Borromean Islands Tour: Explore Lake Maggiore's Gems

Experience the beauty of Italy’s Lake Maggiore with a 1-day hop-on hop-off boat tour around the Borromean Islands. Explore stunning palaces, gardens, and charming promenades at your own pace.

Duration: 8 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Isola Madre - Explore Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands at your own pace with a 1-day hop-on hop-off boat tour from Stresa. Get on and off the boats as often as you like as you admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.
    Starting season from March 19 st 2022, the date on which museums and gardens of…
What's Included
  • GPS commentary on board
  • Multilingual captains
  • VAT included
  • Non-scheduled public service: shared transfer to the Borromean Islands
What's Not Included
  • Food and drinks
  • On-board restrooms
  • Entrance ticket to the palaces and gardens of Isola Madre and Isola Bella (combi ticket euro 28)
  • Admission fees
  • Landing fee for each island
Additional Information

Spend a day island hopping around the Borromean Islands with a 1-day hop-on hop boat ticket around Italy’s Lake Maggiore. Departing from the lakeside town of Stresa Piazza Marconi, create your own sightseeing schedule using the boat as transport. See the elegant island palace and formal gardens of Isola Madre, admire the lush vegetation on Isola Bella…

Location
Navigazione Isole Borromee Lago Maggiore S.N.C.
Piazza Marconi
Departure from Ticket Office Servizio pubblico non di linea Every day from 9.30 to 18.00
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
3.8
(236 Ratings)
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Laetitia_a
Jul 26, 2025
Top excursion to the Borromee Islands (Isola Madre, Isola des Pescatori and Isola Bella) - Very good organization. Everything was fluid to pass from one island to another (isola madre,isola de pescatori,isola bella). Beautiful sites
Review provided by Viator
Sandra_o
Jul 17, 2025
Bellísimos - Unmissable visit to Lake Maggiore! Islands, castles and gardens of great beauty. Consider buying three tickets together.
Review provided by Viator
Tour184903
Jul 16, 2025
Fun island hopping day - It was a great day for the 12 of us, family and friends. I'd recommend seeing the three islands this way. We were pleasantly surprised by the first island, Isola Madre, a beautiful arboretum with peacocks and a very interesting palazzo with a room size puppet theater! Through the entire day, my granddaughters, ages 6 and 9, enjoyed 4 boat rides, 3 islands, 2 museums, 2 gardens and lunch. They were tired by the end of the day but throughly enjoyed everything. We started at 10am and finished at 5pm. You can buy combined palace and garden tickets when you arrive on each island. You have to walk through the palace on Isola Bella to get to the gardens.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marcandre_g
Jul 13, 2025
Completely correct - That there is parking nearby. That there is no precise time and that you can take the boat that shows up
Review provided by Viator
J216ikpeters
Jul 10, 2025
Great opportunity to visit the 3 Borromean islands - If you buy a ticket to the 3 Borromean islands you will be sailed first to Isola Madre, then Pescatori (island of the fishermen) and finally Isola Bella. If you want to sail differently, you must return to Stresa. You have to consider whether you want to see 2 botanical gardens or one. There is garden on both Isola Madre and Bella. At Isola Madre there is nothing but a restaurant - if you want to see some of the island, you have to pay for access to the park at Isola Madre.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
509mich_len
Jul 9, 2025
A must - We visited the 3 islands thanks to a shuttle that transported us from island to island It's really a must at the major lake
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Carlo_c
Jul 9, 2025
transfers to and from... - transfers to and from the islands comfortable and on time. Captains thoughtful in transhipments and ready to answer any questions of tourists
Review provided by Viator
Ilcritico51
Jul 11, 2025
Unnecessarily expensive - Nothing to say about the beauty of the place, I strongly criticize the cost of tickets to visit the islands too high and disproportionate. Visit the only Fisherman's Island which is very beautiful and free.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Miriam
Jul 22, 2025
⭐ 1/5 – Chaotic and frustrating: Avoid the taxi boats! - If you’re planning a trip to the Borromean Islands, do not use the taxi boat services. While getting to the islands (e.g. Isola Bella or Isola Madre) might work relatively smoothly, the real chaos begins when you want to return – especially from the more remote islands like Isola Madre. The operators claim that boats run every 30 minutes, but in reality, that only applies to the outbound journey. Once you’re on the islands, there’s no clear system, no reliable schedule, and no staff organizing the boarding process. During busy times, you’ll find yourself in a long, slow-moving line under the hot sun, often waiting an hour or more just to get back to Stresa. Sometimes you have to wait through two or three full boats before there’s room for you. The experience is stressful, time-consuming, and poorly managed. ✅ Recommendation: Use the official public ferry service, which follows a published timetable and is far more reliable and organized. Save yourself the hassle – skip the taxi boats
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Denisisa2015
Jun 29, 2025
Borromeans Scam - TripAdvisor - I wanted to visit Isola Bella in the morning and then have lunch on Isola Pescatori as I was advised. So I bought a multi-stop ticket that says: "Take a tour of the Lake Maggiore Islands and create your own itinerary with a multi-stop ferry ticket. With a daily pass, you can spend your day visiting at your own pace, staying as long as you like on each island. Land on the shores of Isola Bella, stroll down tiny Isola dei Pescatori and admire the botanical gardens of Isola Madre." That's not what happened at all. Can't go to Isola Bella! I was dropped off at Isola Madre where I had to wait more than half an hour. Then to Isola Pescatori where I had to wait another half hour. And then I learn that I will not be able to return to Pescatori where I had arranged a meeting with a friend for lunch. So, not at all what is advertised at the purchase of the ticket. Scam, Day wasted in the Borromeans that are still worth the visit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $18
up to 15 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).