We are traveling to Italy in three weeks and spending first part of trip in Lake Como. When learning how close Lake Como is to Switzerland, some of my group are very interested in a day trip. I have figured out the logistics on public transportation. I have also tried to figure out if there are any complications from Covid restrictions going to Switzerland and then returning to Italy. It isn't totally clear to me. We are Americans all of whom have been vaccinated.
Posted by
Bay Area, California
1638 posts
Coming from the Italian side, you won't find Lugano to be that special. In fact, food is a lot more expensive on the Swiss side.
Posted by
San Francisco Bay Area (USA)
16133 posts
I’ve done such day trip from Menaggio to Lugano more than once but always by car. It’s a 45 min drive, but the bus takes a bit longer (about one hour).
https://www.asfautolinee.it/orari_pdf/estivo/C12.pdf
Lugano is nice and worth a day visit, it’s a very pretty city on a lake. However be prepared to shell out significantly more money for everything (including restaurant meals) compared to Menaggio. Prices of restaurants, in my experience (I was in Lugano last 3 years ago) are similar to San Francisco, therefore significantly higher than Italy.
Regarding Covid. The ASF website indicates that a mask is mandatory aboard the bus.
Entry into Switzerland from Italy via ground transportation is at the moment free without further requirements (such as proof of test or vaccination), however that can change any time, as we have learned in the past year.
Posted by
OP
2816 posts
We really weren’t planning on restaurant meals as we are confined to the bus schedule which really doesn’t allow for that. I was in Switzerland many years ago as part of a multi country tour my husband and I made. Switzerland was much more expensive than other places we visited.
Am I right in assuming that there is reciprocity between Italy and Switzerland? In other words, if Switzerland will let us in, Italy will allow us to return?
Posted by
Western Canada
3515 posts
We drove to Lugano from Menaggio a few years ago.
Quite honestly, it's an underwhelming town and very expensive.
We stayed an hour or so, and drove back!
Posted by
San Diego, California
5649 posts
I'm assuming you're not going thru Heathrow to get to Italy, right?
I also found Lugano underwhelming, so perhaps continue to enjoy the beauty of Lake Como.
Safe travels!
Posted by
Sacramento, California U.S.A.
10634 posts
I went from Mennagio to Lugano by bus. It was a nice day, but frankly if I this hadn’t been my second trip to Lake Como I would have regretted spending the day in Lugano instead of spending more time at Lake Como. How long will you be there?