neckervd Thanks for the list! While I'm disappointed I won't get to hike around Luzern, I am excited about the prospect of hiking above Lugano. The first one you listed, I think is this one?
https://www.myswitzerland.com/en-us/...il-to-morcote/

Looking at Friday's forecast for the entire country, it looks like everywhere has a 90-100% chance of precipitation. If the weather forecast stays the same, I might take a train to Basel and visit the Kunstmuseum for the morning. Basel is one of the bigger cities in Switzerland that I have never been.

yk - I've not walked that path, but Morcote is gorgeous - you can spend a couple of hours there just wandering - fabulous lake views and a gorgeous cemetery.

Not sure why my post jumped ahead of yours yk, as you posted first! Weird.

Wow, thanks! that is beautiful! One amazing thing about Switzerland is there is no shortage of beautiful scenery! I have passed through Morcote on ferry before (we went to Ponte Tresa just for the fun of it) but have not stopped there.

Of the mentioned hikes, probably Monte San Salvatore - Carona - Morcote is the most scenic and the one I would also choose. The SDP does not cover the boats of lake Lugano, but gives a 50% discount. Exiting Carona, pass through the botanical garden "Parco San Grato" as it will be full in flower! At Alpe Vicania there is a "rural-chic" restaurant, where you can eat, but probably it will be crowded on that day.

The description you found is the right one: here the "original" map from the hinking portal Switzerland Mobility (where they let you also climb the mount San Salvatore by feet and not by funicular) Trans Swiss Trail – Stage 31, Lugano (Paradiso) – Morcote | SwitzerlandMobility

To reach the funicular start in Paradiso, at the Lugano train station just change trains (instead to take slower buses). The funicular is not covered by the SDP.

Thanks for the other link! I will need to stop at Lugano station anyway to stow my suitcase first, before hopping on the next train to Paradiso station. I am looking at SBB website for the SDP validity, and it shows free ferry travel on Lake Lugano from Morcote? Unless I am reading it wrong?


Saver Day Pass validity map for Lugano environs

Mmmh..., you are apparently right, but the thing is tricky. To ease the congested traffic in the Lugano area, the transport system includes some boat transfers especially at rush hours. Information is not clear, even in Italian. If you zoom more in the validity area map, you will see other grey lines for boat trips that are not covered by the SDP.

The boat company states that "Holders of a valid SDP can travel free of charge on services scheduled listed in the official SNL timetable." TITOLI DI TRASPORTO TURISTICI, ABBONAMENTI and the timetable lists those connections Orario Lake Lugano - solo orari

In the end, they seems to have adapted their policy, including more cruises in the SDP, in fact all the ones listed in the timetable. I would then go for it, checking at the pier that the choosen boat is listed.

Lugano - Morcote - Porto Ceresio is covered. Porto Ceresio - Caslano - Ponte Tresa is not covered.
Local traffic Lugano - Gandria - Caprino etc is covered. Lugano Gandria - Porlezza is not covered..
Lugano - Maroggia and Maroggia - Mocrcote are most probebly covered too, despite the fact that Maroggia doesnt' appear on the map.
SDP are NOT accepted on the Italian buses from Lugano to Menaggio

Oh, i didn't zoom in enough to see the grey lines. I do have the same ferry schedule downloaded as you. So you're saying if it's on this official schedule, then the fare is covered by SDP? My hope is to catch the 15:20 ferry from Morcote back to Lugano, arriving at 16:20. And then take the 17:02 IC train to Zurich arriving at Zurich HB at 18:55

If the ferry schedule doesn't work, looks like I can take Bus 431 back to Lugano as well (which I believe is covered by SDP?)

I think so and I would go with this plan: Thumbs up! (as well for the SDP covering the buses to Lugano and in Lugano)