Top Lake Maggiore Historical Tours

Every Sunday and Monday Leave urban Milan for the day and spend some time at picturesque Lake Maggiore, located in Italy's Lake District. Explore the chic town of Stresa, learning about the area's history from your guide and perusing the shops. Then hop on a boat for a cruise around the lake, and take in the scenery of the water and surrounding mountains. Visit Isola dei Pescatori, where you have free time to explore, and then explore Borromeo Palace in Isola Bella, before making the return trip to Milan.

Visit the Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore with your own private guide, and enjoy transport by private 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 Bella, but you can upgrade to visit also the botanical gardens of Isola Madre, if you wish.

Book a flexible ticket for the three Borromean Islands in advance, and have peace of mind for easy voucher changes should your plans change. With a boat ticket booked in advance, you’ll visit the three famous Lake Maggiore islands at your own pace. Walk amid the botanical plants of Isola Madre, browse the craft shops and restaurants of Isola dei Pescatori, and gaze in awe at the Palazzo Borromeo of Isola Bella.

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.

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 will take a shuttle boat for a short ride 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 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Hello, I am Micaela, an expert licensed tour guide who has been guiding travellers for 25 years! This product is bookable for groups and small parties searching a private guide to visit the Borromean islands. By booking this product, you are booking for your ready-made group or for your smaller party my services as a local licensed and experienced tour guide that will provide a guided tour of the Borromeo islands' palaces and gardens taking care of your group / party from the port or your hotel lobby up to the end of the tour. Micaela will also take care of the logistics for your group, providing useful information and all costs to be considered such as admission tickets and logistics/boat transport just for your group.

Visit when most travelers have left the Borromean islands and feel the unique atmosphere of a baroque palace with its art pieces! 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 at the best time of the day.

Hello, I am Micaela, an official local guide. This is a very special tour that will enable you to visit isola Bella accompanied by your expert private tour guide that will show you the sumptuous Borromeo palace with its treasures and isola Bella's amazing gardens. The private cruise at the end of the private guided tour to enjoy the views will make this tour even more exclusive, something that you will be able to cherish for long!

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.

A half-day tour by private taxi boat to the two jewels of lake Maggiore accompanied by an expert private guide to enjoy more the visit to these incredible islands. Your licensed local guide will show you an opulent palace dating back to the 17th century with its baroque garden on Isola Bella. You will then discover another villa in country style on Isola Madre built in the 16th century and a charming garden full of exotic plants, flowers, trees and peacocks.

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.

Leave the traffic and crowds on land behind and paddle through the cool waters of Lake Orta with this guided kayaking excursion. Follow your guide through the placid waters to timeless San Giulio Island, where you’ll dock for a walk or swim. Learn about the history of this spectacular corner of Italy’s northern lake district and enjoy a snack featuring traditional specialties along the way.

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 can stop at a nice lakeside village to enjoy an espresso coffee or a cappuccino!