Min. time required: 1:30
Season: mid March to early November
Recommended season: mid March to early November
Max. altitude: 279 m (915 ft)

What is Swissminiatur? Copy link to clipboard

Swissminiatur is a small theme park in Melide (near Lugano), in which you can explore a mini version of Switzerland. You'll see many of its architectural highlights within a few hours.

Swissminiatur prices and tickets Copy link to clipboard

What does an entry ticket to Swissminiatur cost?

An access ticket for the Swissminiatur park costs CHF 21 per adult and CHF 14 per child in 2024. A family day pass of CHF 60 allows access for 2 adults and any number of kids between 6 and 15 years old.

There are discounted rates for students. Several rail passes provide discounts as well.

Where to buy your tickets

You can get your tickets at the park entrance or online.

Find tickets Copy link to clipboard

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Discounted park access with your rail pass Copy link to clipboard

The travel passes below get you discounted entrance to Swissminiatur.

PassDiscount
Swiss Travel Pass Discount 30%:
  • Entrance fee
Swiss Travel Pass Flex Discount 30%:
  • Entrance fee
Ticino Ticket Discount 20%:
  • Entrance fee

How to reach the park: directions and map Copy link to clipboard

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How does the timetable work?

Swissminatur is located in the village of Melide, close to Lugano. You can reach it by train, boat and car:

  • A train ride from Lugano to Melide takes 7 minutes. The park entrance is at less than 5 minutes on foot from the Melide train station.
  • A boat trip from Lugano to Melide takes 30 minutes. A walk from the nearby boat dock to the park takes about 6 minutes.
  • A limited number of parking spaces is available, so you can best come by public transport.

Map of the Swissminiatur location

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Map

Opening dates and hours, timetable info Copy link to clipboard

Opening dates and hours

Swissminiatur is open daily from 16 March to 3 November 2024, from 09:00 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:30).

Planning your journey with the Swiss timetable

If you're searching for connections to the park in the Swiss timetable, use these names:

  • "Melide" for the nearby train station
  • "Melide Swissminiatur (lago)" for the nearby boat dock
  • "Melide, Swissminiatur, Via Cantonale" for the park

Best months for Swissminiatur Copy link to clipboard

The park is open from mid March to early November. We think any of these months is fine for a visit, as long as it doesn't rain. Melide is located in a relatively low and warm area, so temperatures are mostly good enough to visit the park without getting too cold, even in March or November.

Weather tips and Melide forecasts Copy link to clipboard

You don't need sunny skies or high temperatures to visit Swissminiatur. As long as it's dry you can enjoy the park.

Even though temperatures near Melide are high to Swiss standards, you can still cool down as you'll slowly stroll through the park. So check forecasts and dress sufficiently warm.

Note that although part of the route is shaded, you're mostly exposed to the sun. We'd personally avoid a visit during particularly hot summer days.

5-day forecast for Melide

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What to expect in Swissminiatur

A stroll along miniature Swiss buildings

You’ll walk along miniature versions of historical but also some modern Swiss buildings. Just follow the park route to see the churches, city halls, train stations, cable car stations, airports, harbors, and more. There are miniature trains and cable cars as well.

A little tourist train transports visitors around the park. The park also offers a restaurant and a shop. In addition, you can visit the workshop in which all miniature objects are crafted. Guided tours in the workshop are available at specific dates and times.

Swissminiatur is located against the backdrop of the green mountains surrounding Lake Lugano. Examples are Monte Generoso and Monte San Salvatore.

Examples of the buildings you’ll see

These are just a few of the Swiss architectural highlights in Swissminiatur:

  • the cathedral in Basel
  • the cathedral and castle in Neuchâtel
  • the cathedral in Lausanne
  • the cathedral in Milan (even though this is not in Switzerland)
  • the castle of Bellinzona
  • the castle in Thun
  • the Stockalper Palace in Brig

The craftsmen keep adding miniature buildings to the park!

What else to see and do on the same day

A Swissminiatur visit of half a day can be combined with:

Find more activities in the Ticino here.

Swissminiatur FAQ

  1. How long does a visit to Swissminiatur take?

    An average visit takes 2 to 3 hours. You can do a quick tour in 1 to 1,5 hours, but that doesn’t allow you to really appreciate all the miniature handiwork. Count on half a day if you also plan to have a bite in the restaurant or if you’ll be visiting the workshop.

  2. Is the park wheelchair- and pram-friendly?

    Yes, you can navigate the Swissminiatur park very well in a wheelchair or with a pushchair.

  3. Can I have my own food and drinks?

    Yes, it’s no problem to bring along your snacks. There’s even a picnic area. If you’re seated in the restaurant, you’re expected to order there and not to have your own food.

Other websites of interest

Dates and times

Prices

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Annika
Page author: AnnikaSince early childhood I've been visiting Switzerland during my holidays and I just fell in love with the country. I spent many summers in the Bernese Oberland, which still feels like my second home, and then started to explore other areas. Traveling, hiking and photographing in the Swiss Alps are my absolute favorite activities.