This past weekend I made my first ever trip to Switzerland to stay in the lakeside city of Lugano; a tranquil spot near the Italian border and the largest Italian-speaking city outside of the country itself.

Being a country that is bordered by five others and speaks multiple languages, I guess it’s got to be a little bit of everything, but Lugano is definitely heavy on the Italian-influence. The city is just a short drive from Milan but the complete opposite in terms of pace – a population of just over 60,000 which felt more like 6.

Our first day was met with some fairly un-inspiring weather, but with most choosing to stay indoors it made for some peaceful scenes in the early part of the day.

The hills in the Paradiso area provide an excellent vantage point, looking out over the lake to the town center and a few snow-capped mountains in the distance. Switzerland’s many snow resorts lie only a short drive away and are definitely on my list for my next visit. I have zero ski/snowboarding experience so that could make for an interesting post.

Dinner at Ristorante Argentino was the closest I have ever come to a real Italian pizza. It came highly recommended and didn’t disappoint. It’s also worth noting that if you don’t like pizza, you might struggle here. Only ever the veggie option.

Sunday presented a much clearer day and a chance to enjoy the local scenery from the Parco Civico that extends out to the waters edge. Lugano was a huge contrast to my usual London surroundings and I can definitely see myself spending a lot more time here. I could get used to views like this.