While there is still snow in the high parts of the Alps and fog in the valleys dulls the senses, spring has already arrived in the Mediterranean region of Lugano. We’ll tell you here why it’s particularly worthwhile spending a break in this Ticino pearl.
Image: © Lugano Region, Michele Mengozzi
Contrasts come together in the Lugano region that cannot be found anywhere else: palm groves and glaciers, urban lakeside promenades and alpine huts, the Italian way of life and Swiss thoroughness. Spring arrives particularly early in this unique earthly paradise. While elsewhere there is still fog in the lowlands and snow on the mountains, here in March and April you can go on hiking or biking tours in short sleeves, enjoy refined gourmet delights outside in the sunshine and be inspired by interesting art and cultural highlights .
Image: Lugano Region, Milo Zanecchia
With our tips below, you are guaranteed to experience an unforgettable break in the Ticino pearl.
sports and nature
Over 900 km of hiking routes with 36 themed trails
In addition to a huge variety of easy and challenging hiking routes, the Lugano region also offers 36 themed trails between the lake shore and the mountains, on which you can explore the entire region with its beautiful natural landscapes and many picturesque villages. Our tip: Those who want to discover the natural treasures of the Capriasca region, but also their tastes, can reach alpine pastures and huts in Capriasca thanks to La via dei sapori and enjoy cheese, sausages and other regional delicacies there.
Image: Lugano Region, Milo Zanecchia
Over 400 km of official mountain bike routes
Do you like it sporty? Then we can recommend an unforgettable mountain bike tour. The area around Lugano is the region with the highest density of official mountain bike routes in all of Switzerland. On more than 400 km of signposted and very well-maintained routes, you can discover and enjoy the natural paradise far away from the hectic everyday life in peace and quiet. Our tip: The Lugano Bike No. 66 is considered one of the most beautiful trails in Ticino and meanders as a high-altitude trail around the Val Colla above Lugano, on to the imposing Monte Tamaro and through the hilly forests of the Malcantone. The tour is characterized by alpine meadows, pastures and the three huts Pairolo, San Lucio and Monte Bar.
Image: Lugano Region, films from outside
Four panoramic mountains
Imposing panoramic peaks are also among the landscape highlights around Lugano. From Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore you can enjoy an unobstructed view of the lake and the surrounding area. Monte Tamaro is particularly popular with families and has a beautiful adventure park, among other things. Monte Lema is the ideal starting point for numerous hikes and bike tours along the mountain ridge. In addition to the beauty of nature, the four mountains have something else in common: They can all be reached by funicular or gondola.
Sustainable boat tour to Gandria
If you are on holiday in the Lugano region, you should definitely take a boat trip on Lake Lugano – combined with a visit to the villages on the lake shore. How about a journey of discovery to Gandria, for example, where an oasis of calm awaits you in the traffic-free town center with picturesque alleys and stairs? The romantic old fishing village on the slopes of Monte Brè can now be reached from Lugano in a sustainable way with the ship Ceresio 1931 – the first fully electric motor ship in Switzerland with fast-charging capability, serving the «Green Line Cruise» on the route between Lugano and the old fishing village of Gandria.
Image: Lugano Region, Michele Mengozzi
Arts and Culture
museums and exhibitions
Lugano, the cradle of many great artists, is still a magnet for those interested in culture and art with its numerous museums and a rich calendar of events. Major cultural institutions include the LAC arts and culture center, the heart of the city’s cultural activities, the Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI) and the Museo delle Culture (MUSEC).
Would you like two tips for exhibitions? Werner Bischof – Unseen Color from 12.02. to 02.07.2023 in MASI as well as Marc Chagall – A love story, Daphnis and Chloé and other works from 02.03. until 07/15/2023 in the Fondazione Gabriele e Anna Braglia, Lugano.
Image: Lugano Region, Milo Zanecchia
Swissminiature
The amusement park Swissminiatur in Melide has been equally popular with young and old for decades. On 14,000 square meters in the midst of beautiful surroundings, you can travel throughout Switzerland in just one hour. How it works? Spread throughout the park are over 128 1:25 scale models of Switzerland’s most famous buildings and monuments. Among the detailed models are well-known buildings such as the Rapperswil, Chillon and Bellinzona palaces, the Parliament building in Bern and the Piazza Grande in Locarno. There are also numerous miniature railways, ships and mountain railways to admire. Entry into Switzerland in miniature costs from CHF 11.25.
Food and Wine Experiences
Button My Swiss City Lugano
Lugano is a real paradise for connoisseurs. The gastronomic scene in and around the city is so extensive and incredibly good that it’s hard to know what to try. If you want to discover the city from a local’s point of view and from a gastronomic point of view, then we can warmly recommend the Selfguided Food Tour Taste My Swiss City Lugano, which will immerse you in the taste of the city and five – according to the locals – the best places visit for food and drink.
Food & Wine Tour Lugano
For those who prefer a guided tour in Ticino’s Land of Cockaigne, you can register for the Food & Wine Tour Lugano. This gives you the opportunity to discover the old town, interesting anecdotes and the most hidden corners in the company of a local guide, making several stops to taste local specialties.
Tour de Grotti
A must-do when visiting the Lugano region is a visit to a rustic grotto, where you can enjoy Ticino cuisine in its genuine and simple form. If you have time and leisure, it is best to book the Tour de Grotti right away, where you can reach one of the grottos in the Cantine di Gandria area by boat and enjoy a traditional dinner there by the lake. The service takes place on weekends in summer, with departures from the Lugano Centrale pier and from Paradiso.
Image: Ticino Turismo, Nicola Demaldi
Easter and other event highlights
The Lugano region boasts an extremely rich calendar of events that caters to a wide variety of tastes. This spring, the Pasqua Easter festival in Città (7 to 10 April 2023), popular with children and adults, will kick things off. The center of Lugano turns into a cheerful stage with numerous stalls and various street entertainments for young and old.
Other event highlights include the ÖKK Bike Revolution Tamara Trophy 2023 (March 25th to 26th, 2023) with the greatest champions in the world, as well as the Ladies Run Ticino (May 14th, 2023), the only women’s run in Ticino. Music lovers will get their money’s worth at the Summer Jamboree on the Lake (June 22 to 25, 2023), a cultural festival in America from the 40s and 50s (picture), and the Caslano Blues Festival (June 14 to 18, 2023).
