Take a ride on the Cardada-Cimetta Cable Car
It's just a short walk from the Madonna del Sasso church to the base station of the Cardada-Cimetta cable car, whose modern "teardrop" glass-walled cabins offer some of the most captivating views of the region. You'll be able to admire Switzerland's lowest point, the Lake Maggiore delta, and its highest, Dufourspitze, the tallest peak in the Monte Rosa massif simultaneously as you climb to 1,670m above sea level in just a few minutes. Look hard enough and you'll even be able to see the fault line where the alpine chain separates the European Continental Plate and the African Plate. Packed your hiking boots? Exceptional views of the Alps await on trails setting off from Cima della Trosa (1,869m) and il Madone (2,039m). There are also paths leading down to the Maggia and Verzasca valleys. Of the five mountain restaurants in the area, Capanna Cardada (+41 79 287 73 53) gets our vote. Around a 20-minute walk from either Cardada or Cimetta, its 40-seater terrace makes a great place to rest tired legs and linger over traditional Ticinese dishes with a side serving of panoramic views.