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Min. time required: 2:00
Season: late March to mid November
Recommended season: early April to late September
Max. altitude: 200 m (656 ft)What are the Brissago Islands? 
The Brissago Islands ("Isole di Brissago") are two tiny islands in the northern part of Lake Maggiore, located in the Swiss canton of Ticino.
The larger island of San Pancrazio, also called "Isola Grande", is open to the public and offers a wonderful botanical garden, to be visited from April to November. You can reach it by boat from Locarno, Ascona, and several other villages.
This larger island is just over 300 m (1000 ft) long. Sant' Apollinare, the smaller one, is mostly left in its natural state and is not accessible to the general public.
Info about prices, tickets and reservations
Entry tickets for the Brissago botanical gardens
A ticket for the botanical gardens costs CHF 10 per adult. You also need boat tickets to reach the islands, unless you have a rail pass that covers boats on Lake Maggiore.
The tickets can be bought at the entrance of the gardens, right opposite the boat dock.
Reservations
You don't have to make reservations if you visit the gardens on your own. If you prefer a guided group tour, you have to book one at least 5 days in advance.
Find tours and tickets for the Brissago Islands
Don't forget you need tickets for the boat as well.
Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
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Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
- Offer from one of our best partners.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can assist if you have questions about your order.
Offered by MySwissAlps: www.myswissalps.com
- Offer from one of our best partners.
- Extra Support: MySwissAlps can assist if you have questions about your order.
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How to reach the islands: directions and map
The islands can be reached by boat from Locarno, Ascona, Porto Ronco, and several other towns.
Via Porto Ronco
Porto Ronco is a village on Lake Maggiore between Ascona and the Italian border. It can be reached by bus and by car. There is limited parking in the village.
Boats operate quite frequently between Porto Ronco and the larger Brissago Island.
Via other towns
You can also reach the island from other towns on the lake via less frequent boats: Locarno (in 40-60 minutes), Ascona (15 minutes), Brissago (10 minutes), and San Nazarro (35-40 minutes). Find information about Lake Maggiore boat trips here.
Map: location of the Brissago Islands
Opening dates, opening hours and timetable
Opening dates and hours
The gardens are open from 20 March to 3 November 2024. That's when the boats to the island operate. Daily opening hours are usually 09:00 to 17:30.
Planning your journey in the timetable
You can plan your visit to the island:
- with the aid of the Lake Maggiore boat timetable.
- with the boat search using these links.
- in the general Swiss timetable. Enter "Isole di Brissago" as your destination.
Best months to visit the garden
The botanical gardens at the Brissago Islands can be visited from late March to early November. Within this period, I feel like early April to late September is best.
My personal favorites are April and June. There's an abundance of flowers and fresh greenery, and you'll have a good chance of mild temperatures.
As for the other months:
- During hot days in June, July, August and September, the shady areas of the gardens are a welcome refreshment, and the flowers are still beautiful.
- The variety of green plants and colorful blossoming flowers is less striking as autumn draws near in October and November.
Weather info and forecast
Dry weather is best for your visit to the botanical gardens. It's all outdoor, except for the hotel-restaurant.
Even though weather is often very good in this area, we recommend checking the forecasts to make sure there won't be ongoing rain. Also keep in mind that it can be windy on the boat and the islands. Dressing in multiple thinner layers allows you to adapt quickly. Comfortable shoes are recommended.
The current forecasts for Isole di Brissago
What to expect from a visit to the botanical gardens
You can explore the gardens on your own. This takes 1,5 to 2 hours if you take your time. Alternatively, you can book a guided group tour. This is what to expect:
- The botanical gardens feature about 2,000 different plants from all over the world, including the “nearby” Mediterranean. The gardens are divided into several zones.
- It’s a pleasure to stroll around and enjoy the views of the gardens, the lake, and the surrounding mountains. There is about 1 km of paths to reach all corners of the island.
- There’s a treasure hunt map for children.
- There’s a small hotel, called Villa Emden, with a restaurant and a terrace.
Why the Brissago Islands and gardens are special
The islands are located in the warm Lake Maggiore and are protected from cold air by the mountain ranges. Even in winter, the climate is relatively warm here, so it’s an excellent place to grow plants from humid subtropical regions worldwide.
The canton of Ticino and nearby towns own the islands since 1949. They were opened to the public in 1959. Before that, the islands were privately owned since 1885. There was a church in the 11th century, but only its ruins are left.
Other websites of interest
- www.isoledibrissago.ti.ch: group tours and other group events
Dates and times
- www.isoledibrissago.ti.ch: opening hours of the gardens
Schedules
- www.isoledibrissago.ti.ch: schedules of boats to the islands
Prices
- www.isoledibrissago.ti.ch: entry prices for the botanical gardens
Activities close the Brissago Islands
Town walk Locarno
Town walk Ascona
Madonna del Sasso
