Rail Campsites:
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Camping Orta
Via Domodossola, 28, 28016 Orta San Giulio NO, Italy
https://www.campingorta.it/en/
Campsite
Lake Orta is one of the smaller North Italian lakes, just to west of its larger cousin, Lago Maggiore. It is a picturesque setting – deep blue waters surrounded by wooded hills. Camping Orta lies alongside the water edge, on the lake’s eastern shore. Part of the campsite is directly on the campsite’s own beach, with the larger part stretching further back from the water with more shady pitches. All in all, this makes Camping Orta perfect for relaxing, swimming and water activities. The campsite also has its own restaurant and a small store for basic groceries.
The town of Orta San Giulio is just ten minutes’ walk away. Once there, you’ll find a good range of restaurants, cafes and a few small shops, ideal for supplies. One of the main attractions is the island of Orta San Giulio, a short boat ride from the mainland. The Catholic basilica on the island is well-worth a visit and as such a magnet for visitors.
Accommodation Options
There are two types of holiday lets on the campsite: bungalows and caravans. The bungalows can sleep 6-8 people in three separate bedrooms. They are all fully equipped with decent kitchens, separate bathrooms and outdoor terrace included. The caravans come in a standard size (sleeping 4-5) and a larger version (sleeping up to 6). The former has two bedrooms and the latter three separate bedrooms. As with the bungalows, the caravans contain kitchens, bathrooms and sun terraces.
Transport Links
The closest railway station is Orta Miasino, on the small line down the eastern side of the lake. Trains run north to Domodossola and in the opposite direction south to Novara. From Domodossola, it’s possible to pick up trains to Milan and a less frequent service to Locarno in Switzerland. Novara sits on a major east-west railway axis, offering quicker connections to Milan as well as to Turin in the east.
FS train information: https://www.rfi.it/it/stazioni/orta-miasino.html
Directions to Campsite
When leaving from the main station building, there are two options. Option one: you can turn left and head down the hill turning back under the railway onto Via Marconi. From there, follow this narrow road as it curves down towards a roundabout at the bottom of the hill. Option two (a better path for pedestrians): turn right on leaving the station and follow the railway line until a narrow path – marked by no-entry signs and a brown sign pointing to Ora – bends to the right under the tracks. This path comes out alongside a sports pitch that runs down eventually reaching the same roundabout on option one above. However, you reach the roundabout, you need to turn right at this point. The main road, which has a footpath on one side, will eventually take you to Camping Orta. The main entrance to the site is on the right, the opposite side to the lake.
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Camping Parisi
Via Piave, 50, 28831 Baveno VB, Italy
Campsite
Lake Maggiore, the second largest of the Italian lakes, has long been a popular holiday destination. The climate is warm, the Alpine view idyllic and the many small lakeside villages perfect for a stroll. One of these communities – Baveno – is home to Camping Parisi. The small campsite is perfectly situated. It lies directly on the lake and has its own small beach complete with lifeguard. There is plenty of shade from the many trees dotted around the site. For a small campsite, the on-site facilities are excellent. There is a small café, where campers can order bread for the morning, as well as a good games space.
Baveno itself is only a five-minute walk from the campsite. It’s a nice little town with several restaurants, two ice-cream shops and a wonderful promenade for evening strolls. There are three supermarkets in walking distance from the campsite: a small Carrefour in the town, a good-sized Savoini supermarket a short walk on the other side of the campsite, as well as a larger Conad on the edge of the town. Another useful facility is the Baveno Aquapark that is walkable, albeit it about 25 minutes, from the site.
Accommodation Options
The campsite has three different types of mobile homes for hire. The largest can sleep 4-5 people in two bedrooms: one double and a second bedroom with three single beds. The smaller mobile homes sleep 4 and 2 respectively. Regardless of their size, all mobile homes are very well-equipped: good sized kitchens, bathrooms and outside verandas. The onsite staff are very attentive and also go to great lengths to keep the site and accommodation spotless.
Transport Links
Baveno railway station is on the main line that runs from Domodossola to Milan. Local services stop frequently along the line at the small towns on the lake. The next station south, for example, is Stresa, one of the main towns on Maggiore. Trains should stop at Baveno in both directions every two hours with more frequent services at peak times. However, the railway line is being upgraded from 2024-2026 which has led to a reduced service. Fortunately, there is an hourly bus service through Baveno running as far south as Arona as well as regular boat services crisscrossing the lake.
Rail campers can reach Baveno direct from Milan, which connects to express services from Paris. It is also possible to reach Baveno from Turin, changing at Novara. In the other direction, Domodossola lies on the border with Switzerland, offering services east to Locarno and through the Simplon Tunnel west towards Brig.
Directions to Campsite
Leave the railway station through the underpass exiting the south side of the station at street level. You should then see two small roads running downhill opposite the station. Take the second of these – Via Libertà – which is a walled street that curves gently to the left. Once at the bottom of the street, you will reach the main coast road running through Baveno. Cross directly over the road to the entrance of the Grand Hotel. Just to the left of the entrance – slightly hidden by planting – is a paved footpath. This path then runs alongside the hotel, before eventually coming out opposite the campsite. The main entrance to the site is further down on the right, just before Hotel Rigoli.
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Camping by Rail 