Lake Maggiore Private Vintage Boat Tour Borromean Islands

Duration1h

Free cancellationFull refund up to 24 hours before

Instant confirmationYour booking is confirmed right away

TicketMobile or paper ticket accepted

LanguagesEnglish, Italian

Private tourOnly your group will participate

Overview

A whole 1987 Italian vintage cruiser to yourselves: ten metres of classic lines, teak decks and white leather in the cockpit, refitted to run quiet. No shared departures, no crowds — just your group (up to 8) and a local skipper who knows where the light falls at six, which bay is out of the wind, and which island stories are true. Leave from whichever pier suits you — Stresa, Baveno, Pallanza, Feriolo or Laveno — at the hour you choose: no fixed timetable. From the baroque terraces of Isola Bella to the clifftop hermitage of Santa Caterina, the medieval Cannero castles and the quiet villa shores of the Verbano, this is Lake Maggiore the way it’s meant to be seen — from the water, glass in hand. Wine (18+), chilled water and soft drinks on board, towels ready for a swim.

What's included

Bottled water
Soft Drinks
Fuel surcharge
Prosecco (adults only / 18+)

Full meals (no galley on board; snacks welcome)
Hotel pick-up and drop-off
Pets (not allowed on board)
(1H) Island landings not included
(FD) Lunch, island landing fees and garden tickets not included

What to expect

Stresa
5m

We’ll board the boat and set off across the Borromean Gulf, enjoying views of the mountains and the elegant villas along the shore.
Isola Bella
10m

We’ll sail slowly around the jewel of the Borromeo family, admiring from the water the Baroque Borromeo Palace and its famous Italian gardens, with ten terraces rising like a pyramid towards the Borromeo Unicorn. With a bit of luck you’ll spot the white peacocks among the statues.
Isola dei Pescatori
10m · Admission ticket not included

We’ll continue past the Fishermen’s Island, the only one still inhabited all year round, with its narrow lanes, lakeside houses, the bell tower of the 11th-century Church of San Vittore and the fishing boats moored along the shore.
Isola Madre
10m

We’ll then cruise around the largest and most peaceful of the islands, famous for its English-style botanical garden, where azaleas, camellias, rhododendrons and the monumental Kashmir cypress rise above the water, framing the Borromeo Palace.
5m

On our way we’ll pass this tiny island, once the residence of the conductor Arturo Toscanini, still privately owned and not open to visitors.
Giardini Botanici Di Villa Taranto
5m · Admission ticket not included

Along the way we’ll enjoy views of the Pallanza lakefront and the famous Villa Taranto gardens, as well as the Rocca di Angera on the opposite shore.
Stresa
5m

We’ll head back across the gulf, with one last look at the three islands and the mountains surrounding Lake Maggiore.

Meeting and pickup

Meeting point

Driving or walking from Stresa to the public dock, keep the Eni Live gas station on your right. Just after it, turn right onto Via Sant’Arialdo and go straight about 100 m to the pier. Closest parking: Piazzale Lido, Stresa, next to Bar L’Idrovolante.

End point

Driving or walking from Stresa to the public dock, keep the Eni Live gas station on your right. Just after it, turn right onto Via Sant’Arialdo and go straight about 100 m to the pier. Closest parking: Piazzale Lido, Stresa, next to Bar L’Idrovolante.

Additional information

Public transportation options are available nearby
Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.