Lugano

Switzerland

Lugano is a lakeside city in Ticino, the Italian-speaking part of southern Switzerland, and is the largest Italian-speaking city in Switzerland, or for that matter, outside Italy. Part of a temperate micro-climate, Lugano offers palm trees, picturesque boulevards, stunning views of the lake and the Alps, and plenty of opportunity for outdoor and indoor activities. Lugano also makes a good base for visiting other cities and sites in the area. The city is a pleasant place to relax in the summertime and is only half an hour away from Lake Como.

Italian is spoken in Lugano as a primary language. English and German are widely spoken by many of the individuals that interact with tourists.

  • Centro Storico.
  • Palazzo Civico, Piazza Riforma, 1. Lugano's City Hall
  • Parco Civico. A peaceful park with a wide variety of flowers and trees located near the heart of Lugano's tourist area. Villa Ciani is located there.
  • Cattedrale di San Lorenzo. The church of S. Maria degli Angioli and a quaint old hotel
  • Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli. contains an impressive full-wall 16th-century fresco by Bernardino Luini.
  • Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Via Canova 10, +4191 815 79 71.
  • Museo d'Arte Moderna.
  • Hermann Hesse museum, +41 91 993 37 70. Summer season (Mar-Oct) daily 10.00-18.30; otherwise F-Su 10.00-17.30. The museum also offers an audio guide for a walk in the steps of Hesse, which is an extremely good choice on a beautiful day. Besides the exhibition there is also a film on Hesse shown, duration approximately 50 minutes. Friendly and helpful staff. English, German and Italian spoken. Fr. 7.50, Fr. 6.00 discounts for families and groups.

Centro Storico.

Palazzo Civico, Piazza Riforma, 1. Lugano's City Hall

Parco Civico. A peaceful park with a wide variety of flowers and trees located near the heart of Lugano's tourist area. Villa Ciani is located there.

Cattedrale di San Lorenzo.

Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli. contains an impressive full-wall 16th-century fresco by Bernardino Luini.

Museo Cantonale d’Arte, Via Canova 10, +4191 815 79 71.

Museo d'Arte Moderna.

Hermann Hesse museum, +41 91 993 37 70. Summer season (Mar-Oct) daily 10.00-18.30; otherwise F-Su 10.00-17.30. The museum also offers an audio guide for a walk in the steps of Hesse, which is an extremely good choice on a beautiful day. Besides the exhibition there is also a film on Hesse shown, duration approximately 50 minutes. Friendly and helpful staff. English, German and Italian spoken. Fr. 7.50, Fr. 6.00 discounts for families and groups.

Monte San Salvatore seen from Lugano

  • Gandria. Gandria is an unspoiled, picturesque lakeside village at the foot of Monte Brè. Perched on the steep mountainside it is a community of narrow streets, inaccessible to cars, with a delightful surprise round every corner.
  • Museo Doganale Svizzero. There is also a grotto restaurant nearby.
  • Sentiero di Gandria. A path from the end of the Lugano promenade to Gandria. It is marked with panels which describe the history of olive trees in the region. That is why it is also known as Sentiero dell'olivo.

  • Monte Brè. There are numerous rustic trails that lead up from towns surrounding Mount Brè to its summit and the Funicolare Monte Brè. A trail map is available from the local tourist information.
  • Monte San Salvatore. The top of this mountain has a restaurant, hiking paths and a look-out tower offering an amazing panoramic view of Lugano, the lake and surrounding area. It is possible to hike up to the mountain (about 2 hours), or take the cable car.
  • Trekking Lugano and Malcantone region.

  • SFR Railway Station Lugano, +41 512 215642.
  • Balmelli Sport, Via Pioda 12, +41 91 923-5867.

SFR Railway Station Lugano, +41 512 215642.

Balmelli Sport, Via Pioda 12, +41 91 923-5867.

  • Casinò Lugano, Via Stauffacher 1, +41 91 973-7111. Daily 12:00-04:00, extended to 05:00 Fridays and Saturdays. Tables open at 02:00.

Casinò Lugano, Via Stauffacher 1, +41 91 973-7111. Daily 12:00-04:00, extended to 05:00 Fridays and Saturdays. Tables open at 02:00.

  • Blues to Bop Festival. 21:00-01:00/02:30 depending on the evening.. Free open air music festival with multiple stages throughout the heart of Lugano in late August.

Blues to Bop Festival. 21:00-01:00/02:30 depending on the evening.. Free open air music festival with multiple stages throughout the heart of Lugano in late August.

  • Swimming. The Lido di Lugano right in the city centre is a great place to swim with a beach, 3 swimming pools and a bar.
  • Boating. Boat rental options include paddle boats and speed boats.

Swimming. The Lido di Lugano right in the city centre is a great place to swim with a beach, 3 swimming pools and a bar.

Boating. Boat rental options include paddle boats and speed boats.

Monte Brè. There are numerous rustic trails that lead up from towns surrounding Mount Brè to its summit and the Funicolare Monte Brè. A trail map is available from the local tourist information.

Monte San Salvatore. The top of this mountain has a restaurant, hiking paths and a look-out tower offering an amazing panoramic view of Lugano, the lake and surrounding area. It is possible to hike up to the mountain (about 2 hours), or take the cable car.

Trekking Lugano and Malcantone region.

Gandria. Gandria is an unspoiled, picturesque lakeside village at the foot of Monte Brè. Perched on the steep mountainside it is a community of narrow streets, inaccessible to cars, with a delightful surprise round every corner.

Museo Doganale Svizzero. There is also a grotto restaurant nearby.

Sentiero di Gandria. A path from the end of the Lugano promenade to Gandria. It is marked with panels which describe the history of olive trees in the region. That is why it is also known as Sentiero dell'olivo.

Many major labels and designer boutiques (Versace, Hermes, Paul & Shark, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier) can be found here, as well as the usual Swiss and Italian knick-knacks. Via Nassa in the city centre is the main place for shopping high street brands.

  • Foxtown, Mendrisio, Via A. Maspoli 18 (Can be reached by train from the Central Station (direction Mendrisio-Chiasso). 11-19. Huge designer outlet in just 20 km from Lugano.
  • Manor, Salita M. e A. Chiattone 10, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland, +41 91 912 76 99. Department store with everything from clothing to home goods as well as some Swiss souvenirs. Grocery store in basement.

Foxtown, Mendrisio, Via A. Maspoli 18 (Can be reached by train from the Central Station (direction Mendrisio-Chiasso). 11-19. Huge designer outlet in just 20 km from Lugano.

Manor, Salita M. e A. Chiattone 10, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland, +41 91 912 76 99. Department store with everything from clothing to home goods as well as some Swiss souvenirs. Grocery store in basement.

  • Manora, Piazza Dante 2. The cafeteria in the Manor Department store offers a wide variety of tempting International dishes, ranging from sushi to pasta. Fresh fruits and vegetables arrayed in stylish displays are almost a painting themselves. Wine and beer are available as are a wide range of other beverages. Meals starting from CHF12.

Manora, Piazza Dante 2. The cafeteria in the Manor Department store offers a wide variety of tempting International dishes, ranging from sushi to pasta. Fresh fruits and vegetables arrayed in stylish displays are almost a painting themselves. Wine and beer are available as are a wide range of other beverages. Meals starting from CHF12.

  • Argentino, +41-91-9229049. Piazza Riforma. Excellent pizza, great service. They offer 2 sizes of pizza, price ranges around Fr. 15-20.
  • Tango, Piazza Riforma. Really great tasty pizza, quick service (6-7 min per pizza). Fr. 15-20.
  • Ristorante Antico, CH-6978 Gandria - Lugano, +41 91 971 48 71. Italian cuisine in the village of Gandria with dining on a terrace with views of Lago di Lugano

Argentino, +41-91-9229049. Piazza Riforma. Excellent pizza, great service. They offer 2 sizes of pizza, price ranges around Fr. 15-20.

Tango, Piazza Riforma. Really great tasty pizza, quick service (6-7 min per pizza). Fr. 15-20.

Ristorante Antico, CH-6978 Gandria - Lugano, +41 91 971 48 71. Italian cuisine in the village of Gandria with dining on a terrace with views of Lago di Lugano

In the summer your best bet is just to wander along the lakeside promenade and open air bar/cafes. Check local listings for clubs and shows as venues come and go with the seasons. Spring-Autumn, Bar Mojito (p.za Manzoni, directly at the lakeside)

There are clubs in the city (discos). Nix (under the Casinò), Privilege (near Manor, a department store), Tito's Place (quartiere Maghetti), Club One and The Cube are all located in the downtown.

Oops (via Maderno 24) and Bibliocafè Tra (Salita dei Frati, Piazza Molino Nuovo) are a great place to have beer in the evening. Near University . Another hint:

  • Arte, Lungolago. Amazing decor, (also an art gallery), great food and views of the Lake!

Arte, Lungolago. Amazing decor, (also an art gallery), great food and views of the Lake!

There are a few internet cafes in town. As usual, try near the train station. Free Wi-Fi connection can be found along the lakeside and in the University campus (Via Buffi, 13).

Lugano is as safe as most cities in Switzerland, but the density of expensive purses, watches, and sunglasses may make pickpockets more of a problem. The usual cautions apply to walking alone late at night, especially after bars and clubs close before dawn.

  • Police (Polizia) – Emergency only: 117
  • Fire Department (Pompieri): 118
  • City of Lugano Police: +41 58 866 82 50 (piazza Riforma), +41 58-8668111 (Via Beltramina 20B)
  • Civic Hospital (Ospedale Civico): +41 91-8116111 (via Tesserete 46 )
  • Emergency Ward (Pronto Soccorso), Civic Hospital: +41 91-8116006
  • Ambulances (Ambulanze): 144
  • Poisonings (Intossicazioni): 145
  • Doctor and dentist on call: 1811
  • Emergency Service - Street aid: 140
  • Lost Property Office (Ufficio oggetti smarriti), City of Lugano Police, Via Beltramina 20b; Mon-Fri: 7:30AM - 12AM, 1:30PM-5PM; Phone: +41 58-8668250

In nearby Melide is an attraction which is very popular among the Swiss:

  • Swissminiatur, Via Cantonale, Melide, +41 91 640 10 60. Open from mid-March to late October, 9:00 to 18:00. Switzerland in miniature as a theme park Adults Fr. 17, Children below 6 years free, 6-15y Fr. 12, and Senior Citizen (over 65) Fr. 15. (Prices in 2010).

Swissminiatur, Via Cantonale, Melide, +41 91 640 10 60. Open from mid-March to late October, 9:00 to 18:00. Switzerland in miniature as a theme park Adults Fr. 17, Children below 6 years free, 6-15y Fr. 12, and Senior Citizen (over 65) Fr. 15. (Prices in 2010).

  • Bellinzona for castles nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage list
  • Locarno
  • Meride for Monte San Giorgio — another UNESCO World Heritage site, and the museum of fossiles
  • Como
  • Varese for its Sacro Monte — UNESCO World Heritage site
  • Milan considered a leading global city, with strengths in the field of the art, commerce, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media, services, research and tourism, recognized as the world's fashion and the design capital
  • Campione d'Italia, an Italian exclave just over the other side of the lake from Lugano