Switzerland is known for its incredible hiking trails, such as Augstmatthorn or Stoos Ridge Hike, as well as for its stunning lakes like Oeschinensee and Seealpsee. But only a fraction of all tourists head to Ticino and visit Lavertezzo.
If you haven’t heard about it yet, you should add it to your Switzerland Itinerary.
We’ve had a chance to visit Ticino a few times during our time in Switzerland. We explored both Lugano and Locarno, which are incredible cities with Mediterranean vibes. But our favorite spot in Ticino was definitely Valle Verzasca.
We couldn’t wait to jump right in as soon as we saw the gorgeous river. But we were not as excited once our feet touched the river water. The water is icy cold in this swimming spot! Despite that, we enjoyed it here a lot!
But if swimming in icy cold waters is not what you’re after, you will still enjoy your time here! In this post, we will describe attractions, things to do in the area, and where to eat.
Key Highlights
⭐️ Best time to visit: summer
⭐️ Parking: 6 CHF / 3 h
⭐️ Bus stop: Lavertezzo, Paese
⭐️ Activities: swimming, picnic, hiking, cliff-jumping
⭐️ Where to stay: Locarno, Lugano
⭐️ Discount travel passes: Swiss Travel Pass | Half Fare Card
Where is Lavertezzo
Lavertezzo lies in Ticino canton, the warm and Italian-speaking region in Switzerland. The nearest cities include Locarno and Lugano, both famous for tropical vibes, palm trees, olive groves, and huge mountain lakes.
You’ll find it tucked away in Verzasca Valley. We traveled along via Valle Verzasca to reach the place. A one-way road passes Verzasca Dam and Ponte dei Salti before ending in Sonogno.
If you’re looking for a base to explore the area, we recommend Locarno or Lugano. The former is slightly closer.
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Getting there
Public Transport
The nearest train station is in Tenero. You’ll find a few direct trains from Zürich daily. However, the journey takes more than 3 hours. So if you plan to visit, you better stay in canton Ticino. Direct trains from Locarno only take 6 minutes and from Lugano 25 minutes.
Once you arrive at Tenero, you can take bus number 321 to Lavertezzo, Paesse. The journey takes 30 minutes and the bus only departs every 0.5 or 1.5 hours. So make sure to plan your visit properly. Use SBB or Omio to search for the bus connection.
If you plan to use public transport a lot during your Switzerland trip, consider buying the Swiss Travel Pass for unlimited travel or the Half Fare Card for huge discounts.
Car & Parking
We visited Lavertezzo during our weekend roadtrip to Ticino. We followed road 13 from Locarno and turned left somewhere between Tenero-Contra and Gordola. The turn is followed by a sharp curve with a bigger incline. It felt a bit narrow.
Once we left the village area, there was no more incline. Instead, we passed multiple tunnels and curves while driving along the Verzasca River. I would say it’s an amazing scenic road, which also passes a few stone-house villages.
It took us around 20 minutes to reach Ponte dei Salti.
We were lucky to find an empty parking spot right next to the bridge. The maximum parking time is 3 hours and it cost us 6 CHF.
In case the first one is full, travel a bit further to the second parking lot. However, this one is more expensive. You can use the EasyPark mobile app to pay for parking in Switzerland.
During summer, parking here is a mess. Since the number of spots is limited, it’s a fight to find a free space. Therefore, we highly recommend to plan a visit in the morning.
Discovering
Ponte dei Salti bridge
A medieval double-arched bridge made entirely of stone. Its history starts more than 400 years ago! After some damages in the 19th century, it had to be rebuilt in 1960.
Nowadays, it’s a famous photo spot that offers picturesque views from all sides. But this unique scenery is not attractive only to photographers.
Adrenaline lovers will certainly enjoy the possibility of jumping from the historic bridge into the turquoise waters of Verzasca. This jump is around 15 meters high. If that seems too much to you, you can jump from the rock on the left, just like Juraj did in the picture.
Unique Church
Just across the road, you can find Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angeli, a Christian church from 18. century. Its tall bell tower is visible from every direction. The church is also an iconic symbol of the area.
Verzasca Dam
Along the way, you can notice a huge Verzasca Dam (Contra Dam). Its height of 220 meters makes it the fourth-highest dam in Switzerland. Its length is 380 meters. You can freely walk along the dam, and there’s no entrance fee.
You might know this place from the 1995 Golden Eye James Bond movie. In the opening shot, a stuntman jumps from this exact dam.
Today, it’s a very popular bungee jumping venue. One bungee jump costs 255 CHF. It’s the fourth-highest bungee jump in the world and the first one in Europe!
What I like the most is the possibility to choose one from a few different types of jumps, including a night jump! To be honest, I would probably be too scared to jump into a black void 😀
But if that sounds like something interesting to you, certainly check the 007 Bungy website for more details.
We didn’t feel like investing in the jump when we visited, so we just strolled along the dam. Let me tell you, our heads started spinning just from looking down.
Hike along the river
If you’re looking for a more active day trip, you can also go on a hike! The shaded hiking trail takes you from Sonogno to Lavertezzo. While it’s a 13.4km hike, you can easily make it shorter by starting further along the trail, for example in Brione.
The whole trail is signposted and easy to follow. The entire path is not uneven, which makes it perfect for small kids, too! However, it’s not suitable for strollers or wheelchairs.
You can enjoy walking along the river’s edge and also exploring a few stone buildings. Additionally, you’ll find a few spots where you can jump in the water for a refreshing swim.
You will also see a few spots where rocks create a small but beautiful waterfall in the river.
If you’re looking for some other hiking trails in nearby Alps, Outdooractive listed a few hikes.
Natural Swimming Pools
As you might already know, one of the best activities to do here is swimming in the pristine river and its natural swimming pools. When we first saw the fresh mountain water, its beauty swept us away. It was such a hot sunny day that I couldn’t wait to jump in one of many pools.
We walked around the area and explored the different spots there. Most people would just stay right under the bridge, where you can find the biggest pool of all.
Further behind, we found a few wilder sections with rapids where the current was too strong. But we also stumbled upon a few other smaller pools hidden between the rocks where people chilled.
After swimming, we enjoyed lounging on the huge rocks and sun bathing in the picturesque location. Those alpine views are just mind-blowing!
However, it’s a wild river with no safety guards, and that comes with its risks.
Swimming Safety in Lavertezzo
As soon as you enter the area, you may notice a few warning signs and safety guidelines.
The most important one is ensuring the current is not too strong for swimming. You often can’t see its strength from the shore.
Another thing to keep in mind is that stones around the river are often wet, which results in a slippery surface. Walk around carefully to avoid slipping and getting hurt.
Lastly, the water spring comes from nearby mountains which results in cold temperatures. I can only confirm, the water is freezing cold. We couldn’t manage to swim for more than a few minutes. This presents a potential risk of getting hypothermia.
So if you’re visiting with kids, make sure they don’t stay in the water for too long.
Where to eat
- Grotto al Ponte – simple food, cheese, and wine right next to the bridge
- Osteria Vittoria – family atmosphere, great food, and incredible surroundings
- Chiosco Deka – a small food stall selling coffee, ice cream, and cakes
Travel tips
Bring sunscreen
Sunscreen is a must-have item for any summer trip. This one is no exception. Since we are swimming in a natural pool, we chose to use a sunscreen that is least harmful to the environment.
Pack snacks and beverages
While there are some restaurants in the area, it’s not much. So if you’re coming outside of the main season, make sure to bring some food with you. Also, don’t forget to bring enough water.
The best time to visit
The best time to visit is definitely during hot summer days. Since the water is cold, it’s a much-needed refreshment. We recommend coming when it’s sunny, as that’s when the water color is at its best.
We were lucky with the weather and it was sunny all day long. It felt really good to warm up on the sun after swimming in the icy cold river. I would probably not enjoy swimming that much if it was cloudy.
Of course, you can still visit in autumn or spring, but you won’t be able to get in the water. Unless you are used to ice baths.
Since Ticino is the warmest Swiss canton, winters are relatively mild here. So there’s a chance the river won’t be frozen. If that’s not the only attraction you want to see, winter might actually be a very interesting time to come here.
You have the unique chance to see Valle Verzasca’s picturesque stone villages covered in snow.
Nearby activities
- Locarno – A lovely city in Ticino on Lake Maggiore. It’s surrounded by mountains, but you’ll also find many palm trees around. We loved its historic architecture and mediterranean vibe the most!
- Lugano – Lugano is similar to Locarno. We recommend riding the funicular to Mont Brè to enjoy the city views from a different perspective. We also enjoyed local beaches and swimming in Lago di Lugano.
- Ascona – Incredibly picturesque village just a few minutes ride from Locarno. You will truly feel like you entered Italy here! Enjoy lovely kiosks and cafes, beaches, and stunning architecture.
- Via Ferrata Tre Signori – A perfect day trip for thrill-seekers. As a via-ferrata beginner, it was a huge challenge for me! So if you’re a beginner I recommend trying via ferrata in Mürren first. Tre Signori offers a few different paths of different difficulty levels.
Final thoughts on Lavertezzo
We loved coming back to Ticino during our stay in Switzerland, and Lavertezzo was a big surprise to us. It’s not as well-known and touristy, and we only stumbled upon this gem by chance. If you’re visiting Ticino, we definitely recommend heading to Verzasca Valley at least for a half-day trip.
