Gandria, a charming village nestled at the foot of Monte Brè on Lake Lugano, exudes a nostalgic vibe that feels like stepping back in time. With its car-free streets, steep staircases, and preserved historic buildings like the chapel of San Rocco, Gandria offers a unique atmosphere for visitors to explore.

How to get there

The best way to reach Gandria is via boat from Lugano. Take the "Classic Tour," which explores the northeast part of the lake and ends at Gandria. You can get off in Gandria and have lunch. Then return by boat, bus or foot later in the day.

The boat tour leaves hourly from Lugano and takes about 1h20-30 mins round trip, depending on how many stops the boat makes along the way.

• Book Guided Tour with Boat to Morcote

Olive Path from Morcote

If you want to walk from Gandria back to Lugano, follow the green “Sentiero dell’olivo” signs (aka Olive Trail), direction Cassarate. When you join the main road, stay on the sidewalk, following signs to Lugano, instead of following any paths that lead up the mountain.

Most of the path is on a semi-paved walkway along the water. See trail map. It takes about 2h to reach the center of Lugano walking at a leisurely pace.