Lugano

By plane

• Lugano Airportsmall international airport with flights arriving from Zurich and Geneva. Swiss International Air Lines and Etihad Regional offer discount web special prices to Lugano from many parts of Europe.

Milan's airports are 1.5 hours away by bus or train and are served by easyJet and Ryanair.

By train

Trains leave for Zürich (3h), Basel (3:34) and Milan (40min-1h) as well as Geneva (via Zürich or Locarno-Domodossola: 5h30 with one or two transfers, 6h30 via Milan with one transfer). Getting to Geneva or points west it is faster to go via Zürich or Locarno as the trains are more frequent and faster.

• Stazione di Lugano

  phone: +41 900 300 300

By bus

There are three shuttle services between Lugano and Milan Malpensa Airport:

• Lugano Services(approx every 2 hrs, 04:00–23:30; 1hr 10min; €25 one way; advance reservations on line or tickets directly on the bus)
• JetBus (approx every 1-2 hrs; 06:00–23:10; €27 or Fr. 35 one way; can be booked at airport)
• Malpensa Express (every 2 hrs; 8:35–23:35; €30 or Fr. 35 one way; can be booked at airport.)

There is also a daily bus service during summer to Tirano, Italy with train connection (Bernina Express) to St. Moritz (Switzerland).

Lugano is small enough to get around on foot, and many of the streets are pedestrian-only, but the hills above the lakefront are very steep so the bus or the funicular from the centre of town might be a better option on the way up to the train station if you have a lot of bags. Taxis can be found on the main roads. Ferries and funiculars are great options for seeing the views.
For more information:

• TPLfor bus services in the city. A short-journey ticket (30 min.) costs Fr. 1.90, 1-day travelcard for 1 zone — Fr. 7.20, short-journey multi-journey travelcard (6 trips) — Fr. 9.50, the later can be used by multiple people.

• Funicolare Lugano Citta - Stazione

  phone: +41 91 800 72 28
  This funicular links the old centre of the town on the lake shore to the railway station higher up the hill. Starting 05.20 till 23.50, always, there is one every 5-10 minutes. TPL runs FuniBus, a bus shuttle service, between the train station and .

• Funicolare Lugano Paradiso - Monte San Salvatore

  phone: +41 91 985 28 28
  address: Via delle Scuole 7, Lugano Paradiso
  links Lugano with the top of the Monte San Salvatore, with spectacular views of the Lake of Lugano, the isthmus of Melide, the Monte Generoso and the Italian enclave of Campione d'Italia on the other side of the lake.

• Funicolare Monte Brè

  phone: +41 91 9713171
  address: Via Ceresio di Suvigliana 36, CH-6977 Ruvigliana
  A funicular between Lugano and the top of the Monte Brè.

By boat

• Società Navigazione del Lago di Lugano

  phone: +41 91 971 52 23
  Runs ferry services across the Lake Lugano. They also offer a number of cruises. While much of Lake Lugano is in Switzerland, a large portion of it is in Italy, so take your passport when on a boat.

Italian is spoken in Lugano as a primary language. English and German are widely spoken by many of the individuals that interact with tourists.

• Centro Storico

• Palazzo Civico

  address: Piazza Riforma, 1
  Lugano's City Hall

• Parco CivicoA peaceful park with a wide variety of flowers and trees located near the heart of Lugano's tourist area. Villa Ciani is located there.

• Cattedrale di San Lorenzo

• Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angiolicontains an impressive full-wall 16th-century fresco by Bernardino Luini.

• Museo Cantonale d’Arte

  phone: +4191 815 79 71
  address: Via Canova 10

• Museo d'Arte Moderna

• Hermann Hesse museum

  phone: +41 91 993 37 70
  The museum also offers an audio guide for a walk in the steps of Hesse, which is an extremely good choice on a beautiful day. Besides the exhibition there is also a film on Hesse shown, duration approximately 50 minutes. Friendly and helpful staff. English, German and Italian spoken.

• GandriaGandria is an unspoiled, picturesque lakeside village at the foot of Monte Brè. Perched on the steep mountainside it is a community of narrow streets, inaccessible to cars, with a delightful surprise round every corner.

• Museo Doganale SvizzeroThere is also a grotto restaurant nearby.

• Sentiero di GandriaA path from the end of the Lugano promenade to Gandria. It is marked with panels which describe the history of olive trees in the region. That is why it is also known as Sentiero dell'olivo.

Hiking

• Monte BrèThere are numerous rustic trails that lead up from towns surrounding Mount Brè to its summit and the Funicolare Monte Brè. A trail map is available from the local tourist information.

• Monte San SalvatoreThe top of this mountain has a restaurant, hiking paths and a look-out tower offering an amazing panoramic view of Lugano, the lake and surrounding area. It is possible to hike up to the mountain (about 2 hours), or take the cable car.

• Trekking Lugano and Malcantone region

Bike rentals

• SFR Railway Station Lugano

  phone: +41 512 215642

• Balmelli Sport

  phone: +41 91 923-5867
  address: Via Pioda 12

Gambling

• Casinò Lugano

  phone: +41 91 973-7111
  address: Via Stauffacher 1

Events

• Blues to Bop FestivalFree open air music festival with multiple stages throughout the heart of Lugano in late August.

More

• SwimmingThe Lido di Lugano right in the city centre is a great place to swim with a beach, 3 swimming pools and a bar.

• BoatingBoat rental options include paddle boats and speed boats.

• University of Italian Switzerland (USI)

  phone: +41 58 666-4000
  address: 13 Giuseppe Buffi St
  Switzerland’s most international university. It is distinctive in the Swiss university system because of the originality of its degree curricula and areas of research.

• University of Applied Sciences of Italian Switzerland (SUPSI)

  phone: +41 58 666-6014
  address: Le Gerre, Via Pobiette 11
  One of the nine universities of applied sciences recognized by the Swiss Confederation.

• Dalle Molle Institute for Artificial Intelligence

  phone: +41 58 666 66 66
  address: Via Cantonale 6 (Galleria 1 Building), 6928 Manno

• Franklin University Switzerland

  phone: +41 91 985-2260
  address: 29 Ponte Tresa St
  An American liberal arts institution in an international environment, Franklin is accredited in the United States by the Commission on Higher Education of the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools and in Switzerland by the Swiss University Conference.

• The American School in Switzerland (TASIS)

  phone: +41 91 960 51 51
  address: Via Collina d'Oro 15, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland
  An international secondary school in the outskirts of Lugano.

Many major labels and designer boutiques (Versace, Hermes, Paul & Shark, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier) can be found here, as well as the usual Swiss and Italian knick-knacks. Via Nassa in the city centre is the main place for shopping high street brands.

• Foxtown

  address: Mendrisio, Via A. Maspoli 18
  Huge designer outlet in just 20 km from Lugano.

• Manor

  phone: +41 91 912 76 99
  address: Salita M. e A. Chiattone 10, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
  Department store with everything from clothing to home goods as well as some Swiss souvenirs. Grocery store in basement.

Budget

• Manora

  address: Piazza Dante 2
  The cafeteria in the Manor Department store offers a wide variety of tempting International dishes, ranging from sushi to pasta. Fresh fruits and vegetables arrayed in stylish displays are almost a painting themselves. Wine and beer are available as are a wide range of other beverages.

Mid-range

• Argentino

  phone: +41-91-9229049
  Piazza Riforma. Excellent pizza, great service. They offer 2 sizes of pizza, price ranges around Fr. 15-20.

• Tango

  address: Piazza Riforma
  Really great tasty pizza, quick service (6-7 min per pizza).

• Ristorante Antico

  phone: +41 91 971 48 71
  address: CH-6978 Gandria - Lugano
  Italian cuisine in the village of Gandria with dining on a terrace with views of Lago di Lugano

In the summer your best bet is just to wander along the lakeside promenade and open air bar/cafes. Check local listings for clubs and shows as venues come and go with the seasons. Spring-Autumn, Bar Mojito (p.za Manzoni, directly at the lakeside)
There are clubs in the city (discos). Nix (under the Casinò), Privilege (near Manor, a department store), Tito's Place (quartiere Maghetti), Club One and The Cube are all located in the downtown.
Oops (via Maderno 24) and Bibliocafè Tra (Salita dei Frati, Piazza Molino Nuovo) are a great place to have beer in the evening. Near University . Another hint:

• Arte

  address: Lungolago
  Amazing decor, (also an art gallery), great food and views of the Lake!

There are a wide range of hotel options right in town, from atmospheric B&Bs to posh four stars to comfy and communal hostels. Be sure to book ahead in the summer, but the rest of the year it's possible to just show up and find something as long as your budget is flexible.

Budget

• Montarina Hotel & Hostel

  phone: +41 91 966 72 72
  address: Via Montarina 1
  The house is surrounded by a palm garden and has a nice swimming pool that all guests can use. Hostel guests can use a small communal kitchen.

• Hotel Pestalozzi

  phone: +41 91 921 46 46
  address: Piazza Indipendenza 9
  A very clean, family-run hotel with some en-suite rooms. English and German are spoken.

• San Carlo Garni

  phone: +41 91 922 71 07
  address: Via Nassa 28

• Youth Hostel Lugano-Savosa

  phone: +41 91 966 27 28
  address: Via Cantonale 13, Savosa

Mid-range

• Hotel International au Lac

  phone: +41 91 922 75 41
  address: Via Nassa 68
  Family tradition since 1906, it is the right hotel for holidays or for business stays and the only one on the lake promenade in the centre of Lugano, with own indoor parking, restaurant, meeting room, garden with swimming-pool and terrace. W-Lan Internet Hot-Spot, an Internet workstation and an "Ethernet" connection for notebook computers are available free of charge at the Internet corner. “Historic hotel with honor”: the ICOMOS jury has granted the hotel this eminent UNESCO award.

• Hotel Villa Marita

  phone: +41 91 966 05 61
  address: Via Lucino 49, Breganzona

• Lugano Dante Center

  phone: +41 91 910 57 00
  address: Piazza Cioccaro 5
  Located 1 minute from station, 200m from the lake. WiFi access and meeting facilities. Multistore car park.

• Villa Sassa Hotel, Residence & SPA

  phone: +41 91 911 41 11
  address: Via Tesserete 10

• Hotel De La Paix

  phone: +41 91 960 60 60
  address: Via Cattori 18

• Acquarello

  phone: +41 91 911 68 68
  address: Piazza Cioccaro
  Has a direct connection to the station with the cable car and is in the city centre. Single room from Fr. 116, double room from Fr. 157 (season from October 2011, all included).

Splurge

• Grand Hotel Eden

  phone: +41 91 985 92 00
  address: Riva Paradiso 1

• Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola

  phone: +41 91 973 25 55
  address: Viale Castagnola 31

• Hotel Splendide Royal

  phone: +41 91 985 77 11
  address: Riva A. Caccia 7

• Villa Principe Leopoldo Hotel & SPA

  phone: +41 91 985 88 55
  address: Via Montalbano 5
  2 km from the city. The historical main building – the Villa – is, together with the nearby Residence (of more recent construction), one of the most refined luxury hotel establishments in Lugano.

There are a few internet cafes in town. As usual, try near the train station.
Free Wi-Fi connection can be found along the lakeside and in the University campus (Via Buffi, 13).

Lugano is as safe as most cities in Switzerland, but the density of expensive purses, watches, and sunglasses may make pickpockets more of a problem. The usual cautions apply to walking alone late at night, especially after bars and clubs close before dawn.

Important telephone numbers

• Police (Polizia) – Emergency only: 117
• Fire Department (Pompieri): 118
• City of Lugano Police: +41 58 866 82 50 (piazza Riforma), +41 58-8668111 (Via Beltramina 20B)
• Civic Hospital (Ospedale Civico): +41 91-8116111 (via Tesserete 46 )
• Emergency Ward (Pronto Soccorso), Civic Hospital: +41 91-8116006
• Ambulances (Ambulanze): 144
• Poisonings (Intossicazioni): 145
• Doctor and dentist on call: 1811
• Emergency Service - Street aid: 140
• Lost Property Office (Ufficio oggetti smarriti), City of Lugano Police, Via Beltramina 20b; Mon-Fri: 7:30AM - 12AM, 1:30PM-5PM; Phone: +41 58-8668250

In nearby Melide is an attraction which is very popular among the Swiss:

• Swissminiatur

  phone: +41 91 640 10 60
  address: Via Cantonale, Melide
  Switzerland in miniature as a theme park

• Bellinzona for castles nominated to the UNESCO World Heritage list
• Locarno
• Meride for Monte San Giorgio — another UNESCO World Heritage site, and the museum of fossiles
• Como
• Varese for its Sacro Monte — UNESCO World Heritage site
• Milan considered a leading global city, with strengths in the field of the art, commerce, education, entertainment, finance, healthcare, media, services, research and tourism, recognized as the world's fashion and the design capital
• Campione d'Italia, an Italian exclave just over the other side of the lake from Lugano