The three Borromean Islands with a private tour guide | 6 hours to 8 hours

12 Reviews | Lake Maggiore
From $413.38 per group Lowest Price Guarantee
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The three Borromean Islands with a private tour guide
2 Adults x $409.47
$818.94
Approx Total
$818.94
Pickup included

Inclusions / Exclusions

  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English, Italian
  • Local guide
  • Private tour
  • Boat: 16,50 euro per person shared boat
  • Entrance fees: Isola Bella and isola Madre ticket: 36 euro per person
  • If you are more than 5 people, radio guides are mandatory, the price is 3 euro per person
  • Private boat for less than 10 people costs 250 euro, for more people you have to ask the price.

Overview

Discovering the three Borromean Islands: isola Bella, Fishermen's Island and isola Madre with a tour guide. Admiring the scenery of the lake and the beautiful gardens. Wandering around the narrow streets of the Fisherman's Island.

Pickup points

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Pickup details

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Meeting points

Piazzale Lido Stresa in front the cable car

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

Itinerary

  • Stresa

    we will meet in Piazzale Lido Stresa at 9.30

    10 minutes

  • Isola Bella

    During the day we will visit the Baroque palace on Isola Bella and the luxuriant Italian-style garden, which reaches a height of 37 metres and is laid out on ten terraces.

    2 hours

  • Island of the Fishermen (Isola dei Pescatori)

    Then we will visit the Isola Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island), or Upper Island because of its more northerly situation than the other islands in the Gulf, is the most picturesque of the Borromean Islands, as well as the only one to be permanently inhabited. Distinctive features of its ancient little village are narrow lanes with characteristic two-storey houses, with long balconies traditionally used for drying fish; the island’s inhabitants earn their living mainly by fishing and tourism. I can suggest you a nice place for lunch to taste the lake fish.

    2 hours

  • Giardini Botanici dell'Isola Madre

    Finally we will visit the Isola Madre: it is the largest and perhaps most characteristic of the three islands in the Borromean Gulf. Its palace was built in the 16th century and the garden is a paradise with tropical flowers, where peacocks and pheasants wander in freedom.

    2 hours

Sample Menu

Additional Info

  • Service animals allowed
  • Public transportation options are available nearby
  • Suitable for all physical fitness levels
  • Tour Exclusions:
  • Isola Bella and isola Madre ticket: 36 euro per person
  • Public boat 16,50 euro
  • If you are more than 5 people, radio guides are mandatory, the price is 3 euro per person

Free Cancellation

July 27100% refund
July 28No refund

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

  • For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
  • If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
  • Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
  • Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
  • This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews

4.9

12 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews
  • 5 stars
    11
  • 4 stars
    1
  • 3 stars
    0
  • 2 stars
    0
  • 1 star
    0

Reviews by TravelOne travelers

Showing 1-5 of 11 reviews with 5 stars

Fun and informative

Published on Aug, 2024

Julia was excellent. Very informative and helpful with recommendations. I recommend the private boat over the public. It was nice being able to go between the islands when we wanted rather than waiting with masses of people trying to crowd onto overcrowded boats.

Worth it after a hike!

Published on Jul, 2024

We had a great time on this two hour tour of Cinque Terre. Sara was an excellent captain and host and told us the history of the area. She brought us to a cave and we snorkeled with fish. This was a great activity to see where we hiked the day before. We felt welcomed, safe and informed. Great fun!

Great day with a pleasant and knowledgeable local tour guide

Published on Nov, 2023

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour of the Borromean Islands. Our local tour guide, Giulia Ferrari, was extremely knowledgeable about both the history of the islands and the plants in the gardens of both Isola Madre and Isola Bella. Though we didn’t have a reservation at the restaurant we chose for lunch at Isola dei Pescatori, she spoke up on our behalf and got us a table right over the lake. It was a very pleasant day and I don’t think we would have enjoyed it as much if we had just ventured to the islands on our own.

An Excellent Experience!

Published on Oct, 2023

My husband and I took a tour today with Giulia. We highly recommend her!! She was prompt, professional, able to communicate easily in English, pleasant to be with and very knowledgable and able to answer our questions.

Superb day out!

Published on Sep, 2023

The visit was fantastic as we also bought tickets for the Palaces and a gardens. The boat trips were fun and the skippers gave guidance in Italian and English. Although I would not class this as a private tour guide it was sufficient for us. It was a shame that the agents at the ticket office were not interested in helping us and kept pointing us to their colleagues. They were only interested in new sales, not pre booked tickets. This should be resolved with the ticket office.

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