Ascona holidays

You'll want to spend at least one of your days in Ascona at the fun-for-all lakeside lido – just note that it does cost to enter. As well as the beautiful sandy beach, there's also a beach volleyball court and you can even try your hand at water skiing or wakeboarding. For refreshments, there's a self-service restaurant, sports bar and beach club restaurant.

If you're wanting beach time that doesn't come with a price tag, this sandy spot is free for everyone. There's a restaurant-bar here serving up drinks, ice-cream and hot food, as well as other facilities like deck chairs and changing rooms.

The weekly market takes place at the Piazza G. Motta, midway down the promenade. There's all sorts of typical Ticino food, ingredients, crafts and souvenirs here – as well as the buzz of local life.

On the lanes that snake off the promenade you'll find a range of galleries, gift shops and artisan traders. Dip in and out to find that special something to remember the holiday by. They're good places to pick up some local know-how from shopkeepers too.

If you're shopping for watches, jewellery and some of the finer things in life, you'll find some fashionable boutiques and haute couture brands along Via Borgo.

For a low-key evening, it's hard to beat simply watching the sun drop and the colours shimmer and change on the water, while sipping your choice tipple at one of the terrace bars.

Head to the waterfront to seek out the late night soirée hotspots, where you can enjoy cocktails, live music and DJ sets into the early hours.

Being such close neighbours with Italy, you can definitely sense the Italian influence on the food culture in Ascona. From fresh pasta to seafood to irresistible gelato, it's all good and tasty.

Ascona offers a range of places to eat, from traditional, family-run spots to restaurants with multiple Michelin-stars. So you'll find options for most budgets and tastes.

Ascona is situated in the Ticino canton of Switzerland, and the region has its own distinctive cuisine. If you'd like to try the local Ticino delicacies, look out for places that have salamis, salads, polenta and cheeses on the menu. It's simple fare and delicious too.

The 1, 5, 7, 8 and 314 buses all cross the bridge over the River Maggia into Locarno – an option if you want to visit the town but don’t fancy the ferry. You can also take the bus to visit other nearby towns around the lake. Buses and local trains are free with the Ticino ticket which you'll receive at check in.

Boat hopping is a brill way to see more of the lake – whether it’s a trip to the nearby Brissago islands, or heading further south to the Italian side for lunch and a gander round another attractive lakeside village, like Cannobio. Closer to home is neighbouring town Locarno, which you get to by circling round Ascona's outcrop of shoreline.

If you want to climb the hillsides without the sweat, pop over to Locarno and from the town centre you can ride a funicular which takes you to the pilgrim church of Sacro Monte Madonna del Sasso. You can also jump on the the Cardada cable car from here too. After enjoying the amazing scenery on your way up, you can then take a 2-person chairlift up to 1,670m above sea level. There’s an observation deck here where you can marvel at a view which takes in both the lowest and highest points of Switzerland – Lake Maggiore, and the Dufour peak of the Monte Rosa.

Ascona’s a lovely place to get around on foot. Wide and flat, the lakeside prom is perfect for a leisurely leg-stretch on a warm summer’s day. The streets that lead into the town are narrower, cobbled and have a gentle incline. If you’re wanting to go further afield, head for the hills – there are plenty of hiking routes where you'll get top notch views of the lake and the surrounding mountains.

Whether it’s strolling lakeside paths or venturing to higher ground on the mountainside, there’s a decent walk in Ascona for all feet and fitness levels.

Skirt round the edge of the golf course on this pleasant path which hugs the Lake Maggiore shoreline, and you’ll get to the serene harbour of Ascona’s boat club. It shouldn't take you longer than an hour from the prom, even with a casual stroll. It might be an idea to pack your swim stuff too as you’ll pass parts of the lake which are ideal for a refreshing dip.

Known as the 'balcony over Lake Maggiore', this is a fairly easy 5km hillside trail which has great views of the lake and the Brissago Islands. It starts from Monte Verità, a spot above Ascona known for its natural beauty, where a colony of artists, thinkers, writers and celebrities gathered in the early 20th century. Once you reach the nearby town of Ronco you can choose to return the same way, or a nice option is to take the 800 steps back down to the lake and hop on the ferry back to Ascona.