Intra is the perfect town to visit on Lago Maggiore—rain or shine. You can stroll the alleys in search of food, spend a whole day locked up shopping in Reptile’s House, stay up late drinking, or visit the local market on Saturdays.
Intra is the most popular and lively of the towns on Lake Maggiore. It’s definitely more cosmopolitan than it’s neighboring lakeside towns. It has the widest selection of bars, restaurants, shops, and nightlife. Mix this with it’s prime location just steps away from the arena beach and it’s the town that has something for everyone. It’s beautiful on a sunny day, but you’re probably more likely to be hitting the various beaches and towns in the area. You get the most use out of Intra when the weather isn’t working in your favor. If you’re looking for things to do on a cold or rainy day on Lago Maggiore, then Intra is a good starting place.
Quick Navigation: 12 Things To Do In Intra, Lago Maggiore
1. Shopping: Reptile’s House
2. Walk through the alleys
3. Eat the best hot chocolate (fall/winter) or gelato (spring/summer) in the area
4. Piazza and Basilica di San Vittore
5. Chiesa di San Fabiano
6. The Best Aperitivo on Lago Maggiore (According to locals…): La Casera
7. Spiaggia dell’Arena (Beach)
8. Lakeside Promenade
9. Lunch: Piada Cafe
10. Mercato on Saturdays
11. Aperitivo at Dali on an old ferry dock
12. Dinner at La Rungia
1. Shopping: Reptile’s House
The piazza, Piazza Ranzoni, begins where it always does, in the center of the town, where you can find one of my favorite boutique stores in the world, Reptile’s House. My mom has been shopping here for decades, and now I get to tap into their exquisite taste as well! The two guys who own and run the store are Luca and Stefano and they have excellent taste and amazing customer service. They are two of the nicest and friendliest guys you will meet. What’s nice is that the store has something in their for everyone, no matter your taste or style. You can spend a whole sunny or rainy day in their store trying on clothes and will leave happier than ever with 1 (…or 4!) high quality items.
Not only is there selection impeccable, but it feels exclusive. Reptile’s House does not purchase it’s goods in mass, so you’ll always leave being one of the only people who own that item. What do I mean? I mean that if you buy a green winter jacket in EU size 46, that is the only size 46 they have in the entire store. They only buy one item per size as to not saturate who buys there goods. It’s even more exclusive for accessories (such as bags). They only have one bag in each store. So if you buy that bag, no one else will have it.
My first purchase from them ever was a pair of sneakers way back when. But my real purchases happened in the years to come. I’ve bought a beautiful and multi-versatile brown leather bag (not featured below), a reversible brown and metallic pink fall and winter jacket, a pink alpaca sweater, a Peuterey jacket, a black backpack/bag, a light summer cotton skirt and top, a super colorful dress that can also work as a kimono cardigan, and the list goes on. And don’t even get me started on Patrick. It’s the one time of year he actually looks forward to shopping. And when he goes here, he balls hard. Peuterey jackets, leather Pepe & Sale jackets, shoes (like 4 pairs of shoes in one sitting), OOF jackets…he loves it all. It’s a good thing he doesn’t live on Lago Maggiore or he’d have a spending problem.
If you like Reptiles House…
Check out Rose’s Roses when in Milan. She makes some of the most fabulous shoes you’ll ever find. That old school Italian artisan style shoe. No mass production. Amazing quality. Style and design that will have people asking you “where did you get those.” The most original pieces you’ll ever find. And super high quality.
2. Walk through the alleys
Once you’ve spent an entire morning shopping at Reptile’s House, you can take one of the 4 main winding cobblestone roads that lead up to the top of Intra. As you walk through them, you will find a variety of stores (although Reptile’s House is by far the best), restaurants, cafes, gelaterie, pasticcerie etc.
3. Eat the best hot chocolate or gelato in the area
On your way up to the top of Intra, stop for a quick sweet. If it’s fall or winter, I recommend you stop for a banging hot chocolate at Frool Fruit Bar. If it’s summer and you want the best gelato you’ll ever have, Gelato d’altri Tempi, translated to ice cream of another time, in Intra has a line out the door.
4. Piazza and Basilica di San Vittore
As you reach the top of this slightly inclined hill, you arrive to the Basilica di San Vittore, perched on top of Intra. Piazza di San Vittore directly in front of it is a nice place to grab a spritz or aperitivo away from the crowds who are enjoying aperitivo lungolago, by the lake.
5. Chiesa di San Fabiano
One of my favorite lesser known areas in Intra is in front of Chiesa di San Fabiano. It has a beautiful square in the summer with a few outdoor restaurants taking over the cobblestone area with a fountain in the center. It’s just a few meters away from the main piazza, but definitely worth walking by.
6. Local’s deem this the best aperitivo in all of Lago Maggiore: La Casera
La Casera makes aperitivo a science. Eros Buratti’s attention to detail and service is what makes it the local favorite for aperitivo. Located in Piazza Ranzoni in Italy, it’s a perfect place for people watching with a glass of wine in hand. Eros Buratti and his team at La Casera are constantly in search of the most interesting and stimulating cheese producers from all over Italy and specializes in the production of cheese from raw, unprocessed milk in the local area of Piemonte and the Ossola Valley. Even the cured meats are refined, some never heard of before or dry aged for over 10 years. Aperitivo’s here are a unique sensorial experience.
7. Spiaggia dell’Arena (Beach)
If it’s the beach you’re looking for Intra has got that as well. Spiaggia dell’Arena or the arena beach is located right next to the public library just off to the side of the main town of Intra. The area has plenty of grass and stone beach areas to lie on, a bar, and it’s main attraction the arena or theater. Events and parties are held at the theater throughout the year. It’s a popular spot for young people to go hang out and tan in the summer.
8. Lakeside Promenade
On a sunny day, you can take a stroll down the lake promenade in front of Intra with views across the lake. There are a few pizzeria’s on the water worth dining at. Although if you’re looking for a local, quick grab-and-go place, then I recommend you go slightly farther down from the town of Intra.
9. Lunch: Piada Cafe
All us locals visit a piadineria, a locale that makes piadine, a thin Italian flat bread that is usually made with cheeses and charcuterie, just in between Pallanza and Intra called Piada Cafe. It’s known for having the best piadina on the lake and I highly recommend you go there for a casual no frills meal. By no frills, I mean it’s located on the main road. If you’re looking for an aperitivo, a coffee, or a luxury meal, then stay in Intra. But if you’re looking for a cheap, fast, and local meal, go to Piada Cafe. Mine and Pat’s favorite piadine are anything with cheese, prosciutto, tomato, mayo, arugula…you name it. You can’t go wrong. After your main meal, order a nutella piadina for dessert – you won’t regret it! On your way there, don’t forget to walk down to Pallanza. Read here for more on how to get to Pallanza from Piada Cafe and what to do.
10. Mercato
Each town on Lago Maggiore has a day of the week dedicated to its local mercato, or market. Intra and Cannobbio have two of the largest and most popular mercati. It takes place every Saturday. A whole parking lot area is shut down and vendors with a variety of quality leather shoes, clothing, food, and accessories fill the space. If you know where to look you are up for some great finds and good quality. It takes a bit of perusing, but it’s an experience you’ll want to take part in. Don’t forget to stop by il salumiere, or the charcuterie at the market, for some fresh salami and cheeses.
11. Aperitivo on an old school ferry dock at Dali
About 10 years ago, these old school docks were used by the ferry’s you see hopping around from town to town at the lakes. This one in Intra is no longer in use. They’ve now moved the ferry to a newer dock a few minutes down. This works in our favor because places like Dali have taken advantage of the history and turned it into an aperitivo spot literally on the dock. Watch as the ferry boats move behind you, observe the swans and ducks below waiting for a piece of food to fall from above, and take in the panorama.
12. Dinner at La Rungia
La Rungia is a new restaurant, it recently opened Spring/Summer 2023. It is a bit more upscale inside and more down to earth outside, but God, is the food amazing. I have to say it may have been one of the best meals I’ve had in Intra in a while. They make a variety of foods, each with their own spin, and some local delicacies of my region that you have to try. Two specifically are lingua di vitello, or veal tongue. It’s accompanied with a parsley and anchovy green sauce. The idea may sound ick, but I swear…it’s the most fatty, thin sliced, juicy, and delicate type of meat you’ll ever have. Just forget that it’s tongue and eat it. You can thank me later.
Fun Fact About Veal Tongue:
There is a worldwide festival every year held in Torino right next door where 40 professional chefs and amateurs battle it out for the title of best bagnetto verde sauce in Italy – i.e. the sauce that accompanies lingua di vitello.
The other thing you have to order if it’s on the menu is a local dessert from my area called bonet piemontese. It comes from the dialeto, or dialect word, boneto which means chefs hat because it had the shape of a chef’s hat. It’s essentially a soft, creamy, pudding like dessert made of chocolate, amaretto, and caramel. It’s a budino, but creamier and with a much stronger flavor.
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