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Region: 
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 stationLocarno travel info and map 
There are excellent train connections to Locarno. It can be reached by car as well via motorway 13. Traffic in town can be busy.
Traveling to Locarno by train
To me, the best 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 Brig (2h40) in the Valais.
- From Lucerne in northern Switzerland, either via the Gotthard Base Tunnel (2h00), or over the Gotthard mountain route via Göschenen and Airolo (3h10).
Find more details in my Ticino travel tips, and plan your journeys to or from Locarno with the Swiss timetable.
Traveling to Locarno by car
You can reach Locarno by car too. If you do, check if your accommodation offers affordable parking. There is little free parking in the town center.
If you arrive from the north and have to pass the Gotthard car tunnel, be warned that waiting times can be long: up to several hours on 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. That's where you'll find the local Centovalli trains to and from Domodossola/Brig. You'll reach the underground station via a staircase just outside the Locarno station.
FART stands for the Italian local transport company "Ferrovie Autolinee Regionali Ticinesi".
Finding your way in Locarno
There are buses to get around within the town and the various districts. The area consisting of the town center, lakeside boulevard, and train station is small. So just walking to wherever you like to go is perfectly doable too.
I wouldn't recommend driving here. There are lots of one-way streets and a pedestrian zone. The traffic can be busy.
When I talk about Locarno, I actually mean Locarno and its few adjacent villages.
- Locarno and the district of Muralto 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. This is where you'll find the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary.
Public transport in the area around Locarno
The best way to conveniently get around in the Locarno area is public transport. Trains get you to the other main towns of the Ticino, boats and buses bring you to lakeside villages on the Swiss and Italian parts of the Lago Maggiore.
Getting to the pretty valleys near Locarno is easy too. There are frequent buses into the Valle Maggia, and the Centovalli train gets you to the villages west of Locarno.
Buses into the Valle Verzasca operate a bit less frequently, especially in low season: 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 with the Ticino Ticket. It includes a lot of transportation throughout the canton, either for free or discounted.
The main travel routes to and in the Ticino
Italy to Switzerland
When to visit Locarno
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 the city in peace and quiet. The Ticino is popular with the Swiss in the Easter weekend though.
It's a shoulder season, so your excursion 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 likely 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 cool down on the lake and the local mountain Cardada-Cimetta.
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
To my taste, 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 the high-altitude ski resorts in the Gotthard mountains or further north.
The holiday atmosphere and Christmas markets are more prominent in western and northern Swiss cities.
Weather, climate, and forecasts for Locarno
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 quite common. Days of continuous rain can occur too, as in all of Switzerland.
Much less precipitation occurs from December to March.
Hotels and apartments in Locarno
Locarno has plenty of hotels in the town center, near the train station, or directly on Lago Maggiore. Find yours here.
Holiday homes and apartments are available too. Arno and I stayed in an apartment on the "Via Simone da Locarno" for example, with splendid views of the marina, the outskirts of Locarno, the lake, and the mountains. Check the rental options for Locarno here.
The best hotels for your Switzerland holidays
Holiday homes, chalets and apartment in Switzerland
Why stay in Locarno – and why not?
Reasons to consider 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. Arno and I based ourselves in Locarno for several weeks and found it 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 residents 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.
Some downsides of Locarno
Locarno is a lively town with busy traffic in some places. If you prefer to stay amidst nature, you’d better consider a smaller village, such as Ascona.
If you appreciate the atmosphere of the Ticino, but value multiple mountain excursions near your base town, check Lugano.
The districts of Locarno
When I talk about Locarno, I actually mean Locarno and its few adjacent villages.
- Locarno and the district of Muralto 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
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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.
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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.
Things to see and do near Locarno
Find your day trips from Locarno
Must-do's during your stay
If your time in Locarno is limited, I suggest you plan at least one of the below activities.
- Make a boat trip on Lake Maggiore.
- Visit the Madonna-del-Sasso church.
- 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. This means there may not be sufficient snow for skiing, sledding, and other winter fun activities.
- www.ascona-locarno.com: myAscona-Locarno app
Itineraries including Locarno
Pass road tour
Hike Tenero-Locarno
Lugano
Ticino
Lake Lugano
