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Delhi to the Italian lakes: Lugano and Lake Como

Delhi → Lugano → Lake Como

Lugano
"Lugano from Sighignola.jpg" by Aconcagua, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence
Lago di Lugano at Sunset (cropped 2) (Lugano)
Photo: SamuelFerrara, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Swiss-Italian lakeshores & villa gardens Best season (general guide): Apr–Oct

Lugano and Lake Como are only a short ride apart but lie in two countries, sharing the Italian language and a mild lakeside climate. This route spends three nights in Lugano, in Switzerland's Ticino canton, and three on Lake Como in Italy. From Delhi you'll connect via Zurich or Milan, then take the train.

How to pace it: after arriving, walk Lugano's arcaded streets and long lakeside promenade. Funiculars climb the two mountains on either side of the bay, so take one each day: Monte Brè on day two and Monte San Salvatore on day three. Lugano's LAC cultural centre, opened in 2015, makes a good rainy-day alternative.

On day four, take the train to Como and a ferry up the lake. Ferries are the best way to move between the villages, and the views from the water are part of the trip. Give day five to Bellagio, on the point where the lake's arms meet, and the gardens of Villa Carlotta, whose rhododendrons and azaleas bloom in spring. Day six is for Villa del Balbianello, on a wooded promontory and often reached by boat; it has appeared in a Star Wars film and Casino Royale.

If you stay in Como town, see the cathedral, begun in the fourteenth century, take the funicular to Brunate, and visit the Tempio Voltiano, dedicated to Alessandro Volta, the inventor of the electric battery, who was born in Como. Lake Como is more than 400 metres deep at its deepest point. Risotto with lake perch is the classic dish on the shore.

Practical notes: April to October is the main season, when ferry services are fullest. Switzerland uses the Swiss franc and Italy the euro, so carry a card that works in both.

Safety: Canada asks for normal security precautions in Switzerland (updated 11 Aug 2026) and a high degree of caution in Italy (updated 29 Sep 2026). The US rates Switzerland Level 1 (14 Aug 2026) and Italy Level 2 (10 Sep 2026).

Suggested outline

  1. Delhi

    Start

  2. Lugano

    By air · 3 nights suggested

    An Italian-speaking Swiss city on its own lake, between two funicular peaks.

  3. Lake Como

    By train and ferry · 3 nights suggested

    Villages and villa gardens linked by ferry.

    Bellagio Lake Como
    "Town of Bellagio (Lake Como) seen from the lake (36722979021).jpg" by Ray Swi-hymn from Sijhih-Taipei, Taiwan, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons· licence

Day by day

  1. Day 1 · Lugano — Arrive; the lakeside promenade· Delhi → Lugano (by air) — long-haul; may arrive the next calendar day
  2. Day 2 · Lugano — Funicular up Monte Brè
  3. Day 3 · Lugano — Monte San Salvatore
  4. Day 4 · Lake Como — Train to Como, ferry up the lake· Lugano → Lake Como (by train and ferry)
  5. Day 5 · Lake Como — Bellagio and Villa Carlotta
  6. Day 6 · Lake Como — Villa del Balbianello
  7. Day 7 · Lake Como — Travel home from Lake Como· Lake Como → Milan (overland), then Milan → Delhi (by air)

A suggested pace only; expedition days are set by the operator.

Flights, leg by leg

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Lugano

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Plan the trip: Lugano

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Lake Como

Nearest airport: Milan

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