Sentiero Dell'olivo
Lugano, Switzerland has definitely been one of the most beautiful places I have traveled thus far. From the crystal clear turquoise waters to stunning mountains everywhere you look, I would recommend Lugano to anyone who wants a serene lakeside vacation. There are as many activities as there are relaxing things to do, so it is up to you how you would like to spend your time there - sitting on the beach soaking up the sun, taking a boat ride, or hiking up the mountains, there are many options available all within a close distance.
Of the many adventures we went on during our time in Lugano, the Olive Grove trail - called Sentiero Dell'olivo - was among my favorites. It is a hiking path that stretches 3.5 kilometers from Castagnola to Gandria, with many boards along the way (written in German, Italian, French and English) that have historical information about the growth of the olive trees. To get to the beginning of the Olive Grove trail, we heavily relied on google maps to tell us which bus to get on, and where exactly to get off. Something we didn't know that might seem obvious to some, is that busses don't stop at every designated bus stop - you have to push a button on the bus right before the stop to get it to let you off, otherwise it drives right past it! We took a bus to began the Olive Grove trail in Castagnola, and ended one and a half hours later in Gandria.
We were having so much fun that we did not even realize we finished the trail! It is a very easy hike and there are many areas to relax, and even swim, when you need a rest. There is also a bathroom stop about a third of the way from Castagnola, and a few fountains with fresh drinking water along the way - we had water bottles on us (we were there during a very hot week), and it was so nice to be able to refill them! At the end of the Olive Grove trail in Gandria, there are a few cafe's and restaurants that you can grab some food and drinks at before heading to your next activity.
The views of the lake, mountains, cliffs and shimmering water are absolutely breathtaking. There is nothing like the smell of nature and insanely fresh air out there. When in Lugano, I definitely wouldn't pass up the opportunity to walk the Olive Grove trail - it is in one of my top activities to do in Lugano!
At the end of the Olive Grove trail in Gandria, you can walk up some stairs to take a bus back, or you can walk back. We chose to start walking back and instead ended up going up a LOT of stairs (I thought my legs would fall off but I promise it was well worth it) to get to a funicular and go up Monte Brè; check out my related post if you want to know about that experience!
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