Villas in Lugano
Lugano suits a villa stay with city life on the doorstep: lakefront, arcaded old town, boats to lake villages and two local mountains. The lake reaches into Italy, so border trips are easy, and around half the homes have a private pool.
- Villas
- 25
- From, per week
- £341
About Lugano
Lugano is a small but international city on Lake Lugano, in the canton of Ticino in the south of Switzerland. Its historic centre has cafés around Piazza della Riforma, the long arcades of Via Nassa and the lakeside Parco Ciani, and the LAC arts centre and the MASI art museum are in town. Monte Brè and Monte San Salvatore both give wide views. The homes are spread across the area around the city, not in a single quarter, and most have a garden. Around half have a private pool, and many have air conditioning. For an evening out, the local tip is dinner at a grotto, some of them on the lake shore.
Is Lugano right for you?
- Best for
- City, lake and mountain stays with a pool option
- Not for you if
- You want a quiet beach village, since Lugano is a working city on a lake rather than a resort.
Near Lugano
Monte Brè
Funicular from Cassarate, about 15 minutes up to a summit of 933 metres with views of the lake, the Alps and Monte Rosa.
Gandria
Lakeside fishing village reached by boat from Lugano, or on a hike of around two and a half hours from Monte Brè.
Melide
Home of the Swissminiatur model park, a small Switzerland in miniature, and one of the lake's lidos.
Montagnola
Home of the Hermann Hesse Museum, around 20 minutes from Lugano.
Morcote
Lake village that boat trips from Lugano call at.
Getting to Lugano
Zurich airport is about 215 km away, around two and a half hours by car, and hourly trains run from Zurich to Lugano. The Ticino Ticket gives free public transport in and around Lugano, so ask your host whether your stay qualifies before deciding on a car.
When to go to Lugano
The Monte Brè funicular runs from March through December, so a stay in January or February loses that ride. Lugano's own festivals include Estivaljazz, played under the stars in Piazza della Riforma, the Lugano Buskers Festival and the LongLake Festival; check this year's dates before you book.
Villas in Lugano
4-star property
Apt. City Stay Lugano
Lugano, Ticino, Switzerland
4
2
0
ParkingDishwasherWashing Machine+4 more
from£155
per nightLugano villa holidays: questions answered
Can you swim in Lake Lugano?
Yes. There are about fifty bathing establishments along the Swiss shore, with lidos at Lugano, Bissone, Castagnola and Melide. The lake has a long history of pollution, so swim at the lidos rather than from any stretch of shore.
How do you reach Monte Brè from Lugano?
By funicular from Cassarate. The ride takes about 15 minutes to a summit of 933 metres, and it runs from March through December.
Is Lugano close to Italy?
Yes. Lake Lugano extends into Italy, with more than a third of it Italian, and the Italian exclave of Campione d'Italia sits on its shore.
Is there free public transport in Lugano?
With the Ticino Ticket, yes: it covers public transport in and around Lugano free of charge. Ask your host whether your stay qualifies before you arrive.
Is Lugano a good base without a car?
For the city, the lake boats and the funicular, it works well, and the Ticino Ticket covers local transport. A car helps for homes outside the centre.
Nearby towns to Lugano
Written by the TrustedVillas team. Last reviewed October 2026.
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