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Pearls of the south

If you want to explore the region beyond your Sunstar shell, you’ll find numerous ways to indulge in the Ticino mindset. It doesn’t take long to get the holiday feeling in the south of Switzerland. With more than 2300 hours of sunshine per year, spring comes earlier here and summer stays for longer. Brissago is just 197 m above sea level and enjoys the mildest climate in Switzerland. All the colourful flowers alone will put you in a good mood from the moment you arrive.

Explore the lakeside promenade, stroll round the Italian markets just over the border or try a traditional Ticino wine grotto during a hike. An excursion into the remote and romantic Verzasca or Maggia valleys will leave a lasting impression. And nearby towns such as Locarno and Ascona offer a range of exciting events, inviting you to spend some time there, simply wandering around. Just a stone’s throw away are the Brissago Islands. After a short boat ride, you’ll find yourself surrounded by the over 1500 species of plants and flowers in the famous Botanical Gardens.

And you definitely mustn’t miss out on a delicious Italian ice cream from a traditional gelateria!

Our Events & Culinary Moments

Culinary experiences, tastings and live music at Sunstar Hotel Brissago

At Sunstar Hotel Brissago, indulgence becomes an experience. Whether culinary highlights, tastings or atmospheric live music – at Caesar’s Restaurant, you can look forward to special event moments right by Lake Maggiore.

From filet & tartare experiences and exclusive beer and gin tastings to Mediterranean evenings in the lounge: discover events that combine flavour, atmosphere and conviviality in the most enjoyable way.

DISCOVER EVENTS NOW

Summer Nights and Events 2026

That’s the sound of summer in Ticino!

This year, the popular summer events return once again to Lake Maggiore. Mild Ticino nights are made for unforgettable open-air festivals. Combine your event visit with an overnight stay at the Sunstar Hotel Brissago. With the Ticino Ticket, you can easily and freely return to Brissago by bus even after the festivals. If you prefer a stylish ride over the water, be sure to book a taxi boat to the hotel in advance.

classicAscona

18 September – 10 October 2026

The renowned Settimane Musicali Ascona will take on a new name in 2026: classicAscona. With a new structure and a sharpened artistic profile, the festival combines its more than 80-year history with a contemporary festival concept.

As the official partner hotel of classicAscona, overnight guests receive a 20% discount on festival tickets from two nights onwards.

For further information, please contact us on +41 91 793 27 66 or brissago@sunstar.ch.

FIND OUT MORE

 

Couple strolling hand in hand through a cobbled alleyway in Brissago with green shutters and Mediterranean architecture on Lake Maggiore.

Culture and history

If you are not in the mood for feasting, window shopping or swimming, Ticino also offers a wide range of cultural activities. Be it museums with ancient cultural treasures or human works of art such as the church of Santa Maria degli Angeli on Monte Tamaro or the Battista San Giovanni in Mogno – both designed by probably the most famous Swiss architect, Mario Botta.

Evening atmosphere on the shores of Lake Maggiore at the JazzAscona Festival in Ascona – audience on the lakeside terrace with illuminated festival grounds and mountain panorama in the background.
Aerial view of the Locarno Film Festival at night – packed Piazza Grande with colourful stage lighting, festival tents and crowds of visitors in Locarno on Lake Maggiore.
Couple strolling hand in hand through a narrow alleyway in Ascona with Mediterranean architecture, colourful building facades and small shops on Lake Maggiore.

Cities in Ticino

Ascona nestles idyllically on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore. The mild climate, the beautiful old town with its winding alleyways and the many inviting street cafés on the lakeside promenade make Ascona popular far beyond the country's borders.

Locarno, situated on the northern shore of Lake Maggiore, is the warmest city in Switzerland and, with over 2,300 hours of sunshine, the ideal place for sun-seekers. Here you will find palm trees and lemon trees in the middle of the city, and the lakeside promenade is lined with colourful flowers and benches that invite you to linger.

Lugano, the largest city in Ticino, is not only the third most important financial centre in Switzerland with its congress, banking and business centres, but also impresses with its many parks, elegant villas and religious buildings. A ‘city of the world’ that has nevertheless retained the charm of a small town with a southern ambience.

Couple enjoying a boat trip on Lake Maggiore with views of Ascona – free of charge with the Ticino Ticket at Sunstar Hotel Brissago.

Ticino Ticket

From the Gotthard massif to the rolling hills of the Mendrisiotto – with the Ticino Ticket, no corner of Switzerland's southernmost canton remains undiscovered.

Guests staying at the Sunstar Hotel Brissago receive the Ticino Ticket when they check in for just one night, giving them the opportunity to use public transport in Ticino free of charge. They also benefit from attractive discounts on journeys on various mountain railways, boat trips and tourist attractions.

Ticino Ticket

Aerial view of the Moon & Stars Festival on Piazza Grande in Locarno at night – packed stage with Ferris wheel and city panorama on Lake Maggiore.
Bustling festival mile at the Moon & Stars Festival in Locarno with food trucks, market stalls, bunting and palm trees – summer atmosphere on Lake Maggiore.
Couple watching a film screening on Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival – open-air cinema under the night sky in Locarno on Lake Maggiore.
Aerial view of the packed Piazza Grande at the Locarno Film Festival at night – giant screen with film projection and thousands of spectators in Locarno on Lake Maggiore.
Basketball falling through the hoop at the basketball court in Brissago on Lake Maggiore – leisure sport in the region surrounding Sunstar Hotel Brissago.