Borromean Islands: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori from Stresa (2026)

The Borromean Islands are three small islands in Lake Maggiore, a short boat ride from the town of Stresa. Isola Bella has a Baroque palace and garden, and Isola Madre has a botanical garden. By contrast, Isola dei Pescatori is a fishing village with no ticket at all. This guide shows how to link them in one day, which boat to take and what the fall season changes.

Last updated: September 26, 2026

Borromean Islands at a glance

The islands belong to the Borromeo family, who still own Isola Bella and Isola Madre. In fact, the Borromean Islands take their name from that family. Then, for a wider comparison of the northern lakes, see our guide to the lakes in Italy. Also, if you would rather book a guided day, start with our comparison of two Lake Maggiore tours.

Isola Bella: the palace and the Baroque garden

Isola Bella is the island most people picture. Above all, it is about spectacle. In the 17th century, the Borromeo family turned a rocky islet into a palace and garden. Today, one ticket covers both Palazzo Borromeo and the Italian Baroque garden. That is according to the official Isola Bella page (checked September 2026).

What to see inside Palazzo Borromeo

• The state rooms. For example, look for the grand staircase, the ballroom and the rooms hung with Flemish tapestries.
• The grottoes. Meanwhile, the lower floor has cool rooms covered in shells, pebbles and stucco, built to feel like caves by the water.
• The garden terraces. Then, outside, terraces rise above the lake to a theater of statues and a unicorn, the family emblem. White peacocks also roam the lawns.

Allow two to three hours, because the route through the palace leads straight into the garden. Also, the terraces have many steps, so wear comfortable shoes. Similarly, for other historic gardens in Italy, read our guide to Italy’s garden gems.

Isola Madre: the botanical garden island

Isola Madre is the largest of the Borromean Islands and also the quietest. In fact, most of it is a botanical garden with exotic trees, camellias, azaleas and free-roaming birds. In addition, the island has a smaller palace, which the same ticket covers. According to the official Isola Madre page (checked September 2026), a full-price adult ticket costs about €23. By comparison, the Isola Bella page lists about €27 for its basic ticket.

So choose Isola Madre if you love plants or want space after the crowds on Isola Bella. For example, in spring the camellias and azaleas are at their peak. In fall, by contrast, the garden is calmer and the light on the lake is softer.

Isola dei Pescatori: the fishing village

Isola dei Pescatori, also called Isola Superiore, is the one of the three that is mainly a village. As a result, it has no palace, no garden and no ticket. Instead, you walk a loop of narrow lanes, past fishing boats, a church and restaurants that serve lake fish.

This makes it the natural lunch stop on a day around the Borromean Islands. However, the restaurants fill fast in summer, so book a table or eat early. Then, after lunch, walk to the tip of the island for a view back to Stresa and the mountains.

Boats from Stresa to the Borromean Islands

Stresa is the main gateway, although boats also leave from Baveno, Pallanza and Arona. In practice, you have two options: the public boats of Navigazione Laghi or the private boats that wait along the Stresa lakefront.

Public boats: Navigazione Laghi

First, Navigazione Laghi is the government-run operator on Lake Maggiore. Its Borromean Islands tour from Stresa is a free-ride day ticket for the three islands. The return trip to Stresa is also included. The page lists about €19.50 for adults and says the offer runs until October 4, 2026 (checked September 2026). However, the ticket does not include entry to the palaces and gardens.

Also check the timetable before you go. The Lake Maggiore timetable page shows a summer timetable from March 29 to October 4, 2026 (checked September 2026). After that date, therefore, check the timetable in force and plan your last boat back first.

Private boats at the Stresa lakefront

Next, private operators sell hop-on, hop-off rides and water taxis from the Stresa piers. They are flexible, because you set the order of the islands. However, prices vary, so agree on the islands, the return time and the total before you board.

Borromean Islands tickets and the 2026 season

Overall, both official pages list the same season and the same last-entry times (checked September 2026). On Isola Bella, for example, the palace closes half an hour after last entry and the garden an hour after. As a result, arrive early in late October, when the day is short.

Getting to Stresa from Milan by train

Stresa sits on the railway from Milan to Domodossola, so you do not need a car. EuroCity trains from Milano Centrale stop at Stresa. That is according to the Lake Maggiore tourist district (checked September 2026). Regional trains also run from Milano Porta Garibaldi or Milano Centrale and stop at more lakeside towns.

From Stresa station, then, walk down to the lakefront and the piers. For ticket types and how to buy them, see our guide to trains in Italy. Finally, for other easy trips from the city, compare our list of day trips from Milan.

When to visit the Borromean Islands

• Spring (April to May). Camellias and azaleas bloom on Isola Madre, while the boats are not yet full.
• Summer (June to August). The longest hours and the most boats, but also the biggest crowds. So go on a weekday and take an early boat.
• Fall (September to early November). Softer light, fewer groups and full access until November 8. However, the day ticket ends on October 4, and last entry moves to 4:00 p.m. from October 25.
• Winter. The palaces and gardens close, so the islands are only worth it for the village and the view.

For more on the season, read our guides to Italy in fall and Italy in October.

A one-day Borromean Islands plan

1. Morning: take an early train from Milan and the first boat from Stresa to Isola Bella. Visit the palace, then the garden, before the crowds build.
2. Lunch: hop to Isola dei Pescatori, eat by the water and walk the village.
3. Afternoon: continue to Isola Madre for the botanical garden.
4. Evening: return to Stresa and catch a train back to Milan.

In short, the order matters because Isola Bella gets busiest from late morning. If you only have half a day, however, choose Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori. For a longer trip through the region, see our northern Italy itinerary.

Borromean Islands tours and other lake experiences

Instead of planning it yourself, you can let a guided day handle the train, the boats and the timing. These are the lake experience pages on our site, each with prices and ratings read on Viator:

• Lake Maggiore tour comparison: two Lake Maggiore tours compared side by side.
• Lake Como day trip from Milan: also the classic alternative lake from the city.
• Lake Como boat tour: a cruise past the villas of Lake Como.
• Lake Garda day trip to Sirmione: a castle town on the largest lake.
• Bergamo tour comparison: two Bergamo tours compared, for a day without boats.

If you are torn between the lakes, compare our guides to Lake Como tours and Lake Garda tours. Alternatively, you can browse every option in the experience finder.

Combining two lakes? Our Lake Como itinerary includes a day on Lake Maggiore in its four-day version.

To add Lake Orta to your stay, our Lake Orta tour page compares a private guided walk in Orta San Giulio with a private driver from Stresa, Baveno or Verbania.

Borromean Islands: frequently asked questions

Can you visit all three Borromean Islands in one day?

Yes. Start with Isola Bella in the morning, have lunch on Isola dei Pescatori and finish on Isola Madre. A public day ticket, offered until October 4 in 2026, or a private boat from Stresa makes the hops easy.

How much are tickets to Isola Bella?

The official page listed about €27 for a full-price adult ticket in September 2026. It covers the palace and the Baroque garden, while Isola Madre was about €23.

When do the Borromean Islands close for the season?

In 2026 Isola Bella and Isola Madre are open from March 12 to November 8. From October 25, last entry is at 4:00 p.m.

How do you get from Milan to the Borromean Islands?

Take a train from Milano Centrale or Milano Porta Garibaldi to Stresa, then walk to the lakefront. From there, public and private boats reach the islands in minutes.

Is Isola dei Pescatori free to visit?

Yes. The village has no entry ticket, so you only pay for the boat. It is the usual lunch stop between the two garden islands.