Lake Maggiore – the largest lake on the Swiss border – stretches from Locarno and the Swiss Ticino deep into northern Italy. The northern shore near Locarno and Ascona with its palm trees, olive trees and Mediterranean climate is one of Switzerland's most unique landscape experiences: the contrast between the alpine panorama in the background and subtropical lakeside vegetation in the foreground is nowhere greater than here.

The Swiss side of Lake Maggiore offers the Brissago Islands with the botanical garden, the Ascona beach promenade and the lively Locarno lakeside promenade. Boat trips on the lake to the Italian islands Isola Bella and Isola Madre are classic excursions. In summer the water temperature is pleasantly warm by Swiss standards – up to 24°C.

The Swiss part of Lake Maggiore is accessed from Locarno, reachable by SBB from Zurich in around 2.5 hours. By car, take the A2 motorway through the Gotthard.