Ascona
The idyllic gem on Lake Maggiore
Ascona, the idyllic gem on Lake Maggiore, enchants its guests with its charm. The characteristic lakeside promenade with its colourful houses and pretty cafés, whose terraces invite you to enjoy a leisurely cappuccino or aperitif in the sun under the palm trees, to savour the dolce vita. The Brissago Islands can be seen in the distance and are accessible by boat during the summer months. The islands are home to a wonderful botanical garden with over 1,700 plant species from all over the world. However, the promenade is not always so quiet. During the JazzAscona festival, the peaceful lakeside location is transformed into a colourful and crazy venue for great musicians, creating a southern US feel. The centre of Ascona is a labyrinth of narrow alleys where it's easy to get lost in the boutiques and galleries. The Mediterranean climate not only gives the place its southern charm, it also makes it an interesting excursion destination all year round. A little way above is Monte Verità, a hill with a formative past and an exciting present – it is home to one of the most northerly tea plantations in the world, among other things.
How to get there: take the Treno Gottardo to Locarno and then the bus to Ascona.