How to get from Lucerne to Lugano
Lovely Lucerne, with its mediaeval old town, is one of Switzerland’s most popular cities to visit. Lugano, meanwhile, has a Mediterranean vibe, and is located in the Italian-speaking region of Ticino.
So they can visit both, it’s no wonder many people want to know how to get from Lucerne to Lugano by train, car, or organised tour.
In fact, you can even take a boat ride as part of your journey or you can secure a seat on one of Switzerland’s premium panoramic trains, so you can make very special memories.
However you decide to cover the 170 kilometre (105 mile) distance from Lucerne to Lugano, this guide is here to lead the way.
You can even book a private Lucerne to Lugano day trip or take a private transfer, if you’d rather travel in style with only your nearest and dearest for company.
From the Lucerne to Lugano train time and what you should know about the Gotthard Panorama Express, to driving a rental car or booking a private transfer or tour, read on to find out all about the options.
This article covers how to get to Lugano from Lucerne – by private transfer, train, rental car, private tour, or panoramic train.
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What's in this Article
Lucerne to Lugano distance
The distance between Lucerne and Lugano is about 170 kilometres – around 105 miles. It can take as little as an hour and 40 minutes to travel between the two by high speed intercity train.
By road, the journey time is approximately two hours, depending on traffic and your exact start and end points.
Summary of transport options between Lucerne and Lugano
| Mode of transport | Duration | |
| Train | from 1h:40 | Buy tickets |
| Gotthard Panorama Express | 5h:35 | Buy tickets |
| Car | from 2h:15 | Book rental car |
| Private transfer | from 2h:15 | Book private transfer |
| Private day tour | 9h round trip | Book private tour |
Best Option: Train
- Intercity | Direct | 1h:40
- Treno Gottardo & Intercity combo | via Arth-Goldau | 1h:40
- Voralpen Express & Eurocity combo | via Arth-Goldau | 1h:50
Getting from Lucerne to Lugano by rail is a simple, stress-free way to travel, thanks to the efficient, clean, and affordable Swiss public transport network. If you want to get from one to the other quickly, this is the mode of transport I recommend.
There are three ways to travel to Lugano by train from Lucerne as follows. These are in addition to the Gotthard Panorama Express, which is covered in the next section.
These three services give you more choice regarding departure and arrival times.
Rail passes and discounted fares
Whichever rail option you choose, both the Swiss Travel Pass and Saver Day Tickets can be used on trains travelling between Lucerne and Lugano. You can also use the Swiss Half Fare Card for 50% off fares.
Children aged five or under, who are accompanied by a paying adult, travel for free on Swiss trains.
Accompanied children aged six to 15 travel for free with a Junior Card (CHF 30 per child) or a Swiss Family Card (free to families when the adults hold a Swiss Travel Pass).
The Swiss Family Card should be ordered (at no cost) when purchasing a Swiss Travel Pass or Swiss Half Fare Card for the adult travellers. The Junior Card can be purchased at any Swiss train station.
> Click here to read our complete guide to Swiss rail passes
1. Intercity train
The most direct service between Lucerne and Lugano is aboard an Intercity train. This service takes only one hour and 40 minutes to travel between the two cities.
Direct trains depart every two hours, throughout the day. If there isn’t a direct train at a time to suit you, the following two options are almost as fast.
2. Treno Gottardo / Intercity combo
You can also travel to Lugano from Lucerne by combining the Treno Gottardo and Intercity services.
At an hour and 40 minutes, the journey time is the same as when taking the direct intercity service, but in this case you’ll change trains at Arth-Goldau.
Services also operate every two hours, but in between the Intercity trains, therefore giving you more choice regarding train times.
The Treno Gottardo is a good alternative to the Gotthard Panorama Express. So you can expect a scenic journey during this sector, while travelling in carriages which are painted bronze.
3. Voralpen-Express / Eurocity combo
It’s also possible to combine the Voralpen-Express with the Eurocity service. Again, this is a very picturesque route, and involves a change of train at Arth-Goldau.
It takes around an hour and 50 minutes to travel from Lucerne to Lugano, when you combine the Voralpen Express and the Eurocity services. These services operate hourly.
Option 2: Boat/train combo via Gotthard Panorama Express
Another option is to take the Lucerne to Lugano scenic train. The Gotthard Panorama Express is one of Switzerland’s most iconic rail journeys.
If you want to travel between Lucerne and Lugano and taking such a trip is on your bucket list, then it makes complete sense to build this into your itinerary.
The journey via the Gotthard Panorama Express doesn’t only involve rail travel, either. In fact you’ll travel by boat from Lucerne to Flüelen, then via scenic train from Flüelen to Lugano.
The entire route is between Lucerne and Lugano, so you won’t miss a thing by taking this panoramic train all the way.
A steamer or motorboat trip of just under three hours will transport you across Lake Lucerne. You’ll then connect to the train in Flüelen, with the rail leg of the journey taking about two-and-a-half hours.
In total, the travel time between Lucerne and Lugano is around five hours and 35 minutes via the Gotthard Panorama Express.
While it’s not the fastest route to travel between Lucerne and Lugano, it is the most picturesque.
If you have a Saver day ticket or Swiss Travel Pass, you might even save money on this panoramic journey. Both can be used on the Gotthard Panorama Express, though a supplement applies.
One thing to note – the Gotthard Panorama Express train only offers first class travel, meaning that holders of second class Saver day tickets or Swiss Travel Passes must buy a class upgrade too.
> Click here to book your ticket and/or seat reservation for the Gotthard Panorama Express
Read more: Gotthard Panorama Express | Fares, Info and Timetables
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Option 3: Rental car
If you don’t want to take an express or panoramic train, travelling from Lucerne to Lugano by car is the third option available to you. It typically takes just over two hours to get from Lucerne to Lugano if you take the fastest route.
The distance between the two points is 170 kilometres, or 105 miles. Driving via the A2 is the simplest and quickest route. If you are planning a road trip around Switzerland, this is a popular journey.
If travelling from Friday to Monday, and during school holidays, we recommend you allow additional time for the journey on the A2.
Any car travelling on a Swiss motorway must display a road tax sticker – or vignette – on the windscreen. When renting a car in Switzerland, this should already be in place.
If you pick up a hire car outside of Switzerland, you must buy a vignette as soon as you cross the border. You can purchase a Swiss vignette online or at fuel stations, and they cost CHF 40 per calendar year.
Read more: Driving in Switzerland Guide
Option 4: Private transfer
Why worry about driving yourself, or checking the Lucerne to Lugano train timetable, when you don’t have to?
Instead, you could travel by car, in air conditioned comfort, by booking a private transfer between these two desirable Swiss destinations.
One of the main benefits of booking a private transfer is that you can travel from door to door. Your driver can collect you at your hotel in Lucerne, take you all the way to Lugano, and drop you off at your accommodation there.
While this option isn’t the cheapest, it can be more affordable when you factor in the number of passengers, and therefore work out the cost per person.
Various sizes of vehicle are available, so it’s often possible to accommodate larger families and groups.
Your driver can also assist with your luggage. As the service includes hotel pick up and drop off, this is a good option for anyone with lots of luggage.
> Click here to find out more and book private transfers
Option 5: Private tours
Another way to travel to Lugano from Lucerne is to book a private day tour. Lasting for nine hours, the tour starts and finishes in Lucerne, and involves travelling by train, plus a boat trip on Lake Lugano.
First, you’ll board a train in Lucerne. The journey to Lugano takes around two-and-a-half hours, via the world’s longest rail tunnel, the Gotthard Tunnel. En route you’ll also enjoy views of lovely Swiss mountains and valleys.
After arriving in Lugano, you’ll have a couple of hours for sightseeing. You can explore the Italian-speaking part of Switzerland, choose a restaurant for lunch, and see the charming Old Town.
You’ll then embark on a voyage of discovery on Lake Lugano. This lasts for around an hour, and you can expect beautiful views throughout.
Look out for Monte Brè, Monte Generoso, Monte San Salvatore, and Monte San Giorgio. The latter is a renowned World Heritage Site.
Throughout the day, your local expert guide will share stories of historic events that have shaped Lugano’s history, including how and when the Italian-Swiss border came to be.
The tour cost includes a meet and greet service at your accommodation in Lucerne, return rail travel, the Lake Lugano cruise, and the services of your own private guide.
> Click here to book a Lugano day tour from Lucerne
Getting from Lucerne to Lugano | Final thoughts
Whether you decide to drive, book a private transfer or day tour, or take the train from Lucerne to Lugano, there’s a range of ways to travel between these two enticing Swiss destinations.
Between them, historic Lucerne and Mediterranean Lugano showcase some of the best of what Switzerland has to offer.
And with one of the country’s top panoramic trains travelling between the two, getting there might even be the most enjoyable part of all.
🇨🇭 Ready to book your trip to Switzerland? See all our Swiss transport guides for helpful info about getting around Switzerland. You might also like to read our Lucerne Travel Guide and our Ticino Travel Guide for tips on things to do and where to stay in these popular Swiss destination.
