Cardada-Cimetta: the must knows

  • Cimetta is a high mountain that can be reached from the center of Locarno.
  • You can enjoy 3 modes of mountain transport: a funicular, a cable car, and a chair lift.
  • You’ll have panoramic views over Lake Maggiore from the mid-station Cardada and the top station Cimetta.
  • Mid-station Cardada is perfect for a relaxed family trip: there’s a restaurant, terrace, playground and suspended viewing platform.
  • You can combine this ride with a visit to the Madonna del Sasso church.
Min. time required: 2:30
Season: early January to mid October and mid December to late December
Recommended season: early April to mid October
Max. altitude: 1616 m (5302 ft)

What are Cardada and Cimetta? Copy link to clipboard

Cimetta is a mountain top at 1,616 m. It's high above Locarno, which is at 200 m. Cardada is an area halfway up the mountain, with plenty of fun for families and sports enthusiasts.

The varied trip via Orselina, Madonna del Sasso, Cardada and Cimetta involves 3 modes of mountain transport. At the top, there is a wonderful view of the mountains, the Maggia Valley, the Centovalli, Locarno, Ascona, and Lake Maggiore. You can also see Italy from here.

You can have a bite in one of the restaurants and enjoy activities such as geocaching, hiking, mountain biking, paragliding, and Nordic walking. If there's enough snow in winter, sledding and snowshoeing are possible.

Prices, tickets and reservations Copy link to clipboard

Cardada-Cimetta prices in 2024

The standard price for a return trip between Locarno and Cimetta is CHF 44: CHF 8 for a funicular return ride Locarno-Orselina, and CHF 36 for a return ride by cable car and chairlift between Orselina, Cardada, and Cimetta.

You can get discounts with many rail passes.

Where to get your tickets

Tickets for the funicular to Orselina can be purchased at the valley station in Locarno. Tickets to Cardada and further up to Cimetta can be purchased at the cable car station in Orselina.

Reservations

Reservations aren't required for this excursion.

Find online tickets and tours for Cardada-Cimetta Copy link to clipboard

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Discounted lift tickets with your rail pass Copy link to clipboard

PassDiscount
Day Pass Discount 50%:
  • Orselina to Cimetta (cableway)
More information:

Locarno to Orselina (funicular): no discount.

Swiss Half Fare Card Discount 50%:
  • Orselina to Cimetta (cableway)
More information:

Locarno to Orselina (funicular): no discount.

Swiss Travel Pass Discount 50%:
  • Orselina to Cimetta (cableway)
More information:

Locarno to Orselina (funicular): 25% discount.

Swiss Travel Pass Flex Discount 50%:
  • Orselina to Cimetta (cableway)
More information:

Locarno to Orselina (funicular): 25% discount.

Ticino Ticket Discount 20%:
  • Orselina to Cimetta (cableway)
More information:

Locarno to Orselina (funicular): 20% discount.

How to reach Cardada-Cimetta: directions and map Copy link to clipboard

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How does the timetable work?

You'll reach the mountain by various modes of transport that start near the train station in Locarno.

How to reach Locarno

Locarno can comfortably be reached by train. The train station is very close to where the funicular up the mountain departs. You can reach Locarno by car as well.

Section 1: Locarno to Orselina

You'll start your trip at an altitude of 200 m. From the train station, turn left into the Via della Stazione. After 150 m you'll see the funicular station on your right, after crossing the canal. Take the funicular up to its last stop: Orselina Funicolare, at 378 m.

Alternatively, you can take a scenic walk from Locarno to the Madonna del Sasso church. Then proceed for 5 more minutes to reach Orselina. More details are here.

Section 2: Orselina to Cardada

In Orselina, you'll walk to the cable car station in less than a minute. Take the cable car to Cardada at 1,332 m.

Section 3: Cardada to Cimetta

Turn right as you leave the cable car station at Cardada and walk to the chairlift station. This easy walk across forestry terrain takes about 5 minutes. Take the chairlift up to Cimetta and walk to the observation platform at 1,671 m. This is another 5-minute walk.

Map: route from Locarno to Orselina, Cardada and Cimetta

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Map

Operation dates, schedules and timetable Copy link to clipboard

2024 operation dates

  • Section 1, Locarno-Orselina: operates all year.
  • Section 2, Orselina-Cardada: operates daily from 12 December 2023 until 20 October 2024. There's a maintenance break from 21 October to 20 December 2024.
  • Section 3, Cardada-Cimetta: operates on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 12 December 2023 to 10 March 2024, and operates daily from 11 March to 20 October 2024. There's a maintenance break from 21 October to 20 December 2024.

How to plan your excursion to Cardada-Cimetta

Consult the schedules through the links below. You can also plan this trip with the Swiss timetable, except for the last section to Cimetta.

For the ride up to Cardada, enter these names:

  • "Locarno" for the train station of Locarno
  • "Locarno Funicolare" for the funicular valley station
  • "Orselina Funicolare" for the funicular station at Orselina, close to Madonna del Sasso
  • "Orselina (Funivia Cardada)" for the cable car station to Cardada
  • "Cardada (Funivia)" for the cable car station at Cardada

Recommended seasons Copy link to clipboard

Orselina, Cardada and Cimetta can be reached during a large part of the year. Overall, we recommend a visit from early April to mid October:

  • That's when the chairlift to Cimetta operates daily.
  • We also think vegetation in this area is prettier from April onward than in March.

Cardada and Cimetta are at relatively low altitudes, so they're not the most obvious winter destination. You could be lucky and experience snow during the winter months though.

Weather at Cardada-Cimetta Copy link to clipboard

Check the weather forecast, so you can estimate if it's worth it go up. If the Cimetta is covered in clouds, you will not be able to see the views. Cardada at lower altitude may be clear though.

Dress in multiple thinner layers so that you can adapt to the different temperatures throughout the day. It can be windy at the top. Take along sunglasses, and in winter also gloves and a hat.

You'll need appropriate gear if you plan to hike.

Short-term weather forecast for Cimetta

 

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What to see and do during your mountain excursion

What to do at Cardada

This is what you can see and do at mid-station Cardada:

  • You can enter the suspended observation platform offering a 180° view of the area. To get there, turn left after arriving by cable car from Orselina.
  • There’s a hotel-restaurant with a panorama terrace and a children’s playground.
  • More family fun is available. Walk the play path for example, with all kinds of games. Or take the barefoot tactile path, go geocaching, or solve the treasure hunt riddles.
  • Hiking, mountain biking, and Nordic walking are possible too.

What to expect at Cimetta

This is what you can do at Cimetta:

  • There’s a restaurant with a terrace.
  • There’s an observation platform offering a 360° view. Information panels teach you about the geology of the Alps, and particularly about the collision of the African and European tectonic plates.
  • Just as at Cardada, geocaching is available here.
  • You can visit the small alpine lake, that’s been constructed as a water reservoir and buffer against forest fires in the summer season.
  • Make a tandem paragliding flight to the valley.

What to see and do in winter

If there is sufficient snow, you can sled at both Cardada and Cimetta. There’s no groomed downhill run, but you will find gradual slopes to have some fun. In addition, you can go snowshoeing on one of the three groomed trails from Cardada. Equipment can be rented at the cable car station.

What else to do on the same day

On average, a visit all the way to Cimetta takes about half a day, unless you engage in several of the activities.

If you have time left, we feel that the famous church Madonna del Sasso in Orselina (on the route to Cardada-Cimetta) is well worth a visit. Before or after your excursion you can explore Locarno, for example with our town walk. Or enjoy a boat trip at Lake Maggiore.

Other websites of interest

Schedules

Prices

Our guides for nearby excursions Copy link to clipboard

Madonna del Sasso Church and chapels in Locarno

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.