When some recently-married friends called my fiancee and I in the spring saying they had some “big news,” we automatically assumed they were pregnant. But actually - no, even better (well, sort of. I <3 babies). Our friend J. had taken a new job with a Swiss-owned back and needed to move to Switzerland for his job training. My fiancee responded, with “Congrats, that’s great!” I responded just as quickly with “When can we visit??!!” (I believe I also offered congratulations but cannot be sure.)
So earlier in October, we - along with two more friends who had a similar reaction to the news - packed our bags and headed over to Lugano (and some other amazing locations) to have some Swiss adventures. The city did not disappoint. Nestled in Southern Switzerland and just above Northern Italy, the town is highly-influenced by Italian culture, but retains a lot Swiss charms. We spent four days eating, roaming, staring at the amazing landscape, sampling wine and taking in every inch. Here’s what we saw and recommend.
One absolute must is to go to the top of Lugano’s Mont Bre, There is a super scenic trolley that takes you right up, called the Funicolare - no hiking required - and once up, the views are nothing short of spectacular. Including the little cafe and restaurant that overlooks the landscape. Perfect for hanging out and enjoying an afternoon.
A walk around the lake, Lake Lugano, is also a must. Day or night, and from all angles it’s gorgeous.
I’d also highly encourage just visiting the local shops and stores to gather up what’s needed for a home-cooked meal. Everything just tastes fresher and better when it’s from the market in the local square. Especially when walking around said squares is also just lovely.
We also learned a teeny bit about local clubs - such as this one, which as far as we can tell gathers to sing German folks songs while opening champagne bottles with swords. Seriously.
Overall, Lugano is a lovely place. Because it’s not so large but is centrally located, you can immerse yourself for a few days and then use it as a gateway to either Switzerland to the north, or Italy to the south. Send pics if you get there!
