Studying Abroad in Lugano: Everything You Need to Know -

During my junior year of college, I studied abroad in Lugano, Switzerland. As cliché as it is, it totally changed the trajectory of my life. Before studying abroad, I had only left the country once. Four years later, I have visited over 40 countries and even became a study abroad program leader in my first job out of college. Lugano is such a special place, so tag along for everything you need to know about studying abroad in Lugano, Switzerland!

studying abroad in Lugano switzerland — My friends and I at the “castle.”

Discovering Lugano

Before signing up for this program, I had no knowledge of Switzerland, let alone Lugano. It’s a quaint town on the Swiss-Italian border, overlooking the stunning Lake Lugano. It is very different than your typical study abroad spot. Lugano is very quiet; everything is closed by 10 pm, and the most exciting “nightlife” is the Coyote Ugly dive bar down the street. However, its location in the center of Europe makes it the perfect spot to reach other countries. It’s also the most relaxing and stunning home base that you could want in a study abroad program! Check out my article “8 Great Things to Do in Lugano as a Solo Traveler” for my top recommendations!

The best view of Lugano from the train station!

Academic Life

My study abroad program focused on Marketing, and I received 18 credits for participating. My program was a little different than other semester-long study abroad programs, as the professors from my university traveled to Switzerland to teach us. Many study abroad programs actually enroll you in a different university, but I received all credits through my original university. I honestly preferred this, as I didn’t have to worry about transferring credits.

The only non-marketing related class that I took was Italian, which is the primary language in Lugano. I regret to say that one semester of Italian did not make me fluent, but I still remember a few words. We took classes at the facilities of Franklin University, which was a school for American students. It was awesome having access to their facilities, as I could use their gym, eat at their dining hall, and even meet other Americans! This did isolate us a bit from interacting with locals, but Lugano did not have a large young adult population anyways, so it wasn’t something I felt was missing from my study abroad experience.

Living in a Hostel

I lived in a hostel for my entire study abroad experience. It was the amazing Montarina Hostel, which I feel so lucky to have experienced! The property is stunning, with a gorgeous view of the Lake, and even a pool! The only negative is that there were about 10 showers that 50+ of us shared, but you get used to it. We were located right next to the train station, which made weekend escapes very easy. It was about a 10-15 minute walk to the center of town by the lake, so we were able to experience the restaurants and stunning views whenever we wanted.

Eating in Lugano

The stereotype that Switzerland is expensive is 100% accurate. A typical entrée would cost around 30 USD, so I tried to grocery shop each week. Monday-Thursday, dinner was provided to us by the hostel. The food was always amazing, rotating between pasta and meat dishes. On weekends, we were encouraged to travel, and we were on our own for food.

For breakfast and lunch, I would grocery shop. I would make easy things such as salads or sandwiches, and have yogurt or peanut butter rice cakes for breakfast. I usually shopped at the Coop, but occasionally went to other grocery stores such as Manor or Migros. Another one of my favorite spots was Bretzelkonig in the train station. I would get sandwiches or raclette pretzels. Most grocery stores and restaurants are closed on Sundays, so I would try to plan ahead when traveling home from weekend trips. Luckily, train stations typically had open stores on Sundays, but the prices may be elevated compared to a typical grocery store.

My all-time favorite place in Lugano is Vanini Gelato. I would get this once a week as my treat, and it is still the most delicious gelato I’ve had to this day! Pro tip: ask for chocolate inside your cone when ordering (you can thank me later.)

Traveling to Other Countries

Like I mentioned, Lugano is a great location in the center of Europe. You can reach so many destinations by train! During my program, we were encouraged to travel every weekend, and were also given 3 10-day breaks from class for longer trips. I made it to 4 other countries during my semester abroad: Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Portugal.

I was studying abroad in 2021, which was right in the middle of the pandemic, and it made crossing borders difficult. However, I was still very lucky to make it to other countries and experience some of the world’s most iconic destinations with no tourists. I also experienced almost all of Switzerland, which was so amazing! Check out my article “10 Best Places to Travel to in Switzerland” for my highlights.

Lugano also has some great options for day trips, including Zurich, Lucerne, and Bellinzona for Swiss destinations, and Lake Como and Milan for Italian destinations. All are under 2 hours, so you can easily make a day trip, especially with a rail pass!

How Studying Abroad in Lugano Shaped Me

This experience opened up my eyes to travel and helped me learn how accessible travel can be. From staying in hostels to navigating international public transportation, I realized that you can actually travel on a budget! It also made me realize how much I adored traveling. It makes me feel alive, and it’s something I always look forward to.

After I came home from Lugano, I knew I had to go back, and I immediately applied to return after graduation as a program leader. It completely changed the trajectory of my life, as I took a gap year to live in Lugano and Rwanda instead of jumping straight into a corporate career. I loved every second! Stay tuned to hear more about my experience studying abroad during a pandemic, and leading study abroad programs!

Key Points:

Lugano is a quiet town on the border of Italy.
My program studied at Franklin University, but the professors were from my home university.
I stayed at the Montana Hostel which was conveniently located next to the train station.
My go to grocery stores was Coop, where I would get breakfast and lunch for the week. I would travel on weekends and try local restaurants.
I was able to travel to 4 other countries during this program: Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Croatia.
Studying abroad was the best decision I ever made! It created a passion for seeing the world that I will carry with me forever.

Important Links:

Coyote Ugly is the dive bar where the students from my university hung out.
8 Great Things to Do in Lugano as a Solo Traveler
Franklin University is where I took classes.
I lived in the Montarina Hostel.
Coop is my favorite grocery store.
Manor is another grocery store option at the bottom of a large department store.
Migros is another grocery store, but it was further away from where I was staying.
Bretzelkonig was my favorite spot in the train station.
Vanini Gelato was my favorite gelato spot!
10 Best Places to Travel to in Switzerland

Maddie Around the World