Peaceful lakeside strolls, mountain hikes, and stunning gardens – sounds like paradise for a dog, doesn’t it? This is Locarno, Switzerland. When deciding where in Switzerland’s Ticino region to stay with our dog for a couple of days, Locarno immediately stood out for the variety of dog-friendly activities. This turned out to be mostly accurate with some caveats.
Pet-friendly (and pet-unfriendly) outdoor spaces
Overall, dogs are allowed almost everywhere in Locarno, with some eyebrow-raising exceptions. The old town area generally lacks grass where your dog can comfortably pee, and any small flower beds or grassy squares often explicitly forbid dogs with signs. I can’t help but wonder why people prefer to have dogs poop and pee on concrete where we walk rather than in small decorative patches of grass where it can at least be absorbed by the soil.
If you want to stroll along the lakeside promenade with your pup, you’ll likely meet many other dogs. However, your dog is not allowed to walk on the grassy gardens along the promenade, a rule most people simply ignore. Other notable places that don’t allow dogs include the Parco delle Camelie and the Giardini Rusca. At the Parco della Pace, dogs are only allowed between October and April.
On the other hand, there’s a vast natural area on the southern end of Locarno where you’ll find the forest park, Bosco Isolino, where you can take your dog at all hours. The forested area extends all the way to the narrow Maggia River between Locarno and Ascona. There are also plenty of dog-friendly trails up at the Cardada and Cimetta peaks that overlook Locarno. These are accessible by cable car, which is dog-friendly.
Things to do in Locarno with a dog
Hike or take the funicular to Madonna del Sasso
The Madonna del Sasso is a Catholic church that sits on a hillside overlooking Locarno. It’s about 2 km uphill so it’s not the easiest hike, but doable for fit dogs and humans. The church grounds welcome furry visitors as long as they don’t enter interior areas. Aside from being an important site of Catholic pilgrimage, it makes for beautiful views of the area.
If you don’t want to make the grueling climb on foot, you can take a funicular from city center with your pup. Dogs are not only welcome, they ride for free.
Take the cable car to Cardada
If you and your dog are fit enough for some alpine hiking, you can take the cable car up to the Cardada peak, 1340 meters above sea level. The cable car leaves from Orselina, which is where the Madonna del Sasso sanctuary is located, which you can reach by the funicular from Locarno city center. Though it would make for a packed day, it makes the most sense to do both of these on the same day to avoid paying for the funicular twice. The cable car to Cardada is dog-friendly and free unless your dog is taller than 30 cm, in which case there is a special dog fee. Dogs must be leashed on the trails in Cardada.
Additionally, you can continue on with your dog on the chair lift to Cimetta, which is about 300 meters higher. This is at the owner’s discretion since the chair lift is open and a scared dog is liable to fall. The benefit of making the trek up to either of these peaks is the availability of dog-friendly hiking trails.
Take a ferry to Isole di Brissago
Dogs can also take the ferries from the Locarno ferry terminal or from Ascona. One of the notably dog-friendly gardens you can visit is the botanical garden at Isole di Brissago, which is a 15-minute ferry ride from Ascona or about an hour from Locarno. Dogs are allowed on the ferry, provided they’re leashed. No one asked us about a muzzle and much larger dogs than ours were also not muzzled. The ferry takes you to the tiny island oasis of Isole di Brissago, which has plant species from all over the world including Asia and Africa. There is a restaurant in a Neoclassical villa on the island where you can also dine with your dog on the scenic terrace.
Check out the eagles and hawks at the Falconeria Locarno
One of the oddest places where you can take your doggy companion is the local zoo dedicated to birds of prey, Falconeria Locarno. Dogs must be leashed to walk around the park and during the live shows with hawks, falcons, and vultures, they must be crated for their own safety. Go figure, dogs can’t go to a nice garden nearby but they can roam among the deadliest birds on earth.
Dog-friendly places to eat in Locarno
Restaurants in Locarno are generally dog-friendly, particularly if there is a terrace or garden. However, it never hurts to ask. In the meantime, here are some restaurants and cafes that are definitely dog-friendly to take out some of the guesswork.
Perbacco – Ristorante Pizzeria
Locarno was generally an easy place to visit with a dog. The town warmly welcomes four-legged travelers; it’s a shame that this policy doesn’t extend to all of the city’s nice parks and gardens. But with a bit of planning, you and your dog can still get a lot of out the city.
This article is also featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Locarno.
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