On the publicly accessible Isola di San Pancrazio, a botanical trail winds through five zones featuring species from five continents. It is one of the Brissago Islands, two islands in Lake Maggiore off the Gulf of Ascona; together, they are home to Switzerland’s only botanical island park. The islands can be reached by boat from Locarno, San Nazzaro, Ascona, Porto Ronco and Brissago. Check the timetable before you travel if you are planning a visit to the islands.
Museums and cultural attractions
Monte VeritĂ is home to a cultural centre set in a park of more than seven hectares, with views of Lake Maggiore. The Museo Casa Anatta houses historical exhibitions by Harald Szeemann and Andreas Schwab. Casa Selma is an air-and-light hut built in 1904; visitors can watch a film about the history of Monte VeritĂ there. A tea ceremony includes a visit to the Zen garden and a tea tasting.
Several museums in Locarno each have their own focus. The Museo Castello is housed in several rooms of Castello Visconteo; an exhibition on the 1925 Locarno Peace Conference is on display on the upper floors. The Museo Archeologico di Locarno is internationally renowned for its collection of Roman glass. It displays finds dating from the Bronze Age, including objects from the 13th century BC, through to the Roman period, from the 1st to the 4th century AD.
The Museo Casorella permanently houses the municipal art collections and offers group tours by appointment. The Museo Casa Rusca hosts temporary exhibitions by Swiss and international artists. It is located in a restored stately building dating from the 18th century, which opened in 1987. Archaeological finds, municipal art and changing exhibitions thus offer different ways to explore cultural history.
River landscapes and trails
In the Verzasca Valley, the Verzasca River winds its way between walls of rock and gneiss. The valley offers opportunities for river swimming and excursions. The Valle Verzasca Trail runs from south to north along the river and its many pools; you can start in Mergoscia or at the Verzasca Dam. From Locarno, PostBus 321 travels towards Sonogno as far as the Brione Verzasca, Piee stop. Check the timetable before you travel.
BoBosco combines hiking, adventure and play on twelve large boccia lanes in the forest alongside the Verzasca. Features include rope pulleys, lock systems, cable cars and catapults. Another family-friendly route is the Sentiero delle leggende, which is part of the Via europea delle fiabe. The valley therefore offers both a riverside route and playful discoveries.
The Bolle di Magadino is a cantonal nature reserve and one of Switzerland’s nine floodplain areas of international importance. Several towers and viewpoints along the trails provide opportunities to observe wildlife. Locarno is considered a place with a Mediterranean climate by a lake and, together with Lugano, one of the warmest places in Switzerland.
Views and connections
Cardada-Cimetta offers views from Lake Maggiore to the Dufourspitze of Monte Rosa. The route goes by cable car from Orselina to Cardada, followed by a chairlift to Cimetta; check current operating information before your excursion. A city walk through Locarno connects Piazza Grande and Castello Visconteo with a stroll along Lake Maggiore to the Lido.
The railway line adds another distinctive feature: the official Ferrovia Vigezzina-Centovalli route runs from Domodossola to Locarno. The Centovallina, also known as the Vigezzina, runs along the slopes of the Centovalli. The Centovalli are also an important transit connection to and from Italy. The contrast between museum visits, botanical walks, riverside trails and rail connections offers different ways to discover Locarno according to your interests.
Discover more destinations: Ascona, Brione Sopra Minusio, Brissago, Locarno, Losone, Orselina, Piazzogna, Porto Ronco, Minusio, San Nazzaro, Tegna, Mergoscia, Verscio, Gordola, Vogorno, Magadino, Isorno, Brione, Intragna, Personico, Muralto, Ronco Sopra Ascona, Tenero-Contra, Cavigliano, Palagnedra, Caviano, Contone, Lavertezzo, Solduno, Vira, Onsernone, Rasa, Borgnone, Frasco, Sonogno, Vergeletto, Indemini, Corippo, Cugnasco-Gerra, Sant'abbondio Ti, Gambarogno TI and Gresso.
For the main travel overview: Ticino.
