An Italian-speaking Swiss lake city with palm trees, mountain funiculars and lakeside villages, where Switzerland meets the Mediterranean. Here's what Lugano is like, when to go and how long to stay.
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Temperatures are the average daytime high in °C.
April to September is best, warm and sunny for boat trips and swimming in the lake. Lugano is one of the sunniest corners of Switzerland. Autumn is mild and colourful, and December has Christmas markets.
A funicular up the sugarloaf mountain for views over the lake.
Another funicular, with walking trails and the village of Brè.
A lakeside village of stone houses, reached by a lakeside path or boat.
A pretty village with a garden and steps up to a church.
A lakeside park with palm trees and flowerbeds.
A miniature Switzerland in Melide, popular with children.
Yes. It's a relaxed lake city with an Italian feel, cheaper than Zurich or Geneva, and close to Lake Como and Lake Maggiore.
Fly into Milan Malpensa, about an hour away, or Zurich, about 2 hours by train.
April to September, around 17 to 28°C.
Two or three days covers the city, mountains and villages.
Yes. Como is about 30 minutes away by train.
Put Lugano on standby with everyone's other ideas. You each spread your points in secret, get one veto, and the draw picks where you go.