31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia
31 Percorso Valle Maggia

Cycling in Switzerland

etappe-0962

Percorso Valle Maggia

Stage 1, Bellinzona–Locarno

Route report
52 photos

VL_031_01_04_4_P1080086_R_F_M.jpg
etappe-0962

Percorso Valle Maggia

Through Piano di Magadino, the Ticino’s vegetable garden, then amidst European camping guests on the lovely lakeside promenade to Locarno, a happy mix of the German holiday dream, Ticino business people and Swiss German Italianità.
The Bellinzona starting point lies in a strategic spot at the southern entrance to the Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lukmanier Alpine passes. And, assimilating a Lombard character, it’s known to be the most Italian-like city in the country. Here you witness the mighty fortress consisting of three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, dominating the skyline of the Ticino capital.

Named after the municipality of Magadino, the Magadino plain is located at the south-eastern end of the lake. A plain in part shaped by extensive vegetable gardens and the so-called ""Bolle di Magadino"" - one of the last unused river deltas in Switzerland. ""Bolle"" refers to bogs and marshes in Italian. This sunny route crosses the Verzasca; or rather what remains of it after the water has passed the dam best known from the James Bond film.

By Lake Maggiore you share in the company of young athletes at the national youth sports center Tenero - with the shoreline stretch between Tenero and Locarno then shaped by simple Ticino-style houses and large villas. Locarno lures people by the dozen to its international film festivals - and climatically it’s the mildest city in Switzerland, with around 2200 hours of sunshine a year.
Through Piano di Magadino, the Ticino’s vegetable garden, then amidst European camping guests on the lovely lakeside promenade to Locarno, a happy mix of the German holiday dream, Ticino business people and Swiss German Italianità.
The Bellinzona starting point lies in a strategic spot at the southern entrance to the Gotthard, San Bernardino and Lukmanier Alpine passes. And, assimilating a Lombard character, it’s known to be the most Italian-like city in the country. Here you witness the mighty fortress consisting of three of the best-preserved medieval castles in Switzerland, dominating the skyline of the Ticino capital.

Named after the municipality of Magadino, the Magadino plain is located at the south-eastern end of the lake. A plain in part shaped by extensive vegetable gardens and the so-called ""Bolle di Magadino"" - one of the last unused river deltas in Switzerland. ""Bolle"" refers to bogs and marshes in Italian. This sunny route crosses the Verzasca; or rather what remains of it after the water has passed the dam best known from the James Bond film.

By Lake Maggiore you share in the company of young athletes at the national youth sports center Tenero - with the shoreline stretch between Tenero and Locarno then shaped by simple Ticino-style houses and large villas. Locarno lures people by the dozen to its international film festivals - and climatically it’s the mildest city in Switzerland, with around 2200 hours of sunshine a year.
22 km
Asphalted: 22 km
Natural surface: 0 km
100 m | 140 m
easy

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Bellinzona
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

General safety

Consideration
Beware: ride slowly and show consideration to pedestrians along the Minusio–Muralto lake promenade, fast cyclists must take the signposted alternative in the town.

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Hint
Beware: dangerous bridge section in Gudo.
Family cycling tours
The section between Bellinzona und Locarno (22 km) is especially recommended with children.
To the Familiy tour Magadino plain

Arrival | return travel

Arrival / return travel Locarno
SBB Timetable Show stop and route on map

Services

Accommodation

Capanna Genzianella
Capanna Genzianella
Giubiasco
Camping Bellinzona
Camping Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Hotel Internazionale
Hotel Internazionale
Bellinzona
Hotel Unione
Hotel Unione
Bellinzona
Ostello per la Gioventù Bellinzona
Ostello per la Gioventù Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Osteria Ritrovo dei Passeggeri
Osteria Ritrovo dei Passeggeri
S. Antonio (Val Morobbia)
Hotel Bellinzona Sud
Hotel Bellinzona Sud
Monte Carasso
Capanna Cremorasco
Capanna Cremorasco
Camorino
Capanna Pianturin
Capanna Pianturin
Cadenazzo
Capanna Mognone
Capanna Mognone
Sementina
Capanna Orino
Capanna Orino
Gudo
Campofelice Camping Village
Campofelice Camping Village
Tenero
Cantina Carrara
Cantina Carrara
Gordola
Capanna Monti di Lego
Capanna Monti di Lego
Mergoscia
La Palma au Lac Hotel & Spa
La Palma au Lac Hotel & Spa
Locarno
Hotel Geranio Au Lac
Hotel Geranio Au Lac
Locarno
Hotel Belvedere Locarno
Hotel Belvedere Locarno
Locarno
Casa DaVinci
Casa DaVinci
Locarno
Hotel dell'Angelo
Hotel dell'Angelo
Locarno
Hotel America
Hotel America
Locarno
H4 Hotel Arcadia
H4 Hotel Arcadia
Locarno
Hotel Bellavista
Hotel Bellavista
Vira-Gambarogno
Ostello per la Gioventù Locarno
Ostello per la Gioventù Locarno
Locarno
Parkhotel Delta Wellbeing Resort
Parkhotel Delta Wellbeing Resort
Ascona
Hotel Ascona
Hotel Ascona
Ascona
Parkhotel Emmaus
Parkhotel Emmaus
Losone
Hotel-Restaurant Monte Verità (offen Apr-Okt)
Hotel-Restaurant Monte Verità (offen Apr-Okt)
Ascona
Garni Villa Siesta Park
Garni Villa Siesta Park
Losone
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Bookable offers

Magadino tour
Magadino tour
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
3 North-South Route Basel-Chiasso
Lake Constance - Lago Maggiore
Lake Constance - Lago Maggiore
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Places

Bellinzona
Bellinzona
Locarno
Locarno
Ascona
Ascona
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Places of interest

The 3 Unesco castles of Bellinzona
The 3 Unesco castles of Bellinzona
Teatro Sociale
Teatro Sociale
Mount Pioda’s chestnut grove
Mount Pioda’s chestnut grove
The mires of the Magadino Plain
The mires of the Magadino Plain
The Verzasca dam
The Verzasca dam
Sanctuary Madonna del Sasso - Orselina
Sanctuary Madonna del Sasso - Orselina
Termali Salini & Spa Lido Locarno
Termali Salini & Spa Lido Locarno
The Camellia Park in Locarno
The Camellia Park in Locarno
Falconeria Locarno
Falconeria Locarno
Visconti Castle - Locarno
Visconti Castle - Locarno
Municipal Museum of Modern Art - Ascona
Municipal Museum of Modern Art - Ascona
Monte Verità - Ascona
Monte Verità - Ascona
Cardada Cimetta
Cardada Cimetta
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Signalization

Signalization
For cycling, follow the logo indicated on the red signposts. Take a printout of our web map on your tour for safety's sake.
Signalization