Two small islands in the Swiss portion of Lake Maggiore, just south of Brissago, hold one of the finest botanical gardens in Switzerland. The larger island is entirely given over to the garden, which exploits the mild microclimate — among the warmest in the country — to grow subtropical and tropical species that have no business growing this far north: azaleas, cacti, eucalyptus, and banana plants alongside camellias and rhododendrons.
Regular boat services connect the islands to Brissago and Ascona. The crossing takes twenty minutes from Ascona; the islands are small enough to walk around in an hour, though the garden rewards a slower exploration. Swimming is not permitted at the islands themselves, but the boat ride across the lake in the early morning, when the mist is still on the water and the Alps are sharp above it, is worth the trip for its own sake.