Top Lake Maggiore Historical Tours

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.

Explore all the treasures hidden in a 17th-century palace on isola Bella and the quaint village on Fishermen's island with an experienced tour guide of lake Maggiore! You will be guided through the historic rooms of an amazing palace and will be shown spectacular gardens built on levels strolling through species of flowers and plants from all continents, surrounded by friendly peacocks. This will be a private tour just for you and your party

Spend a morning or afternoon at Lake Orta, and see the highlights of its charming village and lake island with your own private guide. After you hear the history of Orta San Giulio’s medieval houses on a stroll, you’ll step aboard a boat to cruise over the serene lake to Isola di San Giulio. Wander the cobblestone streets to the Roman Catholic basilica, then choose to stay on the island to explore more at your own pace or return to Orta San Giulio with your guide.

Experience the beauty of Italy’s Lake Maggiore during this half-day tour to Isola Bella and Fisherman’s Island. This private excursion leaves from the villages of Stresa where you board a boat to Isola Bella. Explore the island’s Italian-style garden before heading to Fisherman’s Island for a walking tour of the quaint village. This tour is inclusive of a private tour guide, all entrance fees are to be paid on site.

Discovering a treasure in lake Maggiore: the beautiful Borromean islands with their stunning palaces and gardens. Your tour guide will take you on a special tour that will enable you to step back in time. Paintings, tapestries, Murano glass chandeliers, portraits, period furniture, gorgeous views and beatifully maintained gardens will surprise you on these fabulous islands: isola Bella and isola Madre.

Savor the beauty of Lake Maggiore during the golden hour with this private sunset cruise. Set off from Stresa just as the sun begins to dip below the horizon and admire the picturesque towns, historic villas, and sumptuous gardens dotting the shore as you slowly cruise past. Sip prosecco and snap photos of the lush Borromean Islands and soaring Alpine peaks on the horizon before heading back to the harbor.

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.

Experience Bellagio, a setting known as the most beautiful of Lake Como’s clutch of shoreline towns, on a day trip from a neighboring lake. With pickups from hotels in Stresa and Baveno on Lake Maggiore or Orta San Giulio on Lake Orta included, the day trip offers ultimate convenience for a lazy day out on the glamorous Italian lake. You’ll have free time to wander the narrow streets of Bellagio, followed by a visit to Como town where shops, cafes, and impressive architecture await.

Experience the most that Isola Bella has to offer with this private tour of two of Italy's most famous islands. Visit the aptly-named Isola Bella (Beautiful Island) and Isola dei Pescatori (Fisherman's Island). This private tour offers a morning or afternoon departure to best suit your personal needs.

Benefit from personalized attention and a flexible itinerary on this private tour of Lake Orta. With pickup in Lake Maggiore, Verbania, Baveno, or Stresa, you'll get private round-trip transportation that makes the trip convenient and relaxing. Explore the village of Orta San Giulio at your own pace, asking plenty of questions along the way and stopping at sites that interest you.

Discover isola Bella, the jewel of lake Maggiore, on a unique private tour. Explore the sumptuous Borromeo palace and the incredible gardens on this lovely island in a peaceful atmosphere in the late afternoon ( but morning option is also possible). An experienced local tour guide will meet you in Stresa at your hotel ( if centrally located) or at the pier in Stresa to reach isola Bella by private boat and discover all its beauty at a lovely time of the day when most of the crowds have usually gone. Your private boat will tour around isola Bella to enable you to enjoy beautiful views of the spectacular 17th-century gardens built on ten levels and see the whole palace from the boat. Your personal guide will show you the richly decorated rooms and the grottos telling you more about the founders and owners of isola Bella's fairy-tale palace and will then take you on a guided stroll through the lovely gardens and the tiny village on the island. You will then head back to Stresa mainland.

Admire the beaches, islands, and alpine peaks of Lake Maggiore on a romantic sunset cruise. Set sail on-board a private charter boat, cruise around the Stresa Gulf, and soak up the scenery as you pass the Borromean islands. Magnificent views of Lake Maggiore and the Borromean islands. Romantic experience as you watch the sunset. Private charter boat: personalized tour just for your group.

Discover this enchantment island still belonging to a noble family, with a private tour guide. Admire the fantastic halls still all furnished and cross the rooms of the grottoes until you get to the Italian gardens. Reach the highest part of the garden and admire the view of Stresa and the lake. Relax on a beautiful 30-minute lake cruise.

Situated on the western shore of Lago Maggiore, the Villa Taranto Botanical Gardens is home to thousands of tree and flower species worldwide. On this tour, see them with a private guide, focusing on a particular species of flower living within the gardens. See the garden’s famous dahlias, water lilies, cactus houses, and more.

Visit the Angera Fortress (Rocca di Angera) the best way, on a private day trip from your Lake Maggiore or Lake Orta hotel. You’ll travel in comfort alongside your personal group, and have free time to explore the well-preserved fortress and its museum of antique dolls. Ample time to explore Arona town and see the towering Statue of St. Charles is also factored in. Just note that entry fees to all sites are extra.

This is a special wintertime tour, available also during the Christmas season, that will allow you to see two of the highlights of lake Maggiore also in the winter: the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso and isola Bella. Using a comfortable private boat ( covered!) we will enjoy a cruise on lake Maggiore as far as the lombard shore where we will visit the fascinating hermitage of Santa Caterina with its 16th-century frescoed church. The church and the two convents were built on very steep rocks on the lake and the view iof this incredible site from the water is really impressive. We will then enjoy another boat ride to isola Bella. The interiors of Isola Bella's palace and the gardens will not be accessible this time of the year, but you will be able to admire the beauty of isola Bella through its picturesque village on a guided stroll with your private local guide. You will also enjoy a private boat tour around isola Bella to see the whole island with its terraced gardens.

Lake Maggiore’s Borromean Islands are particularly captivating in the quiet off-season months without the summer heat and crowds. Take in the three islands in a few hours with this guided tour from Stresa. Hop on a private water taxi to Isola Bella for a stroll through the village and a glimpse of Palazzo Borromeo. Then stop to explore Isola dei Pescatori on land before passing Isola Madre on the return cruise.

Explore the picturesque town of Stresa on foot with a private guide who takes you on a leisurely walking tour with live commentary. View the town's elegant architecture along with sweeping views of Lake Maggiore, the Italian Alps, and the Borromean Islands. Learn about Stresa’s past and present, and get tips for places to visit during your stay on a private tour tailored to your interests.

This is a very special tour that will enable you to visit isola Bella at a quiet time of the day accompanied by your expert local guide that will show you the sumptuous Borromeo palace and isola Bella's gardens when the crowds have gone. The private cruise at the end of the guided tour will make this tour even more exclusive, something that you will be able to cherish for long!

A beautiful and relaxing way to discover lake Maggiore's coastline dotted with lovely towns and villages, villas and gardens while Micaela, your Italian personal local guide fluent in English and French. While your fully licensed captain will take care of driving you around in a comfortable taxi boat, Micaela will point out the most picturesque towns and interesting villas and will tell you stories to learn more about this gorgeous lake of Italy. Before the end of your private cruise we will stop at a nice lakeside village to enjoy a good Italian coffee or cappuccino with a fresh croissant for a half morning breakfast in the Italian way before continuing our private cruise and getting back to the starting point.