Locarno

The great arcaded square at the heart of town, home to the Locarno Film Festival every August. Leashed dogs wander it happily outside the busy hours, among cafés and Lombard façades.

The fifteenth-century sanctuary perched above the town, reached by funicular or a pilgrims' path, with a panoramic view over the lake. Leashed dogs are welcome on the terraces and gardens; the church interior is off-limits to them.

The lakeside promenade and the camellia park, planted with thousands of varieties that bloom in spring. Ideal for a leashed stroll in the cool of the morning, facing Lake Maggiore.

The cable car rising from Madonna del Sasso to the alpine meadows and viewpoints of Cardada and Cimetta. Dogs are allowed on board for a small fee, and the high-altitude trails stay cool in summer.

The scheduled boats that criss-cross Lake Maggiore towards Ascona, the Brissago Islands or neighbouring Italy. Leashed dogs travel on board, often on a reduced ticket.

The wild valley north of Locarno, famous for its emerald-green river and the Roman bridge at Lavertezzo. Leashed hikes run along the banks; the currents are strong and the rocks slippery.