City in Ticino, Switzerland
Lugano for solo travelers
Is Lugano good for solo travel?
Italian-speaking lakeside city with palm-lined promenades, piazzas and funiculars up to mountain views. Warmer and a little cheaper than northern Switzerland, but sleepy off-season and still costly.
Solo travel at a glance
| Solo travel | 4/5 · Very good for solo travel |
|---|---|
| Locals | Polite but reserved |
| English | Common in tourist areas |
| Safety | 5/5 · Very safe |
| Solo women | Comfortable alone, including at night. |
How to meet people in Lugano
Hostels and lakeside terraces; Italian-speaking locals warm up over aperitivo. Meetup events and hiking groups exist but are smaller than in Zurich.
Good things to do alone
- Hike Monte Brè or take the funicular
- Walk the lakeside to Gandria
- Take a boat to Morcote
- Aperitivo on Piazza della Riforma
- Swim at Lido di Lugano
Where to stay in Lugano
| Area | Good for |
|---|---|
| Centro and Piazza della Riforma | Walkable center with cafés, shops and lake access |
| Paradiso | Lakefront hotels, funicular to San Salvatore; quieter |
| Cassarate | Residential, near Lido and Monte Brè funicular |
Solo travel across Switzerland
| Place | Solo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Zurich | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Geneva | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lucerne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Interlaken | 4/5 | Spoken almost everywhere |
| Basel | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lausanne | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Lugano | 4/5 | Common in tourist areas |
| Grindelwald | 4/5 | Widely spoken |
| Zermatt | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Bern | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| St. Moritz | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
| Montreux | 3/5 | Widely spoken |
Quick answers
Is Lugano good for solo travelers?
Very good for solo travel (4/5). Italian-speaking lakeside city with palm-lined promenades, piazzas and funiculars up to mountain views.
How do you meet people in Lugano?
Hostels and lakeside terraces; Italian-speaking locals warm up over aperitivo. Meetup events and hiking groups exist but are smaller than in Zurich. On SoloSquare you can also join small plans with other travelers who are there now.
Do people speak English in Lugano?
Common in tourist areas.
Is Lugano safe for solo female travelers?
Comfortable alone, including at night.
More about Lugano
Going to Lugano solo?
SoloSquare is where travelers, nomads and locals in Lugano meet up for small plans: coffee, dinners, walks and day trips. Join one, or start your own in a minute.
Sources
Ratings are SoloSquare's editorial judgment. Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.