The Italianate south
Populated by great mountains and vast blue lakes, the enduring beauty of Ticino is one of old-world charm, but it certainly isn’t lacking in modern glitz and glamour. It enjoys the most hours of sunshine in Switzerland and a warm Mediterranean climate making this southernmost canton a jewel in the summer crown of the country.
Sharing more of its border with Italy than Switzerland, Italian is the only official language here, and great swathes of culture, culinary tradition and history are shared with neighbouring Lombardy and Piedmont.
As well as forest covered mountains, water defines the region, the canton taking its name from the Ticino River that flows southwest into the Po, and centred around the two great transfrontier lakes – Lugano and Maggiore – with their deep blue waters fringed by glamourous towns and snow-capped peaks.
The city of Lugano itself has picturesque boulevards lined with palm trees and stunning views of the Alps, and, as with sophisticated Locarno by Maggiore, is a great base from which to explore the region. There are some 4000km of hiking trails snaking out across the mountains, wild swimming in the beautiful Valle Verzasca, boating, mountain biking and rustic villages to discover. The Italian cities of Como and Varese are easily reachable too.
Highlights
Swin in the Valle Verzasca
Take a day trip to Italy
Embark on a hike through beautiful mountain scenery
Meg Simpson
Travel Designer
Luxury accommodation in Ticino
Why book with Jacada?
Personalised design
We’ll plan your trip around your specific interests, tastes and preferences, providing helpful tips and honest advice based on first-hand knowledge of the destination.
Authentic experiences
Our expert guides and brilliant travel concierges are hand-picked to provide a genuine experience, bringing your destination to life with care and passion.
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Our luxury trips are designed with responsible travel principles that prioritise travel experiences that are both good for you and good for the planet.
Trip inspiration
Where else to go in Switzerland
Basel
Perched along the iconic River Rhine, Basel is a historic city home to world-class museums, galleries and some cutting-edge contemporary architecture.
Discover moreBern and the Bernese Oberland
A city steeped in history and legend, Bern is a beautiful time capsule dating back to the late 12th century.
Discover moreGeneva
Snow-dusted peaks and brilliant green hills reflect off the smooth surface of Lake Geneva. Small villages wait to be discovered on the shoreline, while at the southern tip of the lake, the French-speaking city of Geneva entices with a fascinating history and vibrant culture.
Discover moreGstaad
Located near the Alpine passes in one of Switzerland’s most beautiful regions, Gstaad is a small village known for its high-profile guests, luxury hotels and high-end restaurants.
Discover moreLake Lucerne
Forested slopes roll down to the still turquoise waters of Lake Lucerne, snow-capped mountains soaring towards the sky in the distance and quaint villages peppering the shoreline.
Discover moreJungfraujoch and Interlaken
Jungfraujoch is a glacial pass found between the Jungfrau and Mönch mountains in the Bernese Alps. The heights themselves are visible from far away, displaying their awesome power with snowy peaks reaching high into the skies above.
Discover moreJura and the Three Lakes
In Switzerland’s northwest, reaching out into France, the Canton of Jura is characterised by green pastures and sweeping hills and forested mountains, with winding rivers punctuated by medieval towns.
Discover moreLausanne and Montreux
Nestled on the northern banks of Lake Geneva, Lausanne is a hilly city in the canton of Vaud. Set on a series of terraces, the charming old town sits at the top with the former fishing village of Ouchy at the bottom.
Discover moreSouth Western Switzerland
South Western Switzerland is a sublime corner of the country, crowned by the Italy-bordering Matterhorn whose iconic peak towers above the town of Zermatt.
Discover moreSt. Moritz
With backdrops of breath-taking forests blanketed in snow, and dramatic peaks cutting into cobalt skies, lakeside St. Moritz is as picturesque an alpine destination as you could imagine.
Discover moreZurich
This majestic city stands proudly on the lower end of Lake Zurich, decorative spires piercing the clear sky.
Discover moreMeet your Europe team
When to visit
Ticino’s sunny climate is best enjoyed during the late spring and summer months. Locarno’s annual film festival is held in August.
Switzerland is a year-round destination.
In winter it is a mecca for skiiers, and there are plenty of winter hikes and snowshowing activities on offer.
In spring and summer the meadows fill with wild flowers and the lakes look exceptionally beautiful.
Sightseeing
Year round
Winter break
December - April
Hiking
April - September
Plan your trip to Ticino
Whatever you want from your adventure in Switzerland, our team of expert travel designers are ready to help.
Wonderful trip. Big WOW! Jacada is the best company we've ever used. Everything was scheduled and worked seemlessly. Top quality all the way. Will definitely use again.
Jacada tailored a vacation to Switzerland for us that met all of our expectations and more. Our hotels were beautiful and centrally located, our guides and excursions were all amazing, and the logistics went off pretty much without a hitch. We would definitely book another trip with Jacada.
Great customer care and personalized experiences!
Kate and the rest of the Jacada team have done a fabulous job in planning and executing our Christmas trip to Switzerland. Last year they did an extensive trip of Asia for us. No detail is to small. Each trip has special experiences. They use wonderful tour guides and provide great information prior to leaving
Really great trip and every detail was perfectly planned! Thanks!!
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If you book to travel with us but your plans are impacted by circumstances you can’t control, we’ll change your reservation or cancel your booking for a full credit towards future travel.