How to Visit the Borromean Islands Without the Day-Tripper Crush

The calmest way to see the Borromean Islands is by private boat, timed for early morning or the golden hour — so you are walking the gardens of Isola Bella before the midday ferries unload, not shuffling behind them off the public dock at Stresa.

The islands are small and the public ferry concentrates everyone onto them in the middle of the day. The fix is not a secret route; it is simply going at a different hour, on your own boat, with someone who knows the timing.

Why the public ferry is the problem

The Navigazione Laghi ferries and the docks at Stresa and Baveno bunch up in the middle of the day in high season, when the coach day-trips arrive. Isola Bella's single lane of shops and the palace entrance feel it most. (Timetables change by season, so check the current ferry schedule before you plan a tight day.) None of this makes the islands less beautiful — it just means when you go matters more than whether you go.

Go early, or go at golden hour

A private boat lets you choose the hour. The quietest light on the gulf is the last hour before sunset, when the day-trippers have left and the water goes still.

If you want the islands properly — palaces, gardens and the fishing village — the full-day private tour gives you the whole gulf at your own pace, starting before the crowds.

Which islands are actually worth your time

• Isola Bella — the baroque Borromeo palace and its terraced garden. The showpiece, and the busiest.
• Isola Madre — quieter, greener, an English-style botanical garden around an older palace. The one most people underrate.
• Isola dei Pescatori — not really a "sight": a working fishing village, best enjoyed slowly over lunch or dinner rather than ticked off.

If we are honest: the full-day, three-island tour is a lot of walking. If you tire easily, do Isola Madre plus a golden-hour boat hour instead of the marathon — you will see the best of the gulf and enjoy it more.

For the two headline islands without the full day, the gulf's two-island tour pairs Isola Bella with Isola dei Pescatori.

If you would rather be on the water

Some of the best hours here are spent between the islands, not on them.

And the simplest pleasure of all — dinner on Isola dei Pescatori as the light fades, with a shared boat arranged from Stresa or Baveno.

A few practical notes

• Season: the Borromeo palaces and gardens are typically open from mid-spring to late autumn and closed in winter. If you are planning a shoulder-season trip, confirm the exact 2026 opening dates before you commit.
• Tickets: check whether palace and garden admission is included in your tour or paid separately at the island — ask the host when you book.
• Where you depart: private tours leave from Stresa or Baveno; the exact meeting point is arranged with the host after booking.

FAQ

Can you visit all three Borromean Islands in one day?

Yes. The full-day private tour covers Isola Bella, Isola Madre and Isola dei Pescatori by private boat, from 780 € for two. It is a long day on your feet, so if you tire easily, two islands or a shorter golden-hour cruise is the gentler choice.

When are the Borromean Islands least crowded?

Early morning and the late-afternoon golden hour, before and after the midday day-trip ferries. A private boat lets you set your own time rather than queue at the public dock. Always check the current ferry timetables before you plan.

Are the palace and garden tickets included in a private tour?

Confirm this when you book. Admission to the Borromeo palaces and gardens can be separate from the boat tour itself, so it is worth asking the host exactly what is included.

What is the most affordable way to experience the islands?

A sunset tasting dinner on Isola dei Pescatori from 84 € per person, or a Canadian canoe tour past Isola Bella from 190 €, are the gentlest on the budget.