Some trips are planned for months. Others simply happen, born from a single moment when you feel that you can't let the chance slip by. That's exactly how our Lake Lugano adventure came to life.
In late June we spent a few days at Lake Como, and although we hadn't planned any bigger detours, I kept stumbling on stunning photos and videos of Lugano. That extraordinary meeting of lake and mountains completely won me over — and from Como, where we were staying, this corner of Switzerland was just a short drive away. In the end we decided to dedicate one afternoon to discovering Lake Lugano.
We didn't know exactly what to expect, but we set off full of curiosity.
Crossing the Swiss border
From the very first moments, it was clear that Switzerland gives off a completely different energy than the Italy we had come to know just days earlier.
At Lake Como, I loved that easygoing, cheerful Italian atmosphere so many of us know simply as la dolce vita. The buzzing streets, the spontaneous conversations, the café terraces and the warmth of the people gave the trip a truly special feel. Switzerland, at least on this short visit, felt more orderly, calmer and more reserved.
We arrived in a car with foreign plates, so we expected to be checked at the border. It came as no surprise when we were pulled aside. Beyond the documents, they inspected the car more thoroughly too, even going carefully through the trunk. It was all done perfectly correctly and wasn't an unpleasant experience, but it's worth keeping in mind if you're driving into Switzerland with foreign plates.
In no time at all, I noticed how clean and well-developed the region is. The carefully maintained towns, the roads and the surroundings left a very positive first impression.
Chasing the best view: Monte San Salvatore
When we decided to drive over to Switzerland, Lake Lugano was the plan in a general sense — but in the end we deliberately picked a spot with a truly special panorama. That's how we ended up at Monte San Salvatore, one of Lugano's most famous viewpoints.
You reach the summit by funicular, which was an experience in itself. We had also taken a funicular at Lake Como a few days earlier, but Lugano's had a completely different feel. It seemed far more modern, though it lacked a little of that magical atmosphere I'd felt at Lake Como.
At the top, the view surpassed all our expectations. The blue mirror of Lake Lugano, the mountains rising all around it and the distant landscapes came together in a panorama that's hard to put into words.
We wandered around the viewpoint, took photos, and I simply felt happy to be there. Places like this always remind me how much even a short detour can add to a trip. If you're planning your own lakeside escape, it's worth carving out time for at least one proper viewpoint.
Is Switzerland expensive? We felt it right away
You often hear that Switzerland is one of the most expensive destinations in Europe, and we experienced that among our very first impressions.
A round-trip funicular ticket up Monte San Salvatore cost the two of us around $70, which is no small amount. It's also worth paying attention to parking: at first we didn't even notice the lot right by the funicular, so we pulled into the parking garage next to it — which, as it turned out when we paid, actually worked out to be the cheaper option.
Since I'm gluten-intolerant, I wanted to play it safe and brought a little gluten-free food along for the trip. In the end, I even snapped a photo of it against the gorgeous Swiss panorama, and it's become a fond memory — a practical little solution in a place where prices really are higher than what we're used to at home.
A tiny shop's lovely surprise
One of the best moments of the day caught us completely off guard.
Walking toward the funicular, we saw almost empty streets, so at first we assumed one of the little shops or cafés might not even be open. We looked in anyway, and were met with the warmest welcome.
The woman working there was incredibly helpful, and when I mentioned that I'm both gluten- and lactose-intolerant, she made me a smoothie with almond milk. It might sound like a small thing, but when you live with various food sensitivities, it means a great deal when someone treats you with that kind of care. The drink was delicious and unusual, too — and the price wasn't even out of line.
A little adventure without internet
As the afternoon wound down, we wanted to explore a bit more of the lakeside — and that's when a surprise hit us: we realized that our mobile data no longer worked in Switzerland the way it does within the European Union.
Wi-Fi wasn't easy to find either, so the journey back suddenly turned into much more of an adventure. In the end we still managed to take in plenty of the lake's beautiful stretches from the car, and we even got a little lost — but maybe that's exactly what made the whole excursion even more memorable.
We also got a taste of the locals' helpfulness, though I did notice the difference compared with Italy. On our Italian travels we almost always met remarkably open, friendly people, whereas in Switzerland the communication felt more reserved. Of course, you can't draw sweeping conclusions from a handful of encounters — everywhere you go, you meet different people.
A short visit, a lasting impression
Even though we spent only a few hours at Lake Lugano, it was enough to reveal Switzerland's very particular charm.
The breathtaking panorama and the harmony between the mountains and the lake gave us an experience that left me even more curious about the rest of this beautiful country. And Lake Lugano will always remind me that sometimes the most spontaneous decisions lead to the most beautiful adventures.
Is Lake Lugano worth visiting for just an afternoon?
Absolutely. Even a few hours were enough to take in the funicular ride, the mountaintop panorama and the lakeside atmosphere. A short detour can add a lot to a bigger trip.
How do you get to the best viewpoint over Lake Lugano?
We took the funicular up Monte San Salvatore, one of Lugano's most famous viewpoints. The ride itself is part of the experience, and the view from the summit is hard to describe in words.
Is Switzerland really that expensive?
In our experience, yes. The round-trip funicular ticket for two cost around $70, and prices in general were noticeably higher than we're used to. Packing a few of your own snacks can be a smart, practical move.
Does my mobile data work in Switzerland like in the EU?
Not necessarily. We found our mobile internet no longer worked the same way it does within the European Union, and Wi-Fi wasn't easy to find either, so it's worth preparing for that before you set off.
What should I keep in mind when driving into Switzerland with foreign plates?
Expect the possibility of a border check. We were pulled aside and had our documents and car inspected, including the trunk. It was handled correctly and wasn't unpleasant, but it's good to be ready for it.
