Lugano is only about 80 km from Milan, but it is in Switzerland, so it works well even as a day trip. The main thing to remember is that you are crossing into a country outside the EU.
How Long It Takes and What You Need at the Border
By car the trip takes around 1 hour 15 minutes, longer at peak times. Switzerland is in the Schengen Area but not the EU, so bring your documents and any visa you need, as spot checks are possible.
Transportation: What to Choose?
Trains run from Milan to Lugano in about 1 hour 15 minutes and are frequent. A second-class ticket costs around €14–15.
Swiss motorways require a vignette: CHF 40 for the whole year, with no short-term option. Check in advance that your rental company allows travel to Switzerland.
Convenient for meetings and trips with luggage: the driver collects you from your door in Milan and takes you to your address in Lugano with no changes. An economy car starts from €166 per vehicle, one way.
- Fixed price agreed in advance
- Pickup at your address
- Choice of vehicle, from Economy to V-Class
- No changes and no hauling luggage
What to Know About Traveling to Switzerland
EU and EFTA citizens need only a valid passport or national ID. Other travelers follow Schengen rules, so check passport and visa requirements in advance. There are usually no border checks on people within Schengen, but Switzerland is outside the EU customs union, so customs inspections are possible.
Swiss motorways require a vignette, which costs CHF 40 and is valid for the whole year, with no daily or weekly option. The official seller is e-vignette.ch. Switzerland’s main currency is the franc, so have a card or francs ready.
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