Must-knows about Locarno

  • Locarno in the southern Swiss canton Ticino has a vibrant and Mediterranean atmosphere.
  • It’s a good base to explore Lake Maggiore, and the areas around Bellinzona and Lugano.
  • The town is compact. You can reach the station, lakefront, center and shops on foot.
  • Hotels provide you with a Ticino Ticket for free local traveling.
  • Traffic in Locarno can be busy. Consider a smaller town, such as nearby Ascona, if you prefer quieter surroundings.
Recommended season: mid March to late October
Altitude: 200 m (656 ft)
Town size: Medium
This town is on a lake
Local language: Italian
There is a train station

Things to see and do near Locarno Copy link to clipboard

Find your day trips from Locarno

Centovalli train seen from Intragna
Centovalli Railway
Scenic train tripMin. time required: 2:00
The Centovalli Railway offers a unique train journey across remote valleys in northern Italy and southern Switzerland. Learn how to plan your trip between Domodossola …
Passenger ferry leaving from the Brissago Islands
Boat Lake Maggiore
Scenic boat tripMin. time required: 0:30
This is how to plan a boat tour on the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore. You can even enjoy an international cruise into Italy.
View over Locarno and Lago Maggiore from Cimetta
Cardada-Cimetta
MountainsMin. time required: 2:30
It's a pleasant trip by funicular, cable car and chair lift from Locarno to Cardada and Cimetta. Once there you'll have stunning views!
Madonna del Sasso Church and chapels in Locarno
Madonna del Sasso
City trip, MuseumMin. time required: 1:00
This is how to visit the historical and scenic site of the Madonna del Sasso church, above Locarno in southern Switzerland.
The quay and boat dock of Locarno
Town walk Locarno
City trip, HikingMin. time required: 1:00
Explore the historical town center of Locarno and the Lake Maggiore boulevard on foot in just 1 hour.
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What not to miss during your stay

We recommend these 3 must-do's if you're visiting Locarno:

  1. Make a boat trip on Lake Maggiore.
  2. Visit the Madonna-del-Sasso church.
  3. Take the cable car and chairlift up to Cimetta.

Winter activities in Locarno

Locarno isn't a typical winter town. There are a few nearby ski resorts, but they're at relatively low elevations.

Locarno travel info and map Copy link to clipboard

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How does the timetable work?

There are excellent train connections to Locarno. It can be reached by car as well via motorway 13. Traffic in town can be pretty busy.

Traveling to Locarno by train

The recommended way to travel to Locarno is by train. The obvious routes are:

  • From Lugano (0h35) or Bellinzona (0h25) in the Ticino.
  • Via the scenic Centovalli Railway from Domodossola in Italy or from Brig (2h40) in the Valais.
  • From Lucerne in northern Switzerland, via the Gotthard Base Tunnel (2h00) or the Gotthard mountain route via Airolo (3h10).

You can plan your journey to or from Locarno with the Swiss timetable.

Traveling to Locarno by car

You can reach the town by car too. If you do, we recommend making sure your accommodation offers an affordable parking place. There is little or no free parking in town as far as we know.

If you arrive from the north and have to pass the Gotthard car tunnel, it's good to know that waiting times can be long: up to several hours in weekends and during holidays.

The rail station of Locarno and "Locarno FART"

All regular trains to and from the east of Locarno arrive at, and depart from, the rail station "Locarno".

There's the underground train station "Locarno FART" too. This is where you'll find the local Centovalli trains to and from Domodossola/Brig. The underground station can easily be reached via a staircase just outside the Locarno station.

FART stands for the Italian local transport company name "Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi". 

Finding your way in Locarno

There are buses to get around within town and the various districts. The area covering the town center, lakeside boulevard and the train station is small. Therefore, it's more practical to just walk to wherever you like to go.

Driving in this area is not recommended. There are lots of one-way streets and a pedestrian zone. The traffic can be busy.

Public transport is convenient

The best way to conveniently get around in the Locarno area is public transport. Trains, buses, boats and cable cars will take you almost everywhere.

In some remote valleys like the Verzasca valley, a car may come in handy. Buses are perfectly able to get you there too, but they don't operate frequently, so check the schedules in advance.

Public transport is free for hotel guests

If you spend the night in or near Locarno, you can profit from free local travel:

  • Hotels in Locarno will provide you with a Ticino Ticket, which offers a lot of transportation throughout the canton, either for free or discounted.
  • There's the "myAscona-Locarno app" for guests of hotels, holiday homes, and campsites the Ascona-Locarno area. It provides discounts on local activities. 

If you plan to make trips in other Swiss areas, we advise you to look into an additional rail pass to save money. Consult our comparison guide to make the right choice.

Locarno on a map of Switzerland

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Travel guides for the Ticino Copy link to clipboard

Regional Tilo train Italy-Ticino

Italy to Switzerland

How to take the quick trains from Milan and other Italian towns to Switzerland, and which scenic routes to choose. …

When to visit Locarno Copy link to clipboard

The best months for a trip to Locarno are mid-March to October.

Locarno in March and April

By mid-March, you'll see the first signs of spring in the low and warm Locarno region. March and April are the perfect time to visit Locarno in peace and quiet.

It's a shoulder season though, so your options are somewhat limited. The boats on the lake only start operating by mid-April, for example.

Locarno in May and June

May and June are pleasant months for a trip to Locarno. Pretty much all activities in the region are accessible. Most hiking trails are too. Heatwaves are less common than in July and August.

Locarno in July and August

July and August are the warmest months. It can get hot in the city. You can always cool down on the lake and the local mountain Cardada-Cimetta though.

Locarno in September and October

September and October are less touristy. Autumn will gradually set in. The hills and valleys on the lake still look pretty. By mid-October, some attractions (such as the lake boats) stop operating.

Locarno in November, December, January and February

We think Locarno is less attractive in winter. Due to its low elevation, snow in town isn't likely. You'll have to travel quite a bit to reach high-altitude ski resorts.

The holiday atmosphere and Christmas markets are more prominent in western and northern Swiss cities.

Weather and climate in Locarno Copy link to clipboard

Temperatures in Locarno

Locarno is in one of Switzerland's sunniest and warmest areas. Daytime temperatures in winter are typically around 7°C to 11°C. Average temperatures in summer range from 24°C to 29°C. It can get hotter though.

Rainfall in Locarno

The wettest months in Locarno are April to November. Especially on warm summer days, showers in the late afternoon are more common than continuous rain.

Much less precipitation occurs from December to March.

5-day weather forecast for Locarno

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Hotels and apartments in Locarno Copy link to clipboard

Find a hotel in the town center, near the train station, or on the lake of Locarno through this overview. Locarno is compact: you're never far away from anything.

Holiday homes and apartments are available too. We stayed in an apartment on the "Via Simone da Locarno", with splendid views of the harbor, the outskirts of Locarno, the lake, and the mountains.

If you want to check out more options, the below collections of Switzerland hotels and holiday homes can help you out.

Grand Hotel Suisse with park in Montreux

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Chalets with holiday apartments in Bettmeralp, Valais

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Swiss holiday homes and rental apartments are good alternatives to hotels, especially if you stay a week or longer. You'll …

Why stay in Locarno?

Locarno is the biggest town on the Swiss part of Lake Maggiore (“Lago Maggiore” in Italian). It offers everything for a convenient stay: lots of restaurants, multiple supermarkets, and great public transport connections. We based ourselves in Locarno for two weeks and found it to be an excellent location to explore the canton of Ticino.

The shopping area in the pretty center of town is not huge, but there won’t be much you can’t find there. There are plenty of luxury shops as well!

Locarno is known for its mild Mediterranean climate. Quite some people from German-speaking northern Switzerland moved here for that reason, and perhaps they appreciate the Italian architecture and atmosphere too. A stroll along the lakefront area with its flowers, palm trees, and yachts is a joy.

Why not stay in Locarno?

Locarno is a lively little town with quite some traffic. If you prefer to stay amidst nature you’d better consider a smaller village, such as Ascona.

The districts of Locarno

When we talk about Locarno, we actually mean Locarno and the villages immediately adjacent to the town.

  • Muralto and Locarno are one town in practice and they’re both on the lake. The Locarno train station is in fact located in Muralto.
  • Minusio is on the lake as well, a bit further east.
  • You’ll find Orselina 200 m higher, on the slopes of Mount Cardada, overlooking the rest of town.

Locarno and Lake Maggiore FAQ

  1. Is Lake Maggiore in Switzerland or Italy?

    The northern part of Lake Maggiore is in Switzerland. The southern part, which is about 60 km long, is located in Italy.

  2. Where to stay on Lake Maggiore?

    The best Swiss towns to stay on Lake Maggiore are Locarno and Ascona. Locarno is the most central Swiss town, with good train connections to other areas of the Ticino.

    Ascona is a colorful and very attractive village. It doesn’t have a rail station though: it can be reached by bus or car.

Other websites of interest

Itineraries including Locarno Copy link to clipboard

Swiss passroad in the Schöllenen gorge

Pass road tour

This self-guided 8-day driving tour offers the absolute best of Switzerland’s spectacular pass roads. It's most suitable for June to …

Our blog posts about the Locarno area Copy link to clipboard

Sailboats on Lake Maggiore between Locarno and Tenero

Hike Tenero-Locarno

An easy walk along the northern tip of Lake Maggiore. It's even pleasant on a cloudy day.

About the Ticino Copy link to clipboard

View of Monte San Salvatore from Ciani Park, Lugano

Lugano

The city of Lugano is located on a lake in a very scenic area in the Ticino, southern Switzerland. Lugano …
Boulevard with sailboats in Ascona, Lake Maggiore

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The southern canton of Ticino is where you can experience the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. We'll explain what to expect …
Boat on Lake Lugano and Monte Brè from Lugano-Paradiso

Lake Lugano

The Lake Lugano region in southern Switzerland is Italian-like in architecture, food and atmosphere. Learn all about the lake and …
Old town center of Bellinzona with Castelgrande

Bellinzona

The small town of Bellinzona is famous for its three castles. It's a good base for day trips all over …

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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.