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Region: 
Recommended season: early April to mid November
Altitude: 241 m (791 ft)
Town size: Medium
Local language: Italian
There is a train stationBellinzona travel info and town map 
Traveling to Bellinzona by train
The scenic way to reach Bellinzona is by train. You can use normal trains or panoramic trains from these directions:
- from Central Switzerland: via the Gotthard Panorama Express route
- from Brig and Locano: via the Centovalli Railway.
- from St. Moritz, Tirano and Lugano: via the Bernina Express train and/or bus route
See all of my info about traveling to and in the Ticino here.
Traveling to Bellinzona by car
You can reach the town by car too, via motorway A2 in most cases.
Finding your way in Bellinzona
The center of town is small enough to get around on foot very easily. Part of the center is closed to motorized traffic.
Day trips by public transport
The best way to conveniently get around is public transport. There are local buses in Bellinzona, to take you to the castles and other sites in and around town.
Trains and buses also take you to other areas a bit further on, such as Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano.
In some remote valleys like the Verzasca Valley and in the Gotthard mountain massif area north of Bellinzona, a car can be handy. Buses will get you to most places too, but not all of them operate frequently: check the schedules in advance.
You'll find all trips to, from and in Bellinzona in the Swiss timetable.
Rail passes for your stay in Bellinzona
Hotels in Bellinzona will provide you with a free Ticino Ticket, offering a lot of regional transportation for free or discounted.
Chances are that your itinerary includes more areas than just the Ticino, and that you need an additional rail pass. Our comparison guide helps you choose.
When to visit Bellinzona
The best months for a trip to Bellinzona are early April to mid November.
I feel that Bellinzona is most attractive in spring (April, May and June) and autumn (mid-September to mid-November). The hills surrounding the town are prettiest then.
Summer (July to mid-September) is a good season too, but it can get real hot. Bellinzona is at a low altitude by Swiss standards, and there's no nearby lake to cool down. You can make day trips into the mountains though.
Bellinzona isn't a typical winter destination. Chances of snow in and around town aren't high. To me, the landscape looks a bit dull between mid-November and March.
Weather info and forecast for Bellinzona
Bellinzona is in one of Switzerland's lowest areas, and it's in the south close to Italy. This means it's mostly mild in winters (6°C to 10°C), and warm to hot in summer (22°C to 28°C, or even more).
Most rain falls from spring to autumn. The winter months are drier. Rain showers are more common than days of continuous rain.
Reasons to stay in Bellinzona
If you like historic towns, I’m pretty sure you’ll love Bellinzona. The town center is attractive, and so are the three castles. They are what makes Bellinzona unique.
The town is a good base resort for excursions in the rest of the Ticino: south-west to Locarno and Lake Maggiore, south to Lake Lugano, and north to the Gotthard mountains.
You can also make occasional longer day trips to:
- Central Switzerland, as the Gotthard Basel Tunnel provides a quick train connection to the Lake Lucerne region.
- the Brig area, by Centovalli train.
Reasons not to stay in Bellinzona
What to see and do in Bellinzona
Find your excursions in the Bellinzona area
Don't miss Bellinzona's castles
I think that a visit to Bellinzona's three castles, or at least one of them, is a must. You can visit the castles on foot, by bus or by tourist train.
Day trips to other areas
It's easy to reach several other Swiss towns from Bellinzona: you can make day trips to Locarno, Lugano and the Gotthard region.
You can even travel to Lucerne and back in just one day, using the Gotthard mountain route or the Gotthard Base Tunnel.
Mountain excursions
Interested in mountain trips from Bellinzona? See my Ticino overview, where I've listed the best ones.
- www.bellinzonaevalli.ch: Bellinzona Tourism
Lugano
Ticino
