Ticino
Stay in Lugano for a city with its own station and two funiculars, in Locarno for the old town and the Cardada cable car, and in Ascona for the lakefront promenade if you do not mind a bus to the nearest station.
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Hotels in Ticino, live prices
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South of the Gotthard the language changes and so does the weather. Locarno and Ascona sit on Lake Maggiore, Lugano on its own lake behind the mountain, and Bellinzona guards the valley with its three castles. The choice is mostly between a working city, a lakeside promenade and a castle town.
Choosing your base
| Village | Quiet | Lakefront | Evenings out | Arriving by train | Mountain trips | Who it suits | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lugano → 273 m | A city that works all year, direct trains, two funiculars | Check prices | |||||
| Locarno → 200 m | The old town and Piazza Grande, its own station, Cardada above | Check prices | |||||
| Ascona → 196 m | The lakefront promenade, a slower pace, a short bus from the train | Check prices |
Scores are our editorial reading of the facts on each destination page (transport, position, figures published by the operators), checked on 16 September 2026.
Verdict by traveller
Direct trains through the Gotthard base tunnel, a pedestrian centre, and the funiculars to Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè.
The station is in the town, the Centovalli line and the Cardada cable car both start from it.
A lakefront of cafes with no through traffic, ten minutes by bus from Locarno station.
Found your area? Check what is still free in Ticino.
Prices and availability change daily in the Alps, especially in July, August and over Christmas.