There are a wealth of things to see and do in Locarno. Whilst not in Italy but in neighbouring Switzerland, Locarno is a town often visited by our guests holidaying on the beautiful Lake Maggiore. It is situated on the north side of Lake Maggiore in the heart of the Ticino region of Switzerland. Whilst it is located in Switzerland, 75% of those that live there speak Italian and, as a result, this is the predominant language that you’ll hear spoken here.
Locarno has a long and interesting history. Way back, the first to settle here was a Celtic tribe known as the Helvetii back in 800 BC. They were here until the 5th century, when the Romans under Julius Caesar took control of the town. More recently, on 16 October 1925 it was the location for the signing of the Pact of Locarno, an agreement between the Germans, French, Belgians, British and Italians to bring peace to Western Europe.
What to see and do in Locarno
There really is loads to see and do, not just in Locarno itself, but also in the immediate vicinity. For those looking to explore Locarno in a completely unique way, then why not opt for an escape room experience across Locarno? It’s a truly unique way of discovering some of Locarno’s hidden treasures.
Alternatively, for a more traditional way of exploring, a good starting point for any visit to Locarno is the cobbled main square – Piazza Grande. This is one of the most famous squares in Switzerland and is lined with 19th century buildings and beautiful arcades. Stop at one of the many cafes here and enjoy some people watching. Or head here on a Thursday and you will find the weekly market in full swing.
Take one of the narrow streets that lead from the main square to the old town – citta vecchia. Here you’ll find the streets mostly empty of traffic, lined with charming buildings, courtyards and gardens. Head inside the Pinacoteca Casa Rusca, a gallery located in an old 18th century patrician house to get more of a feel for the interiors of some of these exquisite buildings. The gallery is home to a permanent collection of the work of Jean Arp, a French artist and abstract sculptor. Also worth a visit is the 17th century Casa dei Canonici with its Baroque facade and interior garden, portico and loggias. This is adjacent to the Chiesa Nuova (New Church) which dates back to a similar period. It boasts some impressive frescoes and stucco works.
Some of the other most notable buildings in this part of Locarno worth a visit include the Medieval Castello Visconteo (Viscount Castle). Once the seat of local government in Locarno, these days it is home to the Museo Civico e Archaeologico. This displays a superb collection of historic artefacts discovered in or around Locarno including an impressive collection of Roman glass. It also covers some of the most important historic events that took place in Locarno including the 1925 Peace Conference. Incidentally, discussions during this conference took place in the Palazzo Pretorio in the Via della Pace. This street was so named following the conference. Before, it had been known as the Via della Palme.
Close to the castle in Via B. Rusca, is the Museo Casorella. This sits in a 16th century villa that once belonged to the Lussy family and was subsequently enlarged by its next owners, the Orelli dei Capitani family. It was then purchased by the Rusca family who sold it to the municipality of Locarno. These days it is an extremely interesting museum containing a number of artworks. The features of the building interior itself are also interesting with stucco ceilings, decorative frescoes and impressive fireplaces.
Also of note in the old town is the elegant Casa del Negromante, the charming Piazetta delle Corporazioni, a delightful square, and the Piazza San Antonio which is where you will find the 17th century Chiesa San Antonio. Head inside to admire the beautiful altar.
Locarno is a town which can also boast plenty of green spaces. One of its most famous parks is the Camellia Park, established in 2005. This is home to over 500 varieties of camellia. Obviously, it’s best to visit in the Spring when these are in bloom but even outside the camellia season, it’s a nice place for a walk, or to sit on one of the wooden benches there overlooking the pond and simply relax for a few minutes.
If you’re looking for a relaxed day out in Locarno, then look no further than the town’s lido and spa. The lido boasts stunning views of the lake and is open throughout the year and in all weather conditions. It has numerous indoor and outdoor pools, including an Olympic size swimming pool, a diving pool, a thermal outdoor pool, a play pool and water slides. In the Summer months, you’ll also find inflatable obstacle courses to tackle on the lake here as well as other activities on land such as volleyball and table tennis. Adjacent to the lido is the natural saltwater spa where you can enjoy a range of treatments and experiences as well as bathing in the therapeutic waters here.
Or, you could try your hand at falconry in Locarno at the Locarno Falconeria. Open daily from Tuesday to Sunday, you will get to see birds of prey in flight as well as Spanish horseback riding. It’s home to a number of species of large birds of prey including falcons, vultures, owls and eagles as well as storks, ibises and marabou. During the one hour show, some of these birds will fly exceptionally close above the heads of the audience. Commentary is in Italian but don’t worry if you don’t understand the language – the show is still spectacular without it!
Towering above Locarno is the Madonna del Sasso. This church is visited by pilgrims from all over the world. Even if you’re not religious, it is worth a visit if only to take some photographs of the wonderful views that it enjoys. Head there using the funicular which goes from Orselina.
Keep heading upwards from here via the cable car and you will reach Cardada at 1340 metres above sea level and then (via a chair lift) Cimetta at 1670 metres. In the Winter months, this is a great ski destination. Cardada boasts 5 pistes, the longest of which is 1.8km. 4 of the pistes are South-facing so skiers can enjoy the absolutely breath-taking views on their descent. The slopes offer the perfect place for beginners to learn how to ski whilst the Scuola Sci Cardada (Cardada Ski School) organises courses in skiing and snowboarding with experienced and qualified instructors every year, for people of all ages.
The mountain isn’t just worth visiting in the Winter though. Whatever time of year you are in Locarno, the mountainside at Cimetta offers spectacular 360 degree views over Lake Maggiore and in the opposite direction across the mountains and valleys to the peaks of Monte Rosa. This is great hiking country with plenty of walking and orienteering trails as well as geocaches to discover. Snow shoes are available should you wish to walk here when the mountain is covered in snow. There are also mountain bike trails and, for those who prefer a higher level of adrenalin, a paragliding take off area. There is even a small foot sole massage path close to the cable car mountain station which people can walk barefoot over. Younger family members can also enjoy the play areas here.
In the area around Locarno, there is lots more to see and do. Splash & Spa is a fantastic waterpark and spa at the base of Monte Tamaro. The latter has a number of other activities to offer visitors too including all year round toboggan rides, adventure trails and some great hiking. Or head up to the top of the mountain via cable car simply to take in the incredible views.
For the adventurous amongst you, Locarno is also not far from the beautiful Valle Maggia and Valle Verzasca. The latter is the perfect place to enjoy canyoning on Lake Maggiore. It’s also where you will the Verzasca Dam which featured in the opening sequence of âGoldeneyeâ starring Pierce Brosnan. It’s an impressive feat of engineering and it is possible to walk across the top of the dam.
Adrenalin junkies can also try to recreate that James Bond moment by doing a bungee jump off its bridge. At 220 metres high, and taking 7.5 seconds to reach the bottom, itâs not a jump for the faint hearted!
Events in Locarno
Locarno plays host to a number of events each year. The first of these each year is the Camellia Festival each April. Lake Maggiore can boast of being the European capital of the camellia for more than 150 years and Locarno celebrates the flower every year with an exhibition with over 300 varieties of the flower, a market and musical events.
At the start of July, there is Luci e Ombre on the Locarno-Muralto lakeside. Typically held in the first weekend of July, a big fun fair provides entertainment both during the day and at night and then, on the Saturday evening, there is a spectacular fireworks concert lighting up the night sky. The event also includes plenty of stalls and opportunities to try regional cuisine.
In the Summer months, the Piazza Grande becomes the venue for Moon & Stars, a series of pop and contemporary music concerts. In 2023, some of the artists performing included Joss Stone, Ricky Martin and Tom Odell. In previous years, other stars who have played here have included Duffy, Paolo Nutini, Amy Macdonald, James Blunt, Lionel Ritchie, Gloria Estefan, Katie Melua, Deep Purple, Foreigner, Pink, Jamiroquai, Mark Knopfler, Massive Attack, Sam Smith, Legend, Bod Bylan, Lenny Kravitz and ZZ Top amongst others. The event attracts about 10,000 people to the square every July. (Incidentally, if jazz music is more your thing, then in June each year, the neighbouring town of Ascona is the venue for Ascona Jazz, bringing a touch of New Orleans to Lake Maggiore. Or if you’re more a classical music lover, then there is Settimane Musicali Ascona, a series of classic music concerts that include chamber music, symphony concerts and individual music recitals. Whilst the focus for concerts is in Ascona, some do spill out into Locarno).
The following month Locarno plays host to the Locarno Film Festival. This has been held in Locarno for over 60 years and now rivals Cannes. Nearly 200,000 spectators and thousands of journalists and guest visit the event each August when the Piazza Grande transforms into the world’s largest open-air cinema, seating up to 8000 avid film viewers.
And then in the run up to Christmas, the centre of the Piazza Grande is filled with a temporary ice rink as part of Locarno on Ice. Hundreds of skaters get to enjoy the festive atmosphere each day and, if you build up an appetite, then there are igloo bars and food stalls arranged around the piazza too, all adding to the festivities.
How to get to Locarno
By train: Switzerland’s train network is efficient and Locarno is well connected by train, with direct connections to cities such as Milan, Geneva and Zurich. Click here to book your tickets.
By car: Locarno is easy to reach by car and has plenty of car parking.
By plane: Lugano airport is the nearest airport to fly into. This is approximately 40 km from Locarno. It is also possible to fly into Milan Malpensa. Click here to book your flights.
By boat: If you’re already on Lake Maggiore, then one of the easiest ways of getting to Locarno is by boat.
