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.
5 km · about 10 min drive
EuropeSwitzerlandTicino
Locarno
Ticino, Switzerland · Europe
About Locarno
Locarno works well as a base: 10 minutes from Magadino, 24km from Lake Lugano (Swiss side).
Locarno is in Ticino, Switzerland, with about 16,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Magadino, about 5 km away.
Locarno (Italian: [loˈkarno]; German: [loˈkaʁno] ; Ticinese: Locarno [loˈkɑːrno]; formerly in German: Luggarus [luˈɡaːrʊs]) is a southern Swiss town and municipality in the district Locarno (of which it is the capital), located on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore at its northeastern tip in the canton of Ticino atRead more
the southern foot of the Swiss Alps. It has a population of about 16,000 (proper), and about 56,000 for the agglomeration of the same name including Ascona besides other municipalities.
The town of Locarno is located on the northeastern part of the river Maggia's delta; across the river lies the town of Ascona on the southwestern part of the delta.
Locarno is the 74th largest city in Switzerland by population and the third largest in the Ticino canton, after Lugano and Bellinzona.
The official language of Locarno is Italian.
The town is known for hosting the Locarno International Film Festival which takes place every year in August and involves open-air screenings at the main square, the Piazza Grande. It is also known for the Locarno Treaties, a series of European territorial agreements negotiated here in October 1925.
Where to Stay in Locarno
Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.
Filter presets
Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.
Compare before you book!
Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Locarno.
Explore the Area
Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Locarno.
Loading map...
Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Locarno?
Within an hour or so of Locarno: Contra Dam (Verzasca) (5 km), Verzasca Dam (GoldenEye bungee jump) (5 km), Ponte dei Salti (10 km), Lake Lugano (Swiss side) (24 km).
Are there any good drives near Locarno?
The nearest famous roads are Lake Como Shore Road, Lukmanier Pass and Tremola (Old Gotthard Road).
Where is Locarno?
Locarno is in Ticino, Switzerland, about 5 km from Magadino.
Road trip
Drive to Locarno
Add it as a stop and the planner works out the driving, the nights and what's worth seeing on the way.
Start planningWhat's nearby?
Swipe through places to go
Places within a drive of Locarno. Keep the ones you like and add them to your trip.
Explore now
Quick Information
- Population
- 15,824
- Continent
- Europe
- Country
- Switzerland
- Region
- Ticino
- Timezone
- Europe/Zurich
- Coordinates
- 46.1709, 8.7995
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 Locarno
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.
5 km · about 10 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.
10 km · about 20 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.
24 km · about 30 min drive
landmark
Morcote
Former fishing village stacked against the hillside at Lake Lugano's southern tip: arcaded lanes, palm-lined quays and the 400-step climb to Santa Maria del Sasso; voted Switzerland's most beautiful village in 2016.
29 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
Isola Bella
A tiny island in Lake Maggiore transformed into an extravagant Baroque palace and garden by the Borromeo family.
37 km · about 45 min drive
landmark
Stresa
An elegant resort town on the western shore of Lake Maggiore offering panoramic views of the Borromean Islands.
38 km · about 45 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Stresa & Borromean Islands
An elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
38 km · about 45 min drive
Driving roads near Locarno
14 named roads, passes and coastal drives within 60km.
- 38 kmStresa & Borromean IslandsAn elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.
- 40 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.
- 44 kmLukmanier PassThe lowest of the major Swiss Alpine passes, offering a gentler but beautifully scenic route from Graubünden to Ticino through open meadows.
- 45 kmBrunate Funicular ViewpointA historic funicular climbs from Como city to Brunate for a sweeping balcony view over the lake and Alps.
- 45 kmTremola (Old Gotthard Road)The cobbled Val Tremola switchbacks on the southern side of the Gotthard, the longest surviving historic cobblestone road in Switzerland. A rough, slow and spectacular alternative to the modern pass road.
- 46 kmSan Bernardino PassA scenic Swiss Alpine pass at 2,065 meters linking the German-speaking and Italian-speaking regions of Graubünden.
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
Nearby Destinations
Other places to explore near Locarno.
Plan a trip around Locarno
Your trip starts here
Plan a road trip from Locarno.
Pick the days, drop in the stops, and share it with whoever's coming.