Top 15 Borromean Islands Tours

1.3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 4,122 reviews · 1 day · from $14Our pick

From Stresa, this one-day boat pass connects you with Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Bella. Spend your time among Isola Madre’s botanical gardens, the fishing island’s lanes and restaurants, and Isola Bella’s palace and terraces. Boat transport is included, but island landing fees and palace or garden admission are extra.

“The hop on hop off boat ride to The Borromean Islands was great. We had ample time to view the islands and the boat service was punctual.”

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2.3 Borromean Islands Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 629 reviews · 1 day · from $17

From Stresa, ride between Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori on a flexible boat service. Spend time at your own pace, with palace and garden tickets sold separately. Expect grand Borromean architecture, an old botanical garden, and a working island village, plus Lake Maggiore views from the water.

“Accueil en français . Petits bateaux typiques avec capitaine parlant français . Rotation toutes les 30 minutes très ponctuelles .”

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3.Baveno: Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour to 3 Borromean Islands

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 306 reviews · from $16

From Baveno, Summer Boats runs a one-day hop-on hop-off service to Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori. You set your own pace on each island. The boat ride is included, but palace and garden admission is extra, as is a small landing fee.

“I would definitely visit the Borromean Islands again. Very varied so worth seeing all three. Lots of places to eat. I wish I had bought the queen perfume while I was there! Wonderful perfume. Boats amazingly efficient. Booked in advance.”

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4.Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella Hop-on Hop-off Boat

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 298 reviews · 1 day · from $14

Take a one-day hop-on hop-off boat from Stresa to two Borromean Islands. Wander Isola dei Pescatori’s narrow lanes, then explore Isola Bella’s village, shops and, for an extra fee, Palazzo Borromeo and its gardens. The ticket costs $14 per person; island landing fees, palace admission and lunch are extra.

“Schnelle Abfahrt bei Stresa. Etwas Unklarheit wann es Abfahrten an den anderen Inseln gibt. Hier hat eine Rückfrage beim Personal geholfen - wir hatten allerdings hier schon recht lange gewartet. Sonst ein guter Transport und hat trotz Gewitter gut und sicher geklappt.”

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5.1-Day 3 Borromean Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 262 reviews · 4 to 8 hours (approx.) · from $18

Board a shared boat at Piazza Marconi in Stresa and hop between Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Bella at your own pace. The route pairs palaces and gardens with a working island village and lake views. Captains are multilingual, and GPS commentary is available onboard. Palace admission, garden admission, and island landing fees cost extra.

“All was as advertised. We arrived on time however the boat was about 20 minutes late for the initial pick up.”

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6.Isola Bella Hop-on Hop-off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 178 reviews · 1 day · from $9Best value

Travel between Stresa and Isola Bella on a one-day hop-on hop-off boat ticket. Set your own pace on the island, where you can visit the Borromean Palace Museum and gardens for an extra fee, or wander the fishing village. Boats are listed as running every 30 minutes, with multilingual recorded commentary on board.

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7.Madre & Bella Borromean Islands Boat Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 152 reviews · 1 day · from $15

From Stresa, use a day ticket to reach Isola Madre and Isola Bella by boat. Walk among Madre’s botanical plants and free-roaming birds, then explore Bella’s palace, garden terraces, shops, and local handicraft market. The $15 fare covers boat travel, not palace or garden admission; allow extra for entry and island landing fees.

“An incredibly good and interesting tour, delivered with great professionalism. The guide was outstanding and went above and beyond. We traveled as a family with a two-year-old, and everything was perfectly organized. Highly recommended.”

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8.Lake Maggiore: Borromean Islands Tickets with Boat Transfer

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 136 reviews · from $75

From Stresa, a hop-on hop-off speedboat links you with Isola Bella, Isola Madre, and Isola dei Pescatori, depending on your ticket. Visit at your own pace, with Isola Bella entry included and access to other islands based on the option selected. Onboard commentary, mountain views, and a return boat ride are part of the day.

“très bien, l'heure n'est pas toujours respectée (10 à 15 minutes pas plus) mais comme c'est une belle promenade, il peut il y avoir des surcharges - surtout vers l'heure du repas. Cette remarque va à ceux qui auraient un horaire de transport comme le train ou autres.”

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9.Private Tour of Borromean Islands with Micaela Guide

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 74 reviews · 5 hours (approx.) Top rated

Spend about five hours exploring three Borromean Islands with licensed guide Micaela Lucini. Walk Isola dei Pescatori, visit Isola Bella’s Baroque palace and ten-level gardens, then stroll Isola Madre’s botanical garden. The tour is private for up to four people, but admission and private boat transfers cost extra.

“Michaela was an outstanding tour guide, also Alesondro our private boat captain!!! Best and very comprehensive experience!”

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10.3 Borromean Islands Private Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 68 reviews

This is a private boat service between Stresa and three Borromean Islands, not a narrated sightseeing cruise. Choose when to depart, spend time at Isola Bella’s palace, Isola Madre’s gardens and Isola dei Pescatori’s fishing village, then arrange your next boat transfer. Island and palace entrance fees are extra.

“Comfortable way to visit the islands. Is not a boat tour but a private taxi service between the islands! Appointments are kept punctually (the boat always arrived within 5-10 minutes after calling at the agreed place and that is very nice when it is 33 degrees).”

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11.2 Borromean Islands Hop-on Hop-off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 50 reviews · 1 day · from $14

From Stresa, take a modern boat to two Borromean Islands, choosing Isola Bella with Isola Madre or Isola dei Pescatori. Hop off to explore, then catch a later boat back. Commentary is available in English and Italian; island admissions and a €0.50-per-island local fee cost extra.

“Parfait! Équipe très professionnelle bilingue et chaleureuse. Je conseille vivement.”

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12.Lake Maggiore and Borromean Islands Sunset Cruise

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 32 reviews · from $23

Set out from Stresa for a one-hour sunset cruise through the Borromean Gulf, passing Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori before circling Isola Bella’s palace and gardens. A multilingual captain leads the trip. The boat has an indoor area with large windows and an open terrace, so you can take in the views in changing weather.

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13.Isola Bella Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 31 reviews · 1 day · from $9

Board a Lake Tours boat at Stresa’s yellow-and-blue pier for a ride to Isola Bella, the Borromean island known for its palace and formal gardens. Stay as long as you like, then return by boat. The $9 fare covers island transport, not palace or garden admission, and a €0.50 landing fee applies for each island.

“All the staff were very friendly and helpful. Good value and a great service”

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14.Isola Madre and Isola Bella Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 26 reviews · 1 day · from $15

From Stresa, take a one-day hop-on hop-off boat to Isola Madre and Isola Bella, with a possible stop at Isola dei Pescatori. Explore Madre’s botanical gardens and puppet collection, then see Bella’s palace and Italian-style gardens if you buy separate admission. The multilingual crew speaks Italian, English, French, and German. Boat times are flexible, not fixed.

“Departure was fine. The kiosk to the left of the NAVIGAZIONE ISOLE BORROMEE building will give you a dock colour to go to. Small speedy taxi boat to Madre. Be aware seeing this island costs 20 Euros pp. It was worth it and we had a lovely time. No swimming possible on Madre. Boat to next island was a short wait in the shade. It stops at Pescatori but we didn't have that in our itinerary. It looked good for swimming and had several restaurants. Bella was the most tourist friendly with many shops, restaurants, a pleasant shady stroll, easy family swimming. You can pay 23 euros pp for the…”

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15.Stresa to Isola Bella Hop-On Hop-Off Boat Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 24 reviews · from $9

Board a shared boat at Stresa’s ferry landing for the short crossing to Isola Bella. Explore the island at your own pace, with the Palace Museum and gardens available for an extra fee. Multilingual captains operate the service, but check which departures accept your ticket and how long you can stay before setting out.

“The service was good, but limited time on islands would use other ferry services which were more frequent and offered more options, it was not really hop on hop off as we had to get to all 3 islands in a set time as last pick up was 13:50 which meant we rushed.”

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