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Seeking a Swiss/Italian combo to match Brienz & Ascona blend (in June)!

Posted by on

Hi, has anyone ever found anywhere v similar to gorgeous colourful Ascona in terms of look and feel?
Also, does anywhere get close to Brienz in feel and setting?
Planning train trip from London in June to Swiss/Italian (possibly 2) locations again. Public transport/taxi access is important.
Maybe Morcote on Lake Lugano? We're seeking a Swiss/Italian mix for part of it again, but wondering if Morcote is rather small?

We spent time in Brienz (fantastic classic Swiss experience) and 1 week in Ascona, and it was a perfect mix.
Feels hard to top that combo! Seeking stunning scenery, views and colour with many eateries, sightseeing and vibrant waterfront charm.
We enjoyed Weggis on Lucerne (a bit quiet though) , and Bellagio and Varenna on Como, although the latter is rather small.
I hear wonderful things about Orta, but is there enough to do on Orta (compared to Ascona and Brienz)?

We researched Lake Garda with interest, but we wouldn't have the advantage of the Swiss feel there. Bardolino or Limone seem closest to Ascona in looks, although perhaps the views are less dramatic.

Thanks so much! Meant to post this on Swiss forum but it won't let me because i've already posted here. Can anyone help?

Posted by
1959 posts

As you seem to be double black diamond advanced in picking out the most awesome small Swiss / Alpine lakeside retreats (really - every place you said you like looks absolutely wonderful), I would take most of the replies you'll get here with a grain of salt. It's going to be mostly a bunch of intermediates telling Franz Klammer where to ski.

That said Lake Orta looks amazing ... that island ....

Posted by
1685 posts

Orta San Giulio and its island is a magical place for me, especially at night. We stayed in an apartment in Miasino just up the hill and spent a more than usual amount of time driving around - Lake Maggiore area, bottom end of Valais, not quite as far as Asti in Piedmont, Pavia and Bergamo in Lombardy, a few Sacred Mounts. You have to drive deep into Piedmont before the scenery changes for the better, the landscape around Milan not too pretty either.

Orta does not have a similar feel or backdrop to the Ascona/Locarno area. Although I loved Orta itself, for most it would not warrant a long stay, and the rest of the lake is not much to write home about.

I only drove past Brienz at some point on the way to Meiringen, so can't comment on that. The whole area is fabulous, though a bit pricey for me.

We did stop off for a hike at Morcote when we moved from Orta to Como. Morcote's tiny, the views from the cemetery above the village spectacular (different to Ascona). We hiked on a trail above Morcote for a couple of hours. Again, it depends on how long you are thinking of staying and how far you are willing to go on day trips.

Posted by
40 posts

Thanks for these replies. We won't have a car, and we'd like our base to be truly stunning in itself, with the option to explore locally by public transport. Perhaps a week in classic Switzerland and week in Ticino. If Morcote is too small and Lugano too big, does anywhere else leap to mind for either section of the holiday?! Keen to explore new regions, and prefer the German speaking regions to French influenced parts. Bernese Oberland and Ticino hard to beat, but open to (train-friendly) ideas.

Posted by
1959 posts

Any objection to Austria? Some really charming towns / lakes in the Austria alps.

Also, maybe don't write off buses as transit in Switzerland? I nearly never use buses on my Europe trips, but the Swiss Post Bus system is beyond first rate. No WC's on board, but the legs I want to travel on Swiss buses are usually short.

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