Locarno Travel Guide

Tourist Guide

Madonna del Sasso featuring a coastal town, landscape views and a lake or waterhole
Locarno featuring boating and a lake or waterhole
Locarno
Locarno
Locarno

See castles and historic buildings in this picturesque city. A remarkable church hides in the depths of a cliff overlooking a sparkling lake.

Locarno sits on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore, which is nestled in the Alps. Its intriguing history interweaves castles, churches and Roman occupation. Enjoy the city built around the main plaza in the historic centre. Nearby suburbs are made up of agricultural land, forests, lakes and rivers.

Explore the antique buildings around Piazza Grande in the centre of the city. The spacious square features events and festivals. Dine al fresco at one of the restaurants surrounding the plaza. Gaze up at the Civic Tower. You’ll find many shops around Piazza Grande, as it is the main commercial area of Locarno.

Visit the Madonna del Sasso, a majestic church sitting on the edge of a cliff overlooking the lake. Take a 20-minute walk through picturesque woodland with inspiring views of the lake to reach the holy site. You can also reach the church by chairlift. Look down on the city of Locarno below from the towering heights. Inside, admire the ornate interior and numerous artworks.

At the Astrovia Locarno walking and cycling track, see a model of the solar system created to a scale of 1:1 billion. The sun is 4 miles (6.4 kilometres) from the farthest part of the model, Pluto.

Find the Castello Visconteo, a 13th-century castle in the old town. Admire the ruins of the structure that have survived almost a millennium. The museum inside provides information about archeological sites in Locarno.

Take a boat out onto Lake Maggiore. It is 43 miles (69.2 kilometres) wide, making it the largest lake in the Ticino region.

The official language of the region is Italian. Like northern Italy, Locarno has warm, pleasant summers and cool winters with some snow.

The larger city of Lugano is about 20 miles (32.2 kilometres) south of Locarno, beyond Lake Maggiore. Make sure to visit these postcard-pretty Alpine cities in southern Switzerland.

Dorint Resort & Spa Locarno Riazzino
Dorint Resort & Spa Locarno Riazzino
4 out of 5
Via Campagna n. 9, Locarno
The price is £137 per night from 6 Jul to 7 Jul
£137
6 Jul - 7 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Enjoy free breakfast, free Wi-Fi and an outdoor pool. Popular attractions Piazza Grande and Cantina Böscioro are located nearby.
9.4/10 Exceptional! (42 reviews)
Best place to be!
"It was a beautiful surprise, the hotel is very quiet, modern, well designed, everything is well think for having the best experience. After 2 weeks in Switzerland, everyday in restaurants, our best food experience was at the restaurant in the hotel. I just mentioned directly to the chef, a very nice ..."

Reviewed on 17 Jun 2025

Dorint Resort & Spa Locarno Riazzino
H4 Hotel Arcadia Locarno
H4 Hotel Arcadia Locarno
4 out of 5
Lungolago G. Motta, Locarno, TI
The price is £229 per night from 7 Jul to 8 Jul
£229
7 Jul - 8 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Locarno. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a rooftop terrace and room service. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (775 reviews)
"Everything was all right, very friendly staf"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

H4 Hotel Arcadia Locarno
Hotel Belvedere Locarno
Hotel Belvedere Locarno
4.5 out of 5
Via ai Monti della Trinita 44, Locarno, TI
The price is £299 per night from 21 Jul to 22 Jul
£299
21 Jul - 22 Jul
includes taxes & fees
Stay at this 4.5-star luxury hotel in Locarno. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a full-service spa and 2 restaurants. Popular attractions Piazza Grande and Chiesa Santa Maria ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (332 reviews)
"Beautiful hotel, excellent service, great restaurant"

Reviewed on 24 Jun 2025

Hotel Belvedere Locarno
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.
Residence Lenno
Residence Lenno
Via Statale 2395/B, Tremezzina, CO
Stay at this residence in Tremezzina. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and satellite TV channels. Our guests praise the helpful staff in their reviews. Popular attractions ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (249 reviews)
"Lenno is really nice"

Reviewed on 18 Jun 2025

Residence Lenno
VISIONAPARTMENTS Lugano
VISIONAPARTMENTS Lugano
3 out of 5
17A Viale Carlo Cattaneo, Lugano, TI
Stay at this 3-star aparthotel in Lugano. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, breakfast (surcharge) and parking (surcharge). Popular attractions Lake Lugano and Parco Ciani are ...
7.2/10 Good! (14 reviews)
"Excellent location and nice property !"

Reviewed on 26 Jun 2025

VISIONAPARTMENTS Lugano
GuestHouse Lugano University
GuestHouse Lugano University
2 out of 5
23 Via Madonnetta, Lugano, TI
Stay at this aparthotel in Lugano. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, a garden and laundry facilities. Popular attractions Lake Lugano and Villa Ciani are located nearby.
6.6/10 (9 reviews)
good place, many communication problems
"The studio is basic, but has anything you need - small kitchen, microwave, dishes (no dish sope, however). The bathroom needs some repairs, but is spacious. The place, however, despite being mordern, has literally zero charm. But it is very well located, and the price is absolutely right. My main ..."

Reviewed on 15 Apr 2025

GuestHouse Lugano University
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.

Popular places to visit

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Reviews of Locarno

4.8
Top destination
5 - Excellent
3
5 - Excellent 75%
4 - Good
1
4 - Good 25%
3 - Okay
0
3 - Okay 0%
2 - Disappointing
0
2 - Disappointing 0%
1 - Terrible
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1 - Terrible 0%

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller

Our first visit to the Film Festival - unique experience

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