need help Lugano vs. Lausanne
 

We will be in Switzerland for exactly 1 week in June. We were planning to arrive into Zurich and stay there for 1 night. From Zurich travel to Lucerne (2 nights) and then visit Bern for 1/2 day. After that, either to go to Lugano for 2 nights, or Lausanne for 2 nights. Unfortunatley we don't have time for both, so we have to pick and choose. Last two nights we will be staying in Geneva, and I know it is easier to travel to Geneva from Lausanne, but in terms of things to do and see which is worth two days Lugano or Lausanne?

I have no opinion on Lugano... but instead of Lausanne 2 nights and Geneva 2 nights, I'd stay in Montreux or Vevey for all 4 nights. They are smaller and more beautiful imo. It's easy to take the train directly to the airport from these towns.

Lugano was sooo gorgeous. You can't go wrong there, but I'm sure it's the same for Lausanne (I probably have been there too, but it was 1992 when I spent 3 weeks in Switzerland).

Lausanne is too big a city to be called gorgeous (in my opinion), though certainly the area along the lake is very pretty.

If you are interested on sports and Olympics...then in Laussane you can visit the Olympic Museum.

Hi ellen50,

Lausanne is very, very close to Geneva, about 40 minutes by train. So it's almost the same destination -- same lake, same ambiance, much of the same excursions.

Lugano will give you more difference.

s

I have been to Lausanne and Lugano. Lugano is much nicer and there is a lot more to do. No need to stay in Lausanne even if you skip Lugano. Make sure to visit Morcote if you go to Lugano.

I agree with Suze that Montreux or Vevey are much better than Lausanne, in case you want to skip Lugano. I stayed in Montreux but I think you can do pretty much the same things staying in Vevey and it should be cheaper.

I can't do comparisons since I've only been to Lugano - but it was simply stunning; the mountains came right down to the shore! It has a good variety of things to do - boat ride around the lake, for starters. (You can get off and on at the various villages that circle the shore - in particular Gandria.) Then you can take the funiculare up to the top of San Salvatore with interesting history and amazing views. There's a casino, upscale shopping, street musicians (when we were there in an August), the CO_OP dept store with a fantastic grocery/deli in the basement if you wish to make a picnic by the lake. And we loved to Hotel Lugano Dante if you're looking for a place to stay - wonderful room and staff but a breakfast like none you've ever seen before!

Definitely Lugano!!! If you choose to do otherwise, I agree that Montreux is much prettier than Lausanne.

What did you plan to see in Bern?

I like Bern very much, but I really think devoting only a half day there is time better added to one of the towns already in your itinerary.

Lugano and Vevey would be my choices. I agree it's not worth going to Bern for 1/2 a day, and if you cut Geneva down to one night, you could have two nights in Lugano, and one night in Vevey. Travel time between Vevey and Geneva isn't great so that would give you most of two days in one or the other, or one and a half days in each. Alternatively, you could have two nights in Vevey, as it's very easy to get to Geneva Airport by train from there... and there's plenty to do at that end of the Lake.

Have you considered going straight to Lucerne and cutting your one night in Zurich? It's only about an hour from Zurich to Lucerne on the train, and it means one less hotel change.

By all means, stay in Lugano. Simply stunning with lots to do. And we really enjoyed staying at Hotel de la Paix. Very classy.

Thank you everyone, your suggestions were very helpful!