What to do in Ticino

Ticino is a scenic Italian-speaking canton of southern Switzerland, situated between the Swiss and Italian Alps and provinces of Northern Italy such as Lake Como. This stunning destination is composed of picturesque lakes like Lake Lugano and charming stone villages, like the 12 villages of Bavona Valley – a perfect place for cycling and hiking. Add to this the beautiful Castles of Bellinzona, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the UNESCO World Heritage mountain, Monte San Giorgio and a whole host of opportunities to bungee jump, paraglide and try some canyoning, and you have one brilliant holiday destination.

Culture and Cuisine

Ticino’s largest city, Lugano, a picturesque lake-side holiday destination, in the south of this region, has a whole host of arts, culture and great views to offer its visitors. Hike up Monte San Salvatore - a peak overlooking this destination and its lake, Lake Lugano, or take the cable car, for panoramic views of the area’s surrounding mountains. This stunning city, with its exciting blend of Swiss and Mediterranean atmospheres, boasts a whole host of great restaurants showcasing the delicious Italian-Swiss cuisine of the region.

Bellinzona, another town in the Ticino region, is an incredibly picturesque destination, world-famous for its castles and great ‘grotto’ restaurants serving brilliant local cuisine. This area also boasts a charming local produce market on Sundays, and great mountain biking and hiking routes just out of the city, as well as the Ponte Tibetano Bridge that’s definitely worth crossing - suspended at 426 feet over a thick-forested valley far, far below.

Paragliding and Bungee Jumping

For incredible views, do some paragliding in this location. Take off from Monte Tamaro for an unbelievable adrenaline rush and to gain a whole new perspective of Lakes Lugano, Locarno and Maggiore - a perspective that few other tourists get to see them from. Paraglide off the 1620m peak of Monte Lema, for views of snow-topped Alps or from Mornera for great views of the Medieval Castles of Bellinzona.

For pop culture fans and those who want to follow in the footsteps of the world’s greatest spy, head to the Verzasca Dam, approximately 10km north-east of the lakeside southern Swiss city of Locarno, to recreate 007’s jump shown in the 1995 film, GoldenEye. Jump from 220m at this iconic location for a world-famous thrill, that’s even better at night.

Canyoning

The Ticino region is a fantastic destination for canyoning enthusiasts, or those that are looking to try the sport. With peaks and waterfalls aplenty, this destination offers next-level opportunities to practice the sport. Take a heli-canyoning excursion and do some canyoning in hard-to-reach locations, for abseiling and jumps into crystal clear pools.

The Boggera Canyon in the Valle di Cresciano, is a natural playground for all levels of canyonists, with routes for beginners and canyoning enthusiasts alike. This sunny canyon, approximately 15km north of Bellinzona, offers woodland hikes through chestnut forests, waterfalls to rappel down, whitewater swimming and natural tobogganing adventures.