What to wear?
by thinking
Women have two choices here depending on the effect they wish to create.
Either look like an American tourist in your t-shirt, jeans and tennis shoes,
or
dress like the SWISS/ITALIAN women in high heels, make-up, jewelery. Often "the look" is with a cigarette in one hand and a white poddle or another tiny breed in the other. I loved the view of Lake Lugano from San Salvador Mountain and from Grandia.
EXCURSIONS
by nygaston
Excursions . . . Day trips; overnight stays; short and long hikes; cable cars; chair lifts; cog railways; boat, bus, train and bike trips . . . there are many options. Your best bet: Write to Ticino Turismo, Via Lugano, Casella postale 1441, CH-6501 Bellinzona, Switzerland. Or e-mail ett(AT SIGN SYMBOL)www.tourism-ticino.ch.
Festivals and Fishing . . . The Ticino is a yearlong festival and like excursions, it's best to check with the tourist offices for a list of celebrations in the region you plan to visit. Fishing is possible year round in lakes Lugano and Maggiore. In the mountain lakes, rivers, and streams, the fishing season is June to September. For a moderate charge, you can pick up a 10-day fishing permit at either a municipal or local tourist office.
Grotti . . . Anyone wishing to find authentic local cooking will do well to seek out a little trattoria or grotto, typical popular meeting places usually set in the cool shade of leafy chestnut trees. Sometimes they consist of little more than a few stone tables, a bocce court, a kitchen, and a garden.
. . . and Gandria . . . Gandria is a former fishing village clinging to cliffs alongside Lake Lugano. Dotted with quaint restaurants and pensions, it can be reached either by boat or footpath from downtown Lugano. Elda Pacchin's Locanda Gandriese is our favorite. It has ambience, a view to remember, and the best of food.
The picturesque village of Gandria
by musti72
Gandria is about 10 km east of Lugano, and accessible by car, by foot through the marvellous Sentiero degli ulivi footpath or by the public boat from the center of Lugano.
This old fisherman's village with its narrow walkways is built from the lakeside up the steep hill.
It's really nice to have a lunch or a drink on one of the restaurants with a balcony and to enjoy the surrounding scenery.
MILAN MALPENSA AIRPORT
by nygaston
Milan/Milano - Malpensa (MXP):
Location: 43 km/27 Miles NW of Milan City centre. Airport Overview: 2 terminals: Terminal 1 & 2. Most flights depart from Terminal 1. Trains run from the basement level and buses from the arrivals level.
By Taxi: To the city centre ?50-65/50-60 mins. By Limo: To the city centre ?85 & to Linate Airport ?95. Tel 0270200443.
By Bus:
Malpensa Shuttle to Milan City Route: Terminal 1 - Terminal 2 - Milan Fair - Piazza Luigi di Savoia, alongside the Central Railway Station in Milan City centre. Timings: Departs the airport at 0530, 0620 then every 20 mins until 2200, 2230, 2300, 2330, 0015, 0130, 0230, 0330 & 0430.
Air Pullman Milano Runs from Piazza Castello in Milan to Malpensa Airport 0730-2330, From Malpensa 0830-1730.
Sadem runs buses to Torino/Turin leaving Malpensa at 0700, 0900 & 1830. Cost ?15.50. Tel 011 3000611
Bus Express www.busexpress.com to Lugano operate buses to Lugano & Chiasso. One way to Lugano ?20, return ?35. Children 2-12 50% off, under 2's free. Buses leave Malpensa terminal 1 at 0700 0900 1030 1230 1430 1630 1830 2030 & 2245. They arrive at T2 10 mins later, Chiasso train station 40 mins after that and Lugano 20 mins later. Departures from Lugano station are at 0445 0635 0830 1030 1230 1430 1705 1830 & 2000 with similar timings. Tel +41 91 994 88 78. Buy tickets on board. Exit4/Stop 19
Malpensa Shuttle to Milan Linate Airport Runs to Linate airport , with stops at Gobba & Cormano. Departs Malpensa Terminal 1 at 0750, 0930, 1100, 1230, 1420, 1530, 1650, 1820, 2225 & 0025. Takes 70 mins. Stops at Malpensa Terminal 2 are on request only. Cost: Adults ?9, children (2-12) half price. Tickets can be bought on the bus. Tel 0331 25
Swissminiatur
Miniture park in...
by oliverv
Swissminiatur
Miniture park in Melide (5 minutes by rail or car from Lugano)
This beautiful miniature village is located in Melide, around 5-6 kilometers from Lugano.
It represents the most known monuments and buildings of Switzerland in a scale of 1:25.
Swissminiatur has also a network of miniature rail which is around 3 kms long, so this will be a paradise for miniature rail enthusiasts.
Inside the park there is also a self - service restaurant with menus for tourists (french fries, etc...) and a shop selling tourist merchandise.
It is considered one of the few attractions for children in Ticino.