Tucked into a pocket of southern Switzerland is the sunny Ticino region, where Lugano is the standout city. With Italian-speaking locals, north Italian food, and Mediterranean weather, it's easy to forget you’re in Switzerland. But this chic lakeside city is actually one of Switzerland’s banking hubs, attracting an international suited-and-booted crowd. It's also popular with summertime tourists, who are drawn here by a wealth of nature-related things to do around Lake Lugano and the mountains.
Temps in Lugano are mild year-round, but the Swiss city is most vibrant in the summer. This is when the lake beaches and the lido are open for swimming, and the restaurants spill onto the streets for meals that stretch into the night. In July, Lugano takes on an extra buzz with the arrival of the Long Lake Festival, hosting jazz concerts and outdoor film screenings around Parco Ciano and Piazza della Riforma.
Lugano is a small city and the Old Town streets are mostly pedestrianized. To avoid paying for expensive parking, it's easy to manage without a car; you can use the La Sassellina funicular to cut out the steep hill between the town and the train station. Hotel, hostel, or campsite guests in Lugano are often given a Ticino Ticket, which gives free train and bus travel around the Swiss Ticino region, plus discounts on funiculars, cog-wheel railways, and lake cruises.
If you’re looking for a leafy lakeside walk with views, a place for lunch, and maybe a return by boat, the 2-mile (3-kilometer) Olive Grove Trail offers just that. It’s an easy walk between the Lugano neighborhood of Castagnola and the pretty village of Gandria, where a handful of restaurants await. While the route’s name is misleading—you won't see many olive trees on this stretch—the walk is known for its sweeping Lake Lugano views.
