Hiking in Ticino: The most beautiful routes
Whether at high altitudes or through valleys, Ticino is a hiking paradise for all levels.
Thanks to the mild climate: hiking all year round in Ticino
If you like to feel the sun on your head while hiking, Ticino is the place for you: thanks to its Mediterranean climate and many cloudless days, the region offers ideal hiking conditions almost all year round.
The trails in Switzerland's southernmost canton are varied and often offer breathtaking views of the mountain landscape, lakes, and surrounding villages in the valleys.
While the weather in many regions of the country is still unpredictable in March and April, in Ticino, Switzerland's sunniest region, you can often explore the countryside in a T-shirt. The same applies in late autumn, when nature glows in its most beautiful colors until late November.
In summer, hiking tours at high altitudes are particularly recommended. In winter, you can enjoy beautiful hikes through a snow-covered landscape around the lakes in the sun-drenched valleys – or snowshoe hikes as a sporting challenge.
Half-day hikes in Ticino: relaxed tours in stunning scenery
Spend half the day hiking and the other half relaxing: for many, this is the ideal combination for a vacation. Ticino offers numerous short hiking trails and circular routes in surroundings that you can hardly get enough of. Here are a few recommendations:
- Hike in Val Lavizzara: on the approximately four-hour valley hike from Piano di Peccia via Peccia to Cavergno, you will encounter old farmhouses, two rivers, and numerous cultural treasures in the municipality of Lavizzara.
- From Locarno to Contra: This three-hour hike mainly takes you through the forest above the Locarno area, with clearings offering views of Lake Maggiore. The 600-meter climb is quite strenuous, but the trail is not technically demanding.
- Circular trail in Bellizona: Starting in the district of Sementina, this circular trail takes just under four hours to complete and crosses the 270-meter-long and 130-meter-high Tibetan suspension bridge that connects the hilly Sementina area with Monte Carasso. You can also visit the enchanting 11th-century Romanesque church.
Day trips: athletic hikes in Ticino
If you want to take a break or two while hiking, it is best to plan a whole day for routes of 15 kilometers. Recommended hikes in Ticino:
- Chestnut Trail in Malcantone: The 15-kilometer circular trail "Sentiero del Castagno" is especially beautiful in autumn, with the beautiful colors of the lush chestnut groves in the wooded hills southwest of Lugano. The hike starts and ends in Arosio. Along the way, you will pass picturesque villages and learn interesting facts about the importance of chestnuts in Ticino.
- Experience culture in Val Mara: The cultural tour through Val Mara is also around 15 kilometers long. On this route, you will pass Bissone, Maroggia, and Melano on the shores of Lake Lugano before reaching Arogno and Rovio via a gentle incline. Information boards in the villages reveal stories about places of interest.
- Downhill hike to Mendrisio: An insider tip is the 22-kilometer stage of hiking trail 52 – it is almost entirely downhill and can therefore be completed in a day. The cog railway takes you up to Monte Generoso, and the hike back takes you through the Muggio Valley to Mendrisio.
Gold Card or Platinum Card? Which American Express credit card should you take with you when hiking in Ticino?
Multi-day hikes and trekking tours
For athletic hikers, Ticino offers a variety of multi-day tours with overnight accommodations in mountain huts or villages. You should find out in advance during which months the huts are open. Some examples of tours:
- Blenio Valley: The trekking tour through the "Valley of the Sun" takes six days, from Malvaglia to the Santa Maria dam. The route is suitable for athletic hikers, who will be rewarded for their efforts on the high-altitude crossing with picturesque alpine landscapes, sublime mountain lakes, and the scenic splendor of the valleys.
- Val Verzasca: The 35 kilometers through the Verzasca Valley are a challenging two-day tour with an overnight stay in Lavertezzo. On this route from Sonogno to Locarno, you can expect many sensory impressions, such as the 17th-century Roman bridge "Ponte dei Salti," which crosses the Verzasca River near Lavertezzo, and the mountain village of Corippo.
- Via Suworow: Here you can follow in the footsteps of a Russian general who marched through the Swiss Alps with his army in 1799. In ten to twelve days, you will cover 170 kilometers through impressive mountain landscapes in northern Ticino from Airolo to Ilanz, passing wild mountain valleys, passes, mountain lakes, and rivers.
Hiking is known to make you hungry: after extensive walks in Ticino, you deserve an excellent dinner. Preferably in one of the GaultMillau restaurants in Switzerland. If you have the American Express Platinum Card, you can easily make your reservation at these fine dining temples via American Express Platinum Travel & Lifestyle Service.
As a Platinum Dining Benefit, your Platinum Card also entitles you to a credit note worth CHF 40 once a quarter if you spend more than CHF 250 in a GaultMillau restaurant that accepts American Express. Simply pay at the restaurant of your choice and the credit note will be issued immediately.
Ticino: a hiker's paradise with varied tours for every level of ability
Ticino is a great region for outdoor enthusiasts in general, and it is also an excellent place for biking or canyoning. No other canton in Switzerland is as well suited for hiking in spring, fall, and winter as Ticino. You will also find numerous sights in Ticino and traditional markets .
An American Express credit card makes traveling a particularly enjoyable experience. Depending on the card model, you can enjoy various travel benefits – from insurance benefits and discounted car rental rates to special dining benefits for first-class culinary experiences.
Frequently asked questions and answers
You can hike in Ticino all year round, including snowshoeing. However, the best time for hiking is from March to November.
You can come by car or use the excellent rail connections to Ticino and set up camp in Bellinzona, Lugano, or Locarno. From there, there are transfers and cable cars to the hiking trails.
In Ticino, all options are open to you: from short half-day tours to challenging trekking tours lasting several days, the canton offers the right route for all hikers.
