Things to see and do Lugano

The region of Lake Lugano is rich in discovery. The tourist office will guide you in your visits and for practical information. The region is ideal for a variety of experiences. Don't miss wine tasting, mountain biking or discovering the rich cultural heritage of old villages and museums. If you stay in the Lugano area, the Holiday Card issued by the hotel will allow you to get discounts on activities.

The relatively new Lugano Cultural Center - LAC is dedicated to the visual and performing arts, as well as to music. Facing the lake, in a highly contemporary architectural style that cannot be missed (volume of 180,000^m3), the complex is spread over three floors and boasts a huge hall, an avant-garde auditorium and a museum space. It is home to the Museo d'Arte della Svizzera Italiana, which focuses on modern and contemporary art.

This is a new museum born from the merger of the Museum of Modern Art of Lugano and the Cantonal Museum of Art of the city. Part of the museum is on the new site of the LAC - Lugano Arte Cultura. It houses the permanent collection (free of charge) which includes notable works by artists. But also temporary exhibitions enlighten visitors about international modernist and contemporary artists. The other part of the museum is housed in the Palazzo Reali.

Considered one of the most beautiful gardens in the country, this 6-hectare park, the green lung of Lugano on the shores of the lake, is one of the most amazing places in the gulf, with English lawns, palm trees, magnolias and camellias, flower beds and statues. It is home to the historic Villa Ciani, the Palazzo dei Congressi, the pier and the cantonal library. Walking in the park you can enjoy a beautiful view of Lugano and the surrounding mountains: Mount Bre, Mount San Salvatore, but also the town of Campione d'Italia.

Huge park (21,000^m2) with many activities: games for children, fenced area with animals, paths to the Enderlin Tower, named after the family of the former owner of the park. The Tassino park also offers a magnificent panoramic view. Thanks to its sunny position, the flora is particularly abundant: roses, magnolias, wisteria... In summer, people come here to settle down and take advantage of the sun to take a break. The plus: if you travel with your pet, the park has a fenced area reserved for dogs.

Opened in 1989, this museum permanently exhibits the famous Brignoni-Aramis donation. Serge Brignoni (1903-2002) was a Swiss Italian artist - painter and sculptor - who decided in 1985 to bequeath his collection to the city of Lugano. Since then, supplemented by other donations, inside this museum we discover a rich collection of objects of ethnological, historical and artistic interest from Oceania (Melanesia, Polynesia), Indonesia (Kalimatam, Bali...) and Africa (Ibo, Senufo...). Regular temporary exhibitions.

The first and only Ticino museum for children, it is also the first external branch of the Musée en herbe de Paris. It offers educational and interactive exhibitions related to the world of art. The whole museography is based on humour and play, which is ideal for getting children interested without them getting bored. There are many workshops proposed either for children alone or in duo with an adult. A nice moment of sharing in anticipation! Count between two and four hours to go around without hurrying.

In the vicinity of Lugano, 5 km to the north-east, on the Italian border, you won't miss the small village of Gandria. It is one of the most beautiful villages on the lake and in the canton of Ticino. At the foot of Mount Bré, this picturesque village offers its most beautiful view, like many, from the lake. To visit the village, there is nothing better than getting lost in the narrow streets on foot and admiring the old olive oil press, for example. Two walks are proposed by the tourist office: the "sentier de Gandria" in 1h30 or the "Cantine di Gandria" in 2 hours, ideal in summer