Lugano or Locarno
 

Will only have time to visit one place due to tight schedule, which spot is more recommended? Will only have around 2 days to explore the area
I'm more interested in taking pictures, exploring the area and shopping. Maybe visit one or two cultural areas.

If you have 2 full days, you can easily visit both. They are linked by highway and by train (every 30 min, from 5.26 until 23.56, journey time 50-60 min).
https://www.ticino.ch/en/discover/de...ns/lugano.html
https://www.ticino.ch/en/discover/de...a-locarno.html
https://www.ticino.ch/en/discover/de...ellinzona.html

Based on your brief, I'd go with Lugano. Definitely better for shopping. Overall, we much prefer Lugano to Locarno and go there several times a year; will be making another trip this month.

For those who haven't been there recently (within the last year or so), the newly renovated cultural district is beautiful and interesting. You can find peace and serenity in the large lakeside city park if you want a break from the activity (the city is not nearly as noisy and hectic as some like to contend). Excellent shopping in the city itself and, of course, you're just a 20 minute or so train ride from Foxtown, the huge designer mall at the edge of Mendrisio.

Locarno lacks charm and interest.

Cannot speak about Lugano.

Lugano---it has much to offer.

I'd probably go with Lugano, but note that I found much charm in the Ascona area of Locarno. If interested in visiting Isola Bella, Ascona would be a better base IME.

Hi yolofrst888,

Well, I'm one who "contends" that Lugano is a busy, messy, noisy big city. I had reserved a hotel on the main street in front of the lake for 5 or 6 nights, but I got out of there after about 2 nights. The traffic on the main roads is very heavy, and it brings with it the noise and pollution and activity that just ruin a pretty spot, imo.

However, I was on the hunt for peace & quiet & beautiful landscapes, not shopping or activity or a city vibe. So, for your goals, it might fit you very well. But for photography, you may want to get out of town a bit.

I spent one of my days in Locarno, and it turned out to be a very restful and very pretty spot. However, the town itself is quite small, and it may not give you the shopping or dining options that you may want.

Have fun as you plan!

s

Messy?? Where is the mess?? Lugano is a very clean city.

Hi WeisserTee,

To me, the "mess" came from car pollution. I realize this isn't a unique problem for Lugano -- Montreux also suffers from haze and gritty grey fog over the lake. I avoid it at Montreux by going in the late fall or winter (seems to be mainly a summertime problem).

But there seemed to me to be more traffic in Lugano than in Montreux-- and that main road is right next to the lake. In Montreux, there are trees and villas that stand between the road and the lake.

s

The charming Lugano hotels are of course not on the road along the lake

Well it was a 4-star, and it had views of the lake, which is what I wanted. It was charming enough.

s