AlpCHI 2026 will take place at the Congressi Stefano Franscini (CSF) by ETH Zürich in Ascona, Switzerland:
ETH Zürich
Congressi Stefano Franscini
Strada Collina 84
6612 Ascona
ℹ️ As the closest train station is in Locarno (~4.3km), reaching the venue by public transport requires these two steps (see details below):
- Travelling to Locarno
- Travelling from Locarno to the CSF.
Should you have any questions about travelling to the venue, please feel free to reach out to us: registration@alpchi.org.
We’re looking forward to welcome you in Ascona!
(1) Travelling to Locarno
The closest train station to the venue is Locarno station (https://www.sbb.ch/en/travel-information/stations/find-station/locarno-station.html).
You find all Swiss train connections on www.sbb.ch
You can fly to the following cities and proceed with public transportation to Locarno:
Zürich (Switzerland)
- Zurich Airport
Train via Zurich HB to Locarno: www.sbb.ch
Milan (Italy
- Airport Malpensa
Train via Milan Central or Milan Nord to Locarno: https://www.milanomalpensa-airport.com/en/from-to/by-train - Airport Linate
Bus to Milan Central and then train to Locarno: https://www.milanolinate-airport.com/en/from-to/by-bus
Train connections from Milan Central: https://www.raileurope.com/en-us/destinations/stations/milano-centrale or Milan Nord: https://www.thetrainline.com/en/stations/milano-nord-cadorna
Use the following address for your navigation system:
Strada Collina 84, 6612 Ascona, Switzerland
From Zurich you can choose between the following routes:
a) Motorway A2:
Gotthard – Bellinzona – Locarno (exit Lago Maggiore)
b) Motorway A13:
Chur – San Bernardino – Bellinzona – Locarno (exit Lago Maggiore)
From Locarno (exit Lago Maggiore) direction Ascona – (exit Ascona/Losone) take Viale Monte Verità (direction Ascona centre). Just before the sign “no passage” in front of the pedestrian area turn right (see picture) on Strada Collina and follow the signs to Monte Verità up the hill.
On Monte Verità there are about 50 parking spaces available.
(2) Travelling from Locarno Station to the Venue
There are three options how to get from Locarno train station to Monte Verità (plus walking all the way 🥵):
A shuttle bus (8-seater) to Monte Verità will be available for 4 to 5 hours on arrival day of the CSF event. See the shuttle’s schedule below.
The shuttle bus stops next to the end of platform 4 (close to where public transport is leaving). Look for the white bus with the Monte Verità logo.
(Click on the map to view it in a new tab)
🚐 Shuttle Bus Timetable
Sunday, March 1st, 2026
From Locarno train station to Monte Verità
12:20 – 13:00 – 13:40 – 14:20 – 15:00 – 15:40
Thursday, March 5th, 2026
From Monte Verità to Locarno train station
12:00 – 12:40 – 13:20 – 14:00 – 14:40 – 15:20
Take bus no. 1 from Locarno railway station to the bus stop “Ascona Centro” (duration: 15 – 20 minutes).
Please refer to the corresponding timetables: https://fartiamo.ch/en/line-1/
Please note that the timetables of bus line no. 1 are different for Monday – Saturday (Lunedì – Sabato e feriali) and for Sundays and holidays (Domenica e festivi).
From the bus stop “Ascona Centro” you can reach Monte Verità in 25 – 30 minutes on foot (follow the “Strada Collina”) or by taxi located next to the Autosilo Ascona.
From Ascona Centro to Monte Verità it is about 1.3km and it goes up around 140m in altitude:
There is also an accessible route which is slightly longer (1.5km) with an altitude change of 170m up:
Various taxis are available at Locarno railway station. The company “EcoTaxi” usually has a slightly lower price, reservation required: +41 91 792 21 01 or 0800 321 321 (free call from Swiss numbers). The ride takes about 15 minutes and costs about CHF 40.00.
Useful Information for Travelling to Switzerland
Power
In Switzerland, the power plug type J is used (see photo below). Make sure to take a travel adapter with you if your device is not compatible with this plug.
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J_plug_-_1.jpg
Currency
Since Switzerland is not a member of the EU, the national currency is the Swiss franc (CHF). In many places, however, prices are displayed in euros and Swiss francs. Very often it is also possible to pay in euros (change in CHF).
For more information, see: https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/planning/about-switzerland/general-facts/money-and-shopping/currency/
Weather
Temperatures
In March, Ascona typically experiences cool conditions with moderate rainfall or occasional snowfall. Daytime temperatures usually reach around 10 °C, while night-time temperatures can fall to approximately 0 °C. These values are based on long-term averages. The actual weather cannot be known in advance, and conditions may differ from year to year. For up-to-date forecasts, please consult the Swiss Meteo website.
Average sunshine
Based on historical data, Ascona receives around 203 hours of sunshine in March. While this suggests a generally high number of bright days, actual sunshine levels depend on current weather conditions. Conference attendees are advised to check the Swiss Meteo website for the latest information.
For more information, please visit: https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/local-forecasts/ascona/6612.html#forecast-tab=detail-view
