3 Best Hotels in Ascona, Ticino

Dating from 1250, this hotel oozes romance, and that doesn't even take into account its garden setting and enviable address across from the waterfront. The interior is rich with frescoes, wood beams, and heavy masonry, lightened with a contemporary touch, and each room is different: a wrought-iron bed in the back tower, a blue wooden canopy bed in Room 205, and a lavish front tower room with a loft. A private courtyard is perfect for summertime dining, or you can just take a dip in the isolated pool.

The Great Gatsby would feel in his element in this Relais & Châteaux property that's as glamorous as a Mediterranean villa but still fabulously modern. The luxury borders on decadence: the sheets are pure linen, ground-floor rooms have private gardens, and there's a landscaped pool area. Boasting two Michelin stars, Restaurant Ecco surprises with so-called "molecular" cuisine, which attempts to find new ways of cooking based on scientific experimentation. The results are delicious.

The shuttered windows of this 18th-century patrician house overlook the waterfront, and inside you can lounge in sitting rooms richly furnished with precious antiques, handsome books, and even a grand piano. The rooms range from lavish corner doubles with lake views to tiny quarters overlooking the courtyard that are an excellent value.