We wanted to escape Basel for a weekend and celebrate my birthday in sunny Ticino. Our stay at the hotel was a perfect mix of romantic gateway, active exploring and pure relaxation.
Enjoy breakfast and get ready for an active day The breakfast at the Belvedere is served in a buffet style. They sure know how to start a day at the Hotel Belvedere! Head up to Madonna del Sasso Located right above the Hotel, Madonna del Sasso in Orselina is one of the most famous and most important sanctuary in the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland. We took the funicular up there and walked down to the hotel after. Get a bike from the hotel Hotel Belvedere is a great starting point for many cycle routes, not only around the Lake but also for going up and down the valleys and mountains.
Explore Locarno We started with a ride along the promenade and later parked the bikes and wandered through the picturesque Old Town behind the Piazza Grande to get a vibe of the city. I really loved it! Go for lunch to Ascona We got back on our bikes and headed to Ascona. We made a stop at the famous Camellia Park, one of the most beautiful Gardens of Switzerland, but it was already a bit too late to admire camelias in full bloom best to visit in March.
Ascona itself is true eye candy for Ticino lovers. We chose a restaurant facing the lake for a late lunch. We just sat and looked over the water for hours and after a short stop for gelato, we headed back to the Hotel. You can find a route similiar to ours here.
Restaurants on the promenade where we sat for lunch. Hotel Belvedere has its own spa with massages, wellness and beauty treatments. Apero time by the fountain When in Rome, do like Romans do. In Ticino, having the aperitif is part of the culture, just like in Italy and what could be better to start the evening than a drink and some delicious local bites?
