ITALY - Europe by Eurail 2015: Touring Europe by Train - page 351

Day Excursion to
Lake Lugano
The Swiss Riviera
Depart Milano Centrale Station
Distance by Train: 48 miles (77 km)
Average Train Time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
Switzerland Dialing Code: 41
City Dialing Code: 91
Tourist Information Office: Palazzo Civico, Riva Albertolli, P.O. Box 2533,
CH-6901 Lugano, Switzerland
Tel: [phone]; Fax: [phone]
www.luganotourism.ch
E-mail: [e-mail]
Hours: May-August: 0900-1900 Monday-Friday, 0900-1800 Saturday, 1000-
1800 Sunday; November-March: 0900-1200 and 1330-1730 Monday-Friday,
1000-1230 and 1330-1700 Saturday; April and October: 0900-1900
Monday-Friday, 1000--1700 Saturday-Sunday
Notes: To reach the official tourist office of Lake Lugano, ride the funicolare (cable
railway) to Piazza Cioccaro, and proceed on foot downhill to the center of Lugano,
Piazza Riforma. As you continue downhill toward the lake, stop at the town hall,
where the tourist office is located. Holders of Eurail passes need not purchase sep-
arate rail tickets to make excursions from Milan into Switzerland, since both Italy
and Switzerland are included on these passes.
Lake Lugano, known as the Swiss Riviera, is sheltered from the north by the Le-
pontine Alps. It is favored with a climate that is exceptionally mild and is purportedly
the sunniest of all central European resorts. Considered a year-round resort, the city
of Lugano sponsors a multitude of events to attract visitors of all ages.
Although Lugano is a very short distance from Milan, you will be crossing the
Swiss border on this day excursion. Don't forget your passport. There is a currency
exchange desk in the railway station. Hours: 0600-2230 daily. The town abounds in
banks and cambio (exchange) offices that offer official rates. As you leave the sta-
tion, there is a hotel-reservations-and-information office to your immediate right.