Lugano, a little picturesque Swiss town in the Ticino canton of Switzerland, is located on the Italian Border. Italian is the major language spoken in Lugano, closely resembling Popular Italian neighbouring towns like Como and Stresa.
Lugano is located in a beautiful and picturesque setting. The town is situated on the bank of beautiful Lake Lugano and has expanded to the slopes of lush green mountains. The Town has a well-maintained historic centre and a calm and peaceful ambience on the lakeside lush green parks. Lugano also has numerous opportunities for Hikers and Treckers as the town is surrounded by beautiful alpine mountains like Monte Bre, Monte San Salvatore, Monte Generaso and Monte Tamaro. Lugano is also said to be one of the Sunniest towns in Switzerland, therefore, it is also popular among the local Swiss crowd mostly for the weekend gateway.
Lugano is 77 KM to the north of Italian city of Milan and very close to the Italian gems Lake Como and Lake Maggiore. In fact, Lugano is a good alternative to the touristic Italian lake towns since it is less crowded, more peaceful and equally beautiful. If you are stationed in Milan, a day trip to Lugano from Milan is a great option to spend a quiet weekend away.
This article is focused on everything you need to know on How to take a perfect self-guided day trip to Lugano from Milan including the option of public transport and information on how to spend a memorable day in Lugano.
So, let's start our day trip to Lugano from Milan!
Summary of Itinerary
Lugano has so many things to offer and just 1 day would not be enough to see everything in Lugano. However, we have crafted the Itinerary to have a comfortable day trip to Lugano from Milan:-
Leave Milan at 8.30
Reach Lugano at 10
Explore Old Town until 11
Explore Parco Ciani until 12.30
Lunch until 14.00
Explore Either Monte San Salvatore or Gandria
Return from Lugano (Or Paradiso) to Milan @ 18.02
Reach Milan @ 19.20
This article is about the self-guided day trip to Lugano from Milan. If you don’t prefer the hustle of public transport, you can book a comfortable Guided day trip to Lugano from Milan. The guided day trip to Lugano from Milan is accompanied by a knowledgeable guide and transport is provided with the Air conditioning vehicles. The guided tours also cover Lake Como in addition to Lugano during the day trip from Milan.
Reaching Lugano from Milan
Lugano from Milan can be reached by Car, Train and bus. However, the train is the most convenient, fastest and most reliable option to reach Lugano from Milan.
The regional Trains to Lugano depart every hour from Milan central train station starting from 6.43 AM. Regional trains take 1 hour and 15 Minutes to reach Lugano from Milan. Regional trains do not need advance booking. The tickets can be purchased directly at the train station in ticket vending machines, at the Ticket counter or online at the official Trenitalia site.
There are also Intercity trains that depart almost every hour in the morning from Milan, However, the intercity Trains are comparatively more expensive, need advance booking and take the same time as the regional trains. Therefore, regional trains are a recommended option to reach Lugano from Milan.
Check the latest scheduled trains at the official Trenitalia site.
To make the most of your day trip to Lugano from Milan, it is recommended to take a train no later than 8.43 AM from Milano Centrale that will take you to Lugano at 10 AM.
Explore the Old Town
As soon as you reach Lugano, start your day trip by exploring the beautiful old centre of Lugano. Lugano train station is located on the hill, but you have the option to reach the centre by Funicular which connects the train station to Lugano city centre. The Funicular one-way journey takes around 1 and a half minutes and costs 1 Euros and 30 cents. You can also walk to the centre in less than 10 Minutes.
Lugano Old Town is a perfect blend of Mediterranean and Swiss culture where the elegant colourful houses at the Piazza Della Reforma give a glimpse of Lugano's way of living. Lugano's old city centre is car-free, therefore, it is very convenient to explore it on foot. To get a glimpse of Lugano's old city centre, it is recommended to start with Piazza Reforma and take a stroll through Via Nassa which is a colourful main street of Lugano full of Luxurious brands, restaurants and boutique shops.
Via Nassa will end at the Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli which catholic church built in 1500. The church is more popular for its huge Renaissance Fresco featuring the "Crucifixion and the Passion". The fresco was painted by the Italian artist Bernardino Luini who was also from the same discipline as the legendary Leonardo da Vinci. The fresco is also one of the most important artworks in Switzerland. Therefore, the cathedral deserves a visit during a day trip to Lugano from Milan.
The old Church is located right next to the Promenade of Lake Lugano. After exploring the Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli, head towards the beautiful lakeside Park "Parco Ciani".
Parco Ciani
Parco Ciani is the largest park in Lugano situated on the bank of Lake Lugano. The lush green park is an ideal place to spend some peaceful time with nature. The eco-friendly park is also a botanic garden open to the public without any entry fee. The park is located just a few minute's walk away from the city centre, therefore, it is a popular place among locals as well.
The park is huge covering around 63000-meter square area. We recommend exploring the lakeside portion of the parks and don't forget to visit the most popular photo spot of Lugano, "The Gates of Lake Lugano" (also called "Cancello sul Lago di Lugano"). It is just a gate that opens to the lake. The gate is always closed; however, the spot has gained popularity on Instagram due to its scenic setting.
If you prefer to swim, there is also a tiny beach in the park where you can swim or just soak the sun on the beach. After getting refreshed in the Parco Ciani, you might be hungry. Head to any of the following restaurants in Lugano to try some delicious local food.
Where to Eat in Lugano?
In Lugano, there are many traditional Italian restaurants you can try. We recommend eating in any of the following restaurants in Lugano and trying the local Cuisines: -
Ristorante Trattoria Galleria (Google Map Location)
It serves top-quality and delicious Italian food with many options to choose from. The restaurant is located in a quite place very close to the park and lake.
Bistrot & Pizza Argentino (Google Map Location)
Great restaurant located in the town centre if you prefer to eat Pizza. They also serve a variety of traditional local Cuisines.
La Tinèra (Google Map Location (Google Map Location)
La Tinèra is a top pick if you want to try typical Ticino Cuisines. The restaurant is located very close to the city centre.
In the town centre, you can also find many options to try a quick bite like burgers, sandwiches and Focaccias. For the day trip to Lugano from Milan, it is recommended to take a quick bite and head to the next destination to save time.
One day is not enough to see everything in Lugano. Therefore, we will let you choose what you prefer to visit in the remaining time of your day trip to Lugano from Milan after visiting the places mentioned above based on your preferences. You can choose any one of the following options to enjoy a comfortable day trip to Lugano from Milan. Visiting both places is possible too, However, you need to rush a lot which is not recommended. The choice is yours.
Option 1: Monte San Salvatore (recommended for a day trip to Lugano from Milan): Popular For stunning views and hikes.
Option 2: Visiting Lake Side Village Gandria: Popular for its picturesque setting and Tranquill ambience.
We will see in detail below how to get there and what to see.
Option 1: Monte San Salvatore
Monte San Salvatore is a preferred option if you have to choose between the two since it is one of the most-visited places in Lugano due to the stunning views offered from the top and its unique shape. If you are not much of a Mountain person then you can choose Gandria to admire its natural beauty.
Reaching Monte San Salvatore
A day trip to Lugano from Milan would be incomplete if you don't admire the panoramic views from one of its many surrounding mountains. Monte San Salvatore is the top pick since it offers a breathtaking panorama of Lugano towns, Lake Lugano and surrounding mountains.
To get to Monte San Salvatore, you need to reach the Paradiso which is a neighbourhood of Lugano. Paradiso can be reached on foot, by bus, train or Ferry from Lugano, however, it is always recommended to catch the ferry boat to Paradiso from Lugano. After all, floating on the waters of Lake Lugano is Mandatory when you are exploring Lugano! The ferry ticket costs 20 CHF per person and tickets can be purchased directly at the ferry terminal. If you prefer to walk, Paradiso is just 2 KM away from the Lugano ferry terminal and can be reached in less than 30 Minutes.
From Paradiso ferry terminal, walk towards the Funicular station to Cath the Funicular to Monte San Salvatore. Funicular to Mont San Salvatore departs every 30 Mins and takes you to the top in just 12 Mins. Return ticket to Monte San Salvatore costs 32 CHF per adult without any discount card. If you have discount cards like Ticino Card, Half fare card, Swiss travel pass, etc. you need to pay a reduced price for a return ticket of Funicular. If you are planning to hike down to Paradiso from the Top, then remember to buy only a single journey ticket for Funicular.
Monte San Salvatore
Monte San Salvatore, also known as the Sugarloaf Mountain of Switzerland, is the must-visit place during the day trip to Lugano from Milan. The Mountain Peak is 912 meters from the sea level and offers a stunning 360-degree panorama. The views from each side of the mountain are unique and breathtaking, where the sight of incessant range of lush green alpine Mountains and lake water finding its way within is truly special.
Like many other mountains of the world, millions of years ago, Monte San Salvatore emerged from the sea when the floating lands separated from Pangea collided. Monte San Salvatore was once a part of Seabed when millions of years ago this collision happened. It is also said that the Monte San Salvatore has weather similar to the archipelago of the Bahamas in the Caribbean. At the museum of Monte San Salvatore, the evidence of sea life like seashells found at the mountain can be seen.
The museum at the summit of Monte San Salvatore houses a wide range of collections including religious artefacts, scientific evidence for the geology of Monte San Salvatore and lightning research.
The summit of Monte San Salvatore also houses the 17th Century church of San Salvatore by which the mountain has been named.
Monte San Salvatore also has plenty of opportunities for hiking and trekking with the option of a short hike. For the day trip to Lugano from Milan, you can hike back to Paradiso via Pazzallo from the summit of Monte San Salvatore. The hike is filled with gorgeous scenic views and takes around 2 hours to reach Paradiso from the top.
You can catch the return train back to Milan from Paradiso Train station.
Option-2: Village of Gandria
Gandria is a beautiful lakeside fishing village situated on the footsteps of Mount Bre, popular for its picturesque setting surrounded by the tranquillity of nature. Gandria village is located just 5 km from Lugano and can be easily reached by ferry, bus and on foot (if you are comfortable walking). However, the ferry is always a convenient way to reach Gandia from Lugano. The ferry departs from Lugano's ferry terminal and takes only 5 to 10 Minutes to reach Gandria. Ferry and bus both typically depart every hour. Better to check the timing of the ferry or bus in advance in order not to waste time waiting.
Gandria is a very peaceful place ideal for some quiet time amidst nature. Gandria is also a car-free village that contributes a lot to the tranquil atmosphere of the Village. Gandria was once full of Olive trees and therefore popular for Olive oil production until 1709 when the unusually harsh winter killed all the olive trees in the village. Recently, the Olive trees have been replanted on the walkway Between Gandria and Lugano which has become one of the most popular attractions of Gandira. Many people chose to visit Gandria on foot to admire the picturesque walkway by the lake, surrounded by Olive trees. You can also go to Gandria from Lugano by Ferry and return on foot.
For the day trip to Lugano from Milan, you can choose to visit Gandria if you don't want to hike or if you wish to explore the lakeside area of Lugano. If you have more than 1 day in Lugano, Gandria must be on your itinerary.
Return from Lugano to Milan
Many regional trains leave from Lugano to Milan every hour in the evening. The trains depart at 17.02, 18.02, 19.02, 20.02 and 21.02. You can catch any of these trains which will take you to Milan in 1 hour and 2o Minutes. There are also options for direct Intercity trains to reach Milan from Lugano but they are costlier and need advance booking. Remember to always check the latest train timing on the official Trenitalia site before planning a day trip to Lugano from Milan.
If you have more than one day in Lugano, we recommend adding Monte Bre and Morcote Village to your itinerary. If you are planning to stay in Lugano, check out some best recommended hotels to stay in Lugano:-
Where to Stay in Lugano
Lugano has numerous options to stay including top luxury and budget stays. Check out some of our recommended Picks to stay in Lugano:-
The hotel Splendide Royal is undoubtedly the best in Lugano. The lakeside five-star luxurious hotel offers everything you need for comfort with a wonderful interior, great staff and gorgeous rooms.
The top-rated Lakefront 3-start hotel in the heart of Lugano is a great place to stay at an affordable price. The rooms offer gorgeous views of the lake.
Hotel Walter Au Lac is another lakefront hotel popular for its spacious rooms and rich interiors. The rooms with a balcony offer the best views of the lake. The hotel also has a rooftop terrace that offers a gorgeous lake view.
Luganodante is another great hotel situated in the heart of the city. It is located right in front of the Funicular station. The hotel has a fantastic staff, specious rooms and delicious breakfast.
Hotel federale is another top pick in Lugano usually available at an affordable price. The hotel is located next to the train station and offers spacious rooms, delicious breakfast and welcoming staff.
We hope you liked this article and will help you to plan a perfect day trip to Lugano from Milan. Please let us know your thoughts in the comment section. If you have any questions on a day trip to Lugano from Milan or any other travel-related queries in Europe, do not hesitate to Contact us.
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