Nestled in the picturesque region of Ticino you’ll find Switzerland’s hidden gem, Lugano. It’s very close to Italy and one of the sunniest areas of Switzerland with its own micro-climate. Lugano’s main attraction is its enormous lake, however there’s plenty to occupy your time with a luxurious weekend in Lugano.
How Many Days in Lugano?
When it comes to planning your visit to Lugano, it’s important to note that this picturesque paradise warrants more than just a brief stopover. With a plethora of world-class restaurants, luxurious spas, and high-end boutiques, you’ll want to allow yourself ample time to fully immerse yourself in all that Lugano has to offer.
So, how many days should you set aside for your Lugano adventure? A minimum of two to three days is recommended to explore the city’s stunning landmarks, savor the delectable cuisine, and soak up the palpable charm of this enchanting destination.
Trust us, once you arrive, you won’t want to leave.
A Luxury Weekend in Lugano Itinerary
Indulge in the ultimate luxury weekend retreat in the charming city of Lugano. Let the city’s breathtaking scenery and exquisite cuisine enchant you on this sophisticated getaway.
Spend your mornings sipping Italian coffee on a terrace overlooking the serene Lake Lugano, and explore the city’s historic center, admiring the gorgeous architecture of its grand buildings. Experience haute-cuisine dining in the evening, paired with the finest of wines.
Take a stroll through the lively pedestrian streets of Lugano and peruse the high-end boutiques that line the way. This town in Ticino enjoys a Mediterranean micro climate, so palm trees thrive here.
Lake Lugano
Lugano lakeside is a pleasant place for a stroll at any time of year, with quite a few artworks dotted around. During the Summer you can take one of the many boat tours to explore Lake Lugano. It is without a doubt one of the best things to do in Lugano.
This glacial lake is partly in Switzerland and partly in Italy. Boat rides go to the nearby charming towns of Gandria and Morcote.
Arte e Cultura
LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura is a contemporary cultural space that houses a permanent art collection as well as regular exhibitions. Spanning three floors, there’s a 1,000 seat concert venue for music and theatrical performances.
Lugano Town Center
This is a charming place, with a spacious main square surrounded by cafes.
Lugano’s attractive town hall is also situated on the town square.
There are also some really luxurious shops in the centre of Lugano, such as Louis Vuitton and Gucci. The covered galleries in the pedestrianized streets provide welcome shade in the warmer months.
Lugano Cable Cars
If time permits during your weekend in Lugano, it’s worth getting out of town and taking the Monte Bre cable car to admire the views from nearby Monte San Salvatore. The funicular takes you to the top of this mountain peak which is 912 metres high. The lake looks even more incredible from up here.
The panoramic vista from Monte Bre is equally impressive and can be reached by cable railway from March onwards.
The picturesque church of Sant’Abbondio, up on the hillside in Sorengo is also worth a look if you have a hire car.
Where to Eat in Lugano
Lugano has some lovely restaurants in the centre of town but it also has quite a few hidden away eateries known as grottos. These rustic restaurants are located either up in the mountains or by lakes. Three of the best grotto in Lugano are Grotto Tigini, Grotto del Lago and Grotto della Salute.
For fine dining, look no further than the Hotel Splendide Royal – delicious cuisine in luxurious surroundings overlooking the lake.
In Lugano town centre, Grand Café Al Porto is good for light meals, coffee and cake.
If you want to buy some Swiss chocolate to take home, Läderach is the place to go. They have been making chocolate here since 1962.
Where to Stay in Lugano
For a truly exceptional stay, the five star Splendide Royal is one of the best hotels in Lugano. With far reaching views over the lake of Lugano to the mountains beyond, it’s old school glamour and attentive staff will enchant you.
How to Get to Lugano
Lugano train station will get you to Milan in 1 hour or Zurich in 2 hours. The town also has its own airport with flights to Zurich, Geneva and Rome. Alternatively, fly to Milan Malpensa airport, a one hour car or train journey.
Lugano is a fantastic place to spend a luxurious weekend and this Swiss Italy really deserves to be better known. Have you ever visited Swiss Italy? Do you have any tips for first time visitors?
You might also enjoy:
- Fun Things to Do in Gstaad
- Most Beautiful Places in Switzerland
- Things to See in the Ticino Region
- Where to Eat in Zurich
- What to Do in Geneva
- Lucerne in 2 Days
- Insider’s Guide to Verbier
Read all our Switzerland travel features here
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Those views are simply stunning!
Lots of love,
Angie
SilverSpoon London
And the good thing is that it’s always sunny so the views are never obscured by cloud
so beautiful! Did you buy a lot of chocolates?:)
We had one given to us by my father in law – very yummy!
I’ve been researching places to take a mini break when the weather’s warmer- I feel like fate is telling me to head to Switzerland, it keeps popping up on my social media feeds and your photos here look beautiful- especially of Monte Bre!
The Awkward Blog
You’ll absolutely love Switzerland, Angela. Monte Bre is beautiful and well worth a visit
Switzerland is so beautiful this post has reminded me that I need to get over there more! 😉
I’m lucky to be heading back there in less than a month but this time to the French part so will have visited French, German and Italian Switzerland this year – and they’re all different!
Your stay in Lugano looks absolutely gorgeous! I’m so jealous of your travels!!
http://thecourtneydiaries.com
I’m very lucky Courtney although I was suffering with a cold at the time 😉
So peaceful. I love Lugano!!!!
Kisses, Paola.
Expressyourself
My Facebook
I was sure that you would have been there, Paola!
I LOVE Switzerland!! This looks amazing!!!
I can see why you love it so much, Jess!
Beautiful Suze. I have cousins from Switzerland, it may just be time to visit them again. These are great photos. Thanks for sharing. <3
Lebanese & Gourmet Travelling
That’s great if you can go and stay with them, always good to get insider tips!
It would be interesting to visit Lugano! Architecturally I can see the Italian influence, especially as shown on the photo of the church.
www.luxessed.com
That’s a good point Anouk, the church does look quite Italian! The food is also very Italian in style
Indeed a hidden gem! Such an amazing place and I had never heard of it before!
Dora www.BangsBang.com
It’s one that I hadn’t heard of either but my husband has family there so I’m getting to know the place quite well now!
We didn’t manage to fit any skiing in but thankfully I’m going skiing in Austria pretty soon. I can really see you and Henry in Switzerland
Switzerland is such a beautiful place. That town square is so adorable. I love all the colors. It’s just not something we see here in the US. There’s so much character and history to the buildings. I love it!
xx Yasmin
http://banglesandbungalows.com
You’re right, Yasmin, the history of Switzerland is really unique and the air is so pure too!
Lugano looks like a charming place for a getaway – and the Splendide Royal looks like the perfect base from which to enjoy the town! Beautiful photos…
Yes it’s within walking distance of the centre and with such a great view
Wow, the nature is impressive! I also really like the architecture in Lugano. Unfortunately, I’ve never been to Swiss Italy, but it’s definitely on my travel list!
Sun and Sany – Bulgarian travel and leisure blog
I think you’d love it Stanislava, the perfect blend of great scenery and delicious food plus the people are so friendly
It all looks so charming! Love the pastel buildings and would love to try the hotel. What an amazing getaway!
Http://Leftbankgirl.blogspot.com
The hotel was so special, I’ll be writing a full blog post on it soon
Oh I’m having flashbacks to our trip to Zurich last year. There is something truly inspiring and beautiful about Swiss architecture and Lugano just sums it up. This looks like a wonderful place and lucky you for visiting Suze.
I know, it was such a pleasure and we went on to Luzern and Zurich afterwards. I never realised they had so many old pedestrianised areas there, we really enjoyed it
OMG that chocolate cake! It looks amazing! Such a good round up of tips, I keep meaning to travel more in Switzerland it is such a beautiful country!
Ash | Liakada
We’re still savouring the chocolates, I’m not sure how we’ve held off finishing them for so long 😉
What a beautiful trip! As though my recent bout of Swiss memories wasn’t enough to make me miss the country enough, this post definitely has! My family adore Lugano, my parents have often stayed at Hotel Splendide Royal in fact, we’re definitely keen to make visit again soon 🙂 xxx
Wowee – Switzerland just looks so wonderful!! It is a place that I would love to see! That cake looks so amazing.
Simply dreamy – we ALMOST went to Switzerland last year, but ended up (for the second time) in New Zealand instead! One day, one day…
Well Suze, I’m sold. I knew very little about Lugano, other than that it’s beautiful, but this little travel guide and your photos have convinced me that it needs to be done. I love the glimpses of mountains in the background of some of your photos – stunning!
Polly xx
Looks beautiful, Switzerland has so much to offer and I have added this to the list. Especially for the chocolate x
Magic Images & Magic…Suze !!!