Stresa: 1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour
Description
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.
Tour Options
Itinerary
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 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.
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.
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.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- 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
Reviews(289)
Warning: never ask the ship's captain which island you are going to arrive at; this question is forbidden! Our experience: the captain and owner of the company assaulted us because it is written on the ticket! This hop-on hop-off activity was supposed to give us the freedom to choose which island we wanted to go to. We wanted to start with Isola Bella and finish with Madre. Before departure, there was no explanation that this company starts by dropping passengers off at Madre; I dared to ask the boat captain the question, and he yelled at me! We got off at Isola Bella amidst his endless verbal abuse! In the early afternoon, after a good lunch, we wanted to take advantage of the hop-on hop-off feature of our tickets; we took the boat from Isola Bella, hoping to arrive at Isola Madre. After a short stop in Stresa, the boat set sail again, still without explanation, and went directly to Pescatori… even though it was written on the ticket that the next stop was indeed Madre!!! Upon arrival, we were told it was too late for Madre (it was 2:30 PM…). We paid for the Madre activity…. Lost the money but also the rest of the afternoon. Indeed, wanting to return to Stresa, we were forced to take another boat… which dropped us off (compulsorily) at Isola Bella to make us wait almost 30 minutes… we arrived in Stresa around 4:00 PM… Change professions, because being in contact with customers is not for you!
Not much to see, just shops and restaurants. Disappointing
Dear All, Ours is a boat service with hop-on hop-off transport to the islands.......the comment must be related to the activity carried out and not to the territory!!!
A great day out, with flexibility to do as much or as little as you wish on each island. A wonderful way to see the lake and explore the islands for ourselves. Plenty of options for food and drinks along the way in all price brackets.
Very poor organization of the boarding! No respect for the lines! Boarding tax to be paid before departure!
Thoroughly enjoyed this excursion. Each island was stunning and would definitely go back if given the opportunity.
You get the boat rides but otherwise you can do nothing on 2 islands. It was mentioned that you don't have access to the museums yet but not that the museum consisted of the whole island. so you don't get further than 200m. That was a big setback. On the second island we bought an ice cream. The last island does have a market and shops where you can stroll through so that partly made up for it. Yet recommend in het only if you take everything inclusive, but that costs us another €37 p.p and that was not worth it at that time. We could choose between different options in terms of guide, audio or text when buying. We chose audio but also had no access to it. because of a code.. that was extra unfortunate then we might have known something about the islands.
Excellent shuttle to visit the three Borromean Islands, beautiful Isola Madre, its small palace, and the park with species of trees and flowers. It is worth the price paid for admission to the palace and the park; I would have liked more time to stay and enjoy the relaxation and the coolness of the garden. More touristy than its other islands, with villages full of bars and shops. The Borromeo Palace on Isola Bella is beautiful and elegant, with beautiful, well-kept terraced gardens. White peacocks posing😄
Great day out visiting the three Borromee islands. Buy tickets for the house and garden on Madre and also for Borromee house and garden- not to be missed. Pescatorie island is mainly shops and restaurants so ideal as the lunchtime middle stop! All recommended.
If 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.
Instead 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
