Switzerland's Italian Region Featured in Michelin Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages (cross-border guide)

Context

TL;DR

• 7 villages in Ticino awarded by Michelin Guide
• Valangin features a majestic castle and historic center
• Michelin Guide aims to attract tourists to smaller villages
• Locarno hosted the 1925 Locarno Conference

Key facts

• Cosa: Michelin Guide recognition for Ticino villages
• Quando: Michelin Guide presented in Neuchâtel
• Dove: Ticino, Switzerland's Italian region
• Chi: Kevin Quattropani, president of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland
• Importo: 7 villages awarded in Ticino
• Scadenza: Michelin Guide 2026 edition
• Evento: Locarno Conference in 1925
• Popolazione: Lugano has 170,000 inhabitants

Switzerland's Italian region has been awarded a prestigious recognition: the Michelin Guide to the Most Beautiful Villages. Among these, 7 unique destinations to visit in Ticino. Valangin, Ascona, Morcote, Bosco Gurin, Muggio, Giornico, and Poschiavo are the unmissable destinations for travelers who want to discover the beauty of Switzerland's Italian region.

Operational details

The Michelin Guide was presented in Neuchâtel and proposes itineraries and starred restaurants. Kevin Quattropani, president of the Association of the Most Beautiful Villages in Switzerland, stated: 'We want to encourage foreign tourists to come to Switzerland, even to smaller villages.' Among the most beautiful villages in Ticino, there is Valangin, a small town dominated by a majestic castle. The town's nucleus offers a real plunge into the past, between centuries of history. The Michelin Guide is a highly appreciated novelty and a positive reception, also due to its large dissemination and the ability to bring new interest to localities that are actually small jewels near our home and perhaps we have forgotten them.

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Key points

7 must-visit destinations in Ticino according to the Michelin Guide 2026.

1. Locarno: a city of 16,000 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, famous for its neoclassical architecture and strategic position on the lake. The city has been the site of important historical events, such as the Locarno Conference in 1925, which led to the signing of the Locarno Treaty.

2. Ascona: a village of 5,000 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Maggiore, famous for its medieval architecture and strategic position on the lake. The city has been a major cultural and artistic center over the centuries and still hosts many cultural and artistic events today.

3. Bellinzona: the capital of Ticino, with a population of 43,000 inhabitants. The city is famous for its three medieval fortresses, which have been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city is also an important commercial and financial center, with many shops and offices.

4. Lugano: a city of 170,000 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Lugano, famous for its neoclassical architecture and strategic position on the lake. The city is an important cultural and artistic center, with many museums and art galleries.

5. Mendrisio: a municipality of 13,000 inhabitants located on the western shore of Lake Lugano, famous for its medieval architecture and strategic position on the lake. The city has been a major cultural and artistic center over the centuries and still hosts many cultural and artistic events today.

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