Lugano is the perfect city for winter lovers, as there’s plenty of activities to do during the cold season, going from events to sports.
Let’s see them together!
The best things to do in Lugano during winter
1. Enjoying ‘Città del Natale’
Firstly, living the Christmas period in Lugano would make you part of a truly magical experience!
The Christmas season starts with the lighting of the tree in Riforma Square on the 28th of November: after that, the old town becomes a stunning, colorful village, rich in entertainment, musical, and shopping activities up until Epiphany.
2. Joining the Carnival
Another unmissable thing to do in February is joining Lugano’s Ul Sbroja Carnival, which begins the week before Shrove Tuesday and spreads the Guggen music all over the old town and streets!
Yet, locals love joining also some of the other carnivals in Canton Ticino, so you should discover:
- The Carnival of Bellinzona: called Rabadan, which is the second biggest parade in Switzerland, where more than 150.000 people celebrate in streets and marquees;
- The “Stranociada” in Locarno: where you can enjoy a vibrant Friday night with the old town invaded by masks, Guggen, and music until the morning;
- The Nebiopoli Carnival of Chiasso: which offers a wonderful masked parade full of floats, groups, and bands.
3. Trying Winter Sports
What’s more, Lugano allows you to enjoy numerous nearby ski lifts: not by chance, Switzerland ranks fifth in the world’s most loved skiing destinations!
So, you should give a try to:
- Cross-country skiing: spending a day in one of Ticino’s itineraries to marvel at the mountains’ landscapes and slide on the slopes;
- Skiing and snowboard: enjoying one of the numerous skiing and snowboard activities near Lugano and then relaxing in one of the many wellness centers;
- Snowshoeing: admiring nature across a snowshoe itinerary, as Bosco Gurin, Cardada or the ski resorts in Campo Blenio;
- Sledge track: having the time of your life with sledges and discovering enchanting panoramic views, as the track for sledges of Bosco Gurin or the winter sports’ area in Nara.
4. Visiting Cornèr Arena – Resega Ice Rink
If you are a winter sports’ fan, you should absolutely visit Cornèr Arena to attend an ice hockey match, one of the most loved sports in Switzerland!
Then, you can also try a unique ice-skating experience, accessing the rink on specific days and times to skate with or without sticks, even by renting the equipment on the spot.
5. Hiking at Monte San Salvatore
And finally, a few steps away from Lugano, rises Monte San Salvatore, where you can enjoy:
- The Museum San Salvatore, which hosts a collection of rare religious art and the region’s minerals, fossils, and speleology exhibition;
- The cable railway, which runs all year round and offers exciting trips every 30 minutes;
- A lunch at Ristorante Vetta, marveling at a beautiful panoramic terrace and tasting the Mediterranean cuisine, or joining one of its special events;
- Excursions: walking down on foot, you can admire mountain slopes and uncontaminated areas.
From the magical Christmas atmosphere to sporting adventures in the snow, Lugano is a winter destination that has something for every kind of traveller. However, before embarking on this adventure, it is important to consider all aspects of life in this city. If you are interested in learning more, we recommend that you explore the pros and cons of living in Lugano, so that you can make an informed decision and prepare yourself for your experience in Lugano.
