Relaxing at lake Lugano

Are you looking for a top spot to enjoy Lake Lugano and its surroundings? Then I have some great tips for you. From a nice place to stay to things to do in the area. For those who do not know; Lake lugano is a large lake in Switzerland but is right at the Italian border. Some parts are actually in Italy. There are more lakes in the area too, like lake maggiore and como lake.

Chalet on Lake Lugano

To start with, a top place to stay. We were invited by Sanne from Holiday Lake Lugano, who has a beautiful chalet right on the lake. The chalet is at Camping International. This is not your standard campsite with tents and caravans. It is a campsite with all small chalets. It is divided into little streets. Our chalet was on Monaco 2 and that is also the name of the chalet.

Perfect location

The chalet is not very big, but it is fully equipped. Think of it as a kind of very luxurious camping. When you enter, the first thing you see is a large veranda. This has tarpaulins around it so you can sit there in either good or bad weather. The veranda has a large sofa, chairs and is nicely decorated. Even better, the veranda overlooks the lake. It is a lovely place to relax after a long day on the road.

The location of the chalet is fantastic. We were there in the off season, so it was definitely not warm enough to sit on the beach, but if you are there in the summer, a splash in the water is never far away. And check out the sunset below! (no filter!!)

Of course, there is never a guarantee that you will see this kind of sunset every day but with or without it, it is the ultimate place to relax with a glass of wine and contemplate life. Dolce vita!

In summer you can swim here and the chalet has extra garden chairs and the like for when the weather gets warm enough. In the high season you’ll also find a swimming pool, shop and ice-cream parlour on the campsite. The chalet is also fully equipped; you will find a kitchen with everything you need. There is air conditioning for both cooling and heating, a dining table where you can play a game or have dinner in the evening.

There are two bedrooms. One with a double bed and one with bunk beds. So you can sleep four people in total. The bedrooms are not very big, but very practical. Check prices and availability here.

Porlezza

The campsite is located near the village of Porlezza (Italy). Porlezza is not big but very cosy with a nice centre, promenade and lots of restaurants and bars to enjoy at night or during the day. We tried a few, of course.

Bistro Luratti

My favorite place in Porlezza (of the ones we tried!) is Bistro Luratti. This little bistro is a bit more ‘upmarket’ than the other restaurant we tried in town and very tasty. It was also very dark, making photography quite a challenge, but trust me, it is a cosy bistro with good food.

The other restaurant we tried was Sapori in the centre. A classic Italian restaurant that attracts mostly locals. Always a good sign if you ask me. The place was shockingly full at lunchtime. I had an insanely delicious burrata with ham. The small downside was Laura’s sea bass, which didn’t seem so very fresh. So I had delicious dishes, Laura was a little less enthusiastic. But definitely worth a visit.

Lugano

If you are at Lake Lugano, then a visit to Lugano itself is a must. Lugano is in Switzerland, in case you didn’t know. You will find yourself on the border between Switzerland and Italy, so if you do a lap around the lake, you will be changing countries all the time. Apart from the border posts, you don’t really notice anything. Except that you suddenly have to pay in Swiss francs (CHF). Which we found rather expensive, but it depends on what you do.

Funicolar

A must – on a clear day – is to go up to monte san salvatore on the funicolar. Not cheap at CHF 32 per person, but we thought it was worth it. There is also a restaurant at the top where you can enjoy the view over a cup of coffee. There are also several walks you can do from the top. Expect a bit of climbing though!

Strolling through the city

But my favourite thing to do is to just walk around the city. Lugano is a beautiful city and you can walk around the lake, go shopping (if you have a full wallet) or just wander around.

Swing the world

You might have seen them on Instagram. These swings are perched on high points with insanely beautiful views. When you’re on the swing, it feels like you’re hovering over an abyss. Well, in Morcote – not too far from Porlezza – there is such a swing and of course Laura and I had to try it out.

Morcote itself is a nice village to walk around and the swing is just fun. Nice view and looks just like the real thing, right? Be prepared to climb quite a bit though as the swing is high up. There is only ground beneath your feet, but the vantage point makes it look like you are hovering over an abyss. It made Laura, who has a fear of heights, a bit wobbly. Good to know if you are also afraid of heights.

Como

Como is on Lake Como. There are many other lakes nearby. You might think that Lugano’s is the only one, but that’s not the case. Getting to Como by car is about an hour’s drive through the mountains. The distances around the lake aren’t that far, but because you’re going through the mountains and taking hairpin bends, it’s not as fast as the motorway. But the views are breathtaking, so definitely no punishment!

And the roads are easy to drive on, so no reason not to go. We did not like Como as much. Maybe because it seemed very busy at the time we were there. Or maybe we just didn’t explore the town very well. But you can always go and visit yourself and see what the fuss is all about.

Practical information

You can get to Porlezza by car or by plane. It’s about 1,000 kilometres away by car from the Netherlands. If you have more time, it’s quite doable. For a week we decided to go by plane. The closest airport is Milan Malpensa. You can find reasonably priced tickets here through Easyjet.

You can rent a car in Milan. A car is highly recommended.

The chalet can be rented from April to October, but bear in mind the different weather conditions in autumn. The veranda is not heated, so if it’s really cold outside you won’t be able to sit there. The cottage itself has heating.

The opening hours of the campsite reception depend on the season. In high season they are open until 20.00, but in low season they close at 6.00. You’ll need to collect your chalet key there, so it’s worth bearing this in mind!

Bed linen and towels can be brought or hired from the campsite. We hired them and it was perfectly fine. The towels are quite small though, so if you like a big towel bring your own.