Switzerland's Italian side, south of the Gotthard: Lugano sits on its lake between Monte San Salvatore and Monte Brè, with piazzas, arcades and a lakefront park of palms and magnolias. Boats run to the lakeside village of Gandria and the fishing village of Morcote. Two hours from Zurich through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Milder and sunnier than the north, a good spring and autumn stop; the Bernina Express bus links it to Tirano and the Bernina line to St. Moritz in the warmer months.
Highlights
- Lakefront Parco Ciani
- Monte San Salvatore funicular view
- Monte Brè
- Olive Trail to Gandria
- Morcote by lake boat
- Piazza della Riforma cafés
- Locarno and Ascona on Lake Maggiore
Things to do
- Monte San Salvatore funicular and summit viewApr–OctMorning · 2h 30m
- Olive Trail walk to Gandria, boat backAfternoon · 3h
- Lake boat trip to MorcoteAfternoon · 3h
- Old town piazzas and Parco CianiEvening · 2h
- Day out to Locarno and AsconaMorning · 6h
Tours & tickets
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When to go
Best time: April – October
Heads up
No Bernina Express Bus to Lugano
The Bernina Express bus between Tirano and Lugano runs only in the warmer months. The Bernina train to Tirano runs all year; to go between St. Moritz and Lugano in winter, take the train to Chur and the PostBus over the San Bernardino, about 5 hours.