8 hour(s)
English
Included
€ 1500
€ 1380.00
Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
Lowest Price Guarantee — no other provider offers this tour for less
Embark on a luxurious day trip across Lake Maggiore, where breathtaking scenery, history, and charm come together. Your private adventure begins with hotel pickup and leads to the elegant town of Stresa, where the Alps meet the sparkling lake. Stroll along the lakeside promenade before boarding an exclusive boat to explore the enchanting Borromean Islands.
Discover Isola Bella’s opulent art and gardens, step ashore on Isola dei Pescatori to experience the timeless charm of a classic fishing village, and admire the serene beauty of Isola Madre. Continue to the Santa Caterina Monastery, perched on a cliffside, and take in panoramic views. Whether you choose a self-guided tour or a leisurely break, the day offers endless beauty. Conclude your journey in Arona, a town rich in historical charm, before returning with unforgettable memories of Lombardy and Piedmont.
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DO NOT BOOK the ferry service from here. They drop you off at the other islands, but you need to wait 2 hours for a ride back to the main island. The drivers are also incredibly rude.
We booked online and found the rates to be reasonable. The pickup location at the Piazza in Stresa was very chaotic. A number of large tours jumped the line and many other operators had come and gone whilst we waited. Once we were onboard the staff were very kind and the hop on hop off process on the islands was very easy. The boats were comfortable. Note that if you want to tour the island villas you will need to pay additional entry fees unless you book the all inclusive tours. Views from lake Maggiore are awesome
Do your research BEFORE taking the 3 island trip, we didn’t! There are salespeople around telling you the main large boat is €80 (that may be for 2 people, wasn’t clear) for the 3 island trip, when you can pay them €15 per person. All is fine with the trip itself and the boats are on time and we’ll organised. What you need to be aware of is that Isola Bella and Isola Madre have gardens and buildings which you have to pay to enter. Prices are €23 and €20 respectively per person. This makes the trip €58 per person if you want to see the gardens. These take up most of the islands though on Bella you can access at least some restaurants, bars and shops whereas on Madre you have the option of one single restaurant and absolutely nowhere else to go if you don’t pay. There are also locked gates to keep you out. Felt the whole thing was a waste and total cash cow. It’s like buying a flight then finding out the additional costs like luggage, seat etc later on
Watch out! Aggressive sellers of non-official boat trips. They will approach you already from the parking lot asking if you want to visit the islands. When you see a post with BIGLIETTERIA , don’t think it’s the official place! Many sellers on commission fight each other for potential customers. They want to finalize a deal fast and continue with another one (more commissions). When my wife called me and told me about she was at the official place that is a few meters on the right, I left and one of them started mumbling words and saying “please don’t come back”. Don’t do business with these rude people.
Just go. Amazing mansion, beautiful Gardens and views. The grotto would make even Hugh jealous. 15 euros for the palace visit. 12 for the 2 Islands boat ride. Look online for cheaper if you know the day. Boats every 30 minutes or so. Bring what you need for drinks as prices on island will set you back.
