Locarno, Switzerland 3/2-3/4

This weekend I went to Locarno, Switzerland! We took the first train to Milan then changed in Bellinzona and last switch towards Locarno. 

We found our hostel very easily. It was maybe a 5min walk from the train station. The hostel is apart of this 3-star hotel. So we got wifi and all of the amenities that comes with a 3-star hotel but for hostel price! Such as a pool & spa which we want to go to tomorrow night before we head out. 

Friday, we went to dinner and got cheese fondue! It was delicious but not very filling so Hannah and I went to get gelato. Which of course was not good haha it was practically ice cream. I am getting so spoiled from all of the delicious gelato in Italy!! 

Then we headed to this bar right next to our hotel. There was a lot of people there but most of them were men (not complaining). The drinks were pretty expensive too. One shot was 5 francs, a long drink was 10 and a Smirnoff ice was 7. Between Hannah and I, we spent 29 francs! We were only out for 2 hours. I don't know how we managed to spend so much. But it was a fun night so that's all that matters! 

Saturday, we woke up at 8:30 and went to get breakfast that the hotel was serving. Best breakfast I've had here from a hostel! Endless croissants, cheese & meats, cereal and orange juice. We all were in heaven! Then we headed back to the room and got ready to head out. 

Locarno is known for hikes and being a beautiful city. We decided to go on a hike! Yes a hike..I went hiking for fun! It was beautiful out and the weather was perfect. I was in my short sleeve Chico state shirt with black yoga pants. 

We first took the tram 1/4 up the mountain. Then we hopped onto a trolley which took us 1/2 way up the mountain and then we took a gondola up the mountain. There was another set of gondolas we could take but that was when all the hiking trails started. So instead we hiked. 

The signs said it was a 30min hike but with 5 girls, took us almost two hours. We stopped and took a lot of pictures plus none of us have really worked out since being here so it was a tough hike. But the views were breath taking! I wish my eyes took pictures every time I blinked because I don't think my camera does enough justice. 

Switzerland is a beautiful place and I really see myself coming back here. 

Once we got to the top of the mountain (and mind you, we hiked the Swiss Alps. Like we walked up an Alp..I'm pretty proud of myself!) but anyways, once we got to the top, we stopped to get food. We were all hungry and once again the view from the top was amazing. 

The whole time we were walking, we saw all of these people para-gliding. Plus Karen had seen in a brochure that we could para-glide. So when we got to the top, we were asking people how we could do it but you have to make a reservation. All of the people we saw, were doing it for fun! They had their own parachutes and necessities to para-glide. It was so cool because there was a lot of people doing it! So that was a bust.

After lunch, we took the 3 means of transportation down the mountain. All of us were pretty tired and ready for the spa so that's right where we headed! 

Along the water, there is this gym/pool place where you can go to swim and work out. It was 17 francs to use everything, even the water slide! There were two pools inside and one outside. The one outside was heated, like a huge hot tub! We stayed out there most of the time. But we did ride down the water slides as well, there was four of those. In the heated pool there were jets and these bars where you could go lay down on and the jets would hit you. So relaxing, especially after our hike! We were at the spa for about two hours. It was exactly what we needed! 

We headed back the hostel, all took showers and went to dinner. We didn't go out. Locarno is a very quiet city and we didn't want to go to the same bar and end up spending a lot of money again. But dinner was nice!

Sunday, we woke up and got breakfast then packed up our suitcases. Check out wasn't until 12 but we were ready to go by 11. 

It was a nice and relaxing weekend! The hike was just what I needed. I wish I got to see more of Switzerland, maybe a more known city. But I had a nice time so I see myself coming back here.