Search

Tailor Made Rail · Tailor-made independent rail holiday

Lake Lugano by Rail

London to Lake Lugano by train, four nights on the shore.

Illustration of Lake Lugano by Rail

Tailor Made Rail's Lake Lugano by Rail is a seven-day independent journey from London to the Italian-speaking shores of Lake Lugano in Switzerland's Ticino region. You travel by Eurostar to Paris, then high-speed TGV to Basel for an overnight stay, before heading south through the dramatic alpine Gotthard route and the Gotthard Base Tunnel to Paradiso, your lakeside base for four leisurely days. The itinerary gives you freedom to explore on your own: take mountain views from Monte Bré, visit the villages of Morcote and Gandria by boat, or simply wander the lakefront promenade and local squares. After Lake Lugano, you return north by train to a final night in Dijon before heading home. The package includes all Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, six nights in handpicked hotels with breakfast, and detailed travel documentation to guide you between trains and hotels.

What to know before you look closer

  • All hotels are listed as 'or similar', meaning your final accommodation may differ from those named.
  • Standard Class rail travel is included; upgrading all journeys to First Class costs an additional GBP 200 per person.
  • Single supplements apply if you travel alone; the package pricing is for two people sharing a double or twin room.

Day by day

  1. Day 1railovernight: Hotel Gaia (or similar), Basel

    London to Basel

    Catch a Eurostar service from London St Pancras to Paris and connect onto the high-speed TGV Lyria service to Basel, arriving in the early evening.

  2. Day 2overnight: Admiral Hotel (or similar), Paradiso, Lugano

    Basel to Lugano

    Free morning in Basel, then head back to the station for the journey along the Gotthard Alpine Route to Lugano, via Lake Lucerne and the Gotthard Base Tunnel. A short regional service takes you around the lake to Paradiso.

  3. Day 3overnight: Admiral Hotel (or similar), Paradiso, Lugano

    Lake Lugano

    Enjoy Lake Lugano, with views from Monte Bré or San Salvatore, or a boat to the villages of Morecote and Gandria.

  4. Day 4overnight: Admiral Hotel (or similar), Paradiso, Lugano

    Lake Lugano

    Further day at leisure on Lake Lugano, with the lakefront promenade and local piazzas.

  5. Day 5overnight: Admiral Hotel (or similar), Paradiso, Lugano

    Lake Lugano

    Final full day exploring Lake Lugano and the wider Ticino region.

  6. Day 6railovernight: Oceania le Jura (or similar), Dijon

    Lugano to Dijon

    Return to the station after breakfast and catch a train north to Zurich, then switch to a high-speed TGV service across the French border to Dijon.

  7. Day 7

    Dijon to London

    Leisurely morning in Dijon before the return journey via Paris to the UK.

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Travel along the Gotthard Alpine Route via Lake Lucerne and the Gotthard Base Tunnel to reach Lugano, then take a short regional service around the lake to Paradiso.
  • Day 3Explore Lake Lugano from your Paradiso base, with optional mountain views from Monte Bré or San Salvatore, or a boat trip to the villages of Morcote and Gandria.

Included

  • Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations
  • 6 nights' handpicked hotel accommodation with breakfast
  • Comprehensive directions to your hotels
  • Easy-to-follow travel documentation
  • Despatch of tickets by email, post or collection from our London office

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. The package includes Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations on the Eurostar from London to Paris, TGV Lyria from Paris to Basel, regional service through the Gotthard Alpine Route to Lugano, and TGV from Zurich to Dijon.
Is this trip escorted or independent?
It is independent. Tailor Made Rail provides easy-to-follow travel documentation and comprehensive directions to hotels, but you arrange your own activities and sightseeing.
What is included in the price?
Standard Class rail travel with seat reservations, six nights' accommodation in handpicked hotels with breakfast, comprehensive directions to hotels, and easy-to-follow travel documentation.
How many nights do I spend on Lake Lugano?
Four nights, based in Paradiso.
What is the starting price?
GBP 1,199 per person for two people sharing a room; USD 1,601 based on current rates.
How much walking or activity is involved?
Days on Lake Lugano are free. You can enjoy views from Monte Bré or San Salvatore, take a boat to nearby villages, or stroll the lakefront promenade and local piazzas. No mandatory hiking or strenuous activity is described.

Similar journeys