Isola Bella, Isola Madre & Isola dei Pescatori: Hop-on Hop-off Boat Tour

About this experience

The Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori hop-on hop-off boat tour is a self-guided lake tour departing from Piazza Marconi in Stresa, covering three of the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore. The islands sit roughly an hour's drive from Milan, making this a popular day trip from the city. Isola Bella is home to the Borromeo family's baroque palace and its terraced garden, begun in the seventeenth century. Isola Madre, the largest of the three, holds a sixteenth-century palazzo surrounded by a botanical garden noted for its Kashmir cypresses and white peacocks. Isola dei Pescatori is a small fishing village with no formal attractions, and entry is free. The hop-on hop-off format lets visitors move between islands at their own pace using a shared taxi boat running throughout the day. Tickets cover the boat service from Stresa plus entrance to both Isola Bella and Isola Madre. Isola dei Pescatori requires no entry fee. A landing fee is payable in cash on arrival at each island and is not included. A ground steward is available on Saturdays and Sundays only. The tour is not wheelchair accessible. Booking covers the boat pass and island entrance fees for Isola Bella and Isola Madre only.

Highlights

• Hop on and off boats between three Borromean Islands
• Departs from Piazza Marconi in Stresa on Lake Maggiore
• Visit a baroque palace and terraced garden on Isola Bella
• Explore a 16th-century palazzo on Isola Madre, the largest island
• See Kashmir cypresses and white peacocks in the botanical garden
• Popular day trip located around one hour from Milan

What is included

• Hop-on hop-off taxi boat from Stresa
• Tickets for Isola Bella and Isola Madre

Not included

• Ground steward (available only on Saturdays and Sundays)
• Landing fee (paid onsite, in cash)

Before you go

Arrival and timing Make your way to Piazza Marconi in Stresa before your chosen departure time. Arriving a few minutes early gives you time to locate the correct boarding point and get settled before the boat sets off. Because this is a hop-on hop-off service, you set the pace across the three islands, so factor in enough time to explore each one comfortably before the last departure of the day. What to bring and know on the day A landing fee is charged at each island stop and must be paid in cash on arrival, so carry coins or small notes. Your entrance tickets for Isola Bella and Isola Madre are included; Isola dei Pescatori has no entry fee. A ground steward is available on Saturdays and Sundays only, if you would like on-site guidance. Wear comfortable shoes suitable for cobbled paths and uneven ground on the islands.

Cancellation terms

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start time.