My wife and I will be staying in Menaggio on Lake Como for 5 days with a car and thought we'd take a day to drive to Lugano to explore the area since it's close and I've never been to Switzerland. Our lodging in Menaggio is already set so no overnights in Switzerland. I've read some negative reviews about Lugano being boring and we don't want to just drive there for a view of the lake.
If not Lugano, are there any other recommendations for a day trip to Switzerland that's not too far? - We don't want to spend all our day driving.
Posted by
San Diego, California
6489 posts
When is this trip?
You may want to check if you can drive your rental car across the border, and if you'll need a Swiss vignette. Personally, I don't think Lugano is worth the effort, IMHO.
Hopefully you have read about the ferry/ ticket lines here and plan accordingly to decrease stressful situations in this beautiful area. We were there May 2025 and found the crowding very sad.
We were dismayed by the crowds in Varenna and Bellagio. I believe your area will be much less crowded.
Have a great trip!
Posted by
Citizen of the World
3068 posts
If visiting Menaggio and other small Italian towns on Lake Como, Lugano— other than its size with a population of 60K—- is not going to be much of a contrast with the lakeside towns in Italy. Lugano is the largest Italian-speaking city outside of Italy, with Italian cuisine and architecture—so not a lot to make you feel that you’re in Switzerland.