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Palazzo, terraced gardens and island idyll without ferry stress: procedure, history, prices and tips for your private Isola Bella tour.
Isola Bella is no ordinary destination. The baroque island in Lake Maggiore, just 400 metres off Stresa, combines an opulent palazzo, ten stacked terraced gardens and the quiet beauty of the lake into a total work of art that has attracted travellers from all over Europe for centuries. As part of the Borromean Islands – a group of five islands in Lake Maggiore – it is one of the most impressive places in all of Italy.
Most visitors reach the island by scheduled ferry from Stresa, crammed in between dozens of other day-trippers, driven by rigid timetables. But there is another way: with Striga Constanze you experience Isola Bella from the water, at your own pace, aboard a traditional gaff cutter with a personal skipper. No queues at the ferry landing, no time pressure, no group crush – just your private group, the quiet gliding across the lake and the freedom to shape the day as you wish.
The 2026 season is over, but reservations for 2027 are already possible – the season starts on 1 March 2027. Whether you're a couple looking for a romantic outing, a family with children planning a relaxed day trip or a small group of friends wanting to spend a special day on the water: here you'll find everything you need to know for your Isola Bella experience.
Isola Bella attracts countless tourists – the Terre Borromeo sites counted over a million visitors in 2023 alone, with Isola Bella accounting for around 53 percent of all admissions. These figures make it clear: anyone visiting the island in high season will meet crowds. And this is exactly where the problems begin that frustrate many travellers.
The typical pain points of a standard trip to Isola Bella:
Many offers are designed for quick "to-do list" stops: arrive, tick off, move on. This reduces an experience that really deserves wonder and slowing down to pure transport logic.
A private boat tour with Striga Constanze solves exactly these points: you set the schedule, travel with a fixed, small group and shape the day according to your wishes.
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Instead of submitting to the rhythm of the scheduled ferries, with Striga Constanze you experience Isola Bella as it should be: a special place that deserves time and attention. This is what makes the difference:
Procedure
Imagine: you're standing at the harbour of Laveno-Mombello in the morning, the sun reflecting on the water, and in front of you lies a sailing ship with red sails. No crowds, no ticket machine, just your skipper welcoming you on board. From here you head across the lake towards the Borromean Islands – and to Isola Bella.
The 2027 season starts on 1 March. The main season runs roughly from May to September, with spring and autumn being particularly appealing as quiet transitional periods – fewer visitors, softer light, blooming gardens.
Your booking starts with a no-obligation enquiry: via the contact form on the website, via WhatsApp (+39 333 3802 383) or by email to info@striga-constanze.com. Tell us your preferred date, time, number of people and preferred departure point. The standard is the home port of Laveno-Mombello, but departures from Brebbia, Feriolo, Cannero or Cannobio are also possible by arrangement.
Roughly describe your wishes – just Isola Bella, several islands, a swim stop, a romantic occasion, a family outing. Within about 24 hours you'll receive a personal proposal including the price: €490 for 3 hours, €690 for 4 hours or €990 for the whole day.
On the day of the tour you meet at the agreed harbour. After a short boarding briefing by the skipper, the Striga Constanze casts off. The crossing heads towards Stresa and the Borromean Gulf – along the way you pass photo motifs such as the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso, the shore of Verbania and Pallanza with its villas, and the mountain backdrop framing the lake. Isola Bella is surrounded by the panorama of the Alps, and this sight unfolds particularly impressively from the water.
Depending on the wind, we sail or travel with the quiet inboard diesel – no obligation to sail, safety and comfort come first. Then Isola Bella appears: the baroque Palazzo Borromeo rises from the water like a stone ship's bow, the terraced gardens climb 37 metres high. The island has the shape of a ship – a sight that only truly reveals itself from the water and is one of the strongest images Lake Maggiore has to offer.
Plan at least 1.5 to 2 hours for your stay on the island – easily doable on the 3- or 4-hour tour, with considerably more leeway on the 7-hour option. Start with the Palazzo Borromeo: visitors can tour the historic halls of the Palazzo Borromeo, including the ballroom, the Berthier Gallery with works from various European schools and the impressive grotto rooms in the basement – cool retreats with natural stone and shell decorations that are especially welcome in summer.
Admission to Isola Bella costs 26 euros per person and can be purchased directly at the ticket office or in advance online via the official Borromeo website. Discounts for children and young people are available.
Then the path leads into the terraced gardens – the baroque total work of art above Lake Maggiore. Ten stacked terraces, geometric flower beds, balustrades, statues, orangeries and exotic plants such as camellias, citrus plants and magnolias await you. The gardens are famous for their white peacocks, which stroll freely between the terraces. From the viewing platforms, sightlines open onto the lake, Stresa and the surrounding mountains.
On longer tours a detour to Isola dei Pescatori is a good idea – the small fishermen's island with its narrow alleys and restaurants – or a swim stop in a quiet bay on the way back. Back on board, on the 4- and 7-hour tours an aperitivo on deck awaits you while the golden evening light bathes the lake in warm colours.
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
Anyone wanting to visit Isola Bella has various options. Most visitors use scheduled boats from Stresa or Baveno – functional but impersonal. Striga Constanze takes a fundamentally different approach:
The atmosphere of a traditional gaff cutter with red gaff sails has nothing in common with access by metal ferry. The boat itself is part of the experience, not just a means of transport.
You decide when to cast off, how long to stay on the island and when to take breaks. The tour adapts to your interests – whether photography, history, romance or family.
You have the option of experiencing just Isola Bella intensively or combining it with Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, Santa Caterina del Sasso or the Castelli di Cannero. The choice is yours.
Swimming in a quiet bay, an aperitivo on board, silent moments on the water. On other Striga Constanze tours, meditation or an exit game can also be booked as additional experiences.
Isola Bella was not always the baroque showpiece island it is known as today. Originally a rocky islet with a small fishing village, it was transformed over centuries by the Borromeo family into an architectural total work of art. Isola Bella has a total area of 18 hectares and, together with the other Borromean Islands – which cover a total area of 18 hectares – is one of the most visited sights on Lake Maggiore.
Isola Bella has belonged to the Borromeo family since the Middle Ages. The noble Borromeo family had a decisive influence on the development of the island and made it one of the most important places of baroque representation in all of Italy. Giulio Cesare Borromeo acquired land on the island in the 16th century, laying the foundation for its later development.
Carlo III Borromeo had the island systematically built over from 1632. Construction of the palace was begun in honour of Isabella d'Adda – his wife. The island's original name was Isola Isabella, which over time was shortened to "Isola Bella". In the 17th and 18th centuries the baroque building programme was created that made the island a stage for princes, artists and diplomats. Napoleon Bonaparte visited Isola Bella in 1797. To this day the island is owned by the Borromeo family, who operate the palazzo and garden as attractions.
The Palazzo Borromeo was built in the 17th century and rises at the northern tip of the island. The main façade follows the shoreline and is reminiscent of a ship's bow – fitting the overall shape of the island. More than 20 rooms and halls await guests: representative rooms with frescoes and stucco across several floors, the Berthier Gallery in the palazzo showing works from various schools, the Sala di Napoleone and the chapel with family monuments.
The grotto rooms in the basement are particularly impressive – rooms clad in natural stone and shells that offer cool retreats even on hot summer days. Our tip: focus on a few favourite rooms instead of rushing through all the halls. A private boat tour allows exactly this calm.
The terraced gardens of Isola Bella are a masterpiece of Italian-style garden design. The gardens consist of ten stacked terraces with a height difference of around 37 metres. The Italian garden was ceremonially inaugurated in 1671 – the gardens of Isola Bella were inaugurated in 1671 and have since been regarded as a reference work of the baroque garden in the Italian style.
The gardens contain numerous exotic plants and citrus trees – camellias, magnolias and orangeries alternate with geometric beds, balustrades and statues. Typical motifs: white peacocks, sightlines onto the lake and photogenic perspectives towards Stresa and the surrounding mountains. The best light for pictures is in the morning or later afternoon – ideal for romance and honeymoon tours with the Striga Constanze.
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Striga Constanze tours are not mass offers. They are aimed at travellers who value atmosphere, time and personal access. The island is a popular destination for island hopping on Lake Maggiore – and with a private tour it becomes an individual highlight.
All Striga Constanze tours are charged at a fixed price for the entire private group – including skipper, regardless of the number of people (up to 8 guests, up to 12 on request). No per-head price, no hidden surcharges.
Ideal for guests with limited time. Focus on the crossing, the island panorama from the water and a concentrated visit to the palazzo and gardens. A good choice for a first impression.
The most popular option. A more relaxed visit to the island, more leeway for photo stops, a short break on deck or an aperitivo on board on the way back.
An extended stay on Isola Bella plus further stops as you wish – Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Madre, swimming bays or a restaurant visit ashore. The whole day is yours.
Admission to the Palazzo Borromeo and gardens (approx. €26 per person) is not included in the tour price and is paid separately on site or online. Special themes such as a wedding on board, meditation or the exit game have their own price structures – just ask.
No-obligation enquiry, reply within 24 hours. Weekends in the 2027 season go fast.
Here you'll find answers to the most important questions about your trip to Isola Bella with the Striga Constanze.
Plan at least 1.5 to 2 hours just for visiting the palace and gardens. As a comfortable minimum for the whole tour – including crossing, island visit and return – we recommend 3 to 4 hours. On the 7-hour tour there is considerably more time for a relaxed stay on the island plus additional stops. Isola Bella rises 37 metres – the stairs between the terraces take time, but it's always worth it.
Season 2027
Isola Bella deserves more than a rushed stop between two ferry rides. Experience the baroque showpiece island without ferry stress, at your own rhythm, aboard a traditional gaff cutter with a personal skipper – an experience that stays with you.
The next steps are simple: think about your preferred date for the 2027 season, choose roughly between 3, 4 or 7 hours of tour duration and send your enquiry via the contact form or WhatsApp. We usually get back to you within 24 hours with a personal proposal.
Availability in high season is limited – especially for weddings, honeymoon tours and larger groups we recommend enquiring early. Your private Isola Bella tour is waiting.
Skipper of the Striga Constanze
Ciao! Questions about the route, departure harbour or date? Just message me – I reply personally.
