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Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Lugano, Switzerland
Photo: Funicolare Monte San Salvatore
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Lugano, Paradiso and Castagnola, with the Malcantone, the Collina d'Oro and Bellinzona

Best Dog-Friendly Hotels in Lugano

Switzerland

11 dog-friendly luxury hotels.

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Where can my dog actually go?

Lugano works well for a dog on the ground. A long lakefront promenade runs from Paradiso through the centre to Parco Ciani, the city runs fenced off-lead dog parks at Parco Tassino above the station and at Rugì along the Cassarate river, and both the San Salvatore and Monte Brè funiculars carry dogs. Eleven hotels on our list take dogs, and the top end says yes in writing, which is rarer in Switzerland than you'd think.

What separates them is where the dog is allowed to be. Villa Principe Leopoldo lets dogs into the breakfast room, the Bar & Bistrot and the outdoor restaurant, and has its own dog park, which is the best dining access in Lugano and rare anywhere at five stars. Splendide Royal on the lakefront lets dogs go everywhere in the hotel including the bars, and a dog can stay alone in the room with a card on the door, but dogs aren't in the restaurants, the breakfast area or the spa. Villa Castagnola gives you the park and the Rucola garden, but not the other restaurants, the main terrace, the pool or the Lido Club. Kurhaus Cademario, an adults-only spa hotel out in the Malcantone, takes dogs into the bistro and the outdoor restaurant. THE VIEW keeps dogs out of the restaurant areas and the spa.

Fees are Swiss. CHF 18 a night at Hotel & SPA Cacciatori, CHF 20 at Hotel City, CHF 22 at La Tureta in Bellinzona, CHF 25 per dog per day at LUGANODANTE, CHF 30 at Resort Collina d'Oro, CHF 35 at Kurhaus Cademario, CHF 45 at Villa Principe Leopoldo and CHF 50 a night at Villa Castagnola. Splendide Royal, THE VIEW and De La Paix don't publish a fee. Weight is the catch. Leopoldo, Kurhaus Cademario and LUGANODANTE take small and medium dogs only, De La Paix caps at 10 kg, and the highest published limit is 20 kg at Resort Collina d'Oro. No hotel here publishes a yes for a large dog, so for anything bigger ring Villa Castagnola or Splendide Royal, which don't publish a limit either way.

Know what isn't on the list. Hotel Walter au Lac, the Continental Parkhotel and the Bigatt in Paradiso don't take dogs, and nothing in Morcote, Gandria, Mendrisio or Campione d'Italia made our list. Visit them for the day by boat or on foot instead. Kurhaus Cademario, Cacciatori and Collina d'Oro sit 5 to 10 km out of town in the hills, so you'll want a car. Locarno and Ascona hotels are on our Lake Maggiore page.

Daisy's picks

Where Daisy would book

  1. 01
    Villa Principe Leopoldo

    Dogs at breakfast in the breakfast room, in the Bar & Bistrot and at the outdoor restaurant, with an on-site dog park, a dog concierge, a blanket-and-bowls box, biscuits and a dog sitter. CHF 45 a day, small and medium dogs only, on a lead in shared areas and never left alone in the room.

    CHF 45 · max Small and medium dogs kg

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  2. 02
    Hotel Splendide Royal

    Dogs go everywhere in the hotel including the bars, can stay alone in the room with a card on the door, and get their own room-service menu from CHF 24 to 36. Not in the restaurants, the breakfast area or the spa. The fee, weight limit and number of dogs aren't published, so ask when you book.

    Unknown · max Unknown kg

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  3. 03
    Grand Hotel Villa Castagnola

    The park and the Rucola garden on a lead, a gold lanyard for the door and dog sitting through reception, with the olive path to Gandria starting next door. CHF 50 a night. Not in the other restaurants, on the main terrace, in the spa, pool or Lido Club, and not left alone in the room.

    CHF 50 · max Unknown kg

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Before you go

What happens when you get there

Leads
Lugano's dog ordinance says dogs are on a lead in streets, squares, parks and public gardens, and the city can ban dogs from specific areas by signage. Fines for not picking up start at CHF 300. The off-lead running happens in the fenced dog parks.
Dog parks
The city runs three fenced off-lead parks with water and bag bins: Parco Tassino above the station, Rugì along the Cassarate river at Pregassona, and Barbengo on Via delle Scuole. Rugì and Barbengo open 7.00 to 22.00. At the Pian Casoro leisure area dogs stay on a lead.
Buses and funiculars
On TPL city buses dogs pay the reduced second-class fare, and small dogs up to 30 cm at the shoulder travel free in a carrier. On the San Salvatore funicular medium and large dogs pay CHF 8 one way or CHF 10 return. On Monte Brè small dogs ride free and bigger dogs pay CHF 8.50 one way or CHF 13 return, always on a lead and never on a seat.
Lake boats
The boats stop at Gandria, Morcote and Campione, which makes them the natural way to see the villages. The boat company doesn't publish a dog rule, so ask at the Lugano Giardino, Lugano Centrale or Paradiso ticket offices (+41 91 222 11 11) before you sail.
Dogs at breakfast
A split city. Villa Principe Leopoldo allows dogs in the breakfast room. Splendide Royal, Villa Castagnola and THE VIEW keep them out of breakfast. Everyone else doesn't publish a rule, so ask by name.
Weight limits
De La Paix caps at 10 kg and Resort Collina d'Oro at 20 kg. Villa Principe Leopoldo, Kurhaus Cademario and LUGANODANTE take small and medium dogs only. Nobody publishes a yes for a large dog, so ring ahead.
Lidos
Lugano's lidos are paid, gated bathing places open roughly late May to September, and they don't publish a dog rule either way, so ask at the gate. Villa Castagnola's own Lido Club is a no. The free promenade and parks are where a dog actually spends its time.
Vets
Centro Veterinario Preluna, Via Preluna 24, Comano, 091 941 66 84. Out of hours, the regional vet rota is on 0900 140 150.
Best walks
The lakefront promenade from Riva Paradiso along Riva Caccia and Riva Albertolli to Parco Ciani, a 63,000 m² lakeside park open 6.30 to 23.30 from March to October. The Sentiero di Gandria, the olive path along the shore from Castagnola to Gandria, on a lead as everywhere in the city. The nature trail at the top of Monte San Salvatore, reached by the funicular from Paradiso. The Malcantone village paths from Cademario, and the Collina d'Oro lanes from Agra towards Montagnola. Fenced off-lead running at Parco Tassino and at Rugì by the Cassarate.
When to go
Spring and early autumn. The lake boats run from late March to mid-October, and the promenade and the funiculars are at their best in April to June and in September. Lugano summers are the warmest in Switzerland, so in July and August walk early and late and never leave a dog in the car. The lidos run from late May to September and don't publish a dog rule. Outside the boat season, check sailings before you plan around one, and from November Parco Ciani closes at 21.00.

Dog-friendly hotels in Lugano

Questions we get asked

Dogs in Lugano

Is Lugano dog friendly?+

Yes. Eleven hotels on our list take dogs, including five five-star hotels, the city runs fenced off-lead dog parks, and both funiculars carry dogs. Dogs are on a lead in streets, squares and parks under the city ordinance.

Which Lugano hotels let dogs at breakfast?+

Villa Principe Leopoldo allows dogs in the breakfast room. Splendide Royal, Villa Castagnola and THE VIEW don't. The other hotels on our list don't publish a rule, so ask when you book.

Which Lugano hotels let dogs in the bar or restaurant?+

Villa Principe Leopoldo lets dogs into the Bar & Bistrot and the outdoor restaurant. Splendide Royal allows dogs in the bars but not the restaurants. Kurhaus Cademario takes dogs into the bistro and the outdoor restaurant. Villa Castagnola allows the Rucola garden only.

How much do Lugano hotels charge for dogs?+

CHF 18 a night at Cacciatori, CHF 20 at Hotel City, CHF 22 at La Tureta, CHF 25 per dog per day at LUGANODANTE, CHF 30 at Collina d'Oro, CHF 35 at Kurhaus Cademario, CHF 45 at Villa Principe Leopoldo and CHF 50 a night at Villa Castagnola. Splendide Royal, THE VIEW and De La Paix don't publish a fee.

Where should I stay in Lugano with a big dog?+

No hotel on our list publishes a yes for a large dog. The highest published limit is 20 kg at Resort Collina d'Oro. Villa Castagnola and Splendide Royal don't publish a limit either way, so ring them with your dog's size before you book.

Can I leave my dog in the hotel room in Lugano?+

At Splendide Royal, yes, with the card on the door, and there's a dog sitter to book. Villa Principe Leopoldo and Villa Castagnola say no, and both arrange dog sitting instead.

Can dogs go on the Lugano funiculars and buses?+

Yes. Small dogs up to 30 cm ride free in a carrier on TPL buses, and bigger dogs pay the reduced second-class fare. Monte Brè charges CHF 8.50 one way for medium and large dogs, San Salvatore CHF 8, and small dogs are free on both.

Are there dog-friendly hotels in Morcote or Gandria?+

None made our list in Morcote, Gandria, Mendrisio or Campione d'Italia. Stay in Castagnola and walk the olive path to Gandria, or take the boat to Morcote for the day.

Research updated 2026-09-27. Policies change, always confirm with the hotel.