Bellinzona and Lugano in 1 day?

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
Hi All,

I just purchased a discounted rail ticket from Luzern to Capolago in Ticino. The lady at the SBB ticket desk told me that I can get off in Bellinzona, get back on, and continue on to Lugano on the ticket. It seems kind of odd to me that I can do that - has anybody else done this before?

Also, how do people feel about the idea of trying to visit the Castles in Bellinzona and Lugano all in the same day? Is it too much?

Merci!

2
Since you have a discounted "April-Hit" it means you get a normal ticket (i.e. albeit at half price).

Probably this one

http://www.sbb.ch/freizeit-ferien/ta..._generoso.html

With a normal train ticket you can hop on and hop off at any of the stops between Luzern and Lugano.

If instead you book a "supersaver ticket" on the internet, that is valid only for a particular train at a particular time. So unless you want to step out in Bellinzona for a smoke, you won't see much of the town...

Hmmm... I could have actually used this to save money on my last weekend trip to Locarno. Even by getting out in Bellinzona and paying for the ticket Bellinzona-Locarno it still works out cheaper...

3
Personally, I'd skip both, and take the trenino at Capolago up Monte Generoso.

Alas, I've only been up there by helicopter and motorcycle.

Tom

4
Skip Lugano and Bellinzona for Mt. Generoso? The view must be spectacular up there then!

5
You can do both in a day but would do neither justice. If needbe get to Bellinzona as early as possible, do the main castle, have midday lunch under the big tree then on to Lugano for the afternoon, evening meal in one of the many good restaurants, a walk by the lake. A wander round the old town and that's about as good a plan as I could suggest........love both places.

6
I've done Bellinzona and Locarno in a day starting from Basel, so it's not unreasonable even though Lugano is a bit further away.

Last time I was there, I headed straight up into the castle in the morning, dropped back down into old town and bought enough local produce in the market there for a great picnic lunch. Leave enough room for a gelato by the lake-front in the afternoon

7
Tom is absolutely right - go to the top of Mt. Generoso, it's really worth your while (and not because I'm from that part of the region).

By the way, the cable car takes off right besides the train station.

If you get up there early enough in the morning and you still have time, on your way back north you can stop in Lugano-Paradiso and take the funicular up Monte San Salvatore, which is another of those AAA landmarks.

Ciao

Paul

8
Thanks for all of the feedback, everybody. I ended up going with the 'skip Bellinzona and Lugano' advice and went to Monte Generoso instead. On the way back, I ducked into Lugano quickly for a risotto, walked along the lakefront, and checked out two of the more famous churches. The Bellinzona tips have not been wasted, though, and it is good to know that other people have combined two towns in Ticino in 1 day!

9
How was the weather?

It's been pretty crap these days, yesterday excepted.

Tom

10
I thought I'd revive this thread a little and see if anyone else has recommendations for the Ticino area. We're hoping to head there this weekend for some camping/riding/hiking and are open to all and any suggestions!

11
Vallemaggia is nice.

My elder daughter lives/works in Bignasco, there's some camping along the way, and nice rides in Val Bavona, to Bosco Gurin (from Cevio), the valley up past Fusio to Naret, etc.

At the end of Val Bavona, there is a cable car to San Carlo, restaurant/hotel/hiking up top.

At Naret, there are several lakes, nice spot for a picnic and/or hiking. Steep, narrow road full of sheep, though.

At Bignasco, there is a nice waterfall/swimming hole (plus a pool and park).

At Ponte Brolla, you can head up the Centovalli, Val Onsernone, etc.

Good area for a bunch of day trips, my wife and I often go and spend a few nights there (Cevio or Bignasco, though now we can crash at my daughter's), though almost every time I stay up there, the cops phone me to ask if my bike is stolen (I guess they find it strange that people from Ticino go there for several nights in August! )

Tom

12
In Bellinzona there's a little yellow postbus (Number 4 - direction Artore - timetable here ) that runs from just outside the train station and takes you up to the upper castle (Castello Montebello), should save you a bunch of time, the walk down is quite nice, you'll end up in the middle of the old town near the town hall.