There are a number of reasons for visiting Lugano and the main one has to be its lake. Partly in Switzerland and partly in Italy, it is the centre for much tourist activity in the area including over 300kms of marked mountain bike trails.
Lugano itself is beautiful, especially the old town which has 17 places of national historical importance including the St Lawrence Cathedral. If you’ve hired a car from Lugano Airport you can explore outside of Lugano where a popular activity is to take the funicular railway up to the top of Mount Brè for spectacular views out over Lugano and the region.
Lugano Airport Mini Guide
A Little About the Airport
Lugano Airport is a regional airport 4km west of Lugano in the south of Switzerland bordering Italy. It is actually closer to the village of Agno and is therefore sometimes known as Lugano-Agno. The airport has a stunning location in a river valley with 200,000 passengers passing through every year. Ample parking is within a short distance from the check-in desks and the boarding gates are another stone’s throw from there. You can get to the departure area in very little time at all.
There is an abundance of hotel choices a quick drive or walk from the airport. Lugano Airport is also a picturesque drive to the Italian lakes Como, Maggiore, Orta, Iseo and Lake Garda and the Swiss Lake Lugano is on the doorstep.
Getting There
The airport from Milan is a 40 minute drive via the Basel A2. The airlines that currently operate from there are: Darwin Airline, Baboo Airway, Swiss and Alitalia. There are taxis readily available from 07:30-22:30 every day.
Shuttle buses operate regularly between Lugano, scheduled in accordance to the flight arrivals and departures. These shuttle buses also stop at the Federal Railway Station in Lugano. Other rail connections to Agno make it possible to walk to the airport which will only take you 10 minutes, there are plenty of options.
The major car rental services operating at the airport are AVIS, Europcar, E-Sixt Car and Hertz where you can collect your rental car that you have pre-booked with Rhino. Ensure you request special equipment provisions i.e. snow chains and ski racks for the car at the time of booking.
Public Information
The airport Tourist Information Centre is in collaboration with Lugano Turismo and you can find out anything about your onward journey and airport facilities there.
Facilities
The airport gives you an opportunity to purchase perfume, artisan gifts and tax free shopping. You can also have your hair cut at Studio 5, before or after your flight. The newsagent supplies the usual magazines, books and sweets and drinks with an arcade attached. There are conference rooms and facilities available for single meeting rooms or delegate rates for larger groups. Free Wi-Fi is available in the following places: check-in, waiting room, front of the gates and in the bars.
Refreshments
Ristorante Aeroporto is upstairs at the terminal and provides breakfasts and snack meals. There is a bar in the departure lounge and also in the waiting lounge. Snack Lo Spuntino is a sandwich bar, there is an Italian restaurant and the Gazebo bar, restaurant and pizzeria.
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