Crossing into Swiss Ticino: The Road to Locarno
The Italy Road Trip begins not in Italy itself, but in the Italian-speaking corner of Switzerland. Setting off from Barcelona, we ride north through France and into Switzerland, arriving in Locarno — a sun-drenched town on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore. Locarno sits in the canton of Ticino, where the language switches to Italian, the architecture takes on a Mediterranean warmth, and palm trees line the lakefront promenades. It is the perfect gateway to Italy without quite crossing the border yet.
The final stretch of the ride into Locarno is unforgettable. The road descends through dramatic Alpine valleys, weaving past granite peaks and tumbling waterfalls, before the landscape suddenly opens up to reveal the shimmering expanse of Lake Maggiore. The microclimate here is remarkably mild, allowing subtropical gardens to flourish alongside traditional Swiss villages. After a long day in the saddle, we park the bike on the Piazza Grande — one of the largest public squares in Switzerland — and soak up the atmosphere of this charming lakeside town.
Route Highlights
- Arriving in Ticino — Switzerland’s Italian-speaking canton with a Mediterranean soul
- The stunning descent through Alpine valleys to Lake Maggiore
- Locarno’s Piazza Grande and its lakefront palm-lined promenades
- Subtropical botanical gardens thriving in the mild lakeside microclimate
Travel Tips
Switzerland requires a motorway vignette for highway use, but many of the most scenic routes through Ticino are on secondary roads that do not require one. Locarno is a popular resort town, so accommodation fills up in summer — book ahead. The Cardada-Cimetta cable car offers panoramic views over the lake and the Alps and is well worth the trip. Swiss prices apply here, so expect to pay more for food and fuel than across the Italian border just a few kilometres south.
Next in this series: Italy Road Trip Day 2: To Biella
