Lake Maggiore Tours, Tickets, & Excursions

Learn to prepare several classic Italian dishes at a private home in Ticino Natural Park, located 36 miles (60km) from central Milan. Help to make a 3-course lunch with menu options that are tailored to the tastes of the participants. Have lunch accompanied by wine, dining at a table in the forest (weather permitting), and look for local wildlife such as fox, hare, and bird life.

Book ahead to see the three Borromean Islands by boat, and save yourself the hassle of working out boat cruise tickets at the lakeside. A hop-on hop-off ferry cruise, the experience starts from Stresa and stops at Isola dei Pescatori, Isola Bella, and Isola Madre: Lake Maggiore’s famous trio of islands. Ferries depart every 30 minutes through the day, leaving you with ample time to explore each island at leisure.

The Madre Island hosts one of the oldest botanical gardens in Italy. On the Isola Bella you can visit the sumptuous palace, home of the Borromeo family, which preserves priceless works of art. The Pescatori island, on the other hand, is the only one of the Borromean islands to be inhabited throughout the year, and houses a small village characterized by a small square surrounded by narrow and winding alleys.

Island-hop at Lake Maggiore, and discover the tiny Borromean Islands with a hop-on hop-off ferry ticket. Use the 1-day pass to venture out from Stresa, and spend your day sightseeing as you wish. Step onto the shores of Isola Bella, home to the Borromeo family ‘palazzo’; wander amid the houses of pocket-sized Isola dei Pescatori; and admire the greenery of Isola Madre where botanical gardens beckon.

Hike from Italy to Switzerland on a trail to the Staldhorn Peak. After leaving Arona, you’ll travel by car to the Simplon Pass, then hike for up to two hours along a steep, yet easy, route to the summit’s cross. Take in the sweeping mountain vistas that stretch over the Swiss Alto Vallese, and then return to your waiting transport. 

Alpine villages surrounded by mountain chalets and snow-capped peaks greet you on arrival in Arona, situated in the Italian Alps. This full-day tour includes a 2-hour guided trek in the valley of Monte Rosa, Italy's second-highest mountain. Your driver makes requested photo stops along the route and lets you purchase local products for lunch. It’s an ideal day out for physically fit nature lovers.

Built on the track of an ancient Roman way, connecting Oscella (Domodossola) and Leocarnum (Locarno), the Vigezzina railroad was inaugurated in 1923, becoming a strategic connection for several small villages in the valleys close to lake Maggiore. Still today, even after severe damages caused by a flood in 1978, the railroad has a strong commercial and touristic function, connecting Sempione and Gottardo districts. This exclusive guided tour will allow you to enjoy a panoramic ride on this small and fascinating train, travelling from Italy to Switzerland across hidden and enchanting valleys. Thanks to a stop, you will have the chance to discover nice villages, such as Santa Maria Maggiore. A different point of view on Lake Maggiore beautiful outback.

Hike your way to Alpe Devoro, a scenic peak surrounded by the Lepontine Alps. On a leisurely paced and easy route, you’ll walk along picture-perfect mountain trails past the village of Crampiolo and the waters of Codelago — one of the area’s sparkling lakes. Round-trip transport from Arona is included, and the guide can plan a more difficult route if you want a challenge. 

The Borromeo family has ruled the lands across lake Maggiore for centuries and their descendants still own some of the gorgeous parks and mansions scattered around. The South-Western basin of the lake, named the Borromean gulf, is dotted by some small, charming islands. This exclusive cruise will lead you to discover the wonders of the three Borromean islands: the amazing botanical garden of Isola Madre, the largest one; the characteristic alleys of Isola dei Pescatori, the only permanently inhabited one, where you may enjoy a good lunch; finally, the superb baroque palace and garden of Isola Bella, dedicated by Carlo III Borromeo to his wife Isabella d'Adda.

Experience the northern Italian tradition of aperitivo in the picturesque setting of Lake Maggiore. This private experience features a selection of five dishes made with fresh, local ingredients such as Italian olive oil, cured meats, grilled vegetables, and cheese as well as local wines and typical drinks. Enjoy this array of dishes at a local home, for a bite-sized depiction of the aperitivo.

It is the smallest of the Borromean Islands, but certainly among the most fascinating. Strolling along its narrow alleys you will discover enchanting views. The ancient village is characterized by a maze of narrow streets leading to the Church of San Vittore, elected as a national monument, which still preserves the original apse with single-light windows dating back to the 11th century.

There’s no better way to see Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands than by private boat. This 1-hour tour allows you to travel in true Italian style around Isola Bella, Isola Madre and more. As you bask in the sun, your captain navigates the boat on a route that takes in sights of the islands’ lakeside gardens, palazzos and private villas. If you want to learn about the area as you cruise, upgrade to include a guide.

Verbania is the chief town of the district around lake Maggiore; Pallanza, one of its centers, hosts the City hall and some of its most remarkable attractions. Among these, the outstanding Museum of Landscape, located in Palazzo Viani- Dugnani, keeps a vast collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs related to the culture and history of Lombardy and Piedmont. This private tour will lead you to discover these collections and, after a pleasant walk, to experience a visit to Villa Taranto botanical gardens: a unique 18 hectares park created by a Scottish traveller, featuring rare plants, trees and flowers from all over the world. Two different ways to witness the wonders of the landscapes of Lake Maggiore, which you will surely remember for long.

On the Isola Bella you can visit the sumptuous palace, home of the Borromeo family, which preserves priceless works of art. The Pescatori island, on the other hand, is the only one of the Borromean islands to be inhabited throughout the year, and houses a small village characterized by a small square surrounded by narrow and winding alleys.

Hospitality, experience,passion and fun are essential ingredients in all my encounters, besides the fact that everyone who tries my kitchen always remains extremely satisfied

Explore the ‘Beautiful Island’ of Isola Bella at your leisure with a hop-on hop-off ferry ticket departing from Stresa. Glide across Lake Maggiore to this most renowned of the Borromean Islands, where you can visit the Palace Museum and Gardens, grab a bite to eat or simply stroll around the palazzos and villas that decorate the port. Ferries run every 30 minutes, so you can customize your day.

If you want to discover the Borromean Islands on a tour that offers a personal touch, look no further than this private day trip from Stresa. With a guide just for you and your group of family or friends, you’ll travel to the three chic Lake Maggiore islands: Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Bella. Hear the history of the baroque Palazzo Borromeo on a tour, get restaurant recommendations for lunch on Isola dei Pescatori, and wander the gardens of beautiful Isola Madre.

Passion for food and children are the ingedients to make this experience unique and unforgettable. Even parents will have a great time with their children

Every course has its own goals. We’ll start to prepare the food all together as a group. We will know the recipes and their history, learn the basic skills, cook them.

Mount Mottarone stands upon the enchanting town of Stresa, reaching almost 1.500 meters upon sea level. A majestic massive, a natural viewpoint on the surrounding Alps, the soothing beauty of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean Islands. This exclusive tour will allow you to climb up the mountain by a cableway, to enjoy an easy but spectacular walk, close to the sky and in front of some astonishing views. Before reaching a typical hut, where you will have a mouth-watering lunch based on local specialties, you will be guided into Alpinia, one of the first and most prestigious alpine botanical gardens in Italy.

When your plane lands at Milan Malpensa airport, enjoy an easy and comfortable journey to Stresa and vice versa with this private, taxi transfer. A driver will be waiting for you at the airport arrivals to chauffeur you in a private vehicle directly to your lake-area destination. The flat rate price can accommodate up to eight adults per vehicle.

Visit the fashionable Stresa and the amazing Islands on Lake Maggiore on a day trip from Milan. Set in Italy's beautiful Lake District just 1.5-hour drive from Milan, Lake Maggiore is surrounded by the majestic Alps and home to some of Italy’s most impressive gardens. After some free time for shopping in Stresa, you will take a two-hour panoramic boat cruise on the lake, visiting the Borromean Islands – Isola Madre, Isola dei Pescatori and Isola Bella. On the borders of Piedmont, Lombardy and Switzerland, Lake Maggiore, also known as Verbano is the second largest Italian lake. 

Feel like a Vip and enjoy a private cruise on lake Maggiore before sunset! This is a beautiful and relaxing way to discover lake Maggiore's beauties accompanied by an experienced tour guide. Admire lake Maggiore's coastline dotted with old towns, lovely gardens and historical villas; the Italian Alps that surround the lake, the islands in the Borromean gulf. You will be accompanied a knowledgeable local guide - fluent in English - who will be happy to answer your questions, tell you interesting stories, point out the most picturesque sites abd by an expert captain in a comfortable private boat. The cruise takes place in the late afternoon, before sunset, when the colours of lake Maggiore are at their best. So whether you are a couple, a family with children, a small group of friends or a larger party, this can really be a very special moment during your stay or trip to lake Maggiore.

Visit the Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore with your own private guide, and enjoy transport by motorboat just for your group plus a tour of Isola Bella’s 17th-century palace. Perfect if you want to understand the lake’s history and avoid the tourist crowds, the experience offers everything you need to explore the islands with ease. The standard tour includes stops at Isola Pescatori and Isola Madre, but you can upgrade to visit the botanical gardens of Isola Madre, if you wish.