Tips for a weekend in Ticino

… by Rebecca, our author from Ticino

3 minutes to read
06 April 2018
Rebecca

… by Rebecca, our author from Ticino

Have you ever been to the so-called “Sonnenstube” - the Canton that the German-speaking Swiss adore specifically for the amount of sunshine it offers? No? Then now is the time to give you a few tips on what to do on a weekend in Ticino. I will suggest three of my favorite activities. Hopefully reading this will make you want to travel south for a weekend trip 😊

Camellia

Camellia Park in Locarno

Admission: free

Opening hours:

Mar 1 – Sep 30: 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Oct 1 – Feb 28: 9:00 am – 4:45 pm

In 2005 the park was opened to the public after the world congress of the International Camellia Society (ICS) in Locarno. Immediately it became very popular also due to the variety of species it offers year round.

While listening to birdsong, visitors enjoy the beautiful flowers following a loop which, due to the design of the flower beds, reminds of a labyrinth. You’ll find yourself surrounded by tranquility and colors. The park received two important awards: “Garden of Excellence” from the ICS and, second, it was included in the network “Gardens of Switzerland”.

The park is leveled and therefore easily accessible by wheelchair.

Further information can be found on its website https://www.ascona-locarno.com/en/Cosa-fare/Eventi/camelie.html

Ascona

Tour Lungolago Ascona

Duration: ca. 1 h 35 min.

Admission: free

Its medieval charm makes Ascona a desired destination, above all for the German-speaking Swiss. The town is often called “pearl of the Lago Maggiore” – therefore I had to mention it here 😉

The recommended loop was included on the list of “obstacle-free routes” by SwitzerlandMobility. It starts at the historic town center and also ends there. In between it leads you along the entire lakeside part of the trail and allows you to enjoy the southern temperatures and postcard-like scenery.

The whole loop is 7 km long and is wheelchair accessible; it is therefore classified as “easily accessible” for wheelchair users. However, it requires you to be somewhat physically fit since it’ll take you about 1.5h. If you need a rest or you simply want to enjoy the lake view, you have the option to take a break at one of the charming cafés along the way.

LAC Lugano

LAC – Lugano Art and Culture

Admission and opening hours: vary depending on the event (performance/exhibition/concert) – check website https://www.luganolac.ch/lac/home.html

The LAC Lugano Art and Culture opened in September 2015 and is the largest cultural center in Ticino. It offers a broad range of theater, music and fine arts. The concert and theater auditorium can host up to 1000 people. The LAC is the main venue for the major institutions in the area: LuganoInScena, LuganoMusica, the Compagnia Finzi Pasca and the Orchestra della Svizzera italiana (OSI).

Within the same building you’ll also find the Museo d’Arte della Svizzera italiana (MASILugano). On three floors you can see the permanent collection of the City of Lugano and of the Canton of Ticino as well as temporary exhibitions. Last but not least there is the Teatrostudio which features smaller performances.

The LAC focuses on quality and diversity of the program offered and therefore strives to support various arts and to make arts and culture accessible to a broad and diverse audience.

Lugano

On a weekend in Ticino all of these three activities can be included without rushing. I personally have always enjoyed the tranquility of the Camellia Park followed by a cultural evening.

There are many other options in Ticino depending on the season and personal preferences. The following websites offer suggestions and more useful information for planning a stay in Ticino:

If you have further tips or experiences about Ticino that you would like to share, please write them down under comments so that also other users can benefit from them 😊

[translation from the original Italian blog post]