Explore Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands at your own pace with a 1-day hop-on hop-off boat tour from Stresa. Admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.
About this activity
- Free cancellation
- Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
- Reserve now & pay later
- Keep your travel plans flexible — book your spot and pay nothing today.
- Valid 1 day
- Check availability to see starting times.
- Skip the ticket line
- Host or greeter
- English, French, Italian, German, Spanish
- Audio guide included
- English, Italian
Experience
Starting location:
Navigazione Isole Borromee Lago Maggiore S.N.C.
Speedboat
(15 minutes)
Isola Madre
Free time, Hop-on Hop-off stop
Speedboat
(10 minutes)
Isola dei Pescatori
Free time, Hop-on Hop-off stop
Speedboat
(5 minutes)
Isola Bella
Free time, Hop-on Hop-off stop
Speedboat
(5 minutes)
Arrive back at:
Navigazione Isole Borromee Lago Maggiore S.N.C.
For reference only. Itineraries are subject to change.
- Have lunch on one of the terraces on the lake at typical restaurants
- Visit the famous botanical garden of Isola Madre
- Enjoy traveling at your own pace with a hop-on hop-off tour
- Admire the Borromean palace and gardens of Isola Bella
- Sail on the waters of Lake Maggiore
Embark on a boat trip from Stresa Piazza Marconi and discover three Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore. First, visit Isola Madre which is the farthest island from Stresa. Explore the island, which is famous for its botanical gardens. See the free-living birdlife and admire the peacocks and pheasants who stroll calmly through the gardens. Discover the unique plants of the island, such as the famous Cashmere tree and Bougainville. You can also visit the villa with its puppet collection. Next, visit Isola dei Pescatori the only one of the Borromean Islands inhabited all year round. Explore its many charming alleys and stop to taste the typical dishes of the lake at one of the numerous restaurants. Finish your island tour with a stop at Isola Bella most famous for its palace, splendid caves, and Italian-style gardens. Admire the views from the famous terraces, enjoy some shopping in the elegant boutique stores, or visit the local handicraft market, before returning to Stresa..
<span style="color: rgb(26, 43, 73);".When the boat arrives at each island, simply hop off the boat and hop back on the next boat when you want to continue your tour.
Explore the islands' attractions and natural beauty at your own pace.- Hop-on hop-off boat tour
- Stops at the 3 Borromean Islands
- Multilingual Captain and crew
- Free time on each island
- Multilingual pre-recorded commentary on board
- Entrance to the Borromean Palace Museum and Gardens
- Food and drinks
- Tour guide
- Landing fee of €0.50 for each island to be paid locally (cash only)
- Island entry fees
- People with mobility impairments
- Wheelchair users
Select participants and date
Participants
Date
Upon your arrival at Stresa Piazza Marconi, you can contact one of the representatives at the ticket office or go directly to the pier of Isole Lago Maggiore s.n.c. to find the boat, recognizable by a large tricolor sail with the Italian flag. Please exchange your voucher at the ticket office to join the tour and make the landing fee payment. There is no set arrival time, as this is not a timed service.
Open in Google Maps ⟶What to bring
- Comfortable shoes
- Cash
Not allowed
- Luggage or large bags
- Bikes
- Alcohol and drugs
- Walking frames
Know before you go
- To ensure the smooth operation of the service, please respect the booking slot
- The departure times of the tour start from 10:00 AM until about 13:45 PM (last departure to 3 islands of the day) and the last departure time from Isola Madre (first stop) to other islands at 14.50
- From 17 March 2023 to 5 November 2023 the palaces and gardens will be open
- The entrance ticket to the palace and garden of Isola Bella and Isola Madre is not included
- Pets are allowed on the boat but not inside the museum and garden
- The 3 boat tour stops are Stresa, Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Bella
- A landing tax of €0.50 needs to be paid per person for each island at the ticket office (cash only)
- This tour may be canceled for poor weather, and a refund will be issued
- Since this is a non-scheduled public service, the departure, transfer, and return times are at the complete discretion of the customer
- Last entrance to any island parks or villas is at 5:30 PM