Your own pace instead of the public ferry: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori exclusively for your group.
Borromean Islands
The Borromean Islands lie in Lake Maggiore between Stresa and Verbania and are among the most visited destinations in northern Italy. The three main islands Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori combine baroque palace architecture, botanical gardens and a lively fishing village in a very small space. In 2024 Isola Bella alone counted around 517,000 visitors.
The problem: anyone crossing by public ferry from Stresa shares deck and landing stage with hundreds of other day-trippers. The timetables set the pace; there is no time for a second look at the terraced gardens or a spontaneous swim stop. On weekends and in high summer, groups queue in front of the palaces before being pushed onto the next ferry.
The same islands can be experienced differently. The new season starts on 1 March 2027, and reservations are already possible. On board the Striga Constanze, a traditional gaff cutter with home port Laveno-Mombello, the tour belongs exclusively to one group: your own pace, your own route through the Borromean Gulf, up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request. Instead of loudspeaker announcements you hear wind in red gaff sails and water against the wooden hull.
The Borromean Gulf stretches between Stresa, Baveno and Pallanza. In this part of Lake Maggiore lie three main islands and several smaller islets that have been part of Italian history for over 700 years. The islands are named after the noble Borromeo family, who have owned and shaped them since the 16th century.
The Borromean Islands comprise the main islands Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori:
Beyond the three main islands, further destinations belong to the Borromean archipelago:
Matching tours
Bestseller€490
Private tour
Proposal€490
Private tour
Beginners€490
+ €20 p. p.Private tourFerries to the islands run from Stresa and Pallanza every 30 minutes. A two-island ticket costs around €11 per adult, children aged 4–11 pay €5.50. On top come landing fees of €0.50 per island and person. What sounds cheap is paid for with fixed departure times, full decks and set routes.
A private tour on the gaff cutter reverses this ratio: the price rises, the quality of the experience rises more.
On board are only your own group and the skipper. The fixed price applies to up to 8 guests; up to 12 are possible on request. No loudspeaker announcements, no strange tour groups.
You decide whether to spend 90 minutes in the Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella or stay 20 minutes longer in the gardens of Isola Madre. No fixed timetables, no rushing to the next landing stage.
The skipper knows the history of the Borromeo family, the building of the palaces and the little stories that appear in no audio guide. The first mention of the Borromean Islands as subject territories dates back to the 14th century; details like this make the difference.
Combine the islands with quiet bays, a swim stop or aperitivo on the water. If you wish, continue to the Castelli di Cannero or the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso.
Sailing on a traditional gaff cutter with 55.7 m² of red sail area instead of a motor shuttle. Wood underfoot, the sound of wind and water instead of diesel hum. More about the boat.
Couples plan a marriage proposal against the backdrop of Isola Bella. Families with children enjoy a swim stop and a pirate story. Groups of friends combine swimming, aperitivo and fish dinner on the fishermen's island.
In 3 steps
Every tour is a private tour. The process is clearly structured but flexibly adaptable at every point.
Enquiries go through the contact form or by WhatsApp to +39 333 3802 383. You usually receive a reply within 24 hours. The 2026 season has ended; reservations for 2027 are already possible, season start is 1 March 2027.
Three durations are available, each tailored to the Borromean Islands:
Departure is primarily Laveno-Mombello. Other departure points such as Feriolo, Cannero or Cannobio are possible by arrangement.
Guests are welcomed at the landing stage, receive a short safety briefing and go aboard. Then the Striga Constanze casts off.
The trip crosses the middle of the lake with views of both shores: the Lombard landscape to the east, the Piedmontese to the west. Depending on wind conditions, you sail under gaff sails or with the quiet inboard diesel. The cruising speed is around 6 knots; enough pace to make progress, slow enough to enjoy the view. At some point the silhouette of Isola Bella emerges from the haze, the mountains behind it, the promenade of Stresa in front.
The order of the landing points is agreed together. A proven sequence: first Isola Madre (less crowded in the morning), then Isola Bella, finally Isola dei Pescatori for coffee or a fish meal.
While you explore the palaces and gardens on your own, the boat stays nearby. Time windows are agreed beforehand; this keeps the flexibility to extend or shorten spontaneously. Tickets for the Borromean Islands can be bought online, which avoids waiting at the ticket offices.
Optional elements make every trip unique: a swim stop in a quiet bay, aperitivo on board with a view of the palaces, photo stops with the islands as backdrops. The return trip often leads through golden evening light back to the home port or an agreed return point.
Public ferries transport. A private trip on the gaff cutter stages an experience. The differences are concrete:
Traditional gaff cutter, red sails, just your group. 3, 4 or 7 hours.
from €490
for up to 8 guests at a fixed price, up to 12 on request
Most viewed
Bestseller€490
Private tourBestseller€490
Private tour
For kids 4–10€490
Private tourEach island deserves its own attention. The following sections give concrete guidance on length of stay, highlights and practical matters.
Isola Bella was transformed in the 17th century into a stately garden with a palace. The Borromean Islands are historically significant for their connection between noble architecture and nature, and nowhere is this more tangible than here. The island measures around 320 × 400 metres; its entire surface is art, park and palazzo.
The Palazzo Borromeo on Isola Bella contains illustrated rooms and historic collections, including paintings, tapestries and grotto rooms with shell and pebble decoration. The terraced gardens rise over ten levels, crowned by statues and obelisks. White peacocks stroll among exotic plants.
Recommended length of stay: 1.5 to 2 hours if you want to see the palace and gardens at leisure.
Practical notes:
Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromean Islands and at the same time the quietest. The Borromeo family acquired it in 1501; the English-style botanical garden was created in the late 18th century. Here it is less about baroque splendour than about botanical diversity and quiet beauty.
Camellias, azaleas, rhododendrons and centuries-old trees form a habitat for free-roaming peacocks, pheasants and other birds. The historic residence shows furnishings and art from different eras. A walk through the seven terraces feels like a stroll through a green salon in which every season serves its own menu of colours.
Recommended length of stay: 1.5 to 2 hours for park and house.
Tips:
Isola dei Pescatori is the only permanently inhabited island of the Borromean Islands. Around 50 residents live here all year. There is no palace, no museum, no admission tickets. Instead: narrow lanes, houses with balconies once used for drying fish, a small church in the village centre and a promenade with views of Isola Bella and Stresa.
The restaurants on the fishermen's island serve simple, fish-heavy cuisine. Small shops offer local crafts and souvenirs. The atmosphere is the counter-programme to the baroque staging of the neighbouring islands: authentic, lively, unpretentious.
Recommended length of stay: About an hour for a stroll, longer with a restaurant visit.
Tips:
Getting there
Lake Maggiore lies in the Italian-Swiss border region, easily reached from Milan (approx. 80 km), Zurich (approx. 250 km) and Lugano (approx. 80 km).
Public transport: Trains and buses run to Stresa, Verbania-Pallanza and Laveno-Mombello. From there Navigazione Lago Maggiore ferries cross to the islands. Single ferry tickets between ports cost €2.50 to €34.50 depending on distance. Ferries to the islands run from Stresa and Pallanza every 30 minutes in the main season.
Private tour with Striga Constanze: Departure from Laveno-Mombello or, by arrangement, from other places (Brebbia, Feriolo, Cannero, Cannobio). Advantage: parking right at the home port, relaxed boarding without queuing at ticket counters in Stresa. The crossing into the Borromean Gulf becomes part of the experience itself.
Seasonal notes: The island palaces and gardens usually open in early March and close in early November. The fishermen's island is inhabited and accessible all year. For the shoulder seasons (spring and autumn) early planning pays off: fewer crowds, more pleasant temperatures, special light.
Other providers
Striga Constanze
Mass experience
just your group
Engine noise
sound of wind and water
To-do-list holiday
holiday at your own pace
Not every day trip suits every group. The following segments book most often:
Marriage proposal at sunset against the backdrop of Isola Bella, a honeymoon highlight on the lake or an intimate wedding celebration on board (from €690). Romance without an audience.
Family island round trip with a pirate story on the boat, swim stop and short stages. The boat is manageable in size, the schedule flexible; no stress when the children need a break.
A relaxed day with swimming, aperitivo on board and a visit to the fishermen's island, without a rigid programme. Up to 8 guests at a fixed price (up to 12 on request) keep the cost per person manageable.
Team building with the exit game "The Treasure of the Mazzarditi" along castle ruins and islands. Sightseeing meets puzzle fun; at the end the group opens the treasure chest together.
Quiet stretches on the lake, the gaze wandering over gardens and mountains. Bookable meditation options with guidance and tea ceremony (+€20 per person).
All prices are fixed prices per boat and group, skipper included. Admission tickets for palaces and gardens as well as catering are not included.
€490 fixed price for the whole private group (up to 8 guests, up to 12 on request).
A panoramic trip into the Borromean Gulf with a stop on one island, e.g. Isola Bella or Isola dei Pescatori. Suitable for guests with a tight schedule, cruise passengers with a shore visit or as a supplement to another holiday programme.
€690 fixed price for the whole private group (up to 8 guests, up to 12 on request).
Two island stops (e.g. Isola Bella + Isola dei Pescatori) and a short swim stop in a sheltered bay. Plus an aperitivo break on board with a view of palaces and mountains. This length is enough for most guests to experience islands and lake at leisure without planning the whole day.
€990 fixed price for the whole private group (up to 8 guests, up to 12 on request).
All three islands, longer swim stops, time for lunch ashore (e.g. on Isola dei Pescatori or in Stresa). On request, integration of further highlights: Santa Caterina del Sasso, Castelli di Cannero or quiet bays away from the shipping routes.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
For one island plus the trip, 3 hours are enough. If you want to visit two islands and include a swim stop, 4 hours serve you well. All three islands with a restaurant visit and swimming breaks need a whole day (7 hours). Families benefit from the 4-hour tour with breaks; photography fans and nature lovers choose the 7-hour option.
Next step
517,000 visitors a year on Isola Bella all see the same programme. On the Striga Constanze, 8 guests see their own.
Small group, fixed prices from €490, flexible tour length of 3 to 7 hours, a traditional gaff cutter with 55.7 m² of red sail area and a skipper who knows the lake. Plus free rebooking in bad weather and individual wishes that no public ferry can fulfil.
The 2027 season starts on 1 March. Reserve your preferred date now, especially for holiday periods and weekends.
Contact:
Enquire without obligation. Reply within 24 hours.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
