Switzerland Travel Destinations
Lugano and the Italian region of Switzerland
The sun-splashed Italian-speaking region of Switzerland is known as Ticino. This is where the Alps meet the Mediterranean. Ticino doesn't have the huge mountains that you'll find in other parts of Switzerland, but offers up beautiful lakes, forested hills, and a perfect, sunny reason to slow down and relax for a day or two, much like the lake Como region of Italy. My favorite town in Ticino is Lugano. Lugano is actually a small city of about 50,000 - similar in size to Lucerne - and counts as one of Switzerland's prettiest cities. 
Lugano boasts a pedestrian-only downtown core, filled with piazzas and cafes, and a beautiful palm-tree lined lakefront. It's great for shopping, people-watching, swimming in the lake and short excursions to nearby sights.
Ascona and Locarno are two other villages that have earned a name, but in my opinion they aren't even close. Lugano has an authenticity that the others lack. It's a real city, and a classy one at that, with a very walkable downtown that is both easy and a joy to navigate, and a low altitude and sunny climate that invites you to lounge outside. Stop in at the shops, sit down to a cafe, walk to a park along the lake, or even take a boat ride into Italy. Lugano is a great place to slow down and and soak in the atmosphere.
Visit the Lugano tourist office site for more ideas on hotels and activities in Lugano.
Lugano is quick and easy to get to from Zurich or Lucerne, but is a little out of the way for other destinations in Switzerland. I like it a lot, but if you're rushed for time, I would definitely go to the mountains of Zermatt and Murren and the city of Lucerne first. It's definitely worth a day or two on a longer trip, and adds some spice to your trip, being very different from the German-speaking areas that will dominate your travels in Switzerland. Of course, if you'd like to stay longer, you could easily fill 4 or 5 days in the region. Here are some of my suggestions for a stay in Lugano:
- Mountaintop views - Lugano has 2 nearby mountains with funicular trains that will take you to views from the top, San Salvatore to the south and Monte Bre to the east. I like Monte Bre, not only for the sweeping views of Lugano and the lake, but also for the charming, cobblestoned village of Bre near the top. Bre village is about a 30 minute walk from the top, and its narrow alleys and medieval feel will take you back centuries.
- Lake rides - There are numerous boats plying the waters of Lake Lugano, and a short trip to the nearby village of Gandria makes a pleasant outing. Gandria is a tiny fishing village tucked along the shore. There are a couple of restaurants in town and a lakefront walking path that leads back to Lugano in a couple of hours. If you feel like a walk, this is a great one, although the southern exposure can make it a hot outing at times!
- Shopping and cafes - You can’t miss the main pedestrian heart of Lugano.
 The area between the train station, the Civic Park, and the lake is filled with piazzas, cafes, alleyways, shops, outdoor restaurants and street vendors. The ambiance is very nice, and my favorite hours in Lugano are actually spent just wandering this area window shopping, stopping for a coffee or limonata at a cafe, and people watching... Throw in a good book and half a day goes by. Follow your fancy, there are many interesting shops, and don’t worry about getting lost (Lugano’s not that big).
- Visit Lake Como - You're so close, why not visit Italy's famous lakes district? Lake Como is just a short drive or bus ride away and the towns of Bellagio and Varenna are short ferry rides across the lake. You can spend an atmospheric afternoon of wine-tasting, gardens, and beautiful views. Don't forget to take Euros for the trip!
- Val Verzasca - This trip is really only feasible with a car.
North of Locarno, the twin valleys Maggia and Verzasca are steep, dramatic and beautiful. Heavily wooded, and dotted with picturesque villages, stone houses, waterfalls, and abandoned alp farms - they both make great daytrips. I like Val Verzasca for its picturesque Roman bridge and nearby hamlet at Lavertezzo (see picture), as well as the small art community at Sonogno at the end of the valley. There are many walking possibilities too - the posted trail from Lavertezzo to Forno and Agro is one option with many inviting swimming holes. If you continue all the way to Sonogno, there probably won’t be much time for hiking, but the atmospheric drive is memorable.
- Alprose chocolate factory - In the nearby town of Caslano, the Alprose chocolate factory offers an inside look at their production lines. It's not one of the better known chocolate companies, but if you want to see a tour, this is perhaps your best chance. The tastings are kind of skimpy, but the production lines are fun to see in action. Go on a weekday to see them at work.
For a 1 or 2 day trip to Lugano, I'd stick to town, checking out the cafes and shops, walking along the lake, and perhaps either a trip to Gandria by boat or to Bre by funicular train. If you have a car and a bit more time, Varenna on Lake Como is very nice, as is the Val Verzasca trip.
If you're traveling to both Lugano and Pontresina the Bernina Express is a scenic way to travel between the two and takes a little over 6 hours to get between Lugano and Pontresina. It starts with a bus ride from Lugano to Tirano, Italy, followed by a panoramic train ride back into Switzerland to Pontresina, St. Moritz or Chur. You'll need reservations, which you can make through Raileurope either when you get your railpass or separately.
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