My first hike in Switzerland – San Salvatore / Ticino

It was my first hike, when I moved here, and it became my favourite. It is in walking distance from Lugano and you can walk it up in any time of the year. However, I love to go up there in the spring, when magenta flowers of cyclamen are in blossom and it’s less crowded.

There are few highlights on this trail, which I really like. On the peak, there is a cute small chapel and you can walk up to its roof through very narrow staircase, which is hanging out on the side of the building (highlight #1). You might feel like there is just cliff below you. Sometimes, I see some fellow adventurers, who are hugging the fence because of the fear from heights. No worries, it’s just few meters. On the roof you get your reward with spectacular 360ᵒ view (highlight #2) and when there is a good visibility, you can even see Monte Rosa with its highest peak of Switzerland Dufourspitze.

Between the peak and lift station, there is also tiny museum (highlight #3). Since San Salvatore is the area with very high density of lightenings, there was a research center from 1943 until 1982 to study this natural element. Therefore, a part of the museum is dedicated to this topic. And because I can’t pass by without trying what is possible to try, I generated my own lightening in the special machine! Go ahead and spend few minutes exploring.   

On the way down, from Carabbia direction to Pazzalo, when you come out from the forest and enter Pazzallo, there is cute Grotto San Salvatore in the shade of chestnut trees (highlight #4). They have always some funny written boards, with special services for those, who want to hide from their wives and partners. You should explore yourself 😉 It’s absolutely worth to stop by and have at least cheese and salami platter.

In case you are time pressured, you can also take funicolare from Lugano Paradiso, but hey, salami platter tastes better after you sweat a bit.

How to get there & How long it takes:

Hike is starting at Paradiso elementary school or Paradiso train station. Exit the train station taking stairs down, which lead you underneath the railway bridge. Take right and start walking uphill. On the first curve, on the other side of the road on your left, you see the famous yellow signs, which will lead you all the way to the top. You pass old ruin on your right and take short stairs up to the wine yards. As soon as you reach funicolare railway, turn left and keep following the same vineyard. Follow the signs all the way up, you can’t get lost.

From the peak, take the route down to the other side of the mountain, passing funicolare station, folliwng yellow signs again to Ciona, then through Carabbia, Pazzallo and back to Paradiso/Lugano. Also, this part is well marked.

Address: Paradiso

Car: Parking at San Salvatore Funicolare Station

Public Transport: Train station Lugano-Paradiso

Trail: 10km (3.2km up / 6.8km down)

Elevation: 630m

Highest Point: 913 m above sea level

Difficulty: moderate

Time: 3hrs 50 mins (1hr 50mins up / 2 hours down)

Condition of the trail: narrow dirt path

Best to visit: All year round (my favourite highlight #5)

Services: Restaurant at the top of San Salvatore, Osteria Grotto in Ciona and Grotto San Salvatore in Pazzalo on the way down