Ascona

May to September is the best time for the lake, the promenade and boats. Summer is warm. Spring and autumn are mild, with gardens in bloom in spring. Winter is quiet, and many cafés and boats close. A jazz festival fills the town in late June and early July.

• Monte Verità Museum Complex is on the hill above the town. In the early 20th century it was home to a community of artists and thinkers. The complex includes Museo Casa Anatta.
• Museo Epper shows the work of two local painters.
• Museo Comunale d'Arte Moderna shows modern art.
• Museo Castello San Materno is a small museum in a medieval castle.
• Chiesa dei Santi Pietro e Paolo is the main church of the old town.
• Museo Parrocchiale shows church objects.
• Lido di Ascona is a lakeside swimming area with a beach.

• Walk the lakeside promenade and have a coffee.
• Swim or relax at the lido in summer.
• Take a boat to the Brissago Islands.
• Visit Monte Verità for the history and the views.
• Browse the galleries and shops in the old lanes.
• Cycle along the lake or the Maggia delta.

• Locarno is next door, with a large square and a pilgrimage church above the town.
• The Brissago Islands, in the lake, have a botanical garden. Boats leave from Ascona.
• Maggia Valley has rivers, stone villages and swimming spots.
• Bellinzona has three castles and is about 30 minutes away by train from Locarno.
• Lugano is about 1 hour away.

• Locarno is the nearest town and the rail hub.
• Bellinzona and Lugano are the nearest larger towns in Ticino.

• By air: Zurich and Milan Malpensa are the main airports. Milan is about 2 hours away.
• By train: Ascona has no station. Take the train to Locarno and then a bus or taxi. Check times on SBB.
• The bus from Locarno takes about 15 minutes. You can also walk or cycle along the lake.

• The old town and promenade are small, flat and easy to walk.
• Buses link Ascona with Locarno and the lake villages.
• Lake boats leave from the town for the Brissago Islands and other shores.
• Bikes can be rented in town.

• A car is not needed in the old town.
• The old town has limited parking. Use a car park nearby and walk.
• Traffic on the lake road can be heavy in summer.

Ticino food is close to Italian. Try risotto, polenta and fresh lake fish. Local Merlot wine is common. Many lakeside restaurants have terraces.

Most people speak Italian. Many also speak German and English.

• Ascona is very safe.
• Lake water can be cold and has currents near rivers. Swim in marked areas.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Summer can be hot, so use sun protection.

Ascona began as a fishing village. In the early 20th century, artists, writers and reformers came to Monte Verità to try new ways of living. The hill became a famous meeting place.

Later the town drew painters and tourists. Its lakefront and mild climate made it a resort.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: