Experiences along the Grand Tour in Ticino

At Swissminiatur in Melide you can walk through Switzerland in miniature. Discover over 130 models of Swiss buildings, take a look behind the scenes in the studio and test your knowledge of Switzerland on Rudy's quiz course.

At the southern end of Lake Lugano is the 1,704 metre high Monte Generoso. This lofty altitude makes it without a doubt the best mountain for views in the canton of Ticino.

Ascona is a little gem rich in history, art and culture. The traditional coloured houses by the lake, formerly home to fishermen, give the village a Mediterranean feel. Thanks to its mild climate and 2,300 hours of sun each year, Ascona is the perfect place to relax outdoors, enjoy the lake breeze, sample some delicious ice cream or attend a concert at JazzAscona. The picturesque lakeside promenade offers a magnificent view of the Brissago Islands and surrounding mountains, which can be explored via the 1,400km network of hiking trails. The photo spot is dismantled during the Christmas season between the beginning of November and mid-January. 

Take the gondola up to Alpe Foppa on Monte Tamaro. At the top, the toboggan run, rope park and tyrolienne are waiting for you. On the high-altitude trail you hike to Monte Lema with a view of Ticino lakes and Alpine peaks.

Located on the shores of Lake Lugano, this 63,000 square metre park constitutes the city’s green lung. Here you can recover from the hustle and bustle of the city as you walk along paths lined by magnificent centuries-old trees.

Known as “the pearl of Ceresio”, Morcote is one of the prettiest villages in Switzerland. It owes its timeless beauty to its narrow streets, enchanting postcard settings and picturesque historic buildings. The arcades of the noble antique villas, major architectural monuments and lush subtropical vegetation welcome both visitors and residents. The Church of Santa Maria del Sasso, the grand Scala Monumentale stairway and Torre del Capitano tower are just a few of the interesting sights that make Morcote an artistic and cultural mecca for tourists. If you like to get out in nature and relax, then a stroll through Parco Scherrer with its subtropical flora is a must. Morcote offers spectacular 360° photo opportunities: from breathtaking views of the Piazza Granda and Church of Santa Maria del Sasso to magnificent sunsets over Porto Ceresio.

The Tremola is one of the most beautiful and thrilling pass roads for avid cyclists. It was built at the start of the 19th century and later paved with hundreds of thousands of granite cobblestones between 1937 and 1941. It winds from Airolo up to the Gotthard Pass at 2,106m with 24 switchbacks along the way.

The village of Castel San Pietro overlooking the Mendrisiotto region takes its name from a castle that once stood on the hill above the town and has since been replaced by the Chiesa di San Pietro church. In the heart of this historic village stands the Masseria Cuntitt farmstead, which was built in the 1800s. Its perfect location and multipurpose spaces can be enjoyed by all of the residents in the village. The renovated building preserves the past, while at the same time recreating the rhythms of life on a traditional farm for new generations to experience. Behind it on the Colle di Obino hill is the church dedicated to Saint Antonino, which was first mentioned in 1250 and is among Switzerland’s key cultural treasures.

The subject of this trail is the relationship between wine growing and terroir.

More than 100 animals from all over the world are at home in the Zoo al Maglio to marvel at. These include lions, panthers, snow leopards, serval, the Bennett wallaby, gibbons, macaques and capuchin monkeys as well as parrots.

The cable car, originally built in 1952 and redesigned by architect Mario Botta in 2000, takes you to Cardada in only 5 minutes. The unique and unsurpassed panorama covers the entire Locarno region, while at the same time allowing you to see both Switzerland’s lowest point (Lake Maggiore) as well as its highest point (Dufourspitze, the highest peak of Monte Rosa)! The two-seater chairlift from Cardada to Cimetta runs parallel to the railway axis and provides you with an unrivalled, breathtaking view.

This magnificent botanical garden is set on the Gambarogno side of Lago Maggiore, on the hillside terrace between Piazzogna and Vairano. Here, the Parco Botanico del Gambarogno foundation lavishes endless love and skill on the over 17,000 square metres of gorgeously colourful plants.

San Michele Park and its typical southern vegetation offer a breathtaking view of the city of Lugano. Its paths lead through typical southern vegetation such as wisteria, oleander, oak, elm, hornbeam, ash and laurel trees. From here, you can see Lake Lugano with its little harbours, the lido and the long lake promenade in their entirety. Monte San Salvatore also appears before you in all its splendour. In the distance, the Alps stand out in a variety of shapes and colours that are especially impressive at sunset. Experience the unique outdoor offerings of the Lugano region. Hikes, cycling tours, leisurely walks along themed hiking trails and even exciting MTB trails. The Lugano region – a region with a green heart.

Opened in 1959, Swissminiatur is the largest open-air miniature museum in Switzerland. It is located in Melide on the shores of Lake Lugano. There are more than 100 models of the most famous buildings, monuments and means of transport in Switzerland, all at the unusual scale of 1:25. Traditional methods and innovative processes come together to create genuine miniature masterpieces. Admire precision craftsmanship, faithful to the original and executed with loving care.

The San Michele Park sits high above Lugano and offers spectacular views of the city, the lake and the mountains. The typically southern vegetation is sure to thrill many of its visitors too.

The Muggio Valley was once very nearly abandoned, but precisely because the locals place importance on their past, it now lives on into the future as an open-air museum.

The sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso in Orselina above Locarno is the most famous place of pilgrimage in the Italian part of Switzerland. It is rooted in the ancient tradition of votive gifts.

Located between Monte San Salvatore and Monte Arbostora at an altitude of just under 700 metres, the botanical gardens are a mecca for park visitors and plant lovers – particularly in April and May, when the azaleas and rhododendrons form a fragrant carpet.

The park surrounding the Villa dei Cedri, which today is home to the Municipal Museum for Modern and Contemporary Art, is a living example of an English-style park of the 19th century. A further attraction is the vineyard behind the villa, whose grapes are used to produce the popular Merlot.

The Mendrisiotto and southern Lake Lugano region are dotted with highlights. Take, for example, the narrow lanes in the heart of Bissone, home to numerous artists and Francesco Borromini (1599–1667), the “starchitect” of the Renaissance period. The green “pyramid” on the other side of the lake is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site: fossils of fish and species of reptiles have been found on Monte San Giorgio, testifying to life on Earth more than 200 million years ago.

A trip to the Breggia Gorges is a real time travelling experience. In this part of the Mendrisiotto along the Breggia River you will find some unusual geological formations.

The St. Gotthard Pass is one of the most legendary Alpine crossings. Drive through historic switchbacks, visit a museum full of history and immerse yourself in a landscape between rocks and mountain lakes.

At Lake Lugano, it is wonderfully easy to escape one’s daily routine: by enjoying a sunbath below palm trees, cruises on the lake or hiking tours through magnificent landscapes.

The lowest and highest points in Switzerland at a glance: Lake Maggiore to the south and the Valais Alps with the Dufourspitze to the west. All just five minutes from the city of Locarno. This is the Cardada mountain.

This wellness complex is both a place for coming together and a place of rest and relaxation. The complex is known in particular for its unique lakeside location as well as its architecture.

The Bolle di Magadino, one of nine water meadow landscapes considered by the Swiss Academy for Natural Science to be of international importance, includes the delta of the Ticino and Verzasca Rivers at the Langensee (lake).

Between the emerald green river, Rustici and the Ponte dei Salti lies one of the most pristine valleys in Ticino. You will discover picturesque stone villages, wonderful bathing spots and traditions that shape the charm of the Verzasca Valley.

The Monte Brè funicular takes you from Lugano to an altitude of 933 meters. From the summit you can see Lake Lugano, the Valais and Bernese Alps and the Monte Rosa massif. The railway has been running since 1908.

With its gentle hills stretching as far as the Magadino plain, the Bellinzona e Valli region is packed with historical highlights. A leisurely e-bike tour through this impressive landscape is a particularly tempting prospect, especially when combined with the opportunity to sample the regional cuisine.

The Sacred Mountain (Sacro Monte) consists of the pilgrimage church of Santa Maria Addolorata and the Way of the Cross leading from Brissago up the hill to this church.

Villa Negroni is one of Ticino’s most important villas. One of the reasons is the valuable expansive garden surrounding the villa. There is a clear division into two contrasting elements: an Italian flower garden and an English-style park.

Each Saturday, people come together to enjoy the colourful weekly market that stretches from Piazza Nosetto to the alleyways of the old town.