FAQ — Boat rental on Lake Maggiore

For most of our rental boats you don't need a boating licence. In Italy you can operate a boat without a licence if the engine power is up to 40.8 HP (30 kW); you just need to be at least 18 and have a valid ID. More powerful boats require a licence, or you can rent with our dedicated skipper. This lets you reach the Borromean Islands, Cannobio or Santa Caterina del Sasso on Lake Maggiore at your own pace.

You can sail without a license with engines up to 40.8 hp (30 kW); a license is mandatory when the power exceeds this limit. All our rental boats within this limit can be driven without a license. (Check which models are included and which are not.)

Yes. Anyone who holds a license issued by their country can command pleasure craft within the limits of their license.

Yes. We offer a dedicated skipper service for the entire rental period. The skipper can pick you up wherever you prefer: your hotel, restaurant, or an agreed-upon departure point. **Skipper requests must be made at least 48 hours in advance.**

Yes: to operate a boat without a license, the minimum age is 18.

It depends on the boat model; the maximum number of people the boat can accommodate is indicated on the booking form for each boat.

We have two pick-up locations: Verbania and Cannero. Each boat has its own assigned pick-up location, which you will be informed of when you book.

The pick-up point is clearly indicated on each boat's information sheet and in the booking confirmation, so you always know where to show up.

You can navigate freely on Lake Maggiore. As on all lakes, the reduced speed limit must be observed near the coast, piers, and bathing areas.

Among the unmissable destinations: the Borromean Islands (Isola Bella, Isola dei Pescatori, and Isola Madre) opposite Stresa, the hermitage of Santa Caterina del Sasso overlooking the water, the villages of Cannobio and Cannero with their castles, and the shore of the gardens of Villa Taranto in Verbania.

Yes, you can stop for a swim in the designated areas and head to the restaurants on the shores and islands.

Food and drinks are permitted on board. For children, please remember that a life jacket is mandatory while sailing.

There are many ways to enjoy Lake Maggiore: walking through its villages, taking the public ferry, driving along the shores, or going by boat. The ferry is convenient for the main sights but runs on fixed times and routes. A private boat is the most flexible option: you choose where to go and when to stop, reach coves and spots invisible from land, and get to the Borromean Islands without queues. Renting a boat, with or without a skipper, lets you discover the lake at your own pace.

There are three Borromean Islands, located in front of Stresa and Baveno: Isola Bella, with the sumptuous Borromeo Palace and its baroque gardens; Isola Madre, with its botanical garden; and Isola dei Pescatori, a genuine fishing village full of restaurants. You can reach them by public ferry from Stresa, Baveno or Verbania, or by private boat. With your own boat you can visit them in any order, free from ferry schedules, and stay as long as you like on each one.

A single day on Lake Maggiore can cover a lot. A great combination: the Borromean Islands in the morning (Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori), lunch in an island restaurant or on board, and in the afternoon a cruise towards Verbania for the Villa Taranto gardens or north to Cannero and Cannobio. By boat you can link several stops without depending on public transport timetables.

The best times to visit Lake Maggiore are spring (late April to June) and early autumn (September), when the weather is mild and the gardens, such as Villa Taranto in Verbania, are in full bloom. July and August are the warmest months, ideal for swimming but also the busiest. For a boat trip, the days from May to September usually offer the best conditions.

Lake Maggiore is perfect for families. A boat trip is a big hit with children, especially the stop at Isola dei Pescatori and the visit to Isola Bella. Along the shores you'll find beaches and lidos for swimming, parks and ice-cream shops. On board, life jackets are mandatory for young children while sailing, and a private boat lets you set the pace and breaks around your kids.

Yes, you can swim in Lake Maggiore. There are several beaches and lidos along the shores, for example in Cannobio, Cannero and Ghiffa. From a boat you can also stop for a swim in open water in permitted areas, away from jetties and crowded bathing zones. The water is warmest and most pleasant in the summer months, from June to September.

The shores of Lake Maggiore are dotted with charming villages. Stresa is the classic starting point for the Borromean Islands; Verbania is home to the famous Villa Taranto botanical gardens; Cannobio, near the Swiss border, has a lovely lakefront and a well-known weekly market; Cannero Riviera is famous for the picturesque castles set on small islets just off the shore. Many of these places look even more beautiful from the water.

Lake Maggiore offers spectacular sunsets. The water gives you the best vantage point: by boat you can move towards the middle of the lake or along the Piedmont shore to watch the sun set behind the mountains, with the villages and islands turning pink. A sunset boat trip, perhaps with drinks on board, is one of the most evocative ways to experience the lake.