A financial centre, but also a place for fun and recreation, for walks and shopping, gastronomy and art. All this and much more makes Lugano, the capital of Ticino, a special place.

The valleys and the small towns by the lake omit calm and the feeling of being somewhere between the past and the future, a unique atmosphere.

Our tips for excursions

Art and culture

• Mini Switzerland in Melide
  Switzerland in a mini format for young and old
• Chocolate nmuseum Alprose
  The history of chocolate and the most important phases of its production
• Herman Hesse Museum Montagnola
  The long-term residence of the famous German writer and painter 
• Customs museum Cantine di Gandria
  The Customs museum is an exact reconstruction of a customs office at the border in the late 19th century
• Museo Cantonale d'Arte
  History of art from the 19th and 20th centuries
• Villa Ciani - Museo Civico di Belle Arti
  The neo-classical palace is the location of the art museum of Lugano
• Museo d'arte moderna - Villa Malpensata
  Mainly 20th century - al filone espressionista
• Natural History Museum 
  Nature from canton Ticino
• S. Maria degli Angioli Lugano Church
  Originally, the church belonged to a convent. It is home to the most famous renaissance wall painting in Switzerland.
• Gottardo Gallery Lugano
  Cultural foundation of Banca del Gottardo: Photo collection
• Villa Heleneum
  Museum for non-European cultures.
• Fossil museum Monte S. Giorgio
  Shows originals, copies and illustrations of fossils from Monte San Giorgio and photos from the excavations

Shopping

• Via Nassa
  The shopping street in the heart of Lugano
• Fox Town Factory Store
  Outlet sales from large Italian and international brands
• Antique market /Canova Quartier in Lugano
  Friday 8.00-12.00 am and Saturday 8.00 am -5.00 pm
  Antique lovers will love this market
• The flower-, fruit- and vegetable market / Piazza Riforma in Lugano
  Friday: 7.00-12.00 am
  outstanding local produce
• The market in Chiasso 
  Thiursday 3.00-6.00 pm
  Food, fruits, vegetables, cheese, delicatessen, honey a.s.o. Also clothes and hand made goods. 
• The market in Mendrisio
  Wednesday: 8.00 am-5.00 pm

Day excursions / parks

• The Observatory at Monte Generoso
  Taking you from planet to planet you will learn many new things.
• Adventure Park Monte Tamaro Fascinating playground and breathtaking bob facilities.
• Play Planet 
  We have waited for a long time for a play area like this. Open all year.
• Boat on Lake Lugano  
  Offers numerous possibilities to spend a couple of hours on the lake and to visit beautiful places by boat.
• Lama trekking
  Excursion with a lama (led in a rope)
• Tassino Park
  Lovely view over the lake and the city. Children can enjoy themselves at the play ground or admire the wild animals.
• Botanical garden San Grato
  An outstanding olive park. Experience different types of olive trees that have been planted new.
• Parco San Michele 
  This park of 3 acres is located at a point with breathtaking views over the city. The different paths lead through various typical vegetations.
• Scherrer-Park
  This park offers visitors a chance to travel though time and space in history and nature.

Hikes

• Monte Tamaro - Monte Lema
  One of the most beautiful hikes in the Swiss Alps.
• Road of wonder
  7 km of discovery through the picturesque Malcantone
• The heart of Valsolda
  during a four-hour hike you will marvel at the valley of Valsolada. Hidden villages, spectacular waterfalls and a fantastic view over Lake Lugano
• The Olive road
  From Castagnola to Gandria, roads and restaurants directly at Lake Lugano
• St. Lucio
  A hike like in a fairytale along a sunny plateau to the Swiss border
• Monte San Salvatore
  (912 m above sealevel.), in the middle of the Lugano bay with a view over the lake is worth the experiencehttp://www.montesangiorgio.ch/
• The nature path at Monte San Giorgio
  In year 2003 this was declared a World Cultural Heritage for Humanity by UNESCO.