Have any of you stayed in Locarno and gone on day trips that were memorable? Please tell us about them. We'll be in Locarno for two weeks the latter part of June. We like to bike and take walks and explore off the beaten path.

Can take boats on Lake Maggiore all the way down to Stresa
or
hop the Centovalli narrow-gauge mountain train that links Locarno to Domodossola, Italy - a cute ride through nice villages - many hikes from stations to other stations
or
train to nearby Lugano - boats on Lake Lugano are nice and Lugano is beautiful itself

If you like to bike you'll love biking the Centovalli. You can rent a bike at the Camedo station (last Swiss station) on the Centovalli line and ride back (all downhill!). It's really beautiful. Stop at the Monte Comino gondola (near the Verdasa station) and take the trip up the mountain. There is a cute little grotto (restaurant) on top and the views are exraordinary.

Also at the Verdasa station is the gondola that will take you across the gorge to Rasa, another great little village to explore. From Rasa you can walk on the donkey trails to another station to return to Locarno.

Be sure to visit Bellinzona, about 20 minutes by local train from Locarno. The pretty town has 3 ancient Roman castles that you can explore.

Walk along the lakeside path to Albergo Navegna. Be sure to have dinner at the restaurant. The food there is wonderful.

I'm so jealous. Locarno is such a wonderful place. Two weeks! Ahhhhh.

To The Top

Hi Catbert: We just rented a condo in Ascona next October again. I like the idea with the bikes. We haven't done the Centovalle yet.

Other ideas: Bavona valley (a valley back in the Maggia valley.) It's gorgeous and no tourists. Tiny stone villages embedded in trees and green grass. Very magical.

Cannobio Sunday morning market. (take the ferry)

Luino Wednesday morning market.

Take a walk from Ascona town along the lake to the Maggia river. Beautiful.

See Bosco Gurin at the end of Maggia valley.

Travel to Verzasca and see the heritage protected village of Corippo.

Webcams from Locarno and Lugano:
http://www.reiseziel-tessin.de/
(choose live webcams)

For gorgeous pictures of Tessin, see:
http://www.sengers.ch/2001_ti_it.html
http://www.reiseziel-tessin.de/modul...age&pid=68

(sorry about the long websites)

Please ignore that last website. It's a repeat.

Other ideas:

Val Verzasca till the end (Sonogno)
Indemini

Day trips to the Lugano area are a must if you have two weeks. Try to see Gandria, Morcote, Carona, go up by funiculars to Monte Bré, Monte San Salvatore, Monte Generoso.

The Valle Maggia is also excellent for biking. Another idea is to take the train to Bellinzona and bike back.

More good ideas from Ingo and Schuler. Schuler, you are so lucky!

Just so you know, you can rent bikes from many train stations in Switzerland.

the Centovalli ("Hundred Valleys" train line runs mainly thru Italy, though Swiss Passes are good on the whole route to Domodossola - i wonder if the Italian stations also rent bikes. What a wonderful suggestion - biking from Camedo and coast back down to Locarno!

There are a lot of good suggestions here that bring back fond memories of the two weeks I spent in Ascona several years ago.

A fun trip was taking the Palm Express Post bus from Lugano to St. Moritz. I sat right behind the driver and it was quite an experience! I stayed in Pontresina for two nights then took the Bernina Express back. The train stopped in Tirano and from there I took a bus back to Lugano.

Hi Catbert,

You are certainly correct. I once took an American family to the Goschenen train station. We rented bikes and drove them down to lakeside beaches in Fluelen. They were singing "the hills are alive with the sound of music" all the way down. I felt like Julie Andrews.

What wonderful trips you suggest!! Thanks for your ideas.

For a nice excursion, either walk or take the cable railway near the railroad station in Locarno to the "Madonna del Sasso" (sanctuary and small museum.) The funicular leaves every 15 min. and it is about a 5 min. ride. Madonna del Sasso is situated at 378 m from where you have a nice view over the lake.

If you have the time, take the cable to Cardada and up to Cimetta by chair lift. There's an observatory at 1,670 m with a 360 degrees view....You can continue on foot to the Cardada Alp and further up to Cima della Trosa at 1,869 m.