The Best Beaches in Baveno and Feriolo

There is something wonderfully simple about spending a summer day on Lake Maggiore: a swim in clear, cool water, a few hours in the sun, a lakeside walk, and perhaps an aperitivo as the mountains begin to turn golden.

Around Baveno and its nearby hamlet of Feriolo, you can enjoy the lake in several different ways. Some beaches are ideal for swimming and relaxing, while others are better suited to a slow afternoon between the water, a village stroll and a drink overlooking the lake.

If you are staying in Baveno, these are some of the best places to enjoy a day by the water.

Baveno: swimming with a view

Baveno has a particularly beautiful setting for a lakeside day. From the shore, the view opens towards the Borromean Gulf, with the mountains rising behind the lake and the islands adding an unmistakable sense of place.

One of the best-known places for a swim is Villa Fedora, a public park just a short distance from the centre of Baveno. The historic villa is surrounded by an elegant English-style park, with mature trees, flowers and shaded paths leading towards the lake. Its beach is open to the public and offers a pleasant combination of swimming, greenery and relaxation.

Villa Fedora is particularly appealing if you do not want your beach day to be only about lying in the sun. You can take a swim, find some shade beneath the trees, stroll through the park or simply sit for a while and enjoy the view.

For a more organised beach experience, Lido Beach Club Baveno offers a private beach with sand and lawn, direct access to the lake, sun loungers and umbrellas, together with a restaurant and lounge bar. It is an option for those who like to combine swimming and relaxation with lunch or an aperitivo by the water.

The official regional monitoring data also include both Villa Fedora and Lido Baveno among the monitored bathing areas in Baveno.

Feriolo: a relaxed beach atmosphere

Just a few kilometres from Baveno, the small lakeside village of Feriolo offers a rather different experience.

The village is built around a little bay, with a pleasant lakeside promenade, restaurants and bars. Its sandy beach is one of the most distinctive spots in the area and gives Feriolo a particularly relaxed, informal atmosphere.

The water near the shore is very shallow, so Feriolo is not necessarily the first choice if your main aim is to swim long distances. Instead, it is a lovely place for a leisurely afternoon: spread out a towel, cool your feet in the lake, walk along the waterfront and stop for something to eat or drink.

The combination of sand, shallow water and a pedestrian lakeside promenade also makes Feriolo a popular choice for families.

And for couples, there is another reason to linger: as the afternoon fades, the light over the small bay becomes particularly beautiful.

Which beach is right for you?

The best beach in Baveno and Feriolo really depends on the kind of day you have in mind.

If you are looking for a swim followed by time in the shade, Villa Fedora is an excellent choice. Its park creates a natural transition between the lake and the town, making it easy to spend several unhurried hours there.

If you prefer a more comfortable beach-club experience, with loungers, a restaurant and the possibility of staying until aperitivo time, Lido Beach Club offers a more polished version of a day by the lake.

If you are looking for sand, a small village atmosphere and an easy lakeside stroll, head to Feriolo. The beach itself may be less suited to serious swimming, but the setting makes it one of the nicest places around Baveno for simply enjoying the lake.

More than swimming: enjoy the lake slowly

One of the pleasures of Lake Maggiore is that a beach day does not have to be planned from morning to evening.

At Villa Fedora, the lake becomes part of a wider experience: you can swim, relax beneath the trees, take a walk through the park or simply sit by the water. The Chiosco di Villa Fedora also makes it easy to linger a little longer, with the possibility of enjoying lunch, a light meal or an aperitivo without leaving the lakeside setting.

During the warmer months, the park and the lakeside also host small events and outdoor activities that invite visitors to experience the setting in a different way. From family afternoons and music to wellness moments such as yoga and early-morning activities, Villa Fedora offers occasions to slow down and enjoy the surroundings beyond the beach itself.

One particularly memorable example is the “Risveglio sonoro”, a sunrise experience held on the beach, with meditative sounds from handpan, Tibetan bells and gong. As the first light appears over Lake Maggiore, the water, mountains and music become part of the same quiet moment — a beautiful reminder that enjoying the lake is not always about doing more, but sometimes about simply being there.

For something a little more indulgent, a day at Lido Beach Club Baveno can follow the same leisurely rhythm. After a swim or some time on the beach, you can stop for lunch at the restaurant, enjoy a drink at the lounge bar or stay until aperitivo time, watching the light change over the lake. It is an easy way to turn a few hours by the water into an entire summer day.

A different way to experience Lake Maggiore

Perhaps the nicest thing about the beaches around Baveno and Feriolo is that they do not ask you to choose between doing something and doing nothing.

You can swim, walk, explore, have lunch, watch the mountains change colour — or simply sit beside the lake for a while and let the afternoon unfold.

That is part of what makes Baveno such a lovely base for discovering Lake Maggiore. After a day exploring the Borromean Islands, visiting Stresa or walking through the surrounding landscape, there is always the possibility of returning to the water and slowing down.

And sometimes, that is exactly what a holiday needs.

If you are planning a stay in Baveno, discover Dolce Far Niente, our intimate holiday apartment overlooking Lake Maggiore — a peaceful place to come home to after a day spent exploring the lake, its beaches and its villages.