Sirens, treasures and islands of Lake Maggiore.

The most popular summer event for families returns in June, July and August 2025

Meet the Sirens in the water on Isola Pescatori with a motorboat cruise and stop on the Borromean Islands for as long as you want. The summer trip on Lake Maggiore that entertains boys and girls and pleases parents

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Sirens, Treasures and Islands of Lake Maggiore

Meet the Sirens in the water on Isola Pescatori with a motorboat cruise and stop on the Borromean Islands for as long as you want.

The most exciting experience with two real mermaids, unique in Italy

Date 2025:

JUNE: Sunday 15th June and Sunday 29th June (new departure also added at 11:15)JULY: Sunday 6th and Sunday 13th JulyAUGUST: Sunday 17th and Sunday 24th August

Set sail with us for an unforgettable adventure on Lake Maggiore!

For the first time in Italy you will be able to meet real Sirens performing in open waters, in the most beautiful lake gulf in the world, between Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella, with departure and return to Stresa.


An exciting experience for everyone, children and adults.


Here's your trip:


📍 Boarding in Stresa You board from Stresa – Piazza Marconi, on the day and at the time booked online (you will receive all the details by email, it is recommended to arrive at least 15 minutes before the departure time), on a private 35-seater motorboat (seats and access with stroller), reserved for the event.


🎁 Gadgets for children For every boy or girl you will receive a free whistle-call for Mermaids and a gadget of your choice between a Mermaid or Pirate theme.


🚤 Cruise to the IslandsAt the booked time you will sail for a short cruise of about 20 minutes in the spectacular Borromean Gulf, among the blue waters of Lake Maggiore.


🧜‍♀️ Mermaid Watching As the speedboat approaches Fisherman's Island, children will call the Sirens with whistles… and two real Sirens will swim with their beautiful tails towards the boat to greet visitors from the water! An exciting experience for everyone, adults and children alike.


🏝️ Landing at Isola dei Pescatori You will land on Isola Pescatori, a unique and suggestive village in the heart of the lake.


💎 Meeting on the beach with the SirensOn the beach of the island, you will meet the Sirens up close who will show the Chests with the Pirate Treasures: boys and girls will receive a magical gift (coin or precious gem).

You will be able to stop with the Sirens for 15/20 minutes (to maintain the magic, we ask you not to return to the beach after the meeting as the Sirens may need to remove their tails between one trip and the next).

📸 Photos and magic Talk to the Sirens, listen to their stories and take unforgettable souvenir photos with them!


🍽️ Free time on Fishermen's Island Stay on the Island for as long as you want:

  • Visit the small and curious Fishing Museum for free
  • Stop for lunch or snack (bar, restaurant or packed lunch)


⛵Departure for Isola Bella Whenever you want, take the motorboat again (included in the ticket) to reach the nearby Isola Bella (about 5 minutes of navigation). Departures are continuous every 30 minutes or so. Always use the same pier of the company used upon arrival and for any information ask the Captain of the motorboat directly.


🏰 Visit Isola Bella You can stay at Isola Bella for as long as you want:

  • Visit the island freely
  • Relax or have lunch (bars, restaurants or packed lunch)
  • Visit (optionally) the Borromeo Palace and Gardens (tickets can be purchased on site)


🛥️ Return to Stresa Whenever you want, you can return to Stresa by motorboat (navigation time approximately 10 minutes, included in the ticket). Also in this case, departures approximately every 30 minutes, always with the same shipping company


🌅 End of free dayConclude your day with a free visit to Stresa, walking in the center and along the lakeside or visit other towns on Lake Maggiore or stop for a swim on the beaches of Lake Maggiore.


If you are with children, the cruise on the Lake, with the meeting with the Sirens and the pirates' treasure and then the visit to the Islands is among the most suitable activities for families. After the trip you can also experience the beach and if you want to swim in Lake Maggiore: for this activity we particularly recommend the beaches of Baveno (Villa Fedora) or Feriolo, Verbania or the very close Lake Mergozzo, the cleanest in Europe with the beaches of Mergozzo or those of Verbania (La Rustica) near the Verbania-Fondotoce train station.



Why this trip is so popular with families:


You will see real mermaids in the water and then when you disembark on Isola Pescatori you will be able to meet the Sirens up close, open the chests of the feared Mazzarditi pirates, with a gift for every boy or girl and take some wonderful photos with the mermaids.


Everyone will be able to admire the natural beauty of Lake Maggiore and the surrounding mountains, observed from an exclusive perspective, aboard modern, safe boats equipped with every comfort and with seats.


The ticket also includes the connection to Isola Pescatori - where you will disembark after the Sirens' performance - and from there the connection to Isola Bella, which you can visit freely and for as long as you want.

From Isola Bella you can return to Stresa whenever you want, the connections are continuous (approximately every 30 minutes).


LIMITED PLACES BOOK NOW

For any doubts or information, read also the FAQ to find out how to visit the famous Borromean Islands of Lake Maggiore (Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori) by motorboat and meet the Sirens

All information on how to reach the boarding dock in Piazza Marconi in Stresa and the contact details of the motorboat operator are sent by email at the time of booking.

PROMOTIONAL OFFER: if you book now you save and you have a flexible date if you can't come.

Ticket with cruise, show and meeting with the mermaids, gifts from the Pirates' Chest, including round-trip motorboat connections with free visit of the duration of your choice of Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella from €17.90. Free for babies not occupying a seat (in a parent's lap) up to 3 years of age.

Meeting in the water of two real Sirens

Speedboat cruise of approximately 30 minutes

Visit Isola Bella and Isola dei Pescatori

Tribute from the Pirate Chests

Next edition June-July-August 2025. Departure from Stresa at the booked time.

Come back whenever you want.


IF PLACES ARE SOLD OUT YOU CAN JOIN THE WAITING LIST,

if possible we will add more races


  • When and where you can spot the Sirens

    It is possible to spot the Sirens and watch the Show in the water only on the dates set in the calendar with departure of the motorboats from Stresa (boarding from Piazza Marconi) at the booked time (check online the times still available). For groups it is possible to add dates or trips based on the number of participants (contact us at the email lemcomunicazione@gmail.com

  • How to book and how much it costs

    The motorboat cruise between the Borromean Islands with mermaid sighting can only be booked online on our website. Click here to book online. Places are limited: if availability runs out, sign up for the waiting list: you will be notified if new trips or dates are added. The cost of the ticket is dynamic from 17.90 euros with the early booking option to 19.90 euros for the ordinary ticket. Landing tax for 2 Islands 1.00 per person. With the early booking option you have the flexible date option free of charge. If you cannot come, you can move the date up to 8 days before or use your ticket for another of our events (valid for 12 months). Babies up to 3 years of age - not occupying a seat (in their parents' arms). free

  • How long is the trip to the Islands?

    You can organize your trip as you prefer: the only time to respect is the boarding time from Stresa in P.zza Marconi with a reserved 35-seater motorboat. When you book, choose the date and time of departure. The cruise between the Islands lasts about 30 minutes, including the sighting and show in the water of the mermaids, after which you will disembark on the Isola dei Pescatori for a close encounter with the Sirens, collecting the gadget from the treasure chest... we then recommend a free visit to the Island and the Fishing Museum - free entry (we then recommend avoiding returning to the mermaids on the beach as there may be children from the next trip or the mermaids may be busy with the operations of dressing the tail and it would take away the magic from the children...). The connections from Isola Pescatori to Isola Bella, always with our carrier's motorboats, are continuous, approximately every 20 minutes. After visiting Isola Pescatori, in a few minutes of navigation you can reach the nearby Isola Bella and stop there as long as you wish (possibility of visiting the Palaces and Gardens by purchasing the ticket directly on site). When you decide to end the trip on the Islands in a few minutes - always with our carrier's motorboats - you will return to Stresa (continuous connections every 20 minutes or so). We recommend that you dedicate at least 2.5 - 3 hours to the trip (if you also want to visit the Palace and gardens of Isola Bella, consider half a day instead).

  • From what age is it suitable?

    All events organized by Grotta di Babbo Natale are for the whole family, including adults. The motorboat cruise allows you to experience the Borromean Gulf and the splendid natural setting from an unusual perspective, as to watch the Sirens' show you also circumnavigate the Islands, with a different route than the simple connection to the Islands. Sighting the Sirens is exciting for everyone, plus children will also receive a gift from the Pirates' Chests. Participation is also open to groups of adults.

  • What happens in case of bad weather

    The organization may cancel or postpone the date in the event of particularly adverse weather conditions, with 48 hours' notice sent to those booked via SMS and email or at the discretion of the carrier (motorboat operator) in the event of unforeseen weather conditions that prevent the navigation of the motorboats.

  • What happens if I can't come?

    All events at Grotta di Babbo Natale are characterized by great flexibility and no one loses what they paid at the time of booking. With the flexible date option - in freebies or with the early bird ticket, you can change the date up to 8 days before - choosing from the available places - or change the event if there are no other dates or if the available dates are not to your liking, choosing from approximately 60 event days. The option is valid for 365 days. If you wish, you can also add insurance to the ticket. In fact, all tickets are already refundable with a voucher in the event of cancellation due to force majeure, bad weather or flexible date. With the additional guarantee, you are entitled to a cash refund, with a deductible of 3.00 euros per person even in the event of sudden illness or injury (with a medical certificate), death up to the second degree of kinship, accidents.

  • Accessibility, strollers, dogs

    Dogs are allowed on board the motorboats and strollers can be loaded. On the islands, using strollers in the innermost streets could be difficult, with newborns we also recommend a children's backpack. Unfortunately, wheelchair access is not possible for all carriers.

  • With a ticket to the islands, can I see the Sirens?

    It is not possible because the navigation route is different from the normal connection to the Islands. It is necessary to book the dedicated cruise on our website and respect the boarding time because the other motorboats - even of the same carrier - do not do the same route with circumnavigation of the Islands.

  • What type of motorboat do you use?

    For the cruise with sighting of the Sirens, we use non-scheduled public service motorboats with 35 seats, modern, comfortable with indoor and outdoor seating. All the information to reach the boarding dock in Piazza Marconi in Stresa and the contacts of the motorboat carrier are sent by email at the time of booking.

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