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Lugano Journals

24 hours in Paradise

Best of IgoUgo

An October 2000 trip to Lugano by Linda Kaye

View from Mount San Salvatore Photo - Mount San Salvatore, Lugano, Switzerland More Photos
Quote: Lugano, Switzerland, an unexpected gem tucked away in the Swiss Alps, surrounded by a menadering deep blue lake peppered with Venetian-type villages along its banks, has the rich flavor of Italy. Words and pictures cannot describe its beauty.
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24 hours in Paradise Best of IgoUgo

Overview

Lugano, Switzerland Photo - Lugano, Switzerland
Quote:
Ride up Mount San Salvatore on a funicolare (cog-wheel incline train) for a 360-degree view of Lugano and the surrounding areas. Stroll along the lake promenade with its beautiful gardens and water fountains. Take a boat tour of the lake while listening to big-band” hits playing on the loud speaker interrupted occasionally for a recorded mini-tour of the small Venetian-type villages. Quick Tips: We regret that we did not ask about the “Swiss Pass” earlier in our trip, because it offers 50% off certain attraction fees and transportation. Ask for a discount on tours if you have a Eurail Pass; you will be surprised at what you can save on various attractions. The best way to find the “insid...Read More

Hotel Federale Lugano Best of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel Federale"

Quote:
Our plans, originally, were to stop in Venice for a couple of days on our way back to Zurich for our return flight home after visiting Treaste, Italy. However, when we arrived in Venice, it was raining and not very pleasant. Since we had Eurail Pass train tickets, we were able to choose another destination on the spur of the moment. That destination was the beautiful Italian town of Lugano just across the Switzerland border. We arrived after dark but quickly spotted a hotel sign near the train station. The Hotel Federale was full, but the desk clerk said she had one room, if we were willing to use the toilet facilities down the hall and shower downstairs in the exercise sauna. The price...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 13, 2000

Hotel Federale Lugano
Via Paolo Regazzoni 8
Lugano, Switzerland 6903
41-91-910-0808

The Spaghetti Store Best of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Quote:
After a wonderful day of mountain and boat tours, we were ready for a delicious, authentic Italian meal. While walking earlier on the promenade, we noticed a restaurant that appeared to be very popular, with locals filling the tables inside and out. Since it had a wonderful view of Lake Lugano it seemed the perfect spot for our last evening in Switzerland. We arrived at "The Spaghetti Store" at about dusk. The day had turned cool so we had to sit inside, but were fortunate to be seated at a large window. The menu had so many choices, none of which I could even read, so I asked the waiter for his recommendation. Obviously, we ordered spaghetti and Chianti. The food was good, but the...Read More

Member Rating 3 out of 5 on November 28, 2000

The Spaghetti Store
On the Promenade
Lugano, Switzerland

Mount San Salvatore Best of IgoUgo

Attraction

View from Mount San Salvatore Photo - Mount San Salvatore, Lugano, Switzerland
Quote:
Following breakfast, we stopped at the front desk and told the English-speaking desk clerk that we only had 24 hours to spend in Lugano and asked what she would recommend. She suggested a trip to the top of Mount San Salvatore and gave us good directions to get there. We quickly discovered that everything in Lugano, built in the midst of the Swiss Alps, is either uphill or downhill, and a source of some great exercise. The ride up Mount San Salvatore was spectacular. The funicolare (cog-wheel incline train, cost $10.14 USD per person) took 12 minutes to reach the top, with departures every half hour. The 360-degree view of Lugano and the surrounding areas was breathtaking. Dark clouds move...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 13, 2000

Mount San Salvatore
Casella Postale 442
Lugano, Switzerland

Church on the Hill Photo - Grande Giro Del Lago (Grand Scenic Cruise), Lugano, Switzerland
Quote:
Another recommendation by our Hotel Clerk was a 3-hour boat tour of Lake Lugano and gave us a 50% off certificate for the boat tour. By the time we arrived at the boat to purchase our tickets ($10.36UDS each) it was raining. But that would not deter us from this adventure. While the other passengers were sitting inside, viewing the sites through rain drenched windows, we found a spot on the deck with a wide overhang that protected us from the rain, pulled up two chairs and enjoyed the scenery. Beautiful 'big-band' hits were playing on the loud speaker interrupted occasionally for a recorded mini-tour of the small Venetian-type towns we were passing given in four languages, Italian, French, Ger...Read More

Member Rating 4 out of 5 on November 13, 2000

Grande Giro Del Lago (Grand Scenic Cruise)
Imbarcadero Giardino
Lugano, Switzerland

Around the Town Best of IgoUgo

Story/Tip

Quote:
Walking in Lugano is an experience of sites, sounds and wonderful aromas. I use the term "walking" but actually we were "lost" trying to find a money exchange as we needed to have a few Swiss Francs on the train ride back to Zurich. The streets meandered through beautiful piazzas, past sidewalk cafes, shops and specialty stores, candy shops, and open air food markets. No one in Lugano appeared to be in a hurry. It was mid-day on a weekday and there were so many people shopping, enjoying coffee and people watching. We enjoyed the beautiful architecture and unique old buildings. In the area we were in, there were not many streets that allowed vehicles, everyone was on foot. No—we never found th...Read More

About the Writer

Linda Kaye

Linda Kaye
San Antonio, Texas

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