If you are thinking about visiting Ticino, please take some time to research all the treasures we have to offer. Despite the fact that all of Switzerland vacations here, international travel guides only briefly mention Ticino (and only Lugano and Ascona seem to make the Ticino section). Personally I think that the less known corners of Ticino are the more special and authentic ones, and personally I think that Lugano is way over-rated. Some of my favorites: the castles in Bellinzona, Città Vecchia and Piazza Grande in Locarno, Vallemaggia (definitely!), Fusio, Val Onsernone, taking the suspended cable car up to Monte Lema or Cardada, Foroglio in Val Bavona, taking the boat to the markets in Italy (Lago Maggiore), the Locarno Film Festival, JazzAscona, Moon & Stars, Bellinzona Blues, Vallemaggia Magic Blues, the old bridge in Lavertezzo in Val Verzasca (although very touristy), Madonna del Sasso above Locarno, and so much more! There are lots of hikes and lots of things to do outdoors here, too.
Welcome, and thanks for all that information which is very useful as I am moving to Lugano soon, at which time I may well be calling on your translation services!
I don't know how many ex-pats actually use International Travel Guides to get their info on Tessin (Ticino). I agree that there is much more to enjoy than the two towns you refer to. There is quite a bit of stuff on this Ticino site which might also be helpful. The links to the hiking sites (Hiking in Switzerland) give a lot more details for the more active among us!
You can get the fast train to Lugano - takes about 2 hours and is a very pretty journey and well worth the visit. I can't access your link but I have just been there a couple of times and it is stunning.
2 hours and 37 minutes from Zurich HB This may also include hopping across from platform 4 to 5 at Art Goldau.
Right now you're getting spring through Zurich and Zug with cherry blossom in full effect, a very green Uri with some snow just above you and spring in Ticino now (hopefully) in full force.
Plus you pass some of the most interesting and picturesque churchs in Switzerland along the way - including two very modern funky ones and many, many perched on the top of hills which are old but in wonderful condition.
btw I am not a fan of Locarno but Bellinzona is lovely. Heading south, sit on the left side of the train and see the castles (3 of them) that you must visit.
And search for a Grotto - you will often get wonderful food for an excellent price at them.
One tip: if you cannot speak Italian, use English before any German you know
In my youth I spent a few vacations in Airolo, exploring the Valle Levantina and Val Bedretto ... wonderful memories. More recently I spent a very enjoyable week in Bellinzona.
Yes, there is much more to the Ticino than the lakes
When I was a child, we often went to Intragna in the Centovalli. There are some really lovely stone houses up on the hill (there is a cable car at the beginning of Intragna I think). You can hike around on the hills or walk down to the Melezza for a swim (nice waterfalls around too). Locarno is not far, so you can go there in the evening to eat and drink and then retreat to the hills.
sorry if this is too much like advertisement, but I loved it there with the snakes and the lizards . But beware, the last time I went the owners warned us about the Siebenschläfer (smth like squirrels) living in the house. They sometimes p!ss on the wooden girder (says wiki, Balken in german ) so that one might smell it in the house. Plus they made sounds like a smoker wheezing on a marathon, quite freaky as they are nocturnal .
Just wanted to second your reccomendation, sorry for the rambling. Enjoy the real ticino and the polenta of course
edible dormouse? I have been told, when I wouldn't finish my plate if I would prefer to eat sparrows instead like my grandfather had to...the speciality of the place he was born is polenta e s'cioss (snails) ....aah italians
Yep; some of you northerners should pay Ticino a visit.
If you drive on the motorway it is often 16 Celcius on the north as you get to the tunnel and in cloud.
You then go through the Gotthard Tunnel (40 Celcius in the centre sometimes) and then you come out into Ticino start to descend and it is bright sunshine and 27 Celcius.