If you are looking for a brief attraction that involves a boat ride, a treasure hunt, a place for picnic – look no further! Isole di Brissago has all this on offer.
We took off from Ascona with a boat. The journey took no longer than 15 minutes including boarding. I think we queued for tickets longer than the water passage overall. Make sure to buy the entrance ticket for the botanical garden at the same time with the boat ticket to avoid queuing up twice. The boat has two decks with plenty of seats and standing space. It goes from Locarno to Brissago with a few stops along the way.
Once on the island, it was very clear which way to proceed. There is a hotel with a restaurant for those wish to eat out. Otherwise, there is a huge picnic area with plenty of space for the kids to roam around. We got lucky to be able to soak in the last rays of the November sun. It warmed us to the point, that even in the evening we felt our cheeks radiating. Many families enjoyed the free space, some on the benches, while others simply relaxed on the green grounds. Kids enjoyed rolling down the hills and playing tags. Dogs are allowed on the island but must be kept on their leash at all times.
We visited the day after Halloween. Pumpkin treasure hunt was available for smaller visitors. There were a dozen of pumpkins hidden around the gardens, just waiting to be explored, and ticked off on the poster provided at the entrance. We managed to loose ours half way around the garden, but its not a surprise while the kids / grown ups ratio benefits the minors. We still managed to find all hidden pumpkins while exploring. They were well hidden in at all corners of the island.
This attraction is advertised as buggy friendly. While the major paths are accessible with a buggy, get ready to leave it along the way to have a closer look at the various sections / areas of the island. There is a cool labyrinth in the misty bamboo forest. There is a roman bath that is accessible via a staircase only. There are other smaller paths with stairs or just simply too narrow for the buggy ride. So I suppose as long as you have enough grown ups to pick up the little ones when looking around these areas, then you will be just fine.
Would I go back with the family? Probably not, unless there is a special assignment that would require some visual observation of the plants. It is a pretty nice attraction for a couple of hours including a picnic and the boat ride.
Expat Mom Journal 