We recently spent one month in the small village of Albogasio-Oria on the Italian Side of Lake Lugano. This peaceful enclave on the Swiss border turned into one of our favorite summer memories! Read all about this beautiful town on the lake, fun tips for the area, and all about our experience in Albogasio Italy.
Why Did We Pick Albogasio-Oria Italy?
So how did we find out about a small town like Albogasio in the first place? Well, we’d always wanted to see the lake region of northern Italy.
This past summer, we just so happened to be heading in that direction after spending July in Lake Annecy France. We’d never heard of Albogasio-Oria before our trip. However, so often with our long-term rentals, the deals available help us find new and exciting places to stay.
Once we saw the view of the lake from this apartment rental, we were sold! Know that most of the spots on the Italian side of Lake Lugano are very traditional on the inside.
Yet, what our place lacked in modern furniture and amenities, the view and location totally made up for. We were just a short (but steep walk) down to the water, and a 15 minute drive from Lugano city in Switzerland.
We understand that most travelers visiting will only spend a night or two. These are some small hotels and apartments we saw and would recommend for a short visit. Hotel Stella D’Italia was a few minutes drive from where we stayed, and one of the most highly-rated in the area.
Best Things to Do in Albogasio-Oria
If you couldn’t tell from the pictures, Albogasio is a small and peaceful town. Even in the peak month of August, it felt relatively empty compared to other places we’ve been in Europe during the same time of year.
Our town had only one mini-mart and a cafe/bar, but in classic Italian style, three historic churches! You’ll have to drive to the larger towns on both sides of the lake (Porlezza & Lugano) for bigger grocery stores and restaurants.
We actually grew to love this about Albogasio-Oria. Many of our days were spent hiking to the different towns, exploring local swimming spots, or simply just relaxing in our front yard with a view.
Just down the stairs from our place there were numerous spots to jump into Lake Lugano. One of our favorites was a wooden dock directly next to the historic Villa Fogazzaro Roi.
This is the beautiful summer home of the famous 19th century writer Antonio Fogazzaro. It’s now a museum that you can visit and learn more about the famous novelist.
More to See on the Italian Side of Lake Lugano
It’s no secret that many of the amazing towns are on the Swiss side of Lake Lugano! Aside from the bustling city, we loved exploring towns such as Morcote, Mont Bre, and Gandria.
In contrast, the Italian side of Lake Lugano feels like a different world. We made regular trips to the big town of Porlezza for groceries and the weekly Saturday market. It was also lovely strolling next door to Valsoda for a bakery treat or pizza. If you have time, be sure to drive past Porlezza and around the corner to the town of Ostena for a coffee and swim.
Another advantage of staying in Albogasio-Oria was its close proximity to Lake Como. We were a 30 minute drive from Mennagio, which is the jumping off point to all the famous towns on the lake.
It was so fun to drive over, park our car, then jump on the ferry to visit stunning towns like Bellagio and Varenna Italy. Make sure to get there are early as possible in the morning during the summer! Lake Como turns into a zoo in July and August by each afternoon.
Hiking Albogasio Italy Through Valsolda
One of our favorite hikes on Lake Lugano was right at our doorstep. Albogasio-Oria is technically a hamlet of Valsolda, which is a larger area on the Italian side of Lake Lugano.
We took a wonderful hike through many of the smaller villages starting in Albogasio. The trail took us on a 2 hour stroll through Castello, Puria, and Draino, before spilling out back down by the water.
Each town was so unique, with narrow alleyways and stone buildings. The views of the mountains and lake were so majestic along this hike. We took this walk because we were staying in the area, but there were absolutely no other tourists in sight.
Have any questions about this article or want to share your own tips for Albogasio Italy? Leave us a comment below!
Safe Travels,
Brigitte & Jake
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We’re Brigitte and Jake! American travel bloggers currently based in Spain. If you can believe it, we started Nothing Familiar way back in 2015 on an Ipad in the Ecuadorian jungle. Ever since, we haven’t stopped traveling! We’ve now been to over 60 countries around the world, with our expertise being Europe and Southeast Asia. We love outdoor adventures, tasting local specialties, and island hopping through tropical destinations. Hopefully, our guides and authentic experiences will inspire you on your own travels!
