Crossing the Alps to Ticino: Castles, Grottos and Lago Maggiore

Travel through the very heart of Switzerland on the Gotthard Panorama Express, where engineering brilliance meets breathtaking alpine landscapes. The journey carries you along the historic Gotthard railway, famous for its spectacular spiral tunnels. These masterpieces of 19th-century engineering twist deep into the mountains, allowing trains to climb through dramatic valleys and sheer cliffs.
From your seat, watch as the train curves high above its own tracks, revealing ever-changing views of rugged peaks, rushing rivers, and stone villages nestled in the valleys. Each tunnel exit offers a new panorama — a true showcase of Swiss ingenuity and natural beauty combined.
Relax and enjoy the slow unfolding of the Alps from the comfort of panoramic carriages. A ride on the Gotthard Panorama Express is more than a train journey — it’s a passage through history, culture, and the very soul of Switzerland.

Crossing the Alps on the historic Gotthard railway is a journey through both landscapes and cultures. The train gradually climbs from the green valleys of northern Switzerland into rugged alpine scenery before entering the old Gotthard tunnel, once the longest in the world.
Moments later, daylight returns — and with it, a new world. Palms replace pines, stone houses glow in warmer light, and the air feels softer. It’s the gentle yet striking moment when northern Switzerland gives way to the south, and the journey takes on an unmistakably Mediterranean touch.

In Bellinzona, the capital of Ticino, history rises above the town in the form of three UNESCO-listed castles. The lower fortress, easily reached from the old town, is open to the public and invites you to wander freely through its towers, walls, and courtyards. Below, the streets of Bellinzona reveal Italian flair with lively markets, arcaded houses, and cafés — a vivid mix of culture and history at the southern gateway to the Alps.

In the south, we pause at the charming village of Arcegno, where narrow lanes, stone houses, and chestnut groves recall an older rhythm of life. Here you’ll step away from trains and lakes to enjoy the warmth of Ticino in an authentic grotto — a rustic restaurant tucked into the hillside, serving local food and wine in a cozy setting. It’s a chance to taste the region as well as see it, and to slow down for a moment before continuing the journey.

From Arcegno, an optional hike over the Balladrüm ridge takes us through quiet chestnut groves and open viewpoints above Lago Maggiore. The path offers changing perspectives of the deep-blue lake and the surrounding mountains, a gentle contrast to the dramatic alpine scenery earlier in the day. Step by step, the southern light and landscape draw us closer to the lakeshore.

Our journey continues to Ascona, a lakeside town often called the “pearl of Lago Maggiore.” Its arcaded houses, lively piazza, and palm-lined waterfront create an inviting atmosphere of ease and elegance. If you wish, enjoy a leisurely walk along the promenade, where villas and gardens line the shore, offering tranquil views across the lake in a setting full of southern charm.

Optional Prolongation: End the day with a relaxed dinner in a typical pizzeria before boarding the train back north.

The return journey brings us back north in record time, carried through the Gotthard Base Tunnel — at 57 kilometers, the world’s longest railway and deepest traffic tunnel. Opened in 2016 after nearly two decades of construction, it represents one of the greatest engineering achievements of our time. In less than 20 minutes, the train glides silently beneath the Alps, with more than two kilometers of solid rock towering above. The contrast is striking: where the historic mountain route revealed the Alps curve by curve, the base tunnel cuts straight through them with speed and precision. It is a reminder of how Switzerland continues to shape the dialogue between nature, history, and progress. As we emerge back into central Switzerland, we look back on a day that offered a glimpse of southern Switzerland’s charm together with the adventure of crossing the Alps both over and under them — an experience that lingers long after the journey ends.