Locarno Travel Guide

Tourist Guide
Locarno showing boating and a lake or waterhole
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 center. Nearby suburbs are made up of agricultural land, forests, lakes and rivers.

Explore the antique buildings around Piazza Grande in the center 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 kilometers) 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 kilometers) 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 kilometers) south of Locarno, beyond Lake Maggiore. Make sure to visit these postcard-pretty Alpine cities in southern Switzerland.

Hotel dell'Angelo
Hotel dell'Angelo
3 out of 5
Piazza Grande, Locarno, TI
The price is NZ$136 per night from 1 Apr to 2 Apr
NZ$136
per night
1 Apr - 2 Apr
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Locarno. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and breakfast. Popular attractions Chiesa Nuova and Old Town are located nearby. Discover ...
7.4/10 Good! (809 reviews)
"Switzerland was very expensive and in this resort town even more so! Breakfast was very good at this hotel. Air conditioning would have been nice! Staff was friendly"

Reviewed on 11 Oct. 2023

Hotel dell'Angelo
Hotel City Locarno, Design & Hospitality
Hotel City Locarno, Design & Hospitality
3 out of 5
Via Giuseppe Cattori 4, Locarno
Fully refundableReserve now, pay when you stay
The price is NZ$262 per night from 28 Apr to 29 Apr
NZ$262
per night
28 Apr - 29 Apr
Stay at this 3-star hotel in Locarno. Enjoy free WiFi, breakfast, and onsite parking. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular ...
9.2/10 Wonderful! (567 reviews)
"A wonderful and welcoming feeling right from the start and lovely accommodations."

Reviewed on 28 Dec. 2023

Hotel City Locarno, Design & Hospitality
H4 Hotel Arcadia Locarno
H4 Hotel Arcadia Locarno
4 out of 5
Lungolago G. Motta, Locarno, TI
The price is NZ$389 per night from 5 Apr to 6 Apr
NZ$389
per night
5 Apr - 6 Apr
Stay at this 4-star family-friendly hotel in Locarno. Enjoy free WiFi, a rooftop terrace, and room service. Our guests praise the breakfast and the helpful staff ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (687 reviews)
"Great location with beautiful view. Front desk very slow. Too much noise from dogs and children. Why not put all couples on one floor, all couples with children together. Children running and creaming ruined my vacation"

Reviewed on 5 Oct. 2023

H4 Hotel Arcadia 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.
Aquazzurra Resort & Aparthotel
Aquazzurra Resort & Aparthotel
4 out of 5
Viale Vittorio Veneto 37, Cannobio, Provincia del Verbano-Cusio-Ossola
Stay at this 4-star aparthotel in Cannobio. Enjoy an outdoor pool, WiFi, and a terrace. Popular attractions Cannobio Ferry Terminal and Vittorio Emanuele III ...
8.4/10 Very Good! (11 reviews)
Better now.
"Been to the location over a period of 15 years, new owners have invested money on the amenities and staff, the manageress added that continued improvements are planned over the winter making this the best resort in the area - we tend to agree!"

Reviewed on 5 Jul. 2023

Aquazzurra Resort & Aparthotel
Residence Lenno
Residence Lenno
Via Statale 123/A, Lenno, Tremezzina, CO
Stay at this residence in Tremezzina. Enjoy free WiFi, free parking, and a terrace. Our guests praise the helpful staff in our reviews. Popular attractions Lido ...
8.8/10 Excellent! (207 reviews)
"The room itself was great and well equipped, it is upgrades and we received a free upgrade with a lake view including a balcony. Our air conditioning did not work the greatest and it was warm getting ready and the Wi-Fi did not work great. The staff was excellent though and accommodated us with our ..."

Reviewed on 2 Oct. 2023

Residence Lenno
Beautiful New Apartment With Swimming Pool Stunning Panoramic lake view
Beautiful New Apartment With Swimming Pool Stunning Panoramic lake view
San Siro
Stay at this family-friendly apartment in San Siro. Enjoy free WiFi, onsite parking, and a garden. Our guests praise the pool in our reviews. Popular attractions ...
9.4/10 Exceptional! (55 reviews)
First week in Sept 2023
"Good, especially if you like climbing steps and steep roads. Two good hotel/restaurants within walking distance."

Reviewed on 11 Sep. 2023

Beautiful New Apartment With Swimming Pool Stunning Panoramic lake view
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.

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