Once a week, the small lake side town of Luino Italy explodes with vendors for the local Wednesday market. Almost every street in the town center becomes a maze of food, clothes, and crafts from around the area. Here’s exactly what to expect at the Luino Market on Lake Maggiore, fun shopping tips, and all about our own experience.
Why is the Luino Market So Famous?
If you can believe it, the Luino Italy market has been going since the year 1541! This mind-boggling fact means it’s nearly 500 years old.
Aside from its rich history as a trading hub on Lake Maggiore, Luino has established itself as one of the largest markets in all over Europe. Every Wednesday from 9am to 4pm, over 350 stalls take over the streets.
Easy Parking Near the Luino Market in Italy
This past summer, we spent one month in the small town of Albogasio-Oria Italy on Lake Lugano. Once we realized the Luino Market was only 40 minutes away, we knew we had to visit!
We arrived in Luino just after 8am, and the streets were already blocked with vendors setting up. The parking made us a little nervous, but we had read it was best to go drive down to the water.
Luckily, the large lot on Lake Maggiore ended up being a great place to park near town! Just be aware this free parking lot (exact location) does fill up fast. If you don’t get here by 9:00am, you will likely be circling aimlessly and waiting for someone to leave. From there, it was only a 10 minute walk along the lake to the Luino Italy market area.
Our first move was to head to the bustling Bar Centrale Di De Martini Luigi cafe right in the middle of all the action. We grabbed a coffee and pastry while waiting for the vendors to finish setting up.
Food at the Luino Market
For us, the most amazing part of the Luino Market in Italy was all the food! We were one of the first people to stroll through the stands, so we didn’t need to push through the crowds that would come later in the day.
The first thing you need to know is that the Luino Wednesday Market is basically one big meat and cheese sampling board. There are literally endless amounts of different cured meats and cheeses to try.
It was hard not to immediately buy everything we tasted, as they were all so delicious. Even though we were there around breakfast, we couldn’t help ourselves from ordering a buying a porchetta sandwich. It was grilled with onions, greens, and spicy peppers on fresh baked bread.
For those that are looking for a sweet treat, you’ll be more than happy when you see the selection! There must have been hundreds of different cookies, small cakes, and pastries inside the food section of the Luino Market. They were even adding the cream fillings inside right in-front of us.
More Shopping at Luino Italy Market
While eating our way through the Luino Market was definitely a highlight, there was much more to see that morning! We found everything from clothing to shoes, and all kinds of leather products.
Honestly, we’ve been to huge markets all over the world. From San Telmo in Buenos Aires to Ben Thanh Market in Saigon, but Luino was so exciting to see!
Now, the market has become geared more towards tourists over the years. With that said, we did find many local aspects that we didn’t expect to see.
Besides souvenirs, clothing, and food, there were all kinds of art and wood carvings. We even saw rows upon rows of home appliances that locals were picking up. Even if you don’t buy a single thing, the Luino Market in Italy is truly a spectacle that every traveler will appreciate.
5 Tips for Visiting Luino Italy
Hotels: If you plan to spend the night in Luino, some of the most popular accommodations are Camin Hotel Luino (lux) and Villa Monica (budget). We recommend spending 2 or 3 nights in the area, especially if you’re visiting in the summer time.
Getting There: The easiest way to get to the Luino Wednesday Market is by driving yourself. We highly recommend checking out this website to compare prices on rental cars.
There is also bus and train routes to Luino Italy that come from nearby towns, and even the city of Milan Italy. This would save you the hassle of trying to find parking on your visit.
Keep Cash: To our surprise, almost all Luino market vendors took credit cards. It’s still a good idea to keep some Euros on you in the event that someone doesn’t.
Arrive Early: We can’t emphasize this enough! You’ll want to get to the Luino Market area by 8:30am to not have to stress the parking. By the early afternoon, it will be swarmed with travelers from all over Italy and Switzerland. We felt like we had it to ourselves first thing in the morning.
More Around Lake Maggiore: Another advantage of spending the night around Luino Italy is to see more of the lake. Maggiore is split between Italy and Switzerland, and there are so many beautiful small towns to see on both sides.
Also, don’t miss out on Switzerland’s largest salt spa or cute villages like Ascona and Cannobio. You could easily spend weeks during the summer around this unreal lake!
Have any questions on this article or want to share your own tips for Luino Market Italy? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
