When visiting Lake Maggiore in 2026, the "must-see" group is the Borromean Islands (Isole Borromee), which are easily accessible by ferry from Stresa or Baveno. The most famous is Isola Bella, which is dominated by a massive, opulent Baroque palace and world-renowned tiered gardens that resemble a "stone ship" floating in the lake. For those seeking a more authentic, local atmosphere, Isola dei Pescatori (Fishermen’s Island) is the only island inhabited year-round and is famous for its narrow medieval streets and excellent lakeside seafood restaurants. Isola Madre is the largest of the three and offers a more serene experience, featuring a botanical park filled with exotic plants and free-roaming white peacocks. If you only have time for one, Isola Bella provides the most dramatic architecture, but visiting all three via a "hop-on, hop-off" boat ticket is the definitive way to experience the "pearls of the lake" in the Italian Piedmont region.