Lake Maggiore's Island Gardens: Isola Bella, Isola Madre and When to Go

The two great gardens on Lake Maggiore are both on the Borromean Islands: the Baroque terraces of Isola Bella and the gentler, English-style garden of Isola Madre. Both are at their best in spring, and both are quietest at the first morning departure, before the midday ferries arrive.

If you only have time for one, the honest answer depends on what you are after — the theatre of Italian Baroque, or a quiet botanical garden you can lose an hour in.

Isola Madre — the one most people underrate

Isola Madre is the quieter island, and for garden lovers it is often the better one. The English-style garden was begun by the Borromeo family in the 16th century and reworked in the 18th, and it has grown into something unhurried: rolling lawns, palm-lined avenues, citrus and exotic species, centuries-old trees, and peacocks that roam the paths freely. Each season changes it — camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons in spring; deep shade in summer; warm gold in autumn.

The private guided tour runs about three hours and includes the palace, the garden, and the landing tax. Departures are set at either 09:30 or 14:30 — take the morning one for the calm. From 580 €.

Isola Bella — the Baroque showpiece

Isola Bella is the famous one: a 17th-century Borromeo palace and a stack of terraced gardens rising from the water like the deck of a ship, with statues, obelisks, fountains and the strange, pebble-encrusted grottoes inside the palace. It is a masterpiece of the Italian Baroque garden — and the busiest of the islands.

The half-day tour pairs Isola Bella's palace and gardens with the fishing village of Isola dei Pescatori, with Isola Bella tickets included, departing 09:30 or 14:30. From 570 €.

To do both gardens properly in a single day, the full-day private tour covers Isola Bella and Isola Madre, palaces and gardens included. It is a lot of walking — worth it if gardens are the point of your trip. From 780 €.

Villa Taranto — the mainland alternative

For a third garden, Villa Taranto sits on the Pallanza headland on the mainland — a celebrated botanical garden of terraced beds and seasonal blooms, an easy choice if you are staying in Pallanza or Verbania. You visit it independently rather than through Veyond, and it closes for the winter, so check the current opening times and ticket prices before you go.

When to go — and what to skip

• Spring is the headline season for the blooms on Isola Madre. Summer gives you shade and green; autumn the golden canopies.
• The palaces and gardens are typically open from mid-spring to late autumn and shut in winter. Confirm exact 2026 dates before a shoulder-season trip.
• Go at the 09:30 departure. The gardens are calmest before the day-trip ferries land in the late morning.
• If you tire easily, skip the full-island marathon. Isola Madre on its own, followed by a short golden-hour boat across the gulf, gives you the best of the gardens with far less walking.

FAQ

Which garden is better, Isola Bella or Isola Madre?

They are different, not better or worse. Isola Bella is the Baroque showpiece — terraced gardens, statues and fountains, and the busiest. Isola Madre is quieter and greener, an English-style botanical garden begun by the Borromeo family in the 16th century, with peacocks roaming free. Garden lovers often prefer Isola Madre; first-time visitors usually want Isola Bella.

When are the Borromean island gardens at their best?

Spring, when the camellias, azaleas and rhododendrons colour Isola Madre. Summer brings shade and green; autumn turns the canopies golden. The palaces and gardens are typically open from mid-spring to late autumn and closed in winter, so confirm the exact 2026 dates before a shoulder-season trip.

Can you visit both island gardens in one day?

Yes. The full-day private tour covers both Isola Bella and Isola Madre, with palace and garden tickets included, from 780 €. It is a long day on your feet, so if you tire easily, do Isola Madre on its own and add a short golden-hour boat instead.

Is Villa Taranto worth visiting too?

If you love gardens, yes — it is a celebrated botanical garden on the Pallanza headland, on the mainland rather than the islands. You visit independently rather than through Veyond, and it typically closes for winter, so check current opening times and tickets before you go.