Lake Lugano in Ticino, Switzerland

Welcome to the Lake Lugano (Lago Di Lugano or Ceresio) travel information and tourist guide for visitors travelling to one of the most beautiful regions of Southern Switzerland.

Lake Lugano is nestled between Lake Maggiore and Lake Como and lies partly in Switzerland and partly in Italy. It's footprint straddles the Swiss-Italian border with 67% of its surface area falling within the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, and 33% of it in the Lombardy Region of Northern Italy.

Although the smallest of the three lakes, Lake Lugano lacks for nothing in beauty, character or charm and its Mediterranean type climate ensures it remains popular all year round with visitors from around the world. Lake Lugano is unique in the sense that when viewed from above its shape takes on the form of a river that twists and turns its way through the Ticino (French - Tessin) landscape. This is emphasised by the fact that even at its widest point the lake only manages to span a maximum distance of around 3km from shore to shore. But these characteristics and the myriad of picturesque Venetian-style villages found clinging to its rugged shoreline are some of the very things that make Lake Lugano the popular tourist destination that it is today.

Lake Lugno's waters and mountainous backdrop make the region a haven for watersports, hiking, trekking, mountain-biking, horse-riding, sailing, golfing and various other outdoor pursuits. While the towns and villages around the lake like Gandria, Morcote, Carona, Porlezza, Melide, San Mamete and Campione d'Italia offer visitors a world of history and culture with their medieval churches, art galleries, museums and sub-tropical parks and gardens.

Then there is the vibrant city of Lugano on the lake's sunny north shore. This vibrant city offers visitors an array of entertainments and culture, fine hotels, an abundance of restaurants and bars plus the famous via Nassa shopping district which boasts of row upon row of designer boutiques and department stores.

Lake Lugano is also conveniently located so as to allow easy access to some of the most popular sightseeing destinations in and around the Lombardy and Ticino regions. For example, the fashionable streets of Milan are only 50km to the South, Lake Como and Lake Maggiore only a short drive away and Bellinzona (Ticino's Capital City), St Moritz and Venice are all within reach.

This guide to Lake Lugano has been put together to give visitors all the information they might need in order to make their holiday a more enjoyable one. This includes information on how to travel there, ideas for sightseeing trips, Lake Lugano excursions, walking trails, resort guides, the best camping grounds around the lake and details of restaurants, bars and hotels in the area. Please enjoy reading this guide and we hope it makes your stay more enjoyable.

Lake Lugano Facts

• Population of Lugano City - 53,000
• Location - Ticino Canton, Switzerland
• Surface Area of Lake Lugano - 49 sq Km
• Language - Italian
• Depth of Lake Lugano - 945 ft (288 m) at its deepest point
• Official Currency - Euro and Swiss Franc
• Height of Monte Bre - 925 m
• Height of Monte San Salvatore - 912 m
• Height of Monte Generoso - 1,701 m