Switzerland · LUGANO TOURS
South of the Gotthard the palm trees start and the menus turn Italian. These 15 cover the lake boats, the Monte Brè and San Salvatore funiculars and the runs over to Como, priced and timed.
Spend three to five hours at Falconeria Locarno, where a one-hour bird-of-prey show runs at 11am and 3pm. Watch eagles, hawks, owls, and vultures fly close over the 600-seat tribune, then explore the green park, picnic areas, restaurant, and animal grounds.
“Very well organized, professional show, clean facilities, friendly staff. Always in Italian and German.Auto-translated”
Start in central Lugano at 10am with a guide, visit Piazza della Riforma, Santa Maria degli Angeli, and LAC, then ride the funicular to Monte San Salvatore. The three-hour outing ends at 1pm in Paradiso, with time to stay for lunch or a picnic.
“Meet inside the information center & know there are no restrooms in the office. Really enjoyed the tour. Got some history of Lugano & Switzerland before going on the funicular to get fantastic 360 views of the surrounding areas.”
Travel from your Milan hotel with a private guide, often Giorgio Ghidotti, to the Swiss mountain villages of Sonogno and Ascona. Walk to Cascata La Froda, cross Ponte dei Salti, and enjoy a flexible eight-hour day with round-trip vehicle transport.
“I loved this tour. The beauty of this area was simply magnificent. I enjoyed every moment of the natural beauty around us; as well as seeing the quaint stone-roof homes in the villages. I would love to go back and spend more time there!”
Spend about four hours with a private guide in Lugano and Morcote. Walk through Lugano’s old center, see remarkable church art, then ride by car to Morcote for lake views, historic churches, and optional Parco Scherrer. Giorgio is especially noted for his humor and local knowledge.
“Giorgio Ghidotti gave us a wonderful guided tour of Lugano, Morcote, and Parco Scherrer. He was very knowledgable of the area, explained the many things we saw in Lugano, and afterwards took us for a comfortable ride down to the extremely picturesque town of Morcote. This town was named one of the most beautiful in Switzerland in 2016. And the highlight of Morcote was visiting Parco Scherrer. Textile merchant and art amateur Hermann Arthur Scherrer purchased the house and a hectare of land on a hill in Morcote. Following years of work, the hillside and terraces were slowly covered in cypresses, camellias, camphor tress, eucalyptuses, cedars, palm trees and bamboo…”
Start at Lugano station and follow a puzzle trail toward the city center. You will hunt for a green chest, save knights, decode old characters, follow blood traces, and tackle hands-on posts. Expect steep walking, scenic viewpoints, and route changes that may affect the funicular and final puzzle.
“The Foxtrail was disappointing compared to other cities. Walk to the puzzles was ok, so were the puzzles themselves. But too expensive for what was offered. No public transport, only 2 items that need "maintenance". We like to do another Foxtrail but not in Lugano. There are other offers for less money. Too badAuto-translated”
Set out from Lugano’s tourist office at 10 a.m. with a multilingual guide for a moderate walk through Parco Ciani, Castagnola, and the Olive Trail to Gandria. Explore the car-free village, then return across Lake Lugano by boat at 1:55 p.m. Comfortable shoes are essential.
“This tour was great value. Our guide had exceptional knowledge on the area and its history, a tour well worth doing.”
Meet guide Violetta at Lugano’s Palazzo Civico for a private two-hour walk through the city’s old town, lakeside sights, churches, cultural center, and Ciani Park. Expect history, architecture, Swiss and Italian culture, photo stops, and practical tips for the rest of your stay.
“Violetta has excellent knowledge of the area and its history as well as good tips for the rest of your stay if you need them!”
Spend two hours with photographer Francesco and his assistant, combining a walking tour of Lugano with a relaxed photo session. You’ll visit Parco Ciani, the lakeshore, and LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura, with professional photos included. The private tour runs in English and depends on good weather.
“A day well spent with a fantastic photographer and guide. We toured along the lakeside as well as some really nice places inside the city. The photographer had a very keen eye for angles, frame and position. Overall an amazing experience”
Meet EPIC Canyon in Claro for a four-hour canyoning trip through Ticino’s clear pools, rock channels, jumps, slides, and waterfalls. Ivan and the certified guide team provide all technical gear, private transport, photos, and a homemade aperitif. Every obstacle is optional.
“This was one of the best things we did on our trip! Our guide was so encouraging and friendly, he made the bigger jumps and repels much easier. He was also very knowledgeable and thorough, so you never felt unsafe or like you didn’t have the information you needed.”
Start at 11 am in Lugano and explore its cathedral, Luini fresco, and LAC before taking the train to Bellinzona. Your private guide leads you to city hall, Castelgrande, and Montebello Castle. Train tickets and lunch cost extra, and moderate walking is required.
“If you have a day to spend in Lugano and Bellinzona, this day long tour is a must. Our guide was expert in history, art and social aspects of the area and was a great teacher. She was also just a very pleasant person which made the day a great joy for us”
Take on *The Duke of Marengo*, a phone-based escape game through Lugano’s old town, shops, parks, and waterfront. You’ll solve about a dozen clues as a team, with each player using the Sato Code App. Bring charged smartphones, mobile internet, and comfortable shoes.
“Sato Code is a definitely for me: that of spending time outdoors and around the city looking for clues and finding solutions. After Como I faced Lugano and we have no no intention of stopping! Experience recommended for everyone: groups of friends, families and more generally to anyone who wants to get involved! I'm sure you will be thrilled :)”
Start near Locarno at Piazza Stazione in Muralto, then use the Explorial app to find sights, answer questions, and complete photo challenges. This private, self-guided English tour takes about 1 to 2 hours, with no fixed finish time, so you can pause for food, photos, or a break.
“We had such a blast with this app on our day out! The self-guided tour was way better than a typical guided one because we could explore at our own pace and stop wherever we liked. Definitely a must-try!”
Spend about six hours with a private guide in Lugano, combining a city walking tour, lake boat ride, risotto lesson, and lunch at a grotto. Guides such as Patricia and Francesco add cultural and geographic context. Hotel pickup, activities, lunch, and alcoholic drinks are included.
“Patricia, our guide, provided a very nice walking tour of Lugano...then enjoyed a boat ride on and around a good portion of the lake before ending up at the Grotto for the Risotto making and lunch. We had an awesome time there...food and wine were terrific. Our guide even escorted us from the boat at the end to the Funicular for going up to the top of San Salvatore mountain for views around the entire lake and area. Great day overall!”
Walk Lugano privately with a local guide for about two hours, from Villa Ciani and Piazza Riforma to San Lorenzo Cathedral and Via Nassa. Hear about Celtic and Roman roots, Ticino’s political past, tourism, and banking, with possible route changes to match your interests.
“Our tour guide Steffia (sp?) was fantastic. She made the city’s past cone to life while explaining the current expertly. Her enthusiasm was second to none.”
Walk central Lugano with a private guide, starting on Via Nassa at 10:30 am. Expect lakefront views, the old fashion street, Luini’s 15th-century work, Ciani Park, San Lorenzo Cathedral, and practical tips about Lugano, Lake Como, and nearby places.
“My guide Giorgio provided me with great history of Lugano and the surrounding area. He is knowledgeable, friendly and engaging. A worthwhile experience and tour.”
Keep browsing
Pick a summit, a lake or a dairy.
