What to do in Lugano when it rains
Grey skies over Lugano are a chance to go deep on its museums and galleries, poke around an indoor market, and find the cosiest café in town.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- LAC Lugano Arte e Cultura Piazza Bernardino Luini 6, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Museo Hermann Hesse Montagnola Ra Cürta 2, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland
- Museo d'arte della Svizzera italiana (MASI Lugano) Piazza Bernardino Luini 6, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Cantonal Museum Of Natural History Viale Carlo Cattaneo 4, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Villa Heleneum (Bally Foundation) Via Cortivo 24, 6976 Lugano, Switzerland
- Museum of Cultures Riva Antonio Caccia 5, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- La Bottega di Gandria accanto a Debarcadero SNL al lago, 6978 Gandria, Switzerland
- Ristorante Arté Rivetta Alfonsina Storni 1, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Repetto Gallery sa Via Clemente Maraini 24, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Astarte S.A. Via Cantonale 1A, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Primo Marella Gallery Via Pasquale Lucchini 10, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- IMAGO Art Gallery Via Nassa 46, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- International au Lac Historic Lakeside Hotel Via Nassa 68, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Posta Centrale Via della Posta 7, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Satoshi Nakamoto Statue 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Fontana Guglielmo Tell Riva Giocondo Albertolli 1, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Lavatoio 6933 Muzzano, Switzerland
- Casa Carlo Cattaneo Str. di Gandria 4, 6976 Lugano, Switzerland
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- IKEA ristorante Centro Lugano Sud, Via Cantonale, 6916 Grancia, Switzerland
- Mercedes-Benz Automobili SA, Vezia Via Kosciuszko 1, 6943 Vezia, Switzerland
- Autoclassica Via Piodella 9, 6933 Muzzano, Switzerland
- Mercato del pesce Lugano Via del Piano 12, 6926 Montagnola, Switzerland
- Ing. Carlo Bosia SA Via Trevano 62, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Croce Rossa abiti usati bambini Via Zurigo 3, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- McDonald’s Riva Giocondo Albertolli 1, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- McDonald's Via Alla Sguancia 9, 6915 Pambio Noranco, Switzerland
- A-CLUB Via centro Sportivo 5, 6942 Savosa, Switzerland
- Cinestar Via Giacomo e Filippo Ciani 100, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- Lido San Domenico Sentiero di Gandria 12, 6976 Castagnola, Switzerland
- Lanchetta Lounge Bar & Pinsa. Viale Castagnola 16, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Centro Lugano Sud Via Cantonale, 6916 Grancia, Switzerland
- Parco Commerciale Grancia Via Cantonale, 6916 Grancia, Switzerland
- Mercato Resega Canobbio Via Sonvico 5, 6952 Canobbio, Switzerland
- Palazzo Mantegazza Riva Paradiso 2, 6900 Paradiso, Switzerland
- Quartiere Maghetti Quartiere Maghetti, 6900 Lugano, Switzerland
- OTTO'S Bioggio Via della Posta 21, 6934 Bioggio, Switzerland
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.