Ticino lakeside city on Lake Maggiore, centred on Piazza Grande and its open-air film festival
Locarno sits at the northern tip of Lake Maggiore in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, making it one of the warmest cities in Switzerland. The Piazza Grande, one of the finest public squares in the country, opens directly onto the lakeshore and every August becomes the open-air cinema of the Locarno Film Festival, one of the oldest and most respected film festivals in Europe.
The old town rises behind the piazza in a tangle of arcaded lanes and pastel-coloured houses. Above the town, the Santuario della Madonna del Sasso perches on a rocky outcrop reached by funicular, offering views across the lake to the surrounding mountains. The Cardada-Cimetta cable car continues higher still, climbing to over 1,600 metres for panoramic views stretching from the Swiss Alps to the Po Valley on clear days.
The Visconti Castle at the edge of the old town is where the Locarno Pact was signed in 1925 — the international agreement that briefly made this small Swiss city the centre of European diplomacy. The lake itself, palm trees along the promenade, and the mild climate give Locarno a distinctly Mediterranean feel unusual for Switzerland.
Guide
Getting There
Locarno is served by train from Zurich via Bellinzona (about 2.5 hours) and from Milan via Bellinzona (about 1.5 hours). The main railway station sits at the edge of the old town, a five-minute walk from Piazza Grande. There is no airport in Locarno itself; the nearest airports are Milan Malpensa (about 80 km south) and Lugano Airport (about 45 km southeast), though the latter has limited connections. Most visitors arrive by train.
The Centovalli Railway — one of Switzerland's most scenic lines — runs west from Locarno through the Valle Centovalli to Domodossola in Italy, where it connects to the main line toward Milan and the Simplon Pass. The journey takes about 1.5 hours and passes through remarkable alpine scenery.
Guide
When to Go
Locarno has the warmest and sunniest climate in Switzerland, with long summers extending well into October. July and August are peak season, when the lake fills with Swiss and German tourists and the Locarno Film Festival (held the first two weeks of August) draws visitors from across Europe. Piazza Grande becomes particularly lively during the festival, with screenings, events, and a generally festive atmosphere.
Spring (April–May) and autumn (September–October) offer pleasant temperatures, fewer crowds, and the pleasure of the Italian-speaking canton in its quieter mode. Winter is mild by Swiss standards but cool and occasionally foggy over the lake. The cable car to Cardada and Cimetta gives access to snow for day trips even in winter.
