekend staying in a castle

What we love about this idea is that the castle isn’t simply somewhere to come back to and sleep at the end of the day. Staying here becomes part of the adventure.

Its location also makes it easy to put together an itinerary covering some of the loveliest places in this corner of Piedmont. Arona is just down the road, while Stresa and Lake Orta are within easy driving distance, so you can plan a different day out each day without constantly packing and changing hotels.

Staying in a castle on Lake Maggiore with kids

Castello Dal Pozzo is in Oleggio Castello, in the hills behind Arona. The building looks every inch the English Neo-Gothic castle and is surrounded by 24 hectares of historic parkland.

Today it is a five-star resort, with accommodation spread across the Castle, the Palazzo and the former Stables.

Despite its elegant and rather romantic atmosphere, there are several features that make it worth considering for a family stay. Connecting rooms and family-friendly accommodation are available, with some connecting rooms sleeping up to five guests. The hotel also lists cots on request, babysitting services and children’s menus among its family facilities.

The extensive grounds are another reason we like the idea for families. After a day of sightseeing and driving, having all that green space around the castle gives everyone a chance to slow down and enjoy some downtime.

We haven’t stayed at Castello Dal Pozzo ourselves. We checked the facilities and practical details using the property’s official information, so this isn’t a hotel review but an idea to inspire your own family trip.

A family weekend on Lake Maggiore: our three-day itinerary

How long do you need? For this itinerary, we’d allow at least two nights and three days.

Don’t try to squeeze everything in. When travelling with kids, we prefer to leave room for the boat ride itself, a wander along the lakefront or simply an unplanned stop when somewhere catches our eye.

Day 1: the castle and Arona

We’d keep the first day fairly relaxed, with time to settle in, explore the castle and head to Arona, just a few kilometres from Oleggio Castello.

Start with a stroll along the lakefront and through the historic centre, then head uphill to the Colossus of San Carlo Borromeo, better known locally as the Sancarlone.

Its sheer size alone is enough to catch children’s attention: the statue of Saint Charles towers above the landscape and, together with its pedestal, stands more than 35 metres high.

Opening days and times can vary throughout the year, so always check the current timetable before adding it to your plans.

Day 2: Stresa and the Borromean Islands

On day two, head to Stresa, one of Lake Maggiore’s best-known towns.

The lakefront alone is worth a stroll, but for children the real fun may begin when you hop aboard a boat bound for the Borromean Islands.

Our advice here is simple: don’t turn the day into a race to tick off every island. The boat trip is part of the experience, and particularly with younger children, choosing just one or two stops can make for a much more enjoyable day.

One of the most spectacular is Isola Bella, home to Palazzo Borromeo and its impressive terraced gardens overlooking the lake.

The palaces, gardens and boat services operate on seasonal timetables, so check opening dates and schedules before setting off.

Day 3: Orta San Giulio and San Giulio Island

On the third day, leave Lake Maggiore behind for a while and head to Orta San Giulio on neighbouring Lake Orta.

We think it’s well worth the detour, particularly if you have a car. The historic centre is best explored on foot, eventually leading you to Piazza Motta, right on the shores of Lake Orta.

From here, small boats make the short crossing to San Giulio Island. Once again, the boat isn’t merely a way of getting from A to B: with children, the crossing becomes part of the day’s adventure.

If you have time and your children are happy walkers, you can also head up to the Sacro Monte di Orta, one of the Sacred Mountains of Piedmont and Lombardy included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The route winds through woodland past twenty chapels dedicated to the life of St Francis of Assisi, with lovely views over the lake along the way.

Visiting in autumn? Don’t miss the Pumpkin Castle

This itinerary works well for much of the year, but autumn brings an extra reason to stop at Castello Dal Pozzo.

The grounds host the Castello delle Zucche – the Pumpkin Castle, a large autumn festival with plenty going on for families.

In 2026, the festival runs from 2 October to 8 November, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Over six weekends, the castle grounds are transformed by 60,000 pumpkins, huge installations and XXL pumpkin sculptures.

This isn’t simply a pumpkin patch. It’s designed as a full day out, with different events and activities scheduled throughout the six weekends.

For children there is a pumpkin maze, creative workshops, games, treasure hunts, rides, inflatables and pumpkin carving. There are also shows, live music, entertainment and guided tours of Castello Dal Pozzo.

When it’s time for a break, the Food Village serves street food and seasonal autumn flavours.

In 2026, the Pumpkin Castle is open on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 7 pm. Free parking is available at Via Monte Oleggiasco 18 in Oleggio Castello.

Activities vary from one weekend to another, so check the latest programme before you go.

Do you need a car for a family weekend on Lake Maggiore?

It depends on the kind of trip you’re planning.

If you’re staying in one town and mainly using the boats to get around, a car-free break is certainly possible. But if you want to follow an itinerary like ours, combining Oleggio Castello, Arona, Stresa and Lake Orta, having your own wheels makes things considerably easier, especially when travelling with children and luggage.

Hiring a car can be particularly convenient if you’re flying into Milan Malpensa Airport and want to head straight out towards the lakes.

If you do need a rental car, one of the comparison sites we use is DiscoverCars, which lets you compare offers from different car hire companies in a single search.

Don’t be tempted to look at price alone. Before booking, always check the excess, security deposit, mileage allowance, fuel policy and cancellation terms.

If you’re travelling with younger children, check the cost of child seats too. They can make a noticeable difference to the final price, so it’s worth including them when comparing offers.

How long should you spend on Lake Maggiore with kids?

For the full itinerary, we’d allow three days and at least two nights.

If you only have two days, resist the temptation to cram too much in. Spend one day around Arona and the castle and the second in Stresa and the Borromean Islands, saving Lake Orta for another trip.

Three days give you enough time to add Orta San Giulio without rushing. With four or five days, you can slow things down even further and explore more of Lake Maggiore.

And perhaps that’s the best way to experience the Italian lakes with children: not as a checklist of sights to race through, but with time for an ice cream by the water, a boat ride just for the fun of it or an unexpected detour along the way.

How much does it cost to stay at Castello Dal Pozzo?

Rates vary according to the season, room type and the number of people travelling, so we’d rather not quote a price that could quickly become outdated.

Instead, you can check the price of staying at Castello Dal Pozzo for your own travel dates. If you’re travelling as a family, remember to update the number of guests and add your children’s ages so that you see the rooms and rates available for your actual party.

→ Check prices and availability at Castello Dal Pozzo on Booking.com

Planning your family weekend on Lake Maggiore

Before booking, it’s worth working out the overall cost of the trip, including accommodation, car hire if needed, boat tickets, parking and entrance fees.

If you’re coming from further afield, compare your options too: driving all the way to Lake Maggiore in your own car or travelling to the area by train or plane and hiring a car when you arrive. There isn’t one solution that works for every family; it depends on where you’re travelling from, how long you’re staying and the ages of your children.

Once you’ve chosen your base, though, don’t overfill the itinerary. Sleeping in a castle, hopping on a boat to a tiny island and wandering between two beautiful Italian lakes are already more than enough ingredients for a family weekend to remember.