Day visit: Lugano, Locarno or Bellinzona

Transportation, Travel and Trips
1
After over three years away, I will be visiting Switzerland again in June.

I'm staying in Chur for a week including the World Heritage Days ( https://www.englishforum.ch/travel-d...ne-2018-a.html ) I will be taking the Bernina Express to Tirano.

Rather than returning to Chur, I will be heading to Brig by bus to Lugano, the Centovalli line to Domodossola and then the Simplon tunnel to Brig. This will complete my coverage of the whole of the Swiss main railways.

This isn't a practical journey in one day so I plan to stop off for a day en route. Where do you recommend for a day in June? I am thinking of Locarno as I haven't been there before and it's the starting point for the Centovalli railway. I have been to Lugano and Bellinzona, but only for a few hours. Both looked worth a return visit.

What are the must see places in the area for this short stop? Thanks

2
I'd say Locarno which is on your way, you've not visited, and probably has more to see and do. The old town is beautiful, Ascona is a short bus ride away and both have some great restaurants and cafes. Lunch or coffee by the lake front in Ascona sitting outside is truly relaxing.

https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/locarno.html

3
The only things to see in Belli are the castles.

Lugano, nothing special.

Locarno, you can also take the funicular up the mountain, a bus up Vallemaggia, etc.

Tom

4
It looks like Locarno it is then

5
I don't know what your budget is or if you already have a place to stay but I can recommend this Garni http://www.hotelmuralto.ch/ I have stayed there once and was happy. The place I usually go to is outside in Brissago so might not be very convinient for you but nevertheless, here goes http://www.rivabellaaulac.ch/index.php?page=albergo_en

Enjoy!

6
Thanks for those. They are a little more than I was hoping to pay, especially as it is only for two nights. I normally book through http://bnb.ch/

7
go for locarno, if you've already been to the other cities it's a no brainer since it's not like these are big targets anyway, so in those few hours you probably covered a lot.

Locarno is quite different from the other cities and has some unique features like the piazza grande, plus it's locarno but it's also ascona, there are 2 historical centers worth visiting, there's an easily reachable mountaintop, the madonna del sasso half-way up (and the funicolare to there is normal public transport), multiple lakeside walks.

8
Then try Hotel Dell'Angelo. Right downtown. We stayed there in January and the rooms are 1950 but very clean.

9
Thanks for all your tips. I have my accommodation booked at the Hotel Garni Giacometti in Locarno for two nights http://www.hotel-giacometti.ch/en/index.asp . It is central and looks very nice. Quite close to the lake as well.

I also have nine nights in Chur prior to that and four nights in Brig after Locarno.

10
I stayed in a downtown B&B called Da Vinci. Excellent prices, quiet, well-located but very basic and you probably won't have a toilet in your room. You can rent e-bikes for SFr. 25 a day which is a fantastic way to see the area.