PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
PYRTPlan Your Road Trips
Create TripMy TripsCommunityMerchandise
B
Destinations
Home›Destinations›Bellinzona
EuropeSwitzerlandTicino

Bellinzona

Ticino, Switzerland · Europe

About Bellinzona

Bellinzona works well as a base: 10 minutes from Lumino, 22km from Lake Lugano (Swiss side).

Bellinzona is a town located in Ticino, Switzerland. With a population of 43,220, it is an important destination in Europe.

On a road trip, Bellinzona sits in Switzerland, where you drive on the right. It's in the Europe/Zurich time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add Bellinzona to your route.

About Bellinzona

Bellinzona ( BEL-in-ZOH-nə, Italian: [bellinˈtsoːna] ; Ticinese: Belinzóna [belĩˈtsona]) is a municipality, a historic Swiss town, and the capital of the canton of Ticino in Switzerland. The town is famous for its three castles (Castelgrande, Montebello, Sasso Corbaro) that have been UNESCO World Heritage Sites since

Read more 2000. The town lies east of the river Ticino, at the foot of the Alps. It stretches along the river valley, surrounded by the southern ranges of the Lepontine Alps to the east and west, and by the Lugano Prealps to the south.

Read more on Wikipedia

Where to Stay in Bellinzona

Compare prices across Booking.com, Airbnb, Expedia, and more. Select your dates to see availability.

Filter presets

Pick your must-haves once: provider links open pre-filtered. Each filter lists which sites it applies to.

Booking.comExpediaTripAdvisorHotels.comAgodaAirbnb

Compare before you book!

Prices can vary significantly between platforms. We recommend checking at least 2-3 sites to find the best deal for your stay in Bellinzona.

Explore the Area

Discover famous landmarks, scenic roads, and more near Bellinzona.

Loading map...
Open in Google Maps

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the best things to do in Bellinzona?

Bellinzona offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.

How do I plan a road trip to Bellinzona?

Plan your road trip to Bellinzona with Plan Your Road Trips! Add Bellinzona as a destination, and we'll help you find the best route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Where is Bellinzona located?

Bellinzona is located in Ticino, Switzerland, Europe. The coordinates are 46.1928 latitude, 9.0170 longitude.

What is the population of Bellinzona?

Bellinzona has a population of approximately 43,220 people, making it a town in Switzerland.

Plan a Road Trip

Add to your itinerary

Start planning your road trip with Bellinzona as a destination. Create a custom route and discover more amazing places along the way.

Start Road Trip

What's Nearby?

Discover destinations like Tinder

Swipe through stunning destinations near Bellinzona. Save your favourites and add them to your trip.

Explore now

Quick Information

Population
43,220
Continent
Europe
Country
Switzerland
Region
Ticino
Timezone
Europe/Zurich
Coordinates
46.1928, 9.0170

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in Switzerland

Police
117
Ambulance
144
Fire
118
All emergencies
112
Driving side
right

Motorway vignette (toll sticker) required: buy at the border or online. Roadside assistance (TCS): 140.

Full driving guide for Switzerland

Tags

EuropeSwitzerlandTicinoTown

Worth the detour from Bellinzona

8 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Contra Dam (Verzasca)

The 220 m arch dam of GoldenEye's opening leap, voted the greatest movie stunt of all time: where the Val Verzasca road crosses the crest and a commercial 007 bungee jump operates in season.

13 km · about 25 min drive

photogenic

Ponte dei Salti

A 17th-century double-arch stone bridge over the Verzasca's emerald pools at Lavertezzo; cliff-jumpers and photographers share granite slabs polished smooth by impossibly clear green water.

16 km · about 30 min drive

natural wonder

Lake Lugano (Swiss side)

A Mediterranean-flavoured lake straddling Switzerland and Italy, framed by steep mountains and the charming Italian-speaking town of Lugano.

22 km · about 25 min drive

natural wonder

Lake Como

Italy's most glamorous lake surrounded by Alps, dotted with elegant villas, gardens, and charming lakeside villages.

27 km · about 30 min drive

coastal drive

Lake Como Shore Road

A winding lakeside road hugging Lake Como's western shore with tunnels, villa gates, and views of snow-capped Alps reflected in deep blue water.

27 km · about 30 min drive

landmark

Varenna

A tranquil fishing village on Lake Como's eastern shore with romantic lakeside walkways and the terraced Villa Monastero gardens.

29 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Villa del Balbianello

A stunning 18th-century lakeside villa on a wooded promontory of Lake Como, famous as a film location for Star Wars and James Bond.

29 km · about 35 min drive

landmark

Villa Carlotta

A grand 18th-century lakeside villa on Lake Como famous for its botanical gardens with azaleas, rhododendrons, and Canova sculptures.

29 km · about 35 min drive

Driving roads near Bellinzona

  • 27 kmLake Como Shore RoadA winding lakeside road hugging Lake Como's western shore with tunnels, villa gates, and views of snow-capped Alps reflected in deep blue water.
  • 35 kmSan Bernardino PassA scenic Swiss Alpine pass at 2,065 meters linking the German-speaking and Italian-speaking regions of Graubünden.
  • 42 kmSplügen PassA narrow, dramatic pass straddling the Swiss-Italian border with tight tunnels carved into rock and vertiginous drops into the Cardinell Gorge.
  • 42 kmBrunate Funicular ViewpointA historic funicular climbs from Como city to Brunate for a sweeping balcony view over the lake and Alps.
  • 45 kmLukmanier PassThe lowest of the major Swiss Alpine passes, offering a gentler but beautifully scenic route from Graubünden to Ticino through open meadows.
  • 51 kmStresa & Borromean IslandsAn elegant belle-époque resort on Lake Maggiore, gateway to the palatial Borromean Islands and their baroque gardens.

Driving in Switzerland

Drives on
the right
Petrol
~€1.82/litre
Motorway tolls
None
Vignette
Required, around €42 for a short-stay sticker

When to drive here

April to October

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Bellinzona.

Monte Carasso

🇨🇭 Switzerland

2 km awayPop. 2,336

Sementina

🇨🇭 Switzerland

2 km awayPop. 2,695

Giubiasco

🇨🇭 Switzerland

2 km awayPop. 7,752

Camorino

🇨🇭 Switzerland

3 km awayPop. 2,358

Lumino

🇨🇭 Switzerland

6 km awayPop. 1,190

Cadenazzo

🇨🇭 Switzerland

7 km awayPop. 1,906

Claro

🇨🇭 Switzerland

7 km awayPop. 2,296

Cugnasco

🇨🇭 Switzerland

8 km awayPop. 1,202

Plan a trip around Bellinzona

Switzerland road trip planner

Plan a Road Trip from Bellinzona

Create your perfect itinerary with our calendar-based planner. Add stops, discover attractions along the way, and share your trip with friends.

Start Planning
PYRT

The ultimate road trip planning platform. Discover 150,000+ destinations worldwide, plan scenic routes, and create unforgettable adventures.

Inspiration

  • Discover Trips
  • Travel Guides
  • Community

The Product

  • Calendar Planner
  • Integrations
  • How It Works
  • Collaboration Mode
  • Get the App
  • Merchandise: PYRT Supply Co.
  • Become a Creator
  • Trip Marketplace

Plan Your Trip

  • Road Trip Planner
  • Famous Routes
  • Planners by Country
  • Best Road Trip Planner App
  • Discover Road Trips
  • Events
  • Travel Guides
  • How It Works
  • My Trips
  • Community Groups

Company

  • Terms of Service
  • Privacy Policy
  • Support
  • Contact Us
  • Sign In
  • Create Account

© 2026 Plan Your Road Trips. All rights reserved.

•[email protected]
Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence