The Borromean Islands by private boat

Silver ripples catch the light while marble statues gleam on Isola Bella’s ten tiered gardens, set against the 17th‑century Borromeo palace. Ten minutes by boat brings you to Isola Madre, all heirloom camellias and strutting peacocks, then on to the workaday charm of Isola dei Pescatori with its flood‑savvy long houses. Skimming out from Stresa’s waterfront past Carciano and the reedbeds, you track the skyline closed off by the Val Grande peaks—detail that rewards a second look even for seasoned Lake Maggiore regulars.

From there, the day flows easily. Collected at your hotel, you travel with a dedicated Mercedes and driver who handles timing at the pier, waits during visits, and can slip in Orta San Giulio if clouds build. You tour palaces and gardens, sit down to lavarello and perch on Isola dei Pescatori, while he deals with parking, tolls, and bookings. Expect a 15‑minute drive to Baveno, three minutes down to Carciano’s dock, and brisk hops between the islands.