Three islands, one easy boat day. This hop-on hop-off route from Baveno loops around Lake Maggiore, letting you choose how long to linger on Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori. It is a great way to see the Borromean Islands without locking yourself into one strict schedule.

I especially like the laid-back freedom on the islands. On Isola Madre, you get time to stroll the famous English botanical gardens and the grounds around Palazzo Borromeo, then move on when you feel ready. On Isola Bella, you get that wow factor of a baroque palace setting and the classic look of 10 terraces sloping down toward the lake.

My only real caution is cost add-ons. The landing fee is a separate €0.50 per person per island you visit, and entry tickets for the palace and gardens on Isola Madre and Isola Bella are not included.

Key things I’d bank on before you go

• Hop-on hop-off flexibility: free time on each island at your own pace
• The “big three” Borromean stops: Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori in one day
• Garden and palace focus: English botanical gardens and Palazzo Borromeo, plus baroque palace views
• Village wandering time: meandering alleys on Isola dei Pescatori for a more local feel
• Fast, organized boat operations: the ride is quick and reliable, which keeps your island time feeling worthwhile

Piazza IV Novembre to Summer Boats: where the day starts

Your day centers on Baveno’s main square area, Piazza IV Novembre. The meeting point is right by the activity provider office, and you can spot it easily by the signage and uniforms. Staff wear Summer Boats t-shirts, and the ticket office has a clear Summer Boats sign.

One small but important detail: you need a printed coupon. Staff will swap it for your Summer Boats sailing ticket. If you show up with only a phone screenshot, you can end up doing extra work at the start of a day that should feel simple.

The departure window matters too. The tour runs with departures from 9:40 AM until 11:40 AM, and returns run until 5 PM or 6 PM depending on the service pattern. That means you are not stuck with one exact time. Pick the departure that fits your day, but still plan to arrive early enough to find the office and sort your ticket.

Finally, keep the stop order in mind: you go Isola Madre first, then Isola Bella, and then Isola dei Pescatori. It is not a free-for-all order, so decide in advance which island you want most time on.

Price that looks simple, but ends with a couple of extra fees

The headline price is $16 per person, and that is for the hop-on hop-off boat plus free time on each stop. That is solid value if your goal is efficient transport between the islands and enough time to explore without building your own boat plan.

Here is what is not included, and it is worth knowing early so you can budget cleanly:

• Landing fee: €0.50 per person per island, paid locally
• Entry tickets: palace and gardens on Isola Madre and Isola Bella are not included

If you land on all three islands, plan for landing fees on each island stop. Children under 4 do not pay the landing fee, which can lower the total for families.

Because the big-name sights on Isola Madre and Isola Bella are tied to palace and garden entry, your final “all-in” cost depends on how much you want to go inside versus how much you want to explore outdoors and viewpoints. The boat portion is priced so you can spend your time where you want, but the islands themselves have their own ticketed experiences.

My advice: bring a little extra cash or be ready to pay locally for the landing fee. That way, you do not waste a moment worrying at the dock.

How hop-on hop-off feels in real life (and how to use it well)

This is not one guided loop where you march from stop to stop. You board the boat in Baveno and then sail between islands. When you arrive at Isola Madre, Isola Bella, or Isola dei Pescatori, you can get off and explore. When it is time to move on, you get back on the boat and continue.

What makes this style work is control. Instead of rushing because the group is behind schedule, you can shape the day around your interests. If you want a longer wander on Isola dei Pescatori’s lanes, you can lean into that. If you want more time looking at terraces and palace views, you can do that too.

Timing is the only real limiter. The day is structured around departure and return windows, so you still have to plan your time on the islands. The good news is that the stops are spaced so you are not stuck on the boat for long stretches. You are traveling across Lake Maggiore with time to actually enjoy each island, not just step off for photos.

Also, remember this is a hop-on hop-off format, but it does have rules: your start time affects how the day feels. If you start later within the departure window, you may end up with less flexibility on the last island. I like starting earlier in the departure window if your priority is to fully enjoy each stop.

Isola Madre: English botanical gardens and Palazzo Borromeo surroundings

Isola Madre is the first island stop, and it is a strong opener for a Borromean Islands day. You get free time to explore on your own, which is perfect here because gardens reward slow walking and quiet looking.

The key sights on Isola Madre include the English botanical gardens and Palazzo Borromeo. Even if you do not buy palace entry tickets, the surrounding area and the garden setting are part of the appeal. The botanical garden is a major part of why this island feels different from the more intensely structured terrace look of Isola Bella.

This is also where you can take your time with photos and viewpoints. Gardens give you lots of angles without needing a strict route. You can dip into shady spots, come back out for lake views, and generally move at your own pace.

Two practical notes:

1) Entry tickets are not included for the palace and gardens. If you want to go inside specific areas, check what ticket you need before you decide you are done.

2) Dogs are allowed on board but are not allowed in the palaces and gardens of Isola Madre. If you are traveling with a dog, plan ahead for what you can and cannot access on this island.

For me, Isola Madre works best if you like atmosphere and strolling. If you prefer the most dramatic architectural showpiece, you might find you are even more captivated later on Isola Bella, but Isola Madre sets the pace nicely.

Isola Bella: baroque palace views and the 10-terrace layout

Then you move to Isola Bella, the island many people picture when they think of classic Borromean style. The big draw here is the baroque palace and the Italian gardens, along with the striking structure of 10 terraces that slope toward the lake.

That terrace layout is a big part of how the island feels. You do not just walk around at one level. You naturally experience the incline as you move, and you get repeated views back toward the water. Even before you go into ticketed areas, the way the island is layered creates constant visual changes.

Because free time is on your own, you can decide how much time you want for the terrace areas versus how much you want to focus on palace highlights. If you are the type who likes to read the room and then choose one or two “must sees,” you can do that here. If you like to absorb everything and wander longer, the island’s terraced shape gives you plenty of excuses to keep going.

Important: like Isola Madre, entry tickets for the palace and gardens are not included. If your plan depends on going into specific palace or garden areas, factor that into your budget and your time. Also note the dog restriction again: dogs are not allowed in the palaces and gardens on Isola Bella.

I find this stop works especially well if you want one place that feels theatrical, where the island design does a lot of the sightseeing work for you.

Isola dei Pescatori: a fishing village you can actually wander

After the palace islands, Isola dei Pescatori changes the mood. This is the stop that feels more everyday and local, built around a quaint fishing village.

You can explore the island’s meandering alleys and multi-story buildings at your own pace. The narrow lanes and village scale make it easy to lose a bit of time in the best way. This is also the island where you can slow down and just wander without feeling like you are navigating a formal garden or terrace complex.

One of the best practical perks of this stop is that you can treat it like a break between the bigger sights. You often find places to eat here, so it is a natural island to grab a meal or snack without needing to rush between attractions. If you want a less structured part of the day, this is the place to give yourself room.

From a planning standpoint, I like using Isola dei Pescatori as a flexible time buffer. If earlier islands took longer than expected, you can still enjoy a calmer wandering day here. If you finish palaces and gardens faster, you can extend your village time.

There is also no mention of entry-ticket requirements for this island like there is for the palace and gardens on Madre and Bella, which makes it an island where you can maximize value with mostly just walking and looking.

Getting your best day out of the boat ride

The most common mistake people make with any hop-on hop-off plan is trying to do everything everywhere. With this itinerary, that can happen fast because three islands feel like three big missions.

Instead, think about priorities:

• If you want gardens and palace architecture, dedicate your deeper time to Isola Madre and Isola Bella.
• If you want relaxed strolling and a village feel, protect time for Isola dei Pescatori.
• If you are short on time, focus on terraces, garden atmosphere, and the alleys that make the village feel real.

Also, your comfort level matters because the islands involve walking. Isola dei Pescatori’s alleys are described as narrow, and you will be on your feet more than you might expect for a “boat day.” You will get better results if you wear shoes that handle uneven surfaces and steps.

If you are traveling with kids, or if you like keeping the day easy, the hop-on hop-off style itself is a big help. You are not stuck in a tight procession. You can pause, rethink, and keep going.

One more planning thought: the tour can cancel if weather is bad, and the tour will not operate in that case. Lake Maggiore conditions can change, so have a backup plan for your travel day.

On-board rules: bikes, walking frames, and dogs

This part matters because it affects what you can bring and where you can go on the islands.

The tour does not allow:

• Bikes
• Walking frames

So if you rely on assistive devices, double-check whether this is the right fit. The tour is also not suitable for people with mobility impairments, which is worth taking seriously instead of hoping it will be fine on the day.

About dogs: dogs are allowed on board, but you cannot bring them into the palaces and gardens on Isola Bella and Isola Madre. If you are traveling with a dog, your dog may be stuck waiting or traveling only with you in non-restricted areas.

Size rules are spelled out:

• Small-sized dogs sail for free
• Medium-sized dogs may incur a supplement of €3

If you are traveling with a medium dog, plan for that extra cost up front so it does not become a last-minute surprise.

When the tour runs, and when you need to plan harder

Season matters here. In March, April, and October, the tour is only offered on weekends and holidays. From May through September, it runs daily.

That difference can completely change your options. If you are visiting in the shoulder season, you may have to coordinate your Borromean Islands day with the specific days the service operates.

If you like certainty, May through September is easier because you have more chances to fit the trip into your schedule.

Also, the departure range is broad, from 9:40 AM to 11:40 AM. In busier months, that flexibility helps you pick the starting slot that matches your morning pace.

Who should book this boat day from Baveno?

I think this tour is best for people who want a smooth, time-managed way to see all three Borromean islands in one visit. It is also a great choice if you like the idea of choosing how long to spend on each stop instead of being locked into one guided cadence.

You will likely enjoy it most if you:

• Want a manageable day trip built around Lake Maggiore boat travel
• Care about garden and palace atmosphere on Isola Madre and Isola Bella
• Like village wandering and want a calmer counterpoint on Isola dei Pescatori
• Prefer practical logistics where the boat does the big connecting work

It may not be your best match if you:

• Need an option that is suitable for mobility impairments
• Expect to bring a bike or walking frame
• Want to bring a dog into palace and garden areas on Isola Madre or Isola Bella

Should you book the Baveno hop-on hop-off boat tour?

Yes, with a smart budget mindset. The base price is a good deal for boat transport between three islands plus free time on each stop. The big value is the flexibility, because you can slow down where you want and shorten the parts you care less about.

But do not overlook the extras. Plan for the €0.50 per island landing fee, and remember entry tickets for the palace and gardens on Isola Madre and Isola Bella are not included. If you are excited to go inside those areas, factor that into your total cost ahead of time.

If your timing lines up with the running days and you are comfortable walking on islands with narrow village lanes, this is a very efficient way to experience the Borromean Islands without overplanning.

FAQ

Which islands does the tour stop at?

The tour stops at Isola Madre, Isola Bella, and Isola dei Pescatori, with a return to the starting point in Baveno.

Is the landing fee included in the price?

No. There is a €0.50 per person per island landing fee paid locally. Children under 4 do not pay the landing fee.

Are entry tickets to the palaces and gardens included?

No. Entry tickets for the palace and gardens of Isola Madre and Isola Bella are not included in the price.

Where do I meet the tour in Baveno?

You meet at the activity provider’s office in Piazza IV Novembre in Baveno. Staff wear Summer Boats t-shirts, and the ticket office has a Summer Boats sign.

What time can I start the boat tour?

Departure takes place from 9:40 AM until 11:40 AM. Returns are until 5 PM or 6 PM.

When does this tour run during the year?

In March, April, and October, it runs only on weekends and holidays. In May, June, July, August, and September, it runs daily.

Can I bring a dog?

Dogs are allowed on board, but they are not allowed in the palaces and gardens on Isola Bella and Isola Madre. Small-sized dogs sail for free, while medium-sized dogs may have a €3 supplement.

Are bikes or walking frames allowed?

No. Bikes and walking frames are not allowed on this tour.

What happens if the weather is bad?

In case of bad weather, the tour will not operate.