This mountain resort above Locarno has sweeping panoramic views over Lago Maggiore and a fun activity trail for children. This area is often warmer and sunnier than northern Switzerland, making it a good escape when the cold settles in elsewhere.
Contents
| Location: | Ticino Switzerland |
| Address: | Funicular from Locarno: Viale Francesco Balli 2, 6600 Locarno Cable car from Orselina: Via Santuario 5, 6644 Orselina |
| Car: | Parking: Posteggi Stazione Muralto, Via Stazione 6, Muralto 2hr50 from Zurich |
| Train: | Train station: Locarno 2hr20 from Zurich HB |
| Trail: | 3 km hike from top to middle station 1.2 km activity trail for children |
| Condition: | dirt path |
| Skill: | easy |
| Open: | mid March to mid November, weather dependent |
| Prices 2024: | From Locarno, about CHF 44/adult. SBB GA, Half-fare & Junior Card accepted. |
| Services: | restaurant, playground, theme trail |
| More info: | www.cardada.ch |
Cardada-Cimetta overview
This mountain area is accessed by a funicular from Locarno to Oreslina, then a large gondola to Cardada (1340 m) where you’ll find a viewing platform, an activity trail and playground for children and a couple restaurants.
You can optionally continue up the mountain on a chair lift to Cimetta (1671 m) for bigger views from another observation deck.
If you want to hike, the best option is the trail down from Cimetta to Cardada, which is mostly not in the forest so you can enjoy the views. For children, there is a treasure hunt trail that loops around the Cardada station.
Hiking map
The hike between Cardada to Cimetta is 3.2 km as shown below. You can skip this by riding the chair lift back down.
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The children’s trail is about 1.2 but it’s more running back and forth between various amusements as shown on the map below.
How to get there
Cardada is a mountain resort near Locarno in southern Switzerland (see on Google Maps).
From the center of Locarno, you can start with the Locarno-Madonna del Sasso funicular (runs every 15 mins), which ends in Orselina. Then you transfer to a cable car up to Cardada (runs every 30 mins).
By public transport:
Take a train to Locarno, an easy connection from Zürich or Luzern. From Zürich, it takes about 2hr20 with one connection in Bellinzona, much faster than driving.
From the train station in Locarno, walk one block southwest on the main road to the funicular station.
By car:
Drive to Locarno and park in the Posteggi Stazione Muralto parking garage near the funicular (Via Stazione 6, 6600 Muralto). You get a 50% discount on the parking fees if you validate the parking ticket at the funicular ticket office. From the parking garage, walk one block south to the funicular station.
You can save a bit of time and money driving directly to Orselina, skipping the funicular. However, there is very limited parking at Orselina.
If you are coming from Zürich, I recommend taking the train because it’s shorter and less stressful than driving, plus you skip the possible traffic at the St. Gotthard tunnel.
Planning your day
Ticket prices
From Locarno, you need a return ticket for: the funicular from Locarno-Orselina, the gondola from Oreslina-Cardada, and the chair lift from Cardada to Cimetta. If you plan to hike any of these sections, you can buy a one-way ticket for that section.
In 2024, the Locarno-Madonna del Sasso funicular cost CHF 8/adult and CHF 4/child for a return trip. Under 6 free. Discount with Swiss Travel Pass and Ticket Ticket. But no discount for SBB GA or Half Fare cards.
In Oreslina, you must separately buy tickets for the Cardada/Cimetta cable car and chair lift. In 2024, a return trip from Orselina to Cimetta (includes gondola and chair lift) costs CHF 36/adult and CHF 18/child. SBB Half-fare and Junior cards are accepted for the Orselina-Cardada gondola but not for the Cardada-Cimetta chair lift.
Children’s activity booklet
If your children want to do the Treasure Hunt trail, ask for the “Schatzsuche” booklet. They will give you one per family. The text is in German and Italian.
You can turn in your correctly filled out map at the ticket booth to receive a prize. More info about this trail on the Cardada website.
Opening hours
The Locarno-Orselina funicular runs every 15 mins from 8:05 to 20:05. See current timetable and fares. The Orselina-Cardada gondola runs every 30 mins from 07.45 – 19.45 during summer. The Cardada-Cimetta chair lift runs continually from 09.15 – 12.15 and 13.15 – 17.30 during summer. Both have shorter hours in spring and fall. See current prices and timetable.
Photo story of trail
1. Riding to the top
In Locarno, you board the funicular train and ride to Orselina, where you’ll see the lovely church named Madonna del Sasso pictured below.
Cross the street, buy your Cardara/Cimetta tickets and ride the gondola to Cardada.
2. Arrival at Cardada
When you arrive in Cardada, you’ll see a kiosk, some playground equipment, and a restaurant with a panorama terrace shown below.
The children’s activity trail starts here, but you might want to first visit the top at Cimetta, then come back to do the children’s activities. But make sure to pick up your treasure map from ticket office so you can look for animal footprints at the top. Scroll down for more info about the treasure map.
To reach the Cimetta chair lift, it’s a short walk on the paved path behind the Cardada cable car station.
At the base of the Cimetta chair lift, there is Restaurant Colmanicchio shown below, with a great view and playground. We ate there a few years ago and it was pretty good. Also, it had tons of lizards scampering on the terrace, which provided endless entertainment for our 3yr old.
Ride the chair lift to the top of Cimetta. The chair is oriented sideways with foot rests and safety bar.
3. Cimetta: top of the mountain
View from the top of the Cimetta chair.
Lots of paragliders leave from here, which is entertaining to watch.
A short path up to the observation deck.
The Cimetta observation deck.
It’s a 360 degree view, with the lake on one side and big mountains on the other.
There are various rock samples on the observation deck and a map showing where these different kinds are rocks are found in the area.
If you are doing the treasure hunt, look for an animal footprint up here. Then ride back down to Cardada for the other amusements for the children.
4. Children’s Treasure Hunt trail at Cardada
When buying your Cardada tickets at Orselina, ask for the Treasure Hunt booklet (aka Schatzsuche) for the children, one per family. The text is in German and Italian. This booklet is just a sample from our visit. It may change or be discontinued in the future.
This side asks you to mark the seven animal footprints you find in the area, near the squirrel symbols on the map below. Notice that the squirrels are all over the place, not just on the loop trail. You can turn in your correctly filled out map at the ticket booth to receive a prize.
This part of the booklet shows fun things for children near the Cardada station, including #8 the playground and #7 the barefoot path. We didn’t walk the full loop trail (1.2 km), just visited some of the attractions near the gondola station.
The barefoot path is has a large variety of textures from pebbles to tennis balls.
A big “Noah’s Ark” playground at Cardada.
You can take a short detour here to the “landscape promontory,” a long ramp built out from the mountain that gives a nice view. We found an animal footprint on the ramp.
View from the Cardada ramp.
After your visit, ride back down to Locarno, wander around the old town and get some pizza and gelato before heading back home.
One Response
Yay, thanks for updating this blog! Do you know I use it every time we need an idea for an excursion! (You could sell the rights to a travel guide or something…)