Ranco is a charming village in a plum spot on a headland jutting out into Lake Maggiore. It’s just to the north of Angera, on a narrow stretch of lake, with a rocky shoreline and a picturesque opposite bank. Ranco is known for being peaceful, and we recommend the best places to stay in Ranco to those looking for a lakeside escape or retreat, or a quiet base for exploring Lake Maggiore’s larger centres. Our picks in Ranco include a really excellent restaurant with rooms, and a beautiful hotel with a fantastic restaurant. 

As well as being a peaceful retreat for guests, Ranco is primarily still a fishing town, and one of our favourite hotels has its own fishing boat, which guests are welcome to go out on. A peaceful atmosphere is often inducive to relaxing pursuits like fishing, and walking, and cycling, and Ranco makes a great base for all these activities.

Ranco’s appeals are more in its natural surroundings, than man-made ones, but it does have a rather excellent transport museum, the Ogliari Museum of Transport, which has a surprisingly large collection of locomotives, trams, stagecoaches, train carriages and underground cars.

However as with all destinations in the Italian lakes, the town is especially busy during the peak summer months. So if you want to guarantee your room in one of the best places to stay in Ranco in July or August, get organised and book well ahead.

The Best Places to Stay in Ranco

For Foodies

• Il Sole di Ranco is a peaceful, lakeside hotel, with wonderful views and a gourmet restaurant. The decor is traditional in the 14 rooms and suites, but it’s unfussy, and the atmosphere is very relaxed. The restaurant is known for its fresh fish, caught in the lake, of course, and serves meals outside on a sunny terrace when possible. They also run cooking classes.

For a Peaceful Escape

• Albergo Belvedere is a great little restaurant, with 12 simple, colourful rooms, all with lake views. The renowned restaurant is known for its local specialities, and of championing local produce, and has a fantastic terrace with panoramic lake views for when the weather is good, but guests are also able to request private, candlelit dining. The Albergo also has its own fishing boat if you’re interested in getting out on the water. Romantic, but also great for families.

Prefer a self catering Apartment or Villa?

• If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering option then browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.

Travel Information

• The closest international airports to Ranco are Milan Malpensa, which is about half an hours drive away, and Milan Linate, which is an hour away by car. If you’re travelling by train there are plenty of large local stations to go via, including Milan, but also Zürich and Bern.
• If you want to hire a car we recommend you visit our online partner, Rentalcars.
• Summer is the most popular time to visit Lake Maggiore. It’s not as popular as Lake Como or Lake Garda, but it’s still much loved by Italian families, and everyone who appreciates bluey-greeny natural beauty, and woodsy walking trails. If you’re not restricted by school holidays, it’s worth considering May through June, and September and October to visit the region, because it’s especially green and verdant in spring, and beautifully copper golden come autumn. You’ll get some rain in both of these windows, but you’d be unlucky to have so much that it spoils your trip. Easter and Christmas are always wonderful celebrations in Italy, but it does get chilly on the lake.

Still not sure where to stay?

• Expand your search to include all the best places to stay on Lake Maggiore
• Expand your search further to include all the best places to stay in Lombardy, or the best places to stay in Piedmont, which is just on the other side of Lake Maggiore
• You may also want to consider the best places to stay in Locarno, Mediterranean Ascona or Stresa, which is known for its islands and architecture
• Or you could contact one of our friendly Gurus for personalised advice.