© Ticino Tourismus

Let us take you on a discovery journey across some of Ticino’s most untouched and pristine corners, places in which time seems to stand still and crowds of tourists don’t exist. Find inspiration and explore the hidden facets of Ticino in winter, a quieter time of the year.  

Bosco Gurin

An idyllic postcard setting from the highest village in Ticino

The unspoilt alpine village of Bosco Gurin is only 35 kilometers from Locarno as the crow flies. Hop on the bus and chug through the hairpin bends of the Maggia Valley heading into the mountains. You’ll soon realize that clocks tick differently in this area. The German-speaking Walser minority still lives in the highest village in Ticino, 1500 meters above sea level amidst magnificent mountain scenery.

The village of Bosco Gurin © Ticino Tourismus

Inhabitants of this picturesque village have preserved their traditions and language, so that “Ggurijnartitsch” (a Swiss-German dialect) is still spoken today. The village’s ancestors originally came from the Upper Valais in search of new pastures for their cattle. They settled in the area in the 13th century and, besides the language, there are still plenty of vestiges from that time, including wooden houses, unusual for Ticino. Visitors can find further traces of this people’s distinctive traditions, who were able to adapt perfectly to the living environment at such high altitudes, by visiting the little “Gruiner Walserhaus” museum. 

© Walserhaus Museum Bosco Gurin

Our selection of hotels for trips to Bosco Gurin

Riva Rooms & Studios 

Hotel Nessi ***

Valle di Muggio

At the southernmost tip of Switzerland

“The most beautiful landscape in Switzerland”. Switzerland’s southernmost valley was awarded with this prestigious distinction by the Swiss Foundation for Landscape Conservation in 2014. Nestled between Mendrisio and Lake Como hides a whole different world - perhaps the country’s wildest, and certainly the most un-Swiss corner. A place where the punctuality of the PostBus routes, the road signs and the opening hours of the restaurants are not taken quite so seriously. In the Valle di Muggio, locally known as the “Val da Mücc”, is a kind of outdoor museum: themed hiking trails lead to beatifully restored mills, ice cellars, bird-catching towers and bridges. This is where the allegedly best Formaggino (soft goat’s cheese) is produced.

Casa Cantoni is the information center of the Museo Etnografico. It has undergone a great deal of renovation work, preserving the typical characteristics of the Muggio Valley: tranquillity, beautiful, unspoilt landscapes and proximity to nature. 

Valle di Muggio © Bächli Bergsport

Our suggestions of hotels for trips to the Valle di Muggio

Hotel Conca Bella ***

Bahnhof-Haus Chiasso ***

Malcantone

Anything but a bad canton...

When standing at the foot of the Malcantone region, it is hard to believe that this hilly landscape is inhabited. All you see is woodland and lush vegetation. Yet it is paradise for hikers and mountain bikers, with 18 picturesque villages to discover. One might wonder about the name “bad canton”. According to one of the legends behind the name, this area has always offered refuge to predators, deserters and smugglers. Nowadays, Malcantone has become “Belcantone”. Some people say it somewhat resembles the rolling hills of Tuscany.   

Breno, Malcantone © Lugano Region

The region stretches from the Gulf of Agno on Lake Lugano up to Monte Lema. Our tip for exploring Malcantone is to follow the circular hiking trail “Il sentiero delle meraviglie”. This path of wonders offers a series of different views into the working lives of people over many generations. For instance, you will come across a working hammer mill with a water wheel on the Magliasina river. Further on, you will pass castle ruins, flour mills, ore mines and old kilns from past generations. 

Those who want to find out more about the history of this region can visit the Museo del Malcantone, which houses a collection of various types of historical and cultural documentation. The main aim of the museum association is to contribute to the dissemination of a thorough knowledge about the past and present of this region. 

Hammer mill in Malcantone © Ticino Tourismus

Our suggestions of hotels for trips to Malcantone

Hotel Ristorante I Grappoli 

Tresa Bay Hotel ***

Travel to Ticino now to enjoy some peaceful moments during winter.