Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
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 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.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What To Expect
Giardini Botanici dell'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 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.
Island of the Fishermen (Isola dei Pescatori)
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.
What‘s Included
GPS commentary on board
Multilingual captains
VAT included
Non-scheduled public service: shared transfer to the Borromean Islands
Food and drinks
Restroom on board
Entrance ticket to the palaces and gardens of Isola Madre and Isola Bella (combi ticket euro 28)
Musei e giardini Botanici dell'Isola Madre e isola bella
Landing fee for each island
Options
Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour from Stresa
Hop on hop off boat tour
Borromean Islands tour: Isola madre first stop.
Isola pescatori second stop
Isola bella third stop
boat: Public boat
Reviews
262 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Beautiful Stresa
Patricia L,,Oct 14, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Stresa is a beautiful place. The people running the boats were patient and terrific. Boats comfortable. You do have thay searatey to get to the gardends and castle. Lunch was great. This was a "don't miss".
Stresa BUMMER -hop off and stay on an island forever....
Nancy D,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Viator
1.00No available agent at the sight to take our tickets. There was no Viator sign where we would were supposed to meet and other companies were hawking there boating trips. We waited for 45 minutes for the late staff to arrive. He was not apologetic and assumed no care for our delay. The schedule for 'Hop on Hop off' was unclear. We were stranded on an island. I telephoned the coordinator and was told that we would have to take our own way back to Stressa and pay for the public route with no reimbursment! We have used Viatorfor many venues trips etc. This was a huge disappointment.
Nice lakeshore city
davidsmith657,,Oct 11, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Nice lakeshore city, good facilities, many large hotels so quite busy, a good base for lake trips and the Borommean Islands which are must see
I recommend
CLAUDE B,,Oct 4, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00You must definitely visit Isola Madré... by far the most beautiful of the 3 islands. The other two offer beautiful views.
On time good service
HuseyinYavuz Y,,Oct 2, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Hope on off boat service to visit 3 Borromeo islands. Provides flexibility for visiting islands as you wish.
Check on the pick up...
Kathy T,,Sep 27, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Check on the pick up times as you exit a boat. We waited longer than we needed to because we didn’t check when the boats drop off and pick up.
Good way to see the islands
Chris B,,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Visited the three islands whilst in Stresa. Excellent service provided by the boatman. Each island is worth visiting on their own merits Represent good value for money
Good value for money - Language barrier removes the fun
Kuntal S,,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
4.00The tour itself is fun. Boat is good, ride is smooth, timely and dependable. The local operator (Navigazione ?) is HORRIBLE when it comes to providing information on where to meet, when to meet and what to look for when doing the hop-on/hop-off. The skippers are just in a rush to maintain the number of trips so its next to impossible to get them to answer and they barely speak English.
Excellent experience for...
Ana B,,Sep 22, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Excellent experience for a group of friends traveling in Stresa. Easy on and off tour with spectacular views!
Lovely gardens and stunning palaces
GoPlaces46543530300,,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It's a long day and there is a lot to see . The Combined ticket for the palaces is 36 Euro per person , not 28 as said on the ticket. But still worth it.
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Operated by ISOLE LAGO MAGGIORE S.N.C.