Ascona is Switzerland's most low-lying town, nestling along the northernmost shore of Lake Maggiore. It boasts all the charm, culture and culinary delights of Provence but without the heaving mass of tourists that tend to descend upon the French Riviera every summer. With a lakeside promenade lined with chic cafes and palm trees, all in the shadow of glacier-crested mountains, and a lake so clean that the water is as clear-as-glass, it makes for the perfect European break. Our collection of best places to stay in Ascona have something for everyone from chic boutiques to luxury escapes.

Ascona bares all the trappings of a Mediterranean town. Part of a big wine-producing region of Switzerland, it has a mild microclimate perfectly suited to viticulture. Luckily for tourists, Switzerland only exports 1.5% of its wine, so getting your hands on some is a great boon.

A particular pleasure is being able to stand awestruck at snowcapped Alpine ridges while sitting in the shade of a palm tree. One such mountain is the Monte Vista - the Mountain of Truth - which during the 20th century was a utopian commune of writers, philosophers and poets, from Herman Hesse to Carl Jung. The museum there offers a fascinating glimpse into the life of the commune and the reasons for its decline. Other writers, like James Joyce, flocked to the beautiful Brissago Islands, now a botanical park. It is easy to see why Ascona is home to over 40 millionaires, in spite of having a population barely exceeding 5000 people.

The lake and its surroundings offer much to the adventurous tourist. You can rent a sail or motorboat to explore Lake Maggiore or even a standup paddleboard from Asconautica; be sure to hire a skipper to take you to the Brissago Islands' botanical park - a breathtaking afternoon excursion! Better still, get yourself to Valle Verzasca and try your hand at adventure sports or go hiking through the spellbinding valleys of Centovalli.

As you stroll through the town, in the shade of palm trees, you will marvel at the picture-perfect beauty of the pastel-coloured houses that line the winding cobbled streets, housing fashion boutiques and lovely chic cafes and art galleries like the Museum of Modern Art. The lakeside promenade, boasting some of the most gorgeous panoramic views in the town, is lined with some amazing cafes. One of Ascona's greatest assets is how unspoilt it is by tourism, demonstrated by how hard it is to find an English menu at a restaurant!

What not to miss

• Hire a sail or motorboat and explore the calm and pure waters of Lake Maggiore.
• Get yourself to the Brissago Islands and stroll through the beautiful botanical gardens.
• Drink local wine at Grotto America while eating cheese and charcuterie.
• Hike up Monte Verita and learn about the utopian commune founded there in the 20th century.
• Explore the San Pietro e Paolo Basilica, a 16th century beauty, with a collonaded interior and a high bell tower.
• Go hiking through the hundreds of valleys in Centovalli.
• If you're there in July, attend Europe's largest jazz festival, JazzAscona and go to the 200 free concerts by the lake.
• Drink in the sunset while walking quietly along the lakeside promenade.

To start planning your trip browse through our collection of the best places to stay in Ascona.