Sirens, treasures and islands of Lake Maggiore.

Tickets for summer 2026 are online. Book early with a free flexible date.

Meet the Sirens in the water on Isola Pescatori with a motorboat cruise and stop on the Borromean Islands for as long as you like. This summer trip on Lake Maggiore is fun for kids and parents alike.

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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 like.

Book ADVANCE and save €6 per person with a flexible date and all motorboats to Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella included!


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

Next dates 2026: June 14 - 21 - 28 - July 5 - 12 - August 2 Departures from Stresa at 10:30 - 11:15 - 12:00

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

For the first time in Italy, you can meet real Sirens performing in the open waters of the most beautiful lakeside gulf in the world, between Isola Pescatori and Isola Bella, departing and returning to Stresa.


An exciting experience for everyone, children and adults.


Here's your trip:


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


🎁 Gadgets for children For every boy or girl you will receive a free mermaid whistle 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 azure 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 towards the boat with their beautiful tails to greet visitors from the water! An exciting experience for everyone, adults and children alike.


🏝️ Disembarkation at Fishermen's Island You will disembark on Fishermen's Island, a unique and charming village in the heart of the lake.


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

You will be able to stay 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 like:

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


⛵Departure for Isola Bella Whenever you like, take the speedboat (included in the ticket) again to reach nearby Isola Bella (about a 5-minute ride). Departures are continuous approximately every 30 minutes. Always use the same pier as the company you used upon arrival, and for any information, ask the speedboat captain directly.


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

  • 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 (about 10 minutes of navigation, included in the ticket). Again, departures are approximately every 30 minutes, always with the same shipping company.


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


If you're traveling with children, a lake cruise, including an encounter with the Sirens and pirate treasure, followed by a visit to the islands, is one of the most family-friendly activities. After the trip, you can also enjoy the beach and, if you'd like, swim in Lake Maggiore: for this activity, we particularly recommend the beaches of Baveno (Villa Fedora), Feriolo, Verbania, or nearby Lake Mergozzo, the cleanest in Europe, with the beaches of Mergozzo or Verbania (La Rustica) near the Verbania-Fondotoce train station.


Why this trip is so popular with families:


You'll see real mermaids in the water, and then when you disembark on Fishermen's Island, you'll be able to meet the Sirens up close, open the chests of the fearsome Mazzarditi pirates—with a gift for every boy or girl—and take 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 a connection to Isola Pescatori—where you'll disembark after the Sirens' performance—and from there to Isola Bella, which you can visit freely and for as long as you like.

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


LIMITED PLACES BOOK NOW

For any doubts or information, please also read 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 pier in Piazza Marconi in Stresa and the contact details of the motorboat operator will be sent by email at the time of booking.

PROMOTIONAL OFFER: If you book now, you get a FREE flexible date if you can't make it.

Ticket with cruise, show and meeting with the mermaids, gifts from the Pirate's Chest, including round-trip motorboat connections with free visits of Pescatori Island and Bella Island for as long as desired.

Meeting in the water of two real Sirens

Cruise and navigation for 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

    You can spot the Sirens and watch the show in the water only on the scheduled dates, with motorboats departing from Stresa (boarding at Piazza Marconi) at the booked time (check online for available times). Groups can add dates or trips based on the number of participants (contact us at lemcomunicazione@gmail.com).

  • How to book and how much it costs

    The Borromean Islands motorboat cruise with mermaid spotting can only be booked online on our website. Click here to book online. Seats are limited; if availability is exhausted, join the waiting list: you will be notified if new trips or dates are added. Ticket prices are dynamic—the earlier you book, the more you save! FREE flexi-date promotion. Landing fee for 2 islands €1.00 per person. With the early booking option, you get a free flexi-date option. If you can't make it, you can move the date up to 8 days in advance or use your ticket for another of our events (valid for 12 months). Infants up to 3 years old - not occupying a seat (on their parents' lap). Free.

  • How long does the trip to the islands last?

    You can organize your trip however you like: the only time you need to respect is the boarding time from Stresa in Piazza Marconi on a reserved 35-passenger speedboat. When you book, choose the date and departure time. The cruise between the islands lasts approximately 25 minutes, including the sighting and in-water mermaid show, after which you'll disembark on Isola dei Pescatori for an up-close encounter with the mermaids and to collect your gift from the treasure chest. We then recommend a free visit to the island and the Fishing Museum (free admission). (We also recommend avoiding returning to the mermaids on the beach, as there may be children from the next trip there, or the mermaids may be busy putting on their tails, which would take away the magic from the children.) Connections from Isola Pescatori to Isola Bella, again with our speedboats, are continuous, approximately every 20 minutes. After visiting Isola Pescatori, a short boat ride takes you to nearby Isola Bella, where you can stay as long as you like (you can visit the palaces and gardens by purchasing tickets on site). When you decide to finish your trip to the islands, you can return to Stresa in just a few minutes—again, on our speedboats (continuous connections approximately every 30 minutes). We recommend dedicating at least 2.5 to 3 hours to the trip (if you also want to visit the palace and gardens on Isola Bella, consider a half-day instead).

  • What age is it suitable for?

    All events organized by Santa's Grotto are for the whole family, including adults. The speedboat cruise allows you to experience the Borromean Gulf and its splendid natural setting from an unusual perspective, as the Sirens' show also includes a circumnavigation of the islands, taking a different route than simply sailing to the islands. The sighting of the Sirens is thrilling for everyone, and 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 motorboats from navigating.

  • What happens if I can't come?

    All Santa's Grotto events are characterized by great flexibility, so no one loses their booking deposit. With the flexible date option—free with early bird tickets—you can change your date up to 8 days in advance, choosing from available spots. You can also change your event if there are no other dates or if the available dates aren't suitable for you, choosing from approximately 60 event days. The option is valid for 365 days. You can also add insurance to your ticket if desired. All tickets are refundable with a voucher in the event of cancellation due to force majeure, inclement weather, or a flexible date. With this additional guarantee, you are entitled to a cash refund, with a deductible of €3.00 per person, even in the event of sudden illness or injury (with a medical certificate), death up to the second degree of kinship, or accidents.

  • Accessibility, strollers, dogs

    Dogs are allowed on board the speedboats, and strollers can be carried. On the islands, using strollers on the innermost streets may be difficult; with infants, we also recommend a baby backpack. Unfortunately, wheelchair access is not possible on all vehicles.

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

    This is not possible because the sailing route is different from the regular connection to the islands. It is necessary to book the dedicated cruise on our website and respect the boarding time, as other speedboats—even those operated by the same carrier—do not sail the same route around the islands.

  • What type of motorboat do you use?

    For the Sirens' cruise, we use modern, comfortable, 35-passenger public speedboats, with indoor and outdoor seating. All information on how to reach the embarkation pier in Piazza Marconi in Stresa and the contact details of the speedboat operator will be sent by email upon booking.

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