Dear all,

so I am going to do a day trip to Ticino - Locarno, Ascona, Bellinzona and probably somewhere on lake for a quick swim (where is the nicest spot for a dip? Lido?) and am wondering if there is any nice and cheap restaurant. I read someone recommended Seven Easy but its price is a bit high for me. Ok I am well aware of the swiss price just I thought there must be a place that one can eat around 30 CHF due to proximity to Italy? (like 25 EUR in Italy) Or is it just my fat dream in Switzerland? Any cheap eat or restaurant recommendation of the towns mentioned (Locarno, Ascona and Bellinzona) will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Have a look at this. http://www.lungolago.ch/ The restaurant is situated by the lakeside. I like the food and find the price very reasonable too.

Thanks Jankcy but would you mind telling me where the restaurant is actually? I saw the website is all in Italian?!

Translated website is here.

Lungolago Giuseppe Motta 8
6600 Locarno

I prefer the Lido at Ascona, especially the area to the far left as you look at the lake. There is also a busy restaurant there that is very reasonable for Pasta/Pizza. The lido is a fair walk out of town....just keep going with the lake to your right.

The Lido at Locarno is fine but it feels very functional and more manufactured than Ascona (obviously manufactured is an inherent quality of a lido). Also more expensive. Ascona was free last summer.

Bellinzona has lots of cafe's along the main street as you turn left out of the station but the restaurant inside the castle (grande) is very nice sitting under the shade of the huge tree (though maybe over your budget if you include wine/beer).

Enjoy, will be there ourselves in a couple of weeks.

Thanks you guys. Another question if you don't mind. Do you (or anyone here) happen to know where one can have a quick but nice swim at these towns? Thanks.

Swimming costs.

How are you travelling?

There are several nice (and free) beaches along the Ticino (river) near Bellinzona, and Figino on Lake Lugano.

Cheap eats? Go to a store, and buy stuff for a picnic, and enjoy at the beach!

Also, on workdays, many places have lunch menus for CHF 15.

Otherwise, Italy.

Tom

Travelling by train. Yeah...am looking for some beaches on a lake or something like that. I heard about the Lido. Can one swim there?

Yes, but it costs CHF 8 or so.

N.B. Most towns on a lake have a 'Lido'.

Tom

Oh...then maybe it is not I am looking for. Thought to go somewhere surrounded by nature, something like the Rhein in Basel, Aare in Bern or Drei Weiher in St. Gallen if you know. Is there something like that in Ticino?

Yes, the Ticino river. Best is at the north end of Bellinzona. Nice sandy beach, and you can picnic/grill there. But not so easy to get to if you don't have a car/motorcycle.

Figino near Lugano has a nice place on the lake, it's free, and you can get there by bus.

Tom

Train to Intragna - then hike 1km up the valley (road) (past Piazzo) until a path drops off to the left - this takes you (with a bit of clamber to the valley floor) - http://www.mapplus.ch?x=697003&y=114193&zl=15

Afterwards head back to Ponte Brolla - and into Restaurant Centovalli (not quite within budget - but fantastic food).

Ponte Brolla back to Locarno.

consider organising an event for the Tee Chee Massive to go to a grotto and cadge a lift there.

Food is usually well-priced and you get an insight into the local eateries.

My favourite grottos are in Montagnola and on San Salvatore. Morchino is my favourite - the guy who bought it used to organise illegal parties there...... http://www.morchino.ch/en/