Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour
Overview
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 Bella, admire the lush vegetation on Isola Madre and stroll along the charming promenade of the tiny Isola dei Pescatori. Enjoy lake views as you cruise between them and spend as little or as long as you like at each island.
You may reserve the right to cancel a customer's booking for a full refund in case of bad weather condiction.
You may reserve the right to cancel a customer's booking for a full refund in case of bad weather condiction.
Inclusions
- All Fees and Taxes
- Non-scheduled public service: shared transfer to the Borromean Islands
- VAT included
- Multilingual captains
- GPS commentary on board
What to expect
Itinerary
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Isola Madre, Italy
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 Isola Bella and Madre will be opend, until November 1th 2022, the stop on the mother island will be guarenteed. Outside these dates the tour does not include a stop on the isola madre because museums and gardens will be closed (replaced by a brief circumnavigation of the island).Embark on our boats to begin the visit of the Borromean Islands and reach the first island: Isola Madre
Isola Madre is the first stop, it rises in the middle of the gulf and presents itself with a magnificent Renaissance palace, surrounded by one of the oldest and most important gardens in Italy.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Island of the Fishermen (Isola dei Pescatori), Italy
Isola Superiore dei Pescatori is the second stop, the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, but owes its name to the activity of its inhabitants.The only one among the Borromean islands to be inhabited during all months of the year, it hosts a small village of fifty inhabitants characterized by a small square enclosed by narrow and sinuous alleys that lead to the promenade on the northern tip of the island.As clearly indicated by the name, fishing is still very popular, and it is possible to taste the fresh fruits in one of the numerous restaurants overlooking the lake. At the end of the visit of the Fishermen's Island you can take back the boats to reach Isola Bella.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Isola Bella Italy
Isola Bella is the third stop of our boats, the most famous of the three islands, it hosts the princely Borromeo palace surrounded by an Italian garden, built on ten terraces. But what really strikes and leaves you speechless is the famous park: an Italian garden consisting of ten terraces overlapping in a cut pyramid, embellished with statues, fountains, rare shrubs, exotic plants and flowers with delicate scents such as magnolia and camellias. . The upper part of the gardens, nicknamed "amphitheater" for the performances that were held here, is surmounted by the unicorn, the emblem of the Borromeo family. Get on and off the boat as often as you like as you admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.The return takes place in Stresa Piazza Marconi, the headquarters of our boats.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Navigazione Sulle Isole Borromee del Lago Maggiore, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi Imbarcadero servizio pubblico non di linea, 28838, Stresa Italy
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 boat as often as you like as you admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.
Duration: 1 day
This is a typical itinerary for this product
Stop At: Isola Madre, Italy
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 Isola Bella and Madre will be opend, until November 1th 2022, the stop on the mother island will be guarenteed. Outside these dates the tour does not include a stop on the isola madre because museums and gardens will be closed (replaced by a brief circumnavigation of the island).Embark on our boats to begin the visit of the Borromean Islands and reach the first island: Isola Madre
Isola Madre is the first stop, it rises in the middle of the gulf and presents itself with a magnificent Renaissance palace, surrounded by one of the oldest and most important gardens in Italy.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Island of the Fishermen (Isola dei Pescatori), Italy
Isola Superiore dei Pescatori is the second stop, the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, but owes its name to the activity of its inhabitants.The only one among the Borromean islands to be inhabited during all months of the year, it hosts a small village of fifty inhabitants characterized by a small square enclosed by narrow and sinuous alleys that lead to the promenade on the northern tip of the island.As clearly indicated by the name, fishing is still very popular, and it is possible to taste the fresh fruits in one of the numerous restaurants overlooking the lake. At the end of the visit of the Fishermen's Island you can take back the boats to reach Isola Bella.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Isola Bella Italy
Isola Bella is the third stop of our boats, the most famous of the three islands, it hosts the princely Borromeo palace surrounded by an Italian garden, built on ten terraces. But what really strikes and leaves you speechless is the famous park: an Italian garden consisting of ten terraces overlapping in a cut pyramid, embellished with statues, fountains, rare shrubs, exotic plants and flowers with delicate scents such as magnolia and camellias. . The upper part of the gardens, nicknamed "amphitheater" for the performances that were held here, is surmounted by the unicorn, the emblem of the Borromeo family. Get on and off the boat as often as you like as you admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.The return takes place in Stresa Piazza Marconi, the headquarters of our boats.
Duration: 2 hours
Stop At: Navigazione Sulle Isole Borromee del Lago Maggiore, Piazza Guglielmo Marconi Imbarcadero servizio pubblico non di linea, 28838, Stresa Italy
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 boat as often as you like as you admire the beautiful scenery of the lake and visit the superb sights on the islands.
Duration: 1 day
Additional information
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- We recommend visiting this stop order first stop Isola Madre, second Isola Pescatori at the end Isola Bella.
- Animals are allowed on board the boats, it is not allowed to enter the Borromean properties.
- In the 14th century the Borromeo, powerful feudal lords of the area but originally from San Miniato, became owners of the islands and thus began their transformation. Even today the family still owns Isola Bella and Isola Madre, in addition to the three rocks that emerged known as Castles of Cannero due to the ruins of medieval fortifications. Isola dei Pescatori is the only one permanently inhabited, albeit by a small community, while the two "sister" islands are coveted by tourists who admire the two splendid palaces and their gardens, famous throughout Europe for the quality of the landscape. and for the care and variety of plant architectures, made up of over 2000 varieties of different species. In Isola Madre there is also a large fauna of oriental birds, such as white peacocks, golden pheasants and parrots, free in the splendid garden. Isola Bella, on the other hand, has a garden that, skilfully designed over the centuries, has multicolored blooms throughout the year, in rotation among the various floral species (roses, orchids, bulbous plants, magnolias, orchards, azaleas, gardenias, wisteria).
- 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 payment of the landing fee.
- Palace and garden are not included
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 999 travelers
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Ticket delivery
You can present either a paper or an electronic voucher for this activity.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start time of the experience.
Michael P
June 2019
Something for everyone on the islands. History, architechture, gardens, wildlife, especially peacocks, restaurants, and boat trips between islands and mainland.
Something for everyone on the islands. History, architechture, gardens, wildlife, especially peacocks, restaurants, and boat trips between islands and mainland.Geoffreysm1th
October 2018
Visits to the two major islands done using the ferries plenty of them and reasonably priced, Punctuality is a bit of a problem, but not too much of a problem to spoil the experience.
Visits to the two major islands done using the ferries plenty of them and reasonably priced, Punctuality is a bit of a problem, but not too much of a problem to spoil the experience.ironlady59
September 2018
Brilliant to use and hop on hop off means you can do all islands and Villa Taranto on one ticket if you have time. Always on time and plenty of times to choose, miss one and another in half hour
Brilliant to use and hop on hop off means you can do all islands and Villa Taranto on one ticket if you have time. Always on time and plenty of times to choose, miss one and another in half hourEmilio V
September 2018
When booking this tour, I thought I was booking a FERRY! When we arrived at the ferry we were directed to a small motor boat down a slippery bank. When I stated this was not what I booked, I was very rudely told take it or leave it. As my 3 friends and I are in our 70's and 80's and not that s...
When booking this tour, I thought I was booking a FERRY! When we arrived at the ferry we were directed to a small motor boat down a slippery bank. When I stated this was not what I booked, I was very rudely told take it or leave it. As my 3 friends and I are in our 70's and 80's and not that steady on small boats, we had to leave it. So we stood in line and got tickets for the local ferry for a fraction of the cost, and had an enjoyable day visiting the islands!
However I lost my money!
Beware- this is NOT a FERRY!
Peter A
June 2018
There is a kiosk/booth selling tickets to the Borromean Islands utilising small 20 person water taxis next to the main ferry wharf. A ticket to each of the three islands is 15 euros as compared to 16.70 using the ferry. What appears at the time of purchasing the ticket as a well organised alterna...
There is a kiosk/booth selling tickets to the Borromean Islands utilising small 20 person water taxis next to the main ferry wharf. A ticket to each of the three islands is 15 euros as compared to 16.70 using the ferry. What appears at the time of purchasing the ticket as a well organised alternative to the ferries is anything but. Upon purchase of the ticket you are then directed down the lake side about 100 metres to collect your vessel. It then becomes clear you have only engaged a vessel not a number of vessels. There is little information and no organisation or explanation of which vessel you are top use. This arrangement continues for the balance of the day at each island. There are no schedules, so on each occasion when you wish to leave it is necessary wait around for your vessel. I strongly recommend that you take the regular and scheduled ferry service. I wish we had.boisekari
May 2018
We traveled to all three isles in a day. The ferries run fairly frequently and the price was resonable. It worked great for us, but if you are a bit handicapped it is not the best for getting off and on.
We traveled to all three isles in a day. The ferries run fairly frequently and the price was resonable. It worked great for us, but if you are a bit handicapped it is not the best for getting off and on.