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May to October is the best time. Summers are warm and humid, and the lake is good for swimming. September is the pleasant peak, with warm days and fewer crowds. Winters are mild but can be grey. Spring brings flowers and fresh green hills. Rain can be heavy in spring and autumn.

• Cattedrale di San Lorenzo is the cathedral above the old centre. It has a Renaissance front.
• Chiesa di Santa Maria degli Angioli holds a large fresco of the Passion by Bernardino Luini, from 1529.
• Parco Civico Villa Ciani is a lakeside park with a beach area and old trees.
• Piazza dell'Indipendenza is the main square of the old town. Cafés and arcades surround it.
• LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura is the arts centre on the lake, with a museum and a concert hall.
• Monte San Salvatore is a mountain you can reach by funicular from Paradiso. The top has views over the lake and the Alps.
• Monte Bre is a smaller peak reached by funicular from Cassarate. A village of artists lies near the top.
• Lago di Lugano is the lake that gives the city its beauty. Boats leave from the centre.

• Take a lake boat to Gandria, a village built on a steep shore.
• Walk or cycle along the lake in Parco Civico Villa Ciani.
• See the grave of the writer Hermann Hesse, who lived in a village near Lugano.
• Visit Swissminiatur in Melide, a park with models of Swiss buildings.
• Swim at the lido or in the lake in summer.
• Hike along the ridge paths on Monte Brè.

• Locarno is a town on Lake Maggiore with the Piazza Grande. It is about 40 minutes away by train and bus.
• Ascona is a pretty lake village next to Locarno.
• Bellinzona has three medieval castles that are a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is about 30 minutes away by train.
• Milan is about 1.5 hours away by train, and Como in Italy is also close.

• Locarno, Ascona and Bellinzona are the other main towns of Ticino.

• By air: Lugano has a small airport with a few flights. Most visitors fly to Zurich or Milan and take the train.
• By train: Trains run from Zurich in about 2 hours through the Gotthard Base Tunnel. Milan is about 1.5 hours away. Check times on SBB.
• The station is on a hill above the centre. A short funicular goes down to the lake.

• The old centre and lake promenade are easy to walk.
• Buses cover the rest of the city. Buy tickets at machines before you ride.
• Hotel guests in Ticino get a free public transport card. Ask at check-in.
• Boats cross the lake to small villages, including Gandria and Morcote.
• Funiculars go to Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore.

• A car is not needed for the city. Parking is limited and costly.
• A car can help for the mountains and villages around the lake. Mountain roads are narrow and winding.
• Traffic can be heavy on summer weekends and on the motorway toward Italy.

The food is Italian-Swiss. Try risotto, polenta and local salami. Merlot wine from Ticino is the local red wine. Look for grotti, which are traditional stone taverns in the woods that serve simple meals outside.

Cafés in the centre are a place for a slow coffee. Prices are high compared with northern Italy.

• Lugano is very safe.
• Watch your bags on crowded boats and in the centre in summer.
• Tap water is safe to drink.
• Summer can be hot and humid. Drink water and use sun protection on the lake.

Lugano was long part of the Duchy of Milan. In 1512 it became part of the Swiss Confederation, and in 1803 it joined the new canton of Ticino. The city grew as a centre of trade and finance.

In the 20th century writers and artists, including Hermann Hesse in nearby Montagnola, made the area known.

Quick practical facts for Switzerland at a glance: