Holidays in Ticino, information & tips for sports, sightseeing and other activities
Here you will find useful tips and information for your holidays in Ticino.
Trip Tips | Golf courses | Culture | Hiking | Sports | Dining |
The southernmost part of Switzerland, Ticino, with its mild Mediterranean climate, relaxed lifestyle and Italian flair, is a popular holiday destination.
There is so much to discover and experience at Ticino is worth a visit..
You have to experience it yourself, take a few days off and visit Ticino, holiday on Lake Maggiore in Ticino is a highlight for the whole family.
A holiday rental apartment or a house in Locarno, Locarno or Ascona is the ideal base for a vacation in Ticino, and to explore the wonderful area for excursions and walks in the different valleys or just for relaxation.
Ask us, we are happy to help. Your Tessin-Ferienwohnungen Team
ASCONA
The former fishing village is situated at 196 meters above sea level on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore (also called Lago Maggiore) and is likewise also the lowest place (sealevel) in Switzerland.
Ascona spreads a gorgeous Mediterranean style with its many street cafes, boutique shops, art galleries and restaurants along the waterfront. The promenade is car-free, but you can park your car in the public parking and then by foot explore the promenade. The old town with its narrow streets is no less interesting and definitely worth a visit.
Ascona today has about 5500 inhabitants, the former Jet Set spot Ascona was the place of choice for many celebrities like Brigit Bardot, who came on a regular basis for waterskiing on Lake Maggiore, Heinz Rühmann a famous actor did spend his holidays frequently by the lake, also Helmut Zacharias, who with his magic violin visited the bars and music venues in Ascona. Then it was for many years a little quieter around the beautiful town on the shores of Lake Maggiore, in the years the Jet Set has returned to Ascona, only the spirit of the times is different now, today you can find trendy bars and restaurants, as well as chic Lounges along the promenade and instead of Zacharias violin you hear House beats coming from the bars.
Ascona is the "Jazz City" in Switzerland! The "Ascona Jazz" is probably the biggest and most famous jazz festival in Europe. World-renowned artists, many traveled from USA to meet here every summer (June-July) at Jazz Ascona and you might think you are in New Orleans. The festival is a "must" for all music fans and a unique experience.
The Ascona Music Week is also a popular music event that offers symphony concerts, chamber music concerts and recitals of individual instruments in the Church Collegio Papio in Ascona (August-October)
In May, in the streets of Ascona and the Piazza hosts the Street Artists Festival, are over 100 different performances by artists from around the world to see it.
The German car manufacturer Opel in 1975 gave one of his models the sonorous name 'Ascona', the car was built until 1981.
The Monte Verita 'is located above Ascona (The Mountain of Truth). Settled here in the early 20th Century free spirits and dropouts from normal life formed a colony with an alternative lifestyle, they practiced among other things, a mix of free love, vegetarianism and anarchy, they could very well have been the first "hippies" or flower-power generation.
Today there are seminars from the University of Zurich taking place at the Monte Verita, there is also a museum that shows the interesting history of the first colonists and the founders of monte verita.
Adjacent to Locarno, located in a park surrounded an 18 hole golf course, tennis courts, as well as the beach / Lido.
LOCARNO
The picturesque Locarno is considered the warmest place in Switzerland (2300 sunshine hours per year), and is one of the oldest holiday resorts in Switzerland. The lakeside promenade is ideal for a walk along the palm-lined shores of Lake Maggiore.
From the nearby harbour at Locarno the shuttle boats are descenting to many destinations and islands on Lake Maggiore.
On Piazza Grande, every year in July the open air festival, Moon & Stars takes place. World-renowned artists from around the world come to Ticino to perform on the open air stage in Locarno.
Every year in the month of August, the film festival takes place on one of the world's largest open-air screens.
The Famous Church and Sanctuary of Madonna del Sasso is definitely also worth seeing, from there you have a sensational view of the city of Locarno and surrounding.
The Botanical Gardens of the Brissago Islands can be reached by boat, on this island in subtropical climate flourish about 1700 different species of plants such as magnolias, camellias and azaleas.
BRIONE SOPRA MINUSIO
On a sunny slope above Minusio find beautiful hiking trails in the hills of the "Locarno" and Val Resa valley. A good starting place for hikes and walks to explore Ticino.
MINUSIO
On the south side of Lake Maggiore is the quiet town Minusio, one can walk along the lake until you reach Tenero or Locarno. Along the lakeside, there are many beautiful beaches, an ideal place for holidays in Ticino.
VALLEMAGGIA
A unique landscape, the Maggia valley, 800 km of hiking up to the mountain peaks and glaciers, past crystal clear mountain lakes, stone bridges and villages where time seems to have stood still for hundreds of years.
In summer, a swim in the crystal clear Maggia is wonderfully refreshing, but beware the flow is sometimes very strong, you should only go into the water in the slow flowing areas of the river.
CENTOVALLI (100 valleys)
A ride on the Centovalli Railway is an unforgettable experience, from Locarno you drive about 1.5 hrs. or 60 kilometers to Domodossola in Italy, with the train through deep valleys and past raging waterfalls, a very impressive journey.
The landscape is very impressive, and is also ideal for hiking, the so called valley of 100 valleys is worth a visit.
The landscape offers romantic nature along the river Melezza, lush green meadows, chestnut trees and huge granite rocks, be sure to see the Lavertezzobridge.
The dam alone is worth the trip, in the summer there is daily bungee jumping from the dam, who likes can sign up an jump down to see the area from a different perspective.
The markets in Ticino and Italy
The shopping at the weekly markets around the Lago Maggiore has a very special appeal. The markets in Italy offer everything you need or may not need. Clothes, shoes, meat and meat products, fish, cheese, vegetables and fruit definitely very interesting, it is worthwhile to visit and see the markets during your vacation in Ticino.
Here is an overview of the weekly markets:
Market in Luino (Italy)
Wednesdays from 9-16 clock, (all year)
Market in Ascona
Tuesdays from 10-17 o’Clock
Market in Canobbio (Italy)
Sundays from 8-13 o`Clock
Market in Intra (Italy)
Saturdays 9-16 clock
Market of Locarno
Thursdays 9-17 o’clock
Language
The official language in Ticino is Italian, very little english is spoken or understood, some understand and speak some german, so dont forget the dictionary.
Train and Bus
In planning is currently the new 57 km long Gotthard Base Tunnel, which will ensure that the travel time between Zurich and Milan is approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes, and thus reduced by one hour. At its completion, which is planned for the year 2016, it will be the longest railway tunnel in the world. He will then be a practical alternative for arriving by car or plane.
Aircraft
For travellers by plane to either Milan or Zurich the opening the new railway tunnel "Gotthard Base Tunnel" is planned for 2016, this will play an important role, because tourists from the said towns will have quick acces to Ticino.
Activities
Among the most beautiful sights and tourist attractions in Ticino is the lush subtropical nature, numerous rivers and lakes, including Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore. Hiking and biking trails in the mountains and along the lakes are as popular as the many castles of Ticino, including the Bellinzona Castles, the Montebello and Castelgrande Bellinzona.
Gastronomy
Among the traditional dishes of Ticino are generally those that are known from the Lombardy region. Here are more modern and classic recipes combined, creating a new and imaginative cuisine. Among the traditional dishes in Ticino is the minestrone, a vegetable soup, polenta, risotto, marinated fish and bread cake, a dessert.
Nightlife
The nightlife in the many resorts in Ticino is quiet lively, a main attraction for tourists include the casinos of Locarno and Lugano. In Locarno there is also the Teatro di Locarno for those interested. Clubbers also find a good selection of vibrant night clubs in Ticino, such as the largest club of Switzerland (Vanilla in Riazzino) with many thousand visiotors every weekend.
Climate
The climate in Ticino is warm and even in winter very mild, the mediterranean temperatures, make the flowers starting to bloom already in March, while in other regions of Switzerland is still a lot of snow and freezing wheather.
Excursions
Among the most popular destinations in Ticino are the castles of Bellinzona, which were declared by UNESCO in 2000 as a World Heritage Site, the Alp Transit Pollegio, the longest tunnel in the world, and the beaches of the many lakes in Ticino.
Golfing in Ticino
Here you will find information on the 3 golf courses in Ticino
Golf Club Patriziale Ascona
Via al Lido 81
CH-6612 Ascona
Tel: +41- (0) 91-7851177
18 holes can be found on the golf course of the Golf Club Ascona. The course opened in 1928, and is one of the most beautiful in Switzerland.
The site is located on a peninsula on Lake Maggiore, Ticino's mountains in the background provide an impressive Silhuette.
Surrounded by tropical vegetation and mature trees surrounding the fairways, the course is also for experienced players is a challenge and can be classified as Superior. The course is flat with water hazards.
The golf course in 1999 reached the first place in the ranking of the best golf courses in Switzerland.
Membership card with a handicap of 30 is required to play on the pitch
Registration is required
Dogs are not allowed
Restaurant
Driving Range | practice bunker
Pro Shop
Golf Gerre Losone
Via all Gerre 5
CH-6616 Losone
Tel: +41- (0) 91-7851090
The 18 hole golf course Gerre in Losone situated at the entrance to the valleys of Ticino Centovalli and Vallemaggia.
The golf course designed by Peter Harradine, is Harmonically in the beautiful landscape of Ticino, mostly at ground level and is suitable for players of all levels.
On the Championship Course is a registered handicap of 36 required
Players without a handicap are allowed on the 3-hole Academy Course
Driving Range | Pitching Green | Putting Green | Chipping Green | practice bunker
Guests are welcome
Registration required
Dogs are not permitted | forbidden phones on the course
Restaurant
Pro Shop
Golf Club Lugano
Via Boett 2
CH-6983 Magliaso
Tel: +41- (0) 91-6061557
The 18 hole golf course Golf Club Lugano can be described as high difficulty. The Magliasina River must be crossed in eight places and accompanied the fairway.
Driving Range | practice bunker
Guests are welcome
Registration required
Membership card with handicap of 36 is required to play on the pitch
Restaurant
Pro Shop
Dogs not allowed