Piazza Grande
- Visit: about 1 h
- Ideal for friends, solo
- Good on a rainy day
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Piazza Grande is the cobbled central square and gathering place in Locarno, in Switzerland’s Canton of Ticino.
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Why go
- Explore more than 700 metres of Lombard-style arcades, lined with shops, restaurants and bars.
- Find Moon+Stars performers’ handprints on the Walk of Fame between the square and the lakeside promenade.
Don't miss
- Town houses and civic towerLook around the square at its typical town houses and the civic tower’s prominent clock face.Around Piazza Grande
- Medieval castlePiazza Grande is a starting point for visits to the medieval castle, now an archaeological museum.An onward destination from Piazza Grande
Know before you go
- Open 24 hours every day.
Tips for your visit
- For an uphill walk, follow the alleys into the old town, then take the Via Crucis to the Madonna del Sasso pilgrimage church.
Best time to visit
- For events, plan around Moon+Stars, the Locarno International Film Festival, Winterland or the food truck festival. The square also hosts a weekly market.
Interesting facts3
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1825
The square was paved in 1825 with stone from a nearby river.
Piazza Grande Locarno | Ascona-Locarno -
The square’s appearance has changed little since its redesign in the 20th century.
Piazza Grande Locarno | Ascona-Locarno -
2000
During the 2000 flood, the lake reached 197.58 metres, compared with its usual level of 193 metres.
Piazza Grande Locarno | Ascona-Locarno
Shorts
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Locarno Film Festival - Piazza Grande, Locarno / Ticino.My life in Ticino, Switzerland
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Amazing Ticino Winterland Piazza Grande LocarnoRoman Cortesi Ticino
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Police Story Bloopers Piazza Grande Locarno FilmfestivalSwiss Action TV
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Zip lining Piazza Grande Winterland Locarno.Roman Cortesi Ticino
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Market In Piazza Grande Locarno SwitzerlandMama Jhe
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Winterland Locarno: Un saluto speciale dalla Piazza Grande!I_TUTTO_FARE
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Piazza Grande! Main Square! Citta Vecchia! Locarno, Ticino, Switzerla…Sofie Hofmann
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Treno della Pace 1925-2025 a Locarno: Un Viaggio nella Storia in Piaz…I_TUTTO_FARE
History
During floods, visitors could reach the square only by boat or via a temporary pier across it.
- 1993, 2000 and 2014Major floods reached Piazza Grande.
How to get there
- On footFrom Locarno railway station, follow the Lombard-style arcades to Piazza Grande.
Accessibility
- Surface The square has a cobbled surface.
Sources: Piazza Grande - Wikipedia · Piazza Grande Locarno | Ascona-Locarno · Piazza Grande - Wikipedia · Piazza Grande - Wikipedia · checked 28 Sep 2026
Where
6600, Locarno
Similar places nearby
Eat and drink nearby
Where to stay nearby
Questions and answers
Is there an alternative to walking uphill from Piazza Grande?
A cogwheel railway offers a more relaxed uphill route to Orselina.
What role did the old town lanes play during floods at Piazza Grande?
They served as escape routes when the lake flooded the square.
What is Piazza Grande’s address?
6600 Locarno.
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