Monte San Salvatore - How to get there

How to reach Lugano

Lugano can be reached by train and by car.

Section 1: reaching the funicular station

There are several ways to reach the funicular valley station in Paradiso:

• By train only: you can best travel to the train stop 'Lugano-Paradiso'. The walk to the funicular station takes less than 10 minutes. Alternatively you can walk all the way from the railway station of Lugano in about 45 minutes.
• By train and bus: travel to the main station 'Lugano'. Then take a bus to the stop 'Paradiso, Geretta' or 'Paradiso, Stazione/Scuole'. The bus rides take 12 to 14 minutes. Then walk to the funicular in a few minutes. 
• By boat: it takes 5 minutes on foot to reach the funicular station from the boat dock 'Lugano-Paradiso (lago)'.
• By car: there's a parking lot at the funicular station.

Section 2: Paradiso to Monte San Salvatore

Take the funicular to the top. You'll need to switch to another funicular half-way up the mountain at Pazzallo. The whole ride takes 10 minutes.

Dates of operation

This is when the funicular operates:

• 7 December 2022-8 January 2023: daily
• 9 January-17 February 2023: on Saturdays and Sundays only
• 18-26 February 2023: daily
• 27 February-5 March 2023: daily
• 6-10 March 2023: closed
• 11 March-5 November: daily. From 19 May to 1 July 2023, and from 1 to 9 September 2023, there are evening rides on Fridays and Saturdays
• 6 November-early December 2023: closed