The towns of Ascona and Locarno are the perfect destination for a long weekend. They have a perfect combination of culture, social life, and nature that will make you have a fantastic time. guarantee you having a fantastic time. Here are 12 things that make Ascona-Locarno worth visiting.
ASCONA
1. Walk around the old town and marvel at the water promenade
Walking around the old town in Ascona is a must. It is full of charming narrow cobbled streets with shops, galleries, and restaurants. The waterfront promenade is as cute as it gets. You will be torn between admiring the beautiful and colorful houses with balconies or the amazing views of the lake surrounded by mountains. It is the perfect place to sit down in one of the many cafés or restaurants and enjoy a drink while you relax and enjoy the beauty around you.
The Ticino website offers a short itinerary to make sure you don’t miss any of the main sites of Ascona.
2. Visit the Church Santi Pietro e Paulo
Another must in Ascona is the beautiful church of Santi Pietro e Paulo. This church is dating from 1624 and inside you can admire the works of painter Giovanni Serodine.
3. Take a boat to the Brissago Islands
The Brissago Islands are two small islands (Isola Grande and Isola Piccola) in the Lake Maggiore near Ascona. You can reach them by taking a 15-minute boat ride from Ascona. Two ferry companies provide services on the lake and both will take you there. You can find the timetables for both on the following website.
Isola Grande, the only island that is open for public visit homes the only botanical park on an island in Switzerland. More information about the botanical garden and the entry tickets is available on their website.
4. Enjoy watersports in the lake
If you are visiting during the summer months, watersports are a must in Ascona. Locals enjoy swimming in the lake and Ascona has a beach area (entry ticket is 6 CHF) in which you can enjoy the water and the sun.
Another possible thing to do is rent a stand-up paddle and discover the Maggia river from the water.
LOCARNO
1. Admire the sanctuary Madonna del Sasso
Madonna del Sasso is the prettiest sanctuary in the Ticino canton. Its prime location in the small village of Orselina gives amazing views of Locarno and Lake Maggiore. But don’t just limit yourself to taking photos of the beautiful outside and the scenery, the sanctuary can be visited as well.
To get there, we took the funicular that leaves 150m from Locarno’s train station to the village of Orselina for 7,2 CHF (4’80 CHF for a one-way ticket). To get all information about the timetables and tickets, you can visit its website. Tip: If you have the travel swiss pass you can get 25% off your ticket.
If you are feeling more sporty, you can choose to just do a one-way trip on the funicular and do the other way on foot. You will not be disappointed by the views!
2. Wander around the Citta Vecchia of Locarno and discover its Piazza Grande
Locarno’s old town also known as Citta Vecchia is as cute and charming as the one in Ascona. Get lost walking through its streets while admiring the architecture. Its main square or Piazza Grande combines historic buildings with modern restaurants and shops.
If you are craving something sweet be sure to visit Al Porto Portici Locarno and get one of their Pannetonne. We had a pistachio one and it was delicious!
3. Visit Castello Visconteo
Once you are done admiring the Piazza Grande, keep walking a bit further until you reach the Visconteo Castle (Castello Visconteo). It is located on the border of the old town and it dates from the 15th century. It is now an archeological museum and it costs 15CHF to enter.
4. Walk along Lungolago Giuesseppe Motta
To finish a beautiful day in Locarno, take a stroll along the Lungolago. Contrary to the Ascona waterfront, this one is calmer and more peaceful. It’s the perfect way to wind down and end your day with beautiful views of the lake. There are some nice bars where you can enjoy a drink near the lake.
THINGS TO DO IN THE LAKE MAGGIORE REGION
If you are visiting for more than a weekend you should definitely explore the region around Ascona and Locarno. Here are some recommendations on what to visit.
1. Hike to Pizzo Leone
Want to have amazing views of Lake Maggiore? Then Hiking the Pizzo Leone trail is the right choice for you. This trail is not difficult at all and you will be amazed every second of it by the views of the lake and the Brissago Islands.
2. Explore Verzasca Valley
This valley is the perfect place for hiking, swimming, and mountain biking so if you are into active activities this is the perfect place for you for a day trip near Ascona and Locarno.
Verzasca Valley is known for its beauty and emerald green waters. The valley begins with a 220 m high dam, famous for appearing in the James Bond movie Goldeneye. But the most beautiful part of the valley is the arched bridge Ponte dei Santi in Lavertezzo.
3. Foroglio and Calneggia Valley
The small village of Foroglio with its beautiful waterfall next to it will transport you back in time. You can walk really close to the waterfall if you don’t mind getting a bit wet!
Behind Foroglio, the is a hiking trail that leads all the way up to the Calneggia Valley. This walk was my personal favorite of my visit to the region, it walks along the river that later creates the waterfall.
4. Go up to Cardada Cimetta
From Orselina, where the Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso is located, you can take a cable car that will take you to Cardada (1340m) and from there a chair lift will bring you to Cimetta which is 1676m high. From there, there is a metallic platform that will give you a 360º of the region.
After enjoying the view, if you are up for some exercise you can hike to the Trossa Peak which takes a bit over an hour. From there you can enjoy magnificent views of the Locarno valley and the Maggia delta.
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