Top Things to do in Arona
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The 10 Best Things to Do in Arona, Italy
Discover the best top things to do in Arona, Italy including Luigi Guffanti, Rocca di Angera, Cook on the Lakes, Lagoni di Mercurago, Museo Meina, Il Lungo Lago, Rocca di Angera, Rocca Borromea di Arona, Lungolago di Angera, Statue of San Carlone.
Restaurants in Arona
1. Luigi Guffanti
Overall Ratings
5 based on 67 reviews
Reviewed By Chris S - Basel, Switzerland
we had a great tour through the cheese cellars with Walter, must-visit in the area!
+ tour guide Walter was nice, good English, presented lots of interesting facts and stories about cheese to us, always with an historic and geographic viewpoint
+ the cellars full of cheese are traditional and must-see
+ degustation of cheese and wine at the end, a spectacle for your mouth
- we had to wait a while after entering the shop, as nobody was there
2. Rocca di Angera
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 632 reviews
This 11th-century castle contains one of the largest doll museums in Europe. We're going to be back on March 24th 2018.
Reviewed By nnmercman - Camberley, United Kingdom
Not sure what I expected but for the 9e50c entrance fee I expected more. The layout is very haphazard and there's no logical route round the exhibits/rooms. The dolls collection is interesting if you like that sort of thing and I quite liked the exhibition of old toys. The castle rooms are quite bare of furniture unlike what you'd expect from for instance a National Trust property and there are no room stewards to ask questions - you can purchase a guide book but it consists mainly of photographs. You get panoramic views from the wide Terrace and garden walls. The garden areas (mainly raised beds) seem to be somewhat neglected and overgrown which is a shame.
I would suggest you think twice about visiting the castle if the temperature is much above 27degC as the interior was very humid - when we visited it was over 30degC and quite unbearable. The site is not disability friendly - the slope up to the entrance from car park is cobbled and could be difficult to negotiate if you have mobility issues and can't see how you'd negotiate the rooms/stairs or courtyards (I did see someone being pushed up in a wheelchair - the carer looked worn out and I never saw them move on from the cafe terrace). Also I couldn't see any ramp down to the garden level.
There's a large car park near the entrance kiosk or it's a short but steep uphill climb from the ferry jetty. There's a small cafe in the courtyard with good views towards the southern end of the lake but can only be accessed if you purchase an entrance ticket (see my separate review).
3. Cook on the Lakes
Overall Ratings
5 based on 75 reviews
Cook on the Lakes is an Italian Cooking School on the Lake Maggiore, in the north of Italy. ALL COURSES HAVE HANDS-ON PHILOSOPHY! Every course has its own goals. We'll start to prepare the food all together as a group. We will know the recipes and their history, learn the basic skills, cook them. Usually all the lessons will start in the morning around 9 PM; we will work the whole morning until the food is ready and then we have lunch together; if your partners are around, they can join us for a small fee. When the course is finished, we will take pictures with your Italian cooking diploma and I'll give you a special souvenir to take home. Enjoy the location, totally surrounded by the nature and at the edge of the woods. On warm seasons the vegetables and other natural products will be available from my garden, from Germano's, my neighbour, a wise and expert gardener, and from the nearby local market place. If the weather is fine, we'll enjoy the food we cook outside in the garden and in the sun! See you soon!!! Francesca
Reviewed By lever858 - New York City, New York
Had a long cooking class with my wife and two grown children. We are "foodies" with some experience cooking. Francesca is a great teacher , conveying many tips and tricks. Class was participatory. Food prepared was delicious. We had the added pleasure of Francesca's husband joining in. Overall a wonderful experience. We look forward to repeating, and hope to have Francesca to our house if she ever travels to New York in the future.
4. Lagoni di Mercurago
Overall Ratings
4 based on 102 reviews
5. Museo Meina
Overall Ratings
5 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By RobertoI78 - Ferno, Italia
Il museo è in realtà una antica villa affacciata sul lago Maggiore al cui interno è predisposto uno spazio espositivo, nel nostro caso allestito con un percorso multimediale ("vox hortis") un po' per bambini e un po' meno (alcuni passaggi sono un po' difficili almeno per i più piccoli).
Molto promettente il parco, anche se non è certo novembre il mese migliore per ammirarlo.
Encomiabile l'entusiasmo dei gestori.
6. Il Lungo Lago
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 104 reviews
Reviewed By Zuzana M - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The medieval streets, paved with cobblestones, full of boutiques, cafes and shops, lead to a wider are right by the lake.
There are many magical views along the lake shore. Take a stroll on the pavement, relax on some of the benches, check some good angles of the platans with the castle in the background, see a statue of sailor, watch mist float above the water of Lago Maggiore.
Even though it was rainy and gloomy when we visited, the lungo lago still showed its beauty. To make it flourish, I recommend to visit on a nice, sunny day, also for a better visibility of the towns and castle on the other side of the lake.
7. Rocca di Angera
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 74 reviews
Reviewed By OlderGuy1956 - Dorchester, United Kingdom
The Rocca - a castle - sits on a hill overlooking the southern most part of Lake Maggiore. A dominant medieval building, built by the Boromeo family in order to control all trade passing up and down the lake. Contain a standing exhibition of dolls, and normally has another exhibition of some sort of another. Add to that a really interesting restaurant, plus a superb view of the Lake, and it really is a must place to visit.
8. Rocca Borromea di Arona
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 494 reviews
Reviewed By lakegirl48 - Uk
We had walked to the Rocca from the Hotel San Carlo, and would have enjoyed our visit so much more if the heavens had not opened moments after we arrived! We managed to shelter for a while by having coffee in the Bar, and when the rain eased off we did walk around the grounds. So we could see that in good weather this would be a stunning place - we'll have to return in more clement weather!
9. Lungolago di Angera
Overall Ratings
4 based on 89 reviews
Reviewed By nnmercman - Camberley, United Kingdom
Stretching from the ferry jetty and tourist office it's a nice walk along the Promenade with shade from trees if it's too hot. There's a large grass area where you can have a picnic, lay in the sun or have a swim. Also numerous cafe/bar options along the front and Main Street - although not all seemed to be open when we visited early July. Handily, there's a cell phone charging station below the war memorial/statue in the small square next to the ferry jetty. Most visitors to the town are there to visit the castle above town but for us that's another day.
10. Statue of San Carlone
Overall Ratings
4 based on 784 reviews
Reviewed By nnmercman - Camberley, United Kingdom
The statue is situated on a hill a couple of km outside the main town of Arona, there's plenty of parking (50c per hour which should be sufficient for your visit), tourist tat stalls at entrance and bar/cafe opposite overlooking the lake. A joint gardens/statue ticket is 6e (including English brochure) and entitles you to climb to the half way balcony and/or inside to the statue head - initial external spiral staircase is an easy climb (60 steps) but the second half to top is not for faint hearted as not only is it vertical but the steps (85) and vertical handrail is metal and slippery - plus if you're claustrophobic don't even consider as the view from the top is minimal as you probably get better views from the 360degree balcony. There's also a large garden area with picnic tables and toilets.
The statue dates back to 1698 and commemorates San Carlo Borromeo who was proclaimed a Saint just 25yrs after his death at age 46 in 1584.
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