Luxury bespoke holidays to the Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano
Facts in brief
Official star rating 5
Location About 2km outside Lugano, on Collina d’Ora.
Annual opening All year
Closest airport Milan Malpensa
Distance from airport Around 1hr 30 minutes by train
Closest railway station Lugano
Distance from railway station Around 6 minutes by car
Hotel facilities and services
Restaurant, piano bar, winter garden, two outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, fitness room, sauna, spa, laundry service, car rental.
Complimentary
Wi-Fi, Free outdoor parking, E-bikes for adults, Shuttle service to/from train station and city centre.
Land sports
Tennis, complimentary E-bikes available upon request
Out and about nearby
Lake Lugano marks the Swiss-Italian border, and bends round to touch the town of Lugano on two sides. As a result, this entirely unique land and water formation provides spectacular views and diverse walking routes. The Monte San Salvatore and Monte Bré are best for hiking and seeking out the high-up vantage points and natural forested beauty spots. Across the lake, and on the Italian border, is Sighignola Mountain, which enables you to look back across the town. Within Lugano, pay a visit to the Cathedral of Saint Lawrence, which sits at the very top of the gently stepped Via Cattedrale. This Roman Catholic cathedral was founded in the Middle Ages, but was rebuilt at the end of the 15th century. Its picturesque tower rises up above the town, and is crowned by a distinctive green dome. The pink-fronted Museum of Cultures sits on the waterside, and gives visitors a step-by-step insight into Swiss cultural history.
Sports nearby
Water sports on Lake Lugano; Walking, Hiking, and Cycling in the nearby mountains and valleys.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Deluxe junior suite for 5 nights
From about
£1,760
Holiday Code EXH995
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to the Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano
The five-star Villa Principe Leopoldo is a historic hotel just outside Lugano which has played host to many historical figures throughout the years. Built at the end of the 19th century, the villa was originally inhabited by Prince Federico Leopoldo, a cavalry general, until his death in 1931, at which point it began to welcome illustrious figures from Europe’s nobility either as residents or guests. Converted into a hotel in 1986, today it has 37 large suites and is one of the most refined luxury hotels in Lugano. The marble pillars in the grand entrance hall are reminiscent of its days as a noble residence, and this atmosphere is continued in the spacious suites, all of which have balconies and many of which have views of Lake Lugano. Rooms are situated below the Villa’s main terrace, ensuring uninterrupted views and peaceful surroundings undisturbed by the wonderful ambience of the hotel’s stunning terrace area, home to two outdoor swimming pools and a winter garden which is used to serve breakfast during the milder months. The hotel’s restaurant serves authentic Ticino cuisine in an elegant setting: stuccoes, paintings and antique furniture serve as a backdrop for exquisite meals served with a selection of the finest wines from Ticino, Italy and France. In the evening the sophisticated Piano Bar Principe serves classic and international drinks accompanied by live music, which can be enjoyed on the panoramic terrace in good weather. Treat yourself to a beauty treatment in the hotel’s Dot Spa, tucked away in an exclusive space of the hotel. The prime location, excellent facilities and historic surroundings make this a wonderful base from which to explore the Italian-speaking region of Ticino before retiring for a relaxing evening of opulent luxury.
Room descriptions
The Villa Principe Leopoldo has 37 suites with free Wi-Fi, cable and satellite TV, radio, safe, minibar, desk and air-conditioning. All rooms have a balcony.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Deluxe junior suite for 5 nights
From about
£1,760
Holiday Code EXH995
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to the Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano
The journey and how you get there
For a holiday to the Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano, we include a scheduled flight from London to Milan Malpensa. From Milan to Lugano it takes about 1hr 40 minutes by train. We will arrange for the hotel to provide a complimentary shuttle transfer from Lugano train station.
Additional information
Children: Children up to 8 years old on Bed and Breakfast stay free of charge when sharing the room with their parents.
Special offers
3 Nights Booking Offer Stay 3 nights and receive 10% reduction off our contracted rates. Restrictions apply
5 Nights Booking Offer Stay 5 nights and receive 15% reduction off our contracted rates. Restrictions apply.
Thank you. We had an amazing holiday. Really appreciate the work put in to give us the trip of a lifetime!Mrs H, Jan 2023
Holiday price guide Sample prices are per person based on two people sharing a Deluxe junior suite for 5 nights
From about
£1,760
Holiday Code EXH995
The prices displayed here are a guide only. Each holiday price will be tailor-made at the time of booking to reflect all actual costs including up-to-date special offers.
Call us on 01392 441245
Luxury bespoke holidays to the Villa Principe Leopoldo, Lugano
About Ticino
An Expressions tailor-made holiday to Ticino allows travellers to witness the sheer diversity of Switzerland as a country. Hailed as having a Mediterranean climate, Ticino is Switzerland's most southerly region. Italianate towns, influenced by the proximity of the Italian border, provide a wholly different culture and atmosphere to the Bernese Oberland, the Saanenland, and other central and northern regions. A smattering of small lakes mark the upper boundary of Ticino, but it is Lake Maggiore and Lake Lugano that dominate the south, prompting many of the long, straight valleys that lead into Italy. The River Ticino winds its way down from its source on the Ticino border, meeting dams, lakes, and trickling and tumbling waterfalls on its way. Palm trees line the lakesides, medieval Italian castles form the centre-points of towns, and colourful, higgledy-piggledy houses look out across the water or from their tiered position on the steep mountainside. Communities here seem to effortlessly blend the feel of southern coastal towns with the rural authenticity of the mountain villages of central Switzerland.
Highlights of Ticino
Two of the main cities in Ticino lie quite close together in the south of the region: Locarno and Lugano. On the banks of Lake Maggiore, Locarno is rich with cultural treasure. Visit the 17th century Church of St Anthony, the 16th century Church of San Francesco, the mid-17th century New Church, or the late 15th century Sanctuary of the Madonna del Sasso to begin your tour of Locarno's beautiful and historic sites. Perhaps most noteworthy, however, is the Visconti Castle, in which there is a permanent exhibition of Roman glass. On Thursdays a market is held in the centre of the town, which always makes for an excellent place to enjoy Locarno at its liveliest, as well as to pick up a few delicacies. Venture outside Locarno to climb the Cadada Cimetta, from the top of which you can see both the Valais High Alps and Lake Maggiore, the highest and lowest points in Switzerland. Follow the paths of the Magic Valley or the Verzasca Valley to witness the turquoise-green, crystal-clear waters that flow there. For a more leisurely day out, enjoy a boat cruise on Lake Maggiore. As you leave Locarno and head west down the valley towards Italy, you will see the rocky gorges that prove so popular with cliff divers. Eerie tunnels and caverns have been carved out over time, providing ethereal little spots to stop off on your travels.
Cultural highlights of Ticino
East of Locarno is Bellinzona, a town remarkable in that it is the most Italianate town in Switzerland and capital of Ticino. The central medieval castle and its two neighbours are among Switzerland's best preserved, coming together to form a picturesque UNESCO World Heritage Site. The ramparts of the central castle run alongside the vineyards within, with lush grass carpeting the fortified walls. North of Locarno, you will come across Tegna, the site of some interesting prehistoric ruins. Continue along this route towards the Italian border on the Centovalli Express to discover the old wine press in the village of Cavigliano, the museum and cableway in Intragna, the cable car up to the solitary, traffic-free hamlet of Rasa from Verdasio, and finally, across the Italian border to Re, where the stunning, yet imposing, Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Blood stands on the very edge of a dramatic cliff. In eastern Ticino is Biasca, a town where a waterfall cascades down the mountainsides, under bridges and over rocks that have been smoothed by time. Towns and villages such as Airolo, Lavizzara, Acquarossa, Blenio, and Brione all offer alternative views on this beautiful region. Any visit to Ticino is incomplete without a few hours spent in Lugano. Famous for its eponymous lake, San Salvatore Mountain, and Monte Bre, Lugano is a quintessentially ‘Ticino’ town. Take the funicular railway from Casserate as high as possible up Monte Bre to witness the phenomenal panoramas and enjoy the traditional Swiss rail experience.
Festivals in Ticino
As with much of Switzerland, there is a high focus on dairy products in both the regional dishes and their self-identification. To appreciate Swiss dairy products in Ticino, head to Ambri Quinto in the Leventina Valley at the end of September to enjoy the Agriculture and Cheese Fair. The first weekend in October brings with it a celebration of autumn. In Lugano, this autumn festival focuses on local products, folkloric music, and small dramatic shows. In Ascona, the autumn festival celebrates the versatile chestnut, with jams, cakes, cheese dishes, and entertaining concerts. Ascona's unique carnival is celebrated on Mardi Gras on the lake promenade. In Muralto on the second Sunday of March there is a fish festival beside the water, involving a fishing contest, music, games, and food stalls. Beside the smooth rocks of Solduno, on St Joseph's Day in March, the streets are filled with the smell of the speciality Tortelli, a fritter whose recipe is strictly guarded.
Gastronomy in Ticino
The varied and delicious specialities of Ticino may very well be the highlight of your trip, influenced by hearty Swiss cuisine, as well as Italy's Mediterranean flavours. One particular feature of dining here are the ‘grotto' restaurants. Usually housed in picturesque stone farmhouses, with abundant flower boxes, shuttered windows, and vast terraces canopied by views on which customers eat fresh, home-cooked food. Popular so-called ‘slow foods' include farina bona flour, cicitt sausages, Zincarlin cheese and shortbread biscuits. At the heart of many dishes you may come across are polenta and Merlot wine, which can also be sampled at a local winery. Originally cooked in a large cauldron like porridge, polenta is now best served alongside braised beef. Before leaving Switzerland, ensure you sample some of the world-famous fondue.