What a fantastic view at the top of Monte Generoso (1704m), a mountain peak in southern Switzerland near Lugano. You can ride a mountain train up to a viewpoint, where you’ll find a large outdoor terrace, restaurant, a small playground and plenty of room to wander.
If you like to hike, there’s a wonderful loop trail that starts along the ridge, dips into the forest, and traverses back around the mountain ending on some cliffs near the restaurant.
This area tends to be warmer and sunnier than the rest of Switzerland, so a good choice for spring and late fall, when other higher mountains might be closed or have snow. I hope you like it!
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| Location: | Ticino, southern Switzerland |
| Address: | Via Famiglia Carlo Scacchi 6, 6825 Capolago |
| Car: | Parking: Via Segoma 1, 6825 Capolago (45°54’05.5″N 8°58’39.6″E) 25 mins from Lugano, 2hr40 from Zurich |
| Train: | Train station: Capolago-Riva S. Vitale 15 mins from Lugano, 2hr40 from Zurich |
| Trail: | optional 8 km, about 3 hours |
| Difficulty: | moderate, 390m up & down |
| Condition: | dirt path, no strollers |
| Services: | restaurant at start of trail, no services on trail |
| Cost 2024: | Mountain train return CHF 72/adult Discount for Swiss Travel Pass, Ticino Ticket, SBB GA and Half Fare cards |
| Open: | early June through early November, weather dependent |
| More info: | www.montegeneroso.ch • webcam |
Overview
Monte Generoso is south of Lugano. A mountain train leaves from Capolago (1) and takes you Monte Generoso (2), where you’ll find the panorama terrace and the trail head. You can reach Capolago by car, train, or boat from Lugano.
Hiking map
At the top of Monte Generoso, you’ll find an observation deck, restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating and small playground. For bigger views, most people hike the short 1 km loop to the actual Monte Generoso peak at 1704m. See trail map.
If you want a longer hike, we recommend this beautiful 8 km loop, which I’m calling the panorama trail since it doesn’t have an official name.
Trail conditions
This trail is a typical mountain trail, mostly a narrow dirt path, often rocky with some stairs. It’s not particularly dangerous but there are a few places with steep slopes on the sides and some steep descents with tricky footing.
You should wear sturdy hiking shoes, avoid bad weather conditions and bring enough water to last the hike. I would recommend hiking sticks.
More hiking options at Monte Generoso
You can find other hiking suggestions on the Monte Generoso hiking brochure and website, but I found their map shown below rather unhelpful.
The only other trail I would consider is #2 Bellavista “Sentiero della Natura”, which hikes from the top down to the middle station, about 1 hr. We saw lots of people doing that hike, but fyi, most of it is in the forest and along the train tracks.
How to get there
Monte Generoso is south of Lugano in southern Switzerland (see on Google Maps).
You access the viewpoint and trail with a cogwheel mountain train, which departs next to the regular train station: Capolago-Riva S. Vitale.
By car:
Drive to Capolago and follow signs to the train station, also labeled Monte Generoso on a brown sign. There is a large parking lot a short walk from the train station at Via Segoma 1, 6825 Capolago (45°54’05.5″N 8°58’39.6″E).
You pay at the beginning at a ticket machine (cash only), receiving a parking ticket to display in your window and a token to use to exit the parking at the end of your visit.
By train:
Take a train to Capolago-Riva S. Vitale. The mountain train leaves from in front of this station near the road.
Planning your day
Ticket
In 2024, an adult return ticket to the top of Monte Generoso costs CHF 72. In 2024, they plan to start offering ticket sales on their website.
You receive a discount with Swiss Travel Pass, Ticino Ticket, SBB GA and Half-fare (no discount with SBB Day Pass). Junior cards accepted. See other partner discounts.
Operating Times
The train usually runs from April thru end of October.
The mountain train runs once an hour. On busy days, there can be a long wait and there are currently no reservations. We recommend getting there at least 30 mins early to get in line.
In summer 2024, the first train up is at 10:05. Last train down at 17:45. Schedule may change due to weather or other circumstances. Check current schedule.
Video of trail
Photo story of the trail
1. Boarding the train
Here’s the line waiting to ride up to Monte Generoso. We were there on a cold, but sunny Tuesday the second week of October during fall school holidays and it was packed at 10:00!
The train ride takes 40 mins. I recommend sitting on the right side of the train as you face front. That side has the valley views. The left side looks at the forest.
2. Arriving at the top
The train drops you off here. There is a large area where you can safely walk around and enjoy the view, with fences along the cliffs. Inside the building, you’ll find a self-service cafe, a full service restaurant, gift shop and WC.
You have amazing views from this area even if you don’t choose to hike.
Here the outdoor seating for the café. There is also a picnic area, the tables in the foreground of my picture.
There is a small playground next to the picnic area.
Here’s an overview of the complex from the trail leading up to the Monte Generoso peak.
3. Hike up to Monte Generoso Viewpoint
Before you start the main trail, I recommend the short detour to the Monte Generoso peak at 1704m. From the restaurant you follow a stone path with stairs as shown below. It’s only about 500m to the top, but a climb that takes some effort.
You can see the small observation deck at the peak in the upper right of the pic.
View from the peak to the east, toward Lake Como.
To join the main trail, descend from the peak on the footpath (or you can take the stone path back down). At this trail sign, turn left heading towards “Alpe d’Orimento”. You won’t go all the way to that village, but you’ll walk that direction for the first half of the trail before looping back.
4. On the main trail toward Alpe d’Orimento
Now a steep descent through the forest. At this point, we were worried we had made a mistake. But don’t worry, this is the correct trail. It was only about 10 mins in the forest, but it felt like forever.
5. Join road and loop back
At the end of the long descent through the forest, you join this rocky road. Turn right to loop back to Monte Generoso. There’s no trail sign to help you out. If you turn left, the trail will take you to the village of Alpe d’Orimento, not where you want to go.
A bit through the forest, nice fall colors in mid October.
Now traversing up the mountain.
Pretty grassy hills.
The trail splits here. To the right is the main trail, the one we took. To your left, the trail dips down into the forest and visits an old bear cave (many took this one). Then that trail climbs back up to join the main trail. Both trails lead back to Monte Generoso, so it doesn’t matter which you take.
6. End of the trail
Now you just need to climb to the top. Make sure you get there in time to catch the last train down (usually at 17:45, but check before you start hiking).
You can see the start trail above and the end of your trail parallel below, cutting across the mountain.
The trail ends on this cliff in the distance. There is a path leading to the end of that point, which is a nice viewpoint and it’s only a couple minutes extra.
On the top of the cliffs, the trail turns back to the restaurant and train station. Note that you have to take the upper path as the lower path is private and goes to the farm (it’s marked as private).
That’s all. I hope you enjoy it!
