What to see in LUGANO, heart of Italian Switzerland

In the south of Switzerland, right on the border with Italy, Lugano unfolds, a city with a seafaring past and a profile dominated by a kind of “Sugar Loaf” that is reflected in the waters of the lake of glacial origin. It is a city that perfectly combines the Italian “art of living” with Swiss organization and opulence… sounds tempting? Keep reading because here I tell you what to see in Lugano , the heart of Italian Switzerland.

As a rule, Swiss natural landscapes look like they were painted in oil by a renowned artist, and villages and towns look like they were sculpted by a virtuoso. Wherever one looks they seem like landscapes retouched in Photoshop…

But just because they’re all pretty places doesn’t mean they’re known. That is why today I want to focus on Lugano , capital of the canton of Ticino and very little visited -especially by Spanish travelers-.

Despite being small, Lugano is the third largest financial city in Switzerland and shares much more with Italy than a border and a language. Like an experienced alchemist, the city knows how to combine the best of both countries: gastronomy, aesthetics and Italian “la dolce vita” with the tranquility, organization -and luxury- so characteristic of Switzerland.

In Lugano you can go hiking or shopping in the most exclusive shops in the world, take boat trips, have aperitifs in front of the lake, enjoy a break in its parks and gardens, visit its museums and enjoy the best views in the most impressive viewpoints in Ticino.

If you are going to travel around Switzerland, do not leave this charming city out of your itinerary. To help you organize your visit, I will tell you what to see in Lugano and surroundings.

What to do in Lugano

If you are organizing a few days in the canton of Ticino , reserve at least a couple of days for Lugano. I will help you organize your visit by telling you here everything that this city offers and the best places to see in the surroundings.

Reform Square

Piazza della Riforma is Lugano ‘s main square and is lined with Renaissance mansions, including the old courthouse. In the square there is also the neoclassical building (19th century) of the current headquarters of the Town Hall, which also houses the tourist office.

It is a very elegant square, lively with its many terraces and where the market used to be held.

Many of the most important streets of Lugano start from this square, such as Nassa, which I will tell you about shortly.

Most picturesque and emblematic streets of Lugano

Lugano is a small city, but even more compact is its old town. Many of its streets exude charm while displaying the capitalism so characteristic of the country.

Some of the streets that I recommend you see are “Via Nassa”, which starts in the main square, and is where many of the most exclusive fashion and jewelry stores in the world are located. Even if you are not going to buy anything, it is a pleasure for the eyes to admire the tastefully designed shop windows that dazzle passers-by.

If you want to immerse yourself fully in the Italian atmosphere, then go to the “via Pessina” , where there are Italian food stores… you will get hungry just walking there! It is on this street that the historic “Grand Cafe Al Porto” is located, a bar that dates back to the early 19th century and is still a local favorite.

Ciani Civic Park

One of the least known -and most beautiful- corners of all of Lugano is Ciani Park , which is located right in front of the shore of Lake Lugano and is divided into two large areas: one that resembles an Italian-English garden and the other a little more “wild”.

In addition to taking a quiet walk through its many paths surrounded by plants and flowers, you can see different fountains and statues or admire the buildings located within Ciani such as the Natural History Museum, the Cantonal Library or the Villa Ciani.

Lake Lugano

The lake, of glacial origin, is the protagonist of Lugano and offers you the possibility of enjoying it in different ways. For example, you can rent a “pedalo” and have fun pedaling for a while, walk along the shore or sit in the hammocks in one of the “beach” areas.

Another highly recommended option is to take a boat trip on the lake that takes you to some of the surrounding towns, such as Morcote.

Practical information

Pedalo: renting a pedalo for up to 4 people (2 adults and 2 children) costs 8 francs per half hour or 16 francs per hour. A large pedalo, for 4 adults and 2 children for example, costs 40 francs per half hour and 60 francs per hour.

Boat ride: If you have a Swiss Travel Pass, access to the boat is free.

Cathedral of San Lorenzo

The cathedral, with its elegant Renaissance facade and tall bell tower , does not go unnoticed and is visible from different parts of the city (especially since it is in an upper area of ​​the city, be prepared to climb steep streets in the city).

Its origins can be traced back to the Early Middle Ages . According to various studies, the now cathedral began as a small parish church in the 9th century, years later, around the 11th century, it became a collegiate church and in the 19th century it became a cathedral.

Go inside to see its frescoes, admire the chapel of the Virgen de la Gracia and the Baroque-style decorations.

In addition, from the esplanade in front of the main entrance to the church, you can have beautiful panoramic views of part of the city and the lake.

Iglesia Santa Maria degli Angioli

Another of the places to see in Lugano is the church of Santa Maria degli Angioli. It is one of the most popular Christian temples in the city because it houses the most important Renaissance fresco in Switzerland: “Passion and Crucifixion of Christ” by Bernardino Luini in 1529.

In addition to this masterpiece, inside the church you can see other frescoes such as the “Last Supper” or the “Mother of God with the Child”, both also by Luini.

Mount Salvatore

If you have ever seen the profile of Rio de Janeiro and arrive in Lugano, you will perceive the resemblance -saving the distances- between the rock of the Brazilian city and that of this Swiss city.

Hence, Monte Salvatore is known by many as the Swiss “Sugar Loaf”. It is an excellent location to watch the sunset with views of the lake, Mount Bre, Mount Generoso and surroundings.

In addition, this mountain is the protagonist of an ancient legend in which it is believed that Jesus, when ascending to heaven, made a brief stop at the top of Salvatore (+912 masl).

You can go up on foot from Paradiso, although there are 600 meters with a great difference in altitude, or you can take the funicular that, in two sections, takes you to the viewpoint and restaurant. If you want a little more height, I recommend you go up to the church from where even better photos are taken.

 

Monte Bray

One of the most impressive panoramic views you will have over Lake Lugano, the city, Mount San Salvatore and surroundings is from the top of Monte Bre .

To get there you must first take the bus from Lugano station to Cassarate. There the funicular awaits you, which takes you up to Monte Bre in two very steep stages.

Once at the top you can enjoy the views and even have lunch or dinner there as there are two restaurants. It is also the ideal starting point for various hiking trails.

The price of the funicular is 25Fr (round trip).

Mount Generoso

It is the highest peak in Ticino, reaching 1,704 meters above sea level. You can go up with a rack railway – although many are modern, they still have some of the 50s that make the experience even more authentic.

From here you can go up to the astronomical observatory or, if you go at dawn, it is an ideal point to see the sunrise. It is also a perfect starting point for various hiking trails, including a 5-kilometre circular route that can be completed in approximately 2 hours (perfect to do between May and October).

In the upper part of Monte Generoso is the imposing building by the Swiss architect Mario Botta “Fiore di Pietra”, which is a visitor center as well as a restaurant where you can sit down and recharge your batteries.

Cultural centers and museums of Lugano

In Lugano there is also room for art… even urban art. Here is a list of some of the most important art centers in the city.

LAC Exhibition Center

In the middle of the city, in front of the lake, you will be able to visit the “Lugano Art and Culture” center that houses the headquarters of the Museum of Art of Italian Switzerland (MASILugano).

and it also has rooms with very interesting temporary exhibitions.

The LAC also houses a large auditorium, so before going to the city I advise you to look on the web to see if the days you will be there have an exhibition or event that interests you.

Museo Hermann Hesse

This museum is one of my earrings in the city, but the truth is that two days have not been enough for me to enter. This is the reason why I will return to Lugano: the Herman Hesse Museum .

Among the most important books of the German author, a Swiss citizen, are: “Siddhartha”, “The Last Summer of Klingsor” and “Narciso and Goldmundo”.

All of them were written in “Casa Camuzzi”, overlooking Lake Lugano, and it is right next to his house that this museum space is located. What will you find in the Museum? Many of his personal objects, books, watercolors or photographs.

From the center of Lugano you can easily get there by bus no. 436. The journey takes about 20 minutes.

​​Hermann Hesse Museum opening hours: From March to October it opens every day from 10.30am to 5.30pm. From November to February it opens Saturdays and Sundays from 10.30am to 5.30pm. Museum access price: 8.50Fr.

In addition to touring the city of Lugano and climbing to the tops of the surrounding mountains to admire the views -such as Monte Salvatore or Monte Bre-, there are some cities and towns that you should not miss.

Morcote

This town, photogenic to exhaustion, will conquer you from the first second.

Morcote is divided into three areas: the rosary of Renaissance buildings with pastel facades on the shores of the lake; the intricate medieval streets and arcades and then the upper part, which is accessed with great will and climbing more than 400 steps.

Of course, from the upper area you get wonderful views of the lake and the surroundings, as well as being able to visit the church of Santa Maria del Sasso.

Gandria

Gandria , located on the shores of Lake Lugano and at the foot of Mount Bre, has a seafaring past -and smugglers, because it is close to the Italian border-.

Docks and boats in the first line, then rising on the hillside the little houses that make an amphitheater to a landscape that looks like a watercolor.

If you want to visit it, you can only do it by boat or bus, but vehicle access is prohibited (except for some residents) to keep it as authentic as possible.

 Restaurants in Lugano

You will see that the gastronomy of Lugano is marked by its proximity to Italy… Mediterranean flavors!

I have tried several restaurants in Lugano, all of them highly recommended, but since each one has its tastes -and I am a vegetarian-, I leave you the list below and its respective link to Tripadvisor so that you can take a look at the reviews.

Restaurants Agape

Al Lidio restaurant

Vetta Restaurants (Monte San Salvatore)

Hotel in Lugano

The city has a wide variety of accommodation, but I want to recommend the hotel where I stayed: LUGANODANTE.

It is located in the historic center and I loved its commitment to caring for the environment as well as its excellent service.

It has spacious and comfortable rooms, with many details that I have loved, such as: an electric kettle, a minibar, and a place with different cables and types of plugs so you can recharge all your devices.

You can also look at booking all the accommodation options in Lugano, there are rooms from €26 per night!

How to get around Lugano

In Lugano you can combine walking with public transport to go to places further away -such as the towns on the banks of the river or to the top of the nearby mountains-.

The “Swiss travel pass” subscription (it’s the one I used on my trip to Switzerland) allows you to use all Swiss transport, including Lugano.

How to have mobile internet in Switzerland

In the European Union, “charge-free roaming” or “roaming like home” works. This means that if you live in an EU country you can use your mobile phone (internet, SMS and calls to mobiles and landlines) without extra charges. You pay the same rate as if you were using the mobile in your city.

However, Switzerland is not part of the European Union , so if you want to use your mobile you will have to pay roaming charges… and it is usually very expensive.

How to have internet on your mobile from the very moment you arrive in Switzerland? With a prepaid eSIM card. I have used the Holafly Switzerland SIM card that gives you unlimited data.

How does it work? You buy the card online and within a few minutes you receive an email with a QR code and instructions to activate the line. As soon as you land at your destination, you will already have internet on your mobile!

Seriously, it’s super easy to use and thanks to it I was able to use google maps to go from the airport to my hotel, move around the city and send whatsapp for example. Even if you have questions, you can contact the customer service team 24 hours a day and in Spanish to help you configure it or for any problem you may have.

If you want to know more, take a look at the Holafly website that, in addition, if you use my code SINMAPA you will have a 5% discount .

 Travel insurance for Switzerland

If a coffee in Switzerland costs about €6, imagine what it might cost you to go to the doctor. And not only should you be protected if you get sick or have an accident, but also because in times of a pandemic you may have to cancel the trip, postpone it or have to quarantine at your destination.