Travel report: Highlights of Ticino

Cultural highlights in Ticino

The starting point on my hiking tour and at the same time the beginning of a wonderful break in nature is the capital of the canton of Bellinzona. A walk through the old town and to the castles of Bellinzona, which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites, shouldn’t be missed. During the following days I experienced numerous cultural highlights such as Lugano, the largest city in the canton. The art and culture centre LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura is situated directly by the lake. Another cultural highlight is also waiting for me in Meride: a visit to the Museo dei fossili del Monte San Giogio, where you can marvel at dinosaur fossils that were found on Monte San Giorgio (also a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Discover Switzerland’s natural landscape by foot

What particularly impressed me during my hiking holiday in Ticino are the beautiful and pristine natural landscapes. The nature here offers everything a hiker’s heart desires: quiet mountain valleys, idyllic forest paths and panoramic hikes with great views. The Verzasca Valley is particularly beautifully situated with the famous double pedestrian bridge ‘Ponte dei Salti’ over the Verzasca. Another highlight was the hike from Lugano to Morcote. After a short cable car ride up Mont San Salvatore you have a wonderful view of Lugano. You then hike along the quiet forest paths of the Trans Swiss Trail via idyllic villages to Morcote and enjoy great views of Lake Lugano. In Morcote, which was named the most beautiful village in Switzerland in 2016, you can have a good time in a restaurant on the lakeside before taking the boat and cable car to Serpiano.

Time to indulge: wonderful hotels & culinary delights

The precisely selected hotels and accommodation are particularly important on our Eurohike hiking tours with luggage transfer. Here you should be able to relax well at the end of an active day in nature. I felt completely at ease in the hotels on my hiking trip in Ticino and was able to relax at the end of the day in the wellness areas. In the evening too, enjoyment is a top priority and I was served the best culinary delicacies from the region in the restaurants – simply wonderful! My highlight was the Hotel Serpiano with its idyllic mountain location and fantastic view of Lake Lugano.

Even more indulgent moments: Ticino cuisine is shaped by Italian influences. In the typical grottos, you can enjoy specialities such as risotto or polenta. But there are also many meat dishes with beef or game on the menu. For dessert you should definitely try the Ticino bread cake ‘Torta di pane’ and the delicious chestnut puree ‘Vermicelles’. There is also the best Vino Merlot del Ticino and the typical brandy Grappa for after. In any case, perfect relaxation and enjoyment is guaranteed in Ticino!

Travel information & local transport

Easy, quick and uncomplicated: getting to Ticino is really easy. From Zurich you can reach the capital Bellinzona by train in just 1.5hours, where our hiking holiday begins. A fast journey across Switzerland is made possible by the new Gotthard Tunnel, which at 57 kilometres is the longest railway tunnel in the world. Within Ticino there are also good connections. In addition, our guests receive the Ticino Ticket in all hotels. As well as discounts on various activities, this guest card also offers free use of all public transport. This is especially useful after the hiking holiday for return travel from Mendrisio to Bellinzona.

My conclusion

Anyone who decides to take their next hiking holiday in Ticino is making an excellent choice. Only here you can experience the Swiss quality of life combined with typical Italian flair. Since Ticino borders on Italy, it is also known as the “sunshine capital of Switzerland”. Nowhere else in Switzerland are so many hours of sunshine and such a mild climate. Ticino offers a huge network of hiking trails for nature lovers. Ticino also impresses with its top-quality culinary delights and has a lot to offer gourmets - a successful active break is guaranteed!