landmark
Contra Dam (Verzasca)
The 220 m arch dam of GoldenEye's opening leap, voted the greatest movie stunt of all time: where the Val Verzasca road crosses the crest and a commercial 007 bungee jump operates in season.
13 km · about 25 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandTicino
Bellinzona
Ticino, Switzerland · Europe
About Bellinzona
Bellinzona works well as a base: 10 minutes from Lumino, 23km from Lake Lugano (Swiss side).
Bellinzona is in Ticino, Switzerland, with about 43,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Lumino, about 6 km away.
Bellinzona ( BEL-in-ZOH-nə, Italian: [bellinˈtsoːna] ; Ticinese: Belinzóna [belĩˈtsona]) is a municipality, a historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites sinceRead more
2000.
The town lies east of the river Ticino, at the foot of the Alps. It stretches along the river valley, surrounded by the southern ranges of the Lepontine Alps to the east and west, and by the Lugano Prealps to the south.
Where to Stay in Bellinzona
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Bellinzona?
Within an hour or so of Bellinzona: Contra Dam (Verzasca) (13 km), Verzasca Dam (GoldenEye bungee jump) (13 km), Ponte dei Salti (16 km), Lake Lugano (Swiss side) (23 km).
Are there any good drives near Bellinzona?
The nearest famous roads are Lake Como Shore Road, San Bernardino Pass and Splügen Pass.
Where is Bellinzona?
Bellinzona is in Ticino, Switzerland, about 6 km from Lumino.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 43,220
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Ticino
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 46.1928, 9.0170
Emergency & Services
Essential numbers in Switzerland
Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.
Full driving guide for SwitzerlandTags
Worth the detour from Bellinzona
8 notable places within an hour's drive.
film location
Verzasca Dam (GoldenEye bungee jump)
Bond's 220m backwards bungee off this Swiss arch dam opens GoldenEye; commercial jumps still operate from the same crest.
13 km · about 25 min drive
photogenic
Ponte dei Salti
A 17th-century double-arch stone bridge over the Verzasca's emerald pools at Lavertezzo; cliff-jumpers and photographers share granite slabs polished smooth by impossibly clear green water.
16 km · about 30 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Lugano (Swiss side)
A Mediterranean-flavoured lake straddling Switzerland and Italy, framed by steep mountains and the charming Italian-speaking town of Lugano.
23 km · about 25 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Como
Italy's most glamorous lake surrounded by Alps, dotted with elegant villas, gardens, and charming lakeside villages.
27 km · about 30 min drive
coastal drive
Lake Como Shore Road
A winding lakeside road hugging Lake Como's western shore with tunnels, villa gates, and views of snow-capped Alps reflected in deep blue water.
27 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Villa Carlotta
A grand 18th-century lakeside villa on Lake Como famous for its botanical gardens with azaleas, rhododendrons, and Canova sculptures.
28 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Varenna
A tranquil fishing village on Lake Como's eastern shore with romantic lakeside walkways and the terraced Villa Monastero gardens.
29 km · about 35 min drive
Driving roads near Bellinzona
11 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 27 kmLake Como Shore RoadA winding lakeside road hugging Lake Como's western shore with tunnels, villa gates, and views of snow-capped Alps reflected in deep blue water.
- 35 kmSan Bernardino PassA scenic Swiss Alpine pass at 2,065 meters linking the German-speaking and Italian-speaking regions of Graubünden.
- 42 kmSplügen PassA narrow, dramatic pass straddling the Swiss-Italian border with tight tunnels carved into rock and vertiginous drops into the Cardinell Gorge.
- 42 kmBrunate Funicular ViewpointA historic funicular climbs from Como city to Brunate for a sweeping balcony view over the lake and Alps.
- 43 kmPasso dello Spluga (Splugenpass)The Italian side is an extraordinary sequence of stacked hairpins and galleries out of Chiavenna to a 2,115m frontier summit.
- 45 kmLukmanier PassThe lowest of the major Swiss Alpine passes, offering a gentler but beautifully scenic route from Graubünden to Ticino through open meadows.
Driving in Switzerland
- Drives on
- the right
- Petrol
- ~€1.82/litre
- Motorway tolls
- None
- Vignette
- Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker
When to drive here
April to October
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