By rail
Lugano station, ~2 h from Zurich
Europe · Switzerland
Lugano, Switzerland
Italian Switzerland by the lake
Getting there
By air
Milan Malpensa (MXP), ~1 h
Best time to visit
May to October — warm
Don't miss
Monte San Salvatore
Monte Brè
The old town
The Parco Ciani
Things to do
Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore
Lake boats
Where to eat
Sources: Photo: Aconcagua · CC BY-SA 3.0
What to pack
Light clothes
A quieter corner
Gandria's lakeside path
Questions travellers ask
Which airport serves Lugano?
Milan Malpensa (MXP), about 1 hour away. By rail, Lugano station is about 2 hours from Zurich.
When is the best time for Lugano?
May to October, when it's warm. Light clothes will do.
What can I do in Lugano?
Head up Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore, take a lake boat, and wander the old town and the Parco Ciani.
Is there a lakeside walk near Lugano?
Yes — Gandria's lakeside path. Afterwards, fuel up on risotto or polenta.
About Lugano
- Lakeside
Where it is
Lugano is the largest city in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino in southern Switzerland, on the shore of Lake Lugano between Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore, surrounded by the Lugano Prealps and close to the Italian border.
History
For centuries Lugano was fought over by Como and Milan, until it became part of the Old Swiss Confederation in 1513. In 1803 it became part of the newly created canton of Ticino, and in the 20th century it grew into Switzerland's third financial centre; the LAC arts centre opened in 2015.
People
Luganesi speak Italian, and the Ticinese dialect of Lombard is still heard. Rustic grotti, taverns set in the woods or by the water, serve polenta, risotto and local Merlot, and summer brings open-air concerts such as Estival Jazz.
Known for
- Lake Lugano boat trips
- Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè
- The lakeside village of Gandria
- Luini's frescoes in Santa Maria degli Angioli
- The LAC arts centre
Did you know?
Across the lake lies Campione d'Italia, a small Italian exclave entirely surrounded by Swiss territory and the waters of Lake Lugano.
We haven't written a guide for this place yet — you can still plan a trip here.