MySwissAlps.com includes 
Min. time required: 0:35
Season: all year
Recommended season: late March to late October
Max. altitude: 235 m (771 ft)About this Ascona town walk 
This self-guided walking tour of 2.5 km leads you through the best parts of Ascona (near Locarno) in just over half an hour. You'll walk through picturesque alleys, along the lakefront with many restaurants, along lots of little shops, three churches, and a viewing point overlooking the town.
I advise you to allocate at least one hour for this walk so you'll have time to take pictures. Take more time to include a break on the lake promenade: it's well worth it.
Combining this walk with a boat ride on Lake Maggiore is highly recommended too!
➤ What it costs
The walk: free
This Ascona walk doesn't cost anything.
Tickets to travel to Ascona
You may need to travel to Ascona to start the route, which you can best do by bus.
You may be using a rail pass during your stay in Switzerland. Rail passes can allow discounted or free traveling to Ascona. If you don't have a rail pass, you'll have to buy normal full-fare bus tickets.
Town hike directions and map
How to reach Ascona
This hike starts at the bus stop 'Ascona, Centro'.
Ascona can be reached by bus, e.g. from the train station in Locarno. There are various parking options in the same area where the bus stops. You can also reach Ascona by boat.
Walking route directions
Find the route on the map below and use these step-by-step directions:
- The bus stops on the Viale Bartolomeo Papio. You can already see the church from there, less than 100 m away.
- Walk to the church. The Chiesa di S. Maria della Misericordia was completed in 1442. Turn around to walk back and immediately turn left into the Via Collegio.
- After 150 m, turn left into the Via Beato Pietro Berno. Do not walk to the lake, but turn left into the Via S. Sebastiano, then right into the Via Sant'Omobono.
- Go right into Vicolo delle Olive and walk to the lake.
Turn left to walk along the lake as far as you like (see the map for a suggestion). Then turn around and walk along the lake again. - Turn right into Vicolo Dogana, then take the first left to reach the church of Saints Peter and Paul. The Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo dates back to 1264, but was reconstructed several times.
- Walk around the church, then walk back to the lake via the Piazza San Pietro.
- Turn right to continue your walk along the lakefront. Follow the curve to the left into Via Moscia.
- About 100 m into Via Moscia, take the stairs up the hill on the right side of the road. Continue following the path (see the map) until you reach the church: Chiesa di San Michele. The hill you're standing on is inhabited for 5,000 years. Nowadays there are some very nice villas here.
- Enjoy the view upon Ascona and the lake, then walk back to the lake the way you came from (see the map). Enter the Via Borgo to leave the lakefront.
- After 100 m, turn right into the narrow Contrada Maggiore. Then after less than 100 m, turn left into the partially covered Galleria della Carrà.
- At the end, turn left into Carrà dei Nasi to reach Via Borgo again. Turn right there. You'll now leave the historical town center.
- Turn right into Viale Bartolomeo Papio to reach the bus stop again.
Best months to see Ascona
This hike can be done all year round. But I feel that Ascona's liveliness can best be experienced in spring, summer and autumn: late March to late October.
Weather and forecast
How to dress
Other than good protection from the sun if you visit Ascona on bright days you don't need any specific gear. Just dress according to the forecasts.
Best weather for this hike
This Ascona walk is suitable for (mostly) dry weather. Sunny skies are best, as the town is very photogenic and the sun will add a vibrant touch to your pictures.
If you visit Ascona in summer and temperatures are expected to get high during the day, we suggest to make this walk in the morning or late afternoon.
➤ Related tours
Find other (guided) tours in the Ticino.
Boat Lake Maggiore
Town walk Locarno
