Cardada is Locarno’s local mountain and offers breathtaking views of Lake Maggiore, the Magadino plain and the Valais Alps. At the same time, it is an ideal destination for families: playgrounds, walking trails and child-friendly restaurants make it a mountain of experiences for young and old.

Our family day begins in Locarno – surrounded by palm trees, the lake, and the charm of the old town. On the Piazza Grande, cafés line up one after another, the scent of fresh espresso fills the air, and Lake Maggiore sparkles in the morning sun. The atmosphere is relaxed, the lake so close. Before heading uphill, we stroll along the lakeside promenade – past walkers, flowerbeds, and pedal boats. Just a few steps from the station, we board the funicular to Orselina.

There is a cheerful atmosphere on the funicular, the ride is steep – in just a few minutes we reach the lower station of the cable car, designed by star architect Mario Botta. The glass cabin gently lifts off, glides over the treetops, and soon we find ourselves in another world.

At the top, on Cardada, we are greeted by the vastness of the mountains. Our gaze drifts across the Maggia Valley, the Centovalli, and the lake lying far below – a view that inspires wonder. On the floating viewing platform we stand seemingly above the valley, close to the clouds.

The children discover the “Arca di Noè” playground, balancing, climbing and calling out excitedly. And us? We breathe deeply. Everything feels lighter up here. The city is still within sight, yet it feels worlds away.

A short walk leads through the forest, past art installations, picnic spots and small play stations that spark curiosity and movement. We arrive at the Colmanicchio mountain restaurant, where we enjoy Ticino specialties on the terrace – polenta, brasato, and ice cream for the children. Life is simple here.

After lunch, the open chairlift takes us a little further up – to Cimetta, at 1,671 meters above sea level. Up here stands “Swing the world”. Those who dare swing out over the void, with views of Lake Maggiore and all the way to the Dufourspitze – Switzerland’s highest peak. Next to it, the geological platform invites discovery: a circular terrace where not only rock layers but entire continents meet.

On Cimetta, the world lies at our feet – and at the same time a window opens into its origins. The geological observation platform not only offers a 360° view over the Magadino plain, the Valais Alps and, on clear days, as far as the Apennines near Genoa, but also fascinating insights into the forces that shaped the Alps. A red line marks the “Linea Insubrica” – the collision of the European and African tectonic plates. Information panels vividly explain how the mountains were formed millions of years ago. Thus, the view becomes an experience – and geology an adventure.

We linger, marvel, take photos. Then we ride the chairlift back down, past chestnut and fir trees, back to Cardada – and from there further down into the valley. The descent is as effortless as the ascent. Once back at the bottom, Locarno feels even more Mediterranean – as if the day up in the mountains had sharpened our senses for the colors, scents, and dolce vita of this city.

Cardada Cimetta is not a mountain for alpinists. It is a mountain for families, pleasure seekers, and walkers. For everyone who wants to experience how close the mountains come to the city – and how a day between lake and summit can connect entire worlds.