Vacation at Home: Plenty of Good Reasons to Spend the Summer in Lugano
When summer arrives, we start planning trips to more or less exotic places, looking for sea, sun, mountains, fun and, when we’re tired, some peace and quiet. But what if all of that were right here in Lugano, just outside our door?
The Can’t-Miss Highlights of Lugano’s Summer
If someone asked us what the regular fixture of Lugano evenings is, many of us would have no doubts: the aperitif at Lugano Marittima, a true classic that this year expands with Lugano Riviera. Another good reason to stay in the city centre is the weekend evening closures of the Lugolago lakefront: free of cars on weekend nights, the lakeside road becomes the perfect place for a stroll while enjoying an ice cream. But the event that really lights up Lugano's summer is undoubtedly the LongLake Festival 2025, which from 10 to 27 July brings concerts and shows for all ages to the squares and parks.
Anyone who wants to enjoy an aperitif or grab a bite while feeling the cool lake breeze need only head to Lugano Marittima, the little cluster of bars along the left bank at the mouth of the Cassarate.
From this year, the offer widens with Lugano Riviera and its four food-and-wine stalls: the hut of Ristorante Agua near the Debarcadero, that of Argentino Bistrot & Pizza at Rivetta Tell, and the huts of Mauri Café and La Prosciutteria di Lino on Riva Albertolli, opposite Piazza Manzoni.
What could be better than strolling along the lake, taking up all the space normally reserved for cars? During the summer, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 6 p.m. to 1:30 a.m., the lakefront belongs to pedestrians. Adding colour to the promenade are the market stalls: every Thursday and Friday from 10 to 27 July there’s the Summer Market, offering local products and crafts.
If there’s a time to be in Lugano – and only in Lugano – it’s surely during the LongLake Festival, which from 10 to 27 July fills the city’s parks and squares with open-air concerts, shows and literary readings.
There are three main series within the festival: the historic Estival Jazz, from 10 to 12 July, which will animate Piazza della Riforma, Piazza Manzoni and Punta Foce in Parco Ciani; Blues to Bop, on 18 and 19 July, with its lively concerts at Rivetta Tell and Parco Ciani; and finally, one of the year’s most joyful events, Lugano Buskers, which from 23 to 27 July will bring to Lugano street artists, performers, cabaret acts and puppeteers with shows suitable for children as well.
But beyond the main series there are many more events marking this 15th edition of the LongLake Festival: check out the full programme and come to the city centre!
Summer for Kids
Summer in Lugano is for children, too. From the kid-friendly activities of the LongLake Festival to initiatives by city libraries and museums, from open-air film series to the many summer courses, youngsters can fill the season with new experiences and memories. Here are a few ideas.
Among the many dates of the LongLake Festival, here are three at the Palco Fleur in Parco Ciani, all at 6 p.m.: on 10 July, "La Danse du Pied, apriti alla gioia", a theatre-and-circus show for children aged 5 +; on 13 July, clowning, acrobatics, dance and music with "Variété Miraculus"; on 14 July, "Cantami e raccontami", a musical storytelling for ages 4 +. On 18 and 19 July, from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Piazza Manzoni, there is "Colors de Monstre", a participatory installation for ages 4 +; and still on 19 July but in the morning (at 10.00, 10.40 and 11.20), at Palco Fleur, SUPSI runs the workshop "Un’esplosione di germogli!" for ages 3 + (registration: sostenibilità@supsi.ch). Finally, from 23 to 27 July, the street-artist festival Lugano Buskers is the perfect destination for the whole family: stay updated at luganobuskers.ch.
On Wednesday 13 August and Saturday 16 August at 8:30 p.m., in the Boschetto of Parco Ciani, two unmissable animated films will be screened: The Boy and the Heron by Hayao Miyazaki (ages 12 +) and Sauvages, Into the Heart of the Forest by Claude Barras (recommended from age 8).
Summer is also the ideal time to read, whether alone or with friends. The Biblioteca dei Ragazzi in Lugano Besso, with its more than 19,000 books for babies, children and teenagers, will remain open throughout the summer: check the opening hours on www.labibliotecadeiragazzi.ch.
A museum can likewise become a fabulous place of discovery. One of the children’s favourites is the Cantonal Museum of Natural History, with its minerals, fossils and reconstructions of Ticino habitats complete with animals and plants.
Throughout the summer, the Museo in erba in Lugano offers courses and workshops for children and teenagers.
Finally, the Museo d’arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI) is running creative workshops linked to the exhibition “Ferdinand Hodler – Filippo Franzoni” on 11, 15, 18 and 22 July, for children aged 3 to 6.
Outdoor sports
Parks, lidos and sunshine are the backdrop to the open-air gym that Lugano becomes in summer. Until autumn you can enjoy a whole array of sporting activities at the lidos, in the parks and on the lake.
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Starting the day with a yoga session overlooking the gulf is possible. Until 3 August, every Sunday there are free yoga classes in Parco Tassino, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., organised by Yoga Dinamico.
The Lugano Lido is ready to welcome you with activities and events for everyone. Throughout the summer, beach volleyball and beach soccer tournaments will be organized, along with days dedicated to specific sports activities. On 28 June, 19 July and 23 August there are Family Days, with discounts for families, reduced parking rates, special-price kids’ menus, entertainment and free gadgets.
With the MyLugano app you can purchase single, family or multi-entry tickets valid for the whole summer and receive up to 10 % cashback in LVGA, the city’s digital currency. Admission can be purchased directly in the MyLugano app, avoiding queues and enjoying exclusive benefits.
Swimming across the lake together
The Traversata del Lago di Lugano, scheduled for 17 August, is a traditional popular swim of 2,500 metres. It is non-competitive and open to everyone. The route follows the usual course, starting in Caprino and finishing at the Lugano Lido, crossing the 46th parallel north.
The English version of this page was created with the aid of automatic translation tools and may contain errors and omissions.
The original version is the page in Italian.