Ascona, Locarno and Lugano

Meet your driver-guide for a day tour to Switzerland. In the morning, explore on your own Lugano. Lugano lies in a bay on the northern side of Lake Lugano, surrounded by numerous mountains offering splendid viewpoints. The traffic-free historic town center, the numerous buildings in Italianate Lombardy style, the exclusive museums, the mountains, the lake, and a packed calendar of events all invite visitors to see the sights, soak up the atmosphere – and enjoy "dolce far niente". After free time for lunch, move to Locarno and Ascona, on the Maggiore Lake Southern plants such as palm trees or lemon trees flourish in Locarno and give the city its special charm. The heart of the city is the Piazza Grande, well-known for its annual film festival. The narrow lanes of the Old Town all lead to the Piazza. Castello Visconteo, a castle dating back to the 12th century, lies at the edge of the Old Town. Ascona is Switzerland's lowest lying town. It is located at 196 meters above sea level on the northern shore of Lago Maggiore, also called “Lake Langen”. Ascona is famous for its mild climate, its Old Town, and a lake promenade that is dotted with street cafés and boasts a Latin ambiance.