Posted by Nancy D. Brown

Lugano photo by Nancy D. BrownMy San Francisco post was fortunate to be featured in National Geographic's Intelligent Travel blog. Since then, I've decided to offer my favorite tips and locations for first-time visitors to select regions. Here are my recommendations for a trip to Lugano, Switzerland in the canton of Ticino. Thank you to Guide Marco Mastelli and Ticino Turismo for assistance with this post.

The first place I take a visitor from out of town is to downtown Lugano and the Parco Ciani. 

When I crave Lugano cuisine, I go to: Grotto Ticinese in Cureglia, five minutes by car; or Grotto Rossi in Castelrotto in the Malcantone region west of Lugano or I turn to the Mendrisotto region south of Lugano to find easy paths among many vinyeards in Ticino where grottos as Grotto Fossati in Tremona offer traditional, affordable meals.

To escape work I hike a nearby mountain.

For complete quite, I can hide away at the Canton Library.

If you come to Lugano, get your picture taken at the top of a mountain.

If you have to order one thing off the menu at Restaurant Olimpia in Plazza Riforma, get the steak tartar.

Laderach Chocolate photo by Nancy D. BrownLugano is my one stop shop for chocolates, watches and fashionable clothes because it can be cheaper to shop here than in Italy. Via Pessina is the gourmet street. Check out the five specialty shops of Lino Gabbani.

When I'm feeling cash-strapped, I go to Migros or the Coop department store for food and clothes.

For a huge splurge, I go to Cristallo Ristorante.

Photo ops in Lugano include Lake Lugano and Mount San Salvatore.

The best vantage points are taken by riding a finicular to the top of Mount San Salvatore and going on the roof of the San Salvatore church.

The most random thing about Lugano is the swim race in mid-August in the lake.

In Lugano, an active day outdoors involves walking, hiking or biking.

My favorite jogging or walking route is the Lugano Gandria Olive Tree Path.

Lugano's best museum is the Museum of Cultures.

For a night of dancing, go to Madai Disco, Tito's Place, Laroy or Al Lido.

The Pearl Casino is the spot for late night dining, but be warned ,Lugano is not the place to grab a meal after midnight.

To find out what's going on at night or on weekends, read Corriere Del Ticino, but only if you can read Italian.

You can tell a lot about Lugano from visiting the rural valley like Monte Bre.

In the spring you should attend walking Lugano.

In the summer you should attend August 1, it's like our Fourth of July Independence celebration.

In the fall you should attend local harvest festivals.

In the winter you should go to Piu Gusto in December.

A hidden gem in Lugano is Grotto Flora.

For a great breakfast treat or espresso, go to the Grand Cafe Al Porto.

Just outside of Lugano you can visit Morcote, have lunch at the Grotto del Parco and visit the Scherrer Garden.

The best way to see Lugano is to walk.

If you have kids, you won't want to miss Swiss Miniatur.