San Salvatore
I have done this hike twice, once on the 29th of August, 2021, and again on the 4th of May, 2024. I had seen the hike on SwitzerlandMobility, and thought it looked very nice, as you are in the middle of southern Ticino, with views to the surrounding mountains and and lake Lugano below.
Full route: Swisstopo
I have been hiking with friends both times I was here, and we took the direct train from Zürich to Lugano, from where it’s just a short train ride to Paradiso, and the start of the hike. In Paradiso, there is also a funicular going up to Mt. San Salvatore, so it is easily reachable for those who can’t hike or want to cut some of the elevation gain.
On the hike up to Mt. San Salvatore, you very quickly get nice views over lake Lugano and the surrounding mountains. The trails winds its way up through forest, but there are several places where you can look out through the trees.
Closer to the top, where the tree cover is less dense, you start having really great views over the entire southern Ticino, both in direction Lugano and towards Monte San Giorgio and the border to Italy.
Up at Mt. San Salvatore, there is a platform, from where you have very nice views. On clear days, you can see mountain peaks in the far distance in direction Locarno and western Ticino, as well as the mountains in the area around Bellinzona.
After a long break on the top of Mt. San Salvatore, we continued the hike. On the top, the hike goes up and down and through forest, more open landscape, and small villages. Everywhere, the hiking path is easy, being on normal road, gravel road or relatively flat hiking path.
The descent is through forest, where you for some time, can’t see much of the surroundings, until you get closer to the lake below. The last part was entirely made up of steps all the way down to Morcote.
The last part down to Morcote is very beautiful, with views down to the church of Santa Maria del Sasso, lake Lugano and Italy in the background. If you have time, Marcote is a very charming little village, with many restaurants along the lake shore, which provide nice post-hike meal or drinks.
The first time I did this hike, we took the bus back to Paradiso and the second time, we decided to take the ferry back to Lugano. The ferry was a bit slower, but it was a very nice boat ride on the lake, seeing everything from a different perspective.
Back in Paradiso, we took the train back in direction Zürich.
