If you're staying in Stresa and you'd like to visit Madre and Bella Islands, our hop-on hop-off boat is perfect for you! You'll sail across Lake Maggiore and explore these two islands at your leisure.
Madre & Bella Islands Hop-On Hop-Off Boat
Madre Island is the largest of the Borromean Islands. To get there, all you need to do is hop on the boat you'll find at the pier in Stresa's Piazza Guglielmo Marconi.
This island is famous for its botanical gardens, which span 8 hectares. You can stroll through this English-style space and admire the camellias, magnolias, cypresses and palm trees, as well as some plant species from Africa. As you stroll around this beautiful place and take lots of pictures, you'll also come across peacocks, parrots and pheasants.
During your visit to Madre Island, you'll also see the outside of Borromeo Palace. This stately mansion dates all the way back to the 17th century.
Once you've finished exploring Madre Island at your leisure, you can hop back on the boat and set sail for Bella Island. For many people, Bella is the most beautiful of the Borromean Islands. You can spend as much time as you like exploring the island and discovering how it earned its name. As you stroll around the island, you'll feel like you're living in a fairytale.
The final stop of the hop-on hop-off boat will be Stresa, after which the boat will start its route from the beginning. If you like, you can hop back on and visit Madre Island all over again.
Hours
The hop-on hop-off boat runs from March to November and sets sail every day, from 10 am - 6 pm.
Please note that these timetables may be subject to change.
How does it work?
You'll have a whole day's access to the boat, which departs from Stresa and goes to Madre and Bella Islands. You can hop on the boat's route as many times as you like during its schedule.
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