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
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.
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.
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
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
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
281 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Not unlimited nor all day.
Jana E,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Viator
2.00If you are looking to leave Stresa, ride around the islands ONLY once and return to Stresa this is the right service for you. Otherwise everything it says in the itinerary is not true.. You can't board at any of the stops. You have to retrieve your ticket in Stresa . Yes, you get on a semi private shuttle boat, but the schedule is whenever they get there. Not anything you can plan around. We were staying on an island and tried to board there. Nope. I had to buy a ferry ticket to Stresa to get my actual ticket. You are better off using the regular 2 euro ferry, with published schedules.
Use the public boats
332andrewb332,Jun 21, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Instead of choosing the pre booked private boats (many and various often small boats Not easy for the less able . Had variable reports of reliability, confusion of on/off points , flexibility and price ) We used the public ferries from Stresa pier. Prices fixed and cheap , good timetable , pier staff very helpful . Boats can get a bit crowded so get there a few mins before . Piers on the islands clearly marked so no confusion and clear departure boards Isola Bella fab if u want the amazing palace and gardens . Btw off ferry go Left until large buildings with wide steps which gives access . Pay at door c€25 or free if RHS member Didn’t like Superiore very small and commercial but others may like it Isola madre is a much quieter affair with palace And gardens . Nice restaurant on cliff side if you turn left off ferry . But it closes around 5. Overall an easy touring experience at a good price and with no confusion over where to and what to get on/off
Well worth it
Voyager427218,Jun 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00On time , easy access , no queues
Positive experience
LorenzoCordini,Jun 2, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Overall, a very positive experience in terms of quality-price ratio. More precise boarding instructions would be helpful, because despite arriving almost half an hour early, with the confusion of the different docks, we almost risked missing the departure.
Beautiful island, but expensive.
M468KKshaunah,May 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00The islands were very, very beautiful. By far, we liked the island of Pescatori the best; it is inhabited, has beautiful alleys, and the stay is free. The island of Madre is not recommended unless you are aware of the €21 entrance fee per person. We did not know this and were initially a bit shocked and disappointed. On the island of Bella, an entrance fee of €27 per person is also charged for the largest area. We did not pay an entrance fee at either island, as it seemed too expensive to us. If you are willing to invest this money, it is certainly very nice, but you should know it in advance.
Cute
furetto60,May 23, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Stresa is an appealing location, but a couple of things are not right. Parking spaces can be marked with white lines, but in reality, a sign indicates they are paid, and this is just a few steps from areas marked with blue lines, only if one wants to subtly mislead users. Moreover, the center has now become a country fair that has nothing original left, converted to mass tourism.
Quick and easy service, well taken care of
Eddie O,May 17, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Great service, easy to access, best way to get to the Borromeo islands, and enjoy at your own pace. Our captain was very accommodating.
Great day hop on/off Lake Maggiore! Highly recommend!
Colin B,May 13, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Our boat driver guided us through 3 drop off & pick ups on the Barromean Islands. He clearly laid out the times & stuck to the timetable with punctuality despite very high winds & the lake being very choppy! Absolutely superb!! Many thanks for a great day!
Very interesting tour.
deboramscunha,May 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
4.00Very cool ride. The islands are beautiful. Only does not inform that you have more access to the islands and the boat fee. And access to the palaces are also paid. But the transport was very legal. They're punctual.
It is not “hop on hop off”
maru al2017,May 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00If you really want to experience all island with hop on hop off boat than chose another company. This one has limited time for one island and not for the other. All other companies were arriving to isola madre every 30 minutes as you would expect from this kind of service, except for this one. We were left stranded on the first island and before we realized they were not coming back we had to take a ferry and it was too late for the other islands. We took 13 o’clock tour, that actually started at 13:30.
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Operated by ISOLE LAGO MAGGIORE SRL