If you want to explore the Ticino canton by hiking, then this post is perfect for you, as we highlight hiking Monte Tamaro! To the peak of 1962m, Monte Tamaro is a great mountain for all ages. You can hike to the very peak, but also decide to enjoy the stunning views of Bellinzona from Alpe Foppa, where the restaurant and adventure park is based. It’s worth spending at whole day here, so plan ahead and have fun!
Read on to see all information from our personal visit during October.
Where Is Monte Tamaro?
Located in the heart of Ticino, Monte Tamaro can be found in the triangle of the main areas of Locarno, Bellinzona and Lugano.
The official address to start your visit to Monte Tamaro is:
Monte Tamaro SA
Via Campagnole 6
6802 Rivera
Monte Tamaro Facts
Here are some facts about Monte Tamaro worth knowing before your visit:
- It’s a total elevation of 1,962 m (6,437 ft)
- Monte Tamaro is the highest summit located between Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore.
- The mountain slogan is “Monte Tamaro a mountain of emotions”, due to the cultural and sports activities you can do here.
- The Santa Maria degli Angeli is constructed out of pretty porphyry red rock
- There is a sledge slide that is 800 meter-long descent and can reach a speed of 50km/h!
Monte Tamaro Cable Car To Alpe Foppa
First things first, book your tickets in advance for the cable car (and any combos) on the official Monte Tamaro website. This will save you time when you arrive, especially if you plan to head up the mountain before lunch time. There are often queues on weekends, even though they move quite fast, with a ticket you can skip the queue and head right onto the cable car.
The cable car from the base takes you to two stops, either to get off at the first stop with the adventure park activities, or to head to the second and final stop called Alpe Foppa for the restaurant, hiking starting points and other activities. The cable car fits 4 people, but we spotted that you can also go up with a bike or children’s pram if needed with an additional cable car. We even saw some cute dogs heading up with a ride!
Top tip: If you’re visiting Switzerland and travelling around for longer, we suggest getting a Swisspass. This will allow you 50% off for your train, bus and cable car journey costs!
Hiking Monte Tamaro
The main highlight (in our opinion!) is the hiking at Monte Tamaro. You start at Alpe Foppa and head straight up to the top!
This is a red and white Swiss hiking route, where you first follow a zig zag road to the weather station building. This part is doable with children as we saw many along the path who looked around the ages of 7. It’s a pretty casual uphill climb so also suitable for those who want to enjoy a small hike from the restaurant area. It’s around 40 minutes to 1 hour to the weather station at an average pace.
From here, it gets a little more adventurous to walk along a narrow rocky route as well as a little climbing up rocks and ground to the peak of Monte Tamaro. So suitable hiking shoes is a must! For another 40 minutes, you can be standing at the very peak, but it’s definitely not for those who dislike heights. We hiked during the end of October with 15°c so we had no issues climbing it, but we can imagine its very slippery when wet and colder.
Regardless of when you visit, the view is amazing. The 360° views from the peak on a clear day is worth the hike. From one side you see Lugano and towards Italy, circling towards Bellinzona, Locarno, Ascona and then Lake Maggiore with Italy. In the distance you can also see some snowy peaks such as the Matternhorn and Jungfrau.
Adventure Tree Park
If you wish to climb between the trees, take a zipline or swing with ropes, then the adventure park is perfect to visit. It’s a great experience and lots of activities on top of the mountain and suitable for all ages. They have different levels based on your age or level of experience, so it’s worth trying even if you are beginner!
This is located at the first cable car station, so make sure to get off here. There is also a small snack bar for those who want something to eat or drink too.
We didn’t stop here as it’s not really our thing, but it looked super popular and busy as we went past!
Love hiking? Get inspired with these other local Ticino hikes for your visit too.
restaurant and Toboggan Ride
Once at the second and final cable car station at Alpe Foppa, you are welcomed right on to the mountain and close to the toboggan ride and restaurant.
For the toboggan and zip line adventures, you can buy the tickets before you arrive, else on the day at the cable car or restaurant area. They do combi tickets so its great to enjoy with friends and family while visiting. There is also a huge play park for younger children to run around and play at.
The restaurant is a lovely spot with inside and outside seating. They have a buffet style restaurant where you can pick up a tray and choose your food or drink along the canteen area. Lots of choice, fresh cold and hot dishes all possible. During our own visit, there was live music near the outside seating which made it super lovely to sit with a drink and relax, which we did after our hike to the top.
Viewpoints
Even from the cable car you will start to see some amazing views of Ticino. The views start with the pretty angle towards Bellinzona, and further up you can see much more along the valley. Once at the top where the restaurant is located, you can see much more also towards Locarno as well as the surrounding mountains. On a clear day, the views are stunning!
Now for higher viewpoints you need to consider hiking to the very top of Monte Tamaro as shared previously. The top is truly the most stunning spot for 360 views of Lugano, Bellinzona, Locarno, Ascona as well as Lake Lugano and Lake Maggiore and Italy!! Truly beautiful!
Summary
Our visit to Monte Tamaro was pretty cool, with decent weather for hiking in October and a relaxing stop at the restaurant for a drink and enjoyable live music. We can definitely recommend hiking here, even to those who do not hike very often. The views are truly stunning!
Tips:
- Wear suitable shoes and clothing for the visit, as it can get colder at the top!
- Get 50% off your cable car tickets with a Swisspass
- Buy your tickets in advance on the official website for the cable car to avoid the queues
- You can also choose to hike to Monte Tamaro and then to Lema, the next mountain peak nearby!
Thanks for reading!
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