Hiking Holidays Highlights of Ticino

Experience secluded valleys, breathtaking high-altitude trails and the "dolce vita" of the southernmost corner of Switzerland. Your hiking holiday will take you from the castles of Bellinzona to lively Lugano, along Lake Lugano to Mendrisio. Ticino offers a perfect combination of history, nature and Italian joie de vivre.

7 days / 6 nights

from CHF 1’190

Planning

A person hiking a mountain trail overlooking a scenic landscape of hills and a lake under a clear blue sky.

Planning

Highlights

Relaxing boat cruise across Lake Lugano between Morcote and Serpiano
Voted the most beautiful village in Switzerland – Morcote
Bellinzona's three castles – part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Take the cable car up to Monte San Giorgio
Journey back 240 million years to the dinosaur age at the Fossil Museum

A waterfront with trees, a building, and a boat by the water.

A beautiful Italian piazza with colorful buildings, a church tower in the background, and blooming trees in the foreground.

5 Images

Itinerary

Overview

Day 1 Arrival in Bellinzona
Day 2 Hike from Bellinzona to Isone
Day 3 Hike from Isone to Tesserete
Day 4 Hike from Tesserete to Lugano
Day 5 Hike from Lugano to Serpiano
Day 6 Hike from Serpiano to Mendrisio
Day 7 Return journey from Mendrisio

Map of Ticino with the itinerary Highlights of Ticino from Bellinzona to Mendrisio

Day 1

Arrival in Bellinzona

Itinerary

You are travelling to Bellinzona by public transport.

Overnight stay in Bellinzona

An old castle on a hill with two towers, surrounded by a modern cityscape at sunset.

Day 2

Hike from Bellinzona to Isone

Itinerary

You climb up to the "Cima di Dentro" and enjoy the view of the Magadino plain and Lake Maggiore. Then it's down to Isone.

Distance: 10 km

Elevation profile: ↑ 840 m ↓ 315 m

Duration: approx. 4 hours

Overnight stay in Isone

A vast mountain landscape with a calm lake, surrounded by green hills under a blue sky.

Day 3

Hike from Isone to Tesserete

Itinerary

First, hike through the swamp at Gola di Lago. Then continue over Monte Bigorio to the Franciscan monastery of Santa Maria in Tesserete.

Distance: 11 km

Elevation profile: ↑ 525 m ↓ 740 m

Duration: approx. 3h 30min

Overnight stay in Tesserete

Day 4

Hike from Tesserete to Lugano

Itinerary

Take the bus to Cimadera. The tour takes you over Monte Boglia to Monte Bré, where you can enjoy the view over Lugano. You then take the funicular to the city centre.

Distance: 13 km

Elevation profile: ↑ 1,045 m ↓ 1,265 m

Duration: approx. 5h 30min

Overnight stay in Lugano

A city view at sunrise with mountains, a church tower, and a mountain railway.

Day 5

Hike from Lugano to Serpiano

Itinerary

You hike from Monte San Salvatore to Vico Morcote, past small villages and cosy grottos. From Morcote, the route continues to Serpiano.

Distance: 13 km

Elevation profile: ↑ 855 m ↓ 855 m

Duration: approx. 4h

Overnight stay in Serpiano

Day 6

Hike from Serpiano to Mendrisio

Itinerary

You travel by boat and cable car to Serpiano. Discover dinosaur fossils in the museum in Meride, which are 230 to 240 million years old.

Distance: 13 km

Elevation profile: ↑ 615 m ↓ 570 m

Duration: approx. 4h

Overnight stay in Mendrisio

A panoramic panel at a viewpoint shows a lake and surrounding mountains; a cable car is visible.

Day 7

Return journey from Mendrisio

Itinerary

Start your return journey by public transport.

Aerial view of the historic centre of Mendrisio

When is the best time to travel?

Travel period

April to October

Recommended travel period

May to October

High season

July, August

Important information about the trip

What our Switzerland expert says

Deserved view
The breathtaking view of the Ticino lake landscape is more than deserved after the metres of altitude you have covered. It's like being in the Mediterrainean.
Oliver