landmark
Stresa
An elegant resort town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore offering panoramic views of the Borromean Islands.
10 km · about 20 min drive
EuropeItalyLombardy
Ranco
Lombardy, Italy · Europe
About Ranco
Ranco works well as a base: 5 minutes from Nebbiuno, 37km from Lake Lugano (Swiss side).
Ranco is in Lombardy, Italy, with about 894 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Nebbiuno, about 4 km away.
Ranco is a comune (municipality) on the shore of Lago Maggiore in the Province of Varese in the Italian region Lombardy, located about 60 kilometres (37 mi) northwest of Milan and about 20 kilometres (12 mi) west of Varese. As of 31 December 2004, it had a population of 1,188 and an area of 6.3 square kilometres (2.4Read more
mi2).
The village has a Guide Michelin acclaimed restaurant (Il sole di Ranco) and a Transport Museum. The municipality of Ranco contains the frazione (subdivision) Uponne.
The village is home to an interesting church – the Baroque Church of SS Martino and Lorenzo. It contains a number of frescoes dating back to the early 1900s and which were painted by Antonio Candeo. There is also a statue dedicated to the Madonna del Rosario inside, along with a wooden pulpit dating back to 1928.
Also in Ranco is the Cascina Massari. Here you will find an old bakery oven. This would once have been used by local residents who lived here. Next to this is the Massari fountain. This is a fountain which uses an old Roman child's sarcophagus as a basin and which would once have been connected to the old aqueduct.
Ranco borders the following municipalities: Angera, Ispra, Lesa, Meina.
Where to Stay in Ranco
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Ranco.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Ranco.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Ranco?
Within an hour or so of Ranco: Stresa (10 km), Stresa & Borromean Islands (10 km), Isola Bella (11 km), Lake Orta (13 km).
Are there any good drives near Ranco?
The nearest famous roads are Lake Como Shore Road, Simplon Pass and Nufenen Pass.
Where is Ranco?
Ranco is in Lombardy, Italy, about 4 km from Nebbiuno.
Road trip
Drive to Ranco
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Ranco. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 894
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Italy
- Region
- Lombardy
- Timezone
- Europe/Rome
- Coordinates
- 45.7973, 8.5710
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Italy
ACI roadside assistance: 803 116. ZTL (limited traffic zones) in city centres are camera-enforced.
Full driving guide for ItalyTags
Worth the detour from Ranco
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
scenic viewpoint
Stresa & Borromean Islands
An elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
10 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Isola Bella
A tiny island in Lake Maggiore transformed into an extravagant Baroque palace and garden by the Borromeo family.
11 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Lake Orta
A lesser-known gem west of Lake Maggiore with the medieval village of Orta San Giulio and a tiny island monastery.
13 km · about 25 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Sacro Monte di Orta & Lake Orta
A serene small lake with island San Giulio and a wooded UNESCO sacred mountain of frescoed chapels above the village.
13 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
MV Agusta Museum
A museum dedicated to MV Agusta's legendary racing heritage near Varese, showcasing decades of championship-winning motorcycles.
17 km · about 20 min drive
landmark
Morcote
Former fishing village stacked against the hillside at Lake Lugano's southern tip: arcaded lanes, palm-lined quays and the 400-step climb to Santa Maria del Sasso; voted Switzerland's most beautiful village in 2016.
30 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Lugano (Swiss side)
A Mediterranean-flavoured lake straddling Switzerland and Italy, framed by steep mountains and the charming Italian-speaking town of Lugano.
37 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Ranco
14 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 100km.
- Right hereStresa & Borromean IslandsAn elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
- Right hereSacro Monte di Orta & Lake OrtaA serene small lake with island San Giulio and a wooded UNESCO sacred mountain of frescoed chapels above the village.
- 41 kmBrunate Funicular ViewpointA historic funicular climbs from Como city to Brunate for a sweeping balcony view over the lake and Alps.
- 59 kmLake Como Shore RoadA winding lakeside road hugging Lake Como's western shore with tunnels, villa gates, and views of snow-capped Alps reflected in deep blue water.
- 64 kmGornergratA 3,089-metre viewpoint above Zermatt reached by Europe's highest open-air cogwheel railway, with 29 peaks over 4,000 metres in view.
- 65 kmSimplon PassA historic Alpine crossing at 2,005 meters built by Napoleon, connecting Switzerland's Valais to Italy's Piedmont.
Driving in Italy
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- ~€8.50/100km
When to drive here
April to October
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Ranco.
Plan a trip around Ranco
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Ranco.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.