Hiking in Switzerland – Gabrielle and Urs: 2025

Sunday December 28, 2025 -- And on this Sunday, the final hike of our year 2025, we didn't want to travel too far and temperatures were warm in the Ticino, so we decided on a trip to Lugano. More specifically, we just wanted to walk the very pretty Olive Trail again, which we have done a couple of times already.

As this is quite a short walk along the lakeshore between Gandria and Castagnola (a "suburb" of Lugano), and because we thought it might still be in the shadow of the mountains on the other side of the lake in the earlier hours, we rode the bus to the mountain village of Brè, where we have also been very many times before, and where it's always nice to get views of the region from higher up. Even though we have walked down to Gandria from there before (in January 2018) , we actually discovered that there were a couple of trails we had not walked before, and this turned out to actually be very satisfying with great mountain trails and fantastic views of the lake, mountains, houses and palm trees.

After reaching Gandria, we continued on the lovely "Olive Grove Trail" along the lakeshore, one which we also have walked twice before and which was very popular on this lovely Sunday afternoon. Once we got to the end of the trail (we did only a 1½-km section of the 3-km trail), we were too early to catch the bus back to Lugano, so we climbed up the hillside to visit a 17th-Century church which we have often seen from the train station.

This was only an 8-km walk but a lovely way to spend a late winter day in the mild temperatures of the Swiss south.

PART 1: Bus ride to Brè... Always a great experience along a long winding road up the hill called Monte Brè, with great views of the city, the lake, and all the way to the Monte Rosa Massif in Canton Valais.

After a 1¾-hour trip from home to Lugano, we wait for the bus at 10:30 a.m with a view across the city into Val Colla and Monte Gazzirola, which I hope one day to walk along.

Views of Lake Lugano and Monte San Salvatore as the bus heads up to the mountain village of Brè, a 35-minute ride on winding roads.

First views of the fabulous Monte Rosa Massif which is 80km as the crow flies to the West in Canton Valais, and the site of the highest peak of the Swiss Alps.

View over the city of Lugano.

And now the view south again across Lake Lugano, Monte San Salvatore, and Monte San Giorgio, as the bus nears the village of Brè.

PART II: Wandering the Alleys of Brè... We got here at 11:15 and spent 30 minutes walking around the village.

Before starting on our hike down the mountain to Gandria, we walked northwards along the road in Brè to get another look at the Monte Rosa Massif. Fantastic view today! In that range of the Valais Alps 80 km from here are the highest of the Swiss Alps, many over 4000 meters, including Mt.Dom, which is the highest peak strictly on Swiss ground. (In the center of the photo).

In the Monte Rosa Massif is the highest peak in the Swiss Alps, namely the Dufour Peak at 4634 meters. On the other side, and not visible from here, is the Matterhorn.

Even though we have walked around the alleys of Brè many times in the past, it is always worth a walk here, with all the twists and stairs and side alleys and arched passageways. In summer it is even better because of the colourful flowers.

Wandering through the side alleys of Brè

Always the cats!

Many artists here, and lot of artwork.

We saw several Nativity scenes on this day, but this one was super interesting. There was so much going on! Lots of moving parts as well.

Some interesting details on the busy Nativity Scene. Upper left: A dwarf sitting in the outhouse / Lower left: A butcher cutting up a pig! / On the right, a man sitting at a loom weaving....

VIDEO:

Some of the many moving parts on this interesting "Nativity" Scene

Our hike down the mountain starts here on the left, but we first went to check out the church, of course.

Interior of the church in Brè

Details of the interior of the church in Brè

This was not a very long hike for us, just over 8 km, but lots of interesting different trails, including a new mountain trail which we hadn't walked before. (Toward Ruvigliana and back to Gandria). From Gandria we followed the Panoramic Olive Trail to Castagnola, and then went to look at another church before catching the bus.

PART III: Descent to Gandria... Back in 2018 we descended from here to Gandria on the more direct but steeper trail (photos HERE), so this time we walked back and forth along longer trails down the mountain, a lovely walk, longer but less steep.

We started on the descent at 11:45, on lovely mountain trails with lots of sunshine!

After a short picnic break on a bench in a curve of the road, we headed westward toward Ruvigliana with this view.

Along the way we also got views behind us to the snow-covered peaks on the east side of Lake Como in Italy.

Along the forest trail we often get views of houses below.

Here we reach the westernmost part of hour hike in Ruvigliana and now we head back on another trail heading eastward again toward Gandria.

The palm trees give this region a really Mediterranean flair.

Views over the lake as we head eastward.

This was my favourite part of the hike, an easy and clean mountain trail above the vertical cliffs, wih lots of variety.

We even passed a section of forest where there were very many new and fresh forest flowers, flowers we usually see only in February!

And here a sunny clearing with a bench for another break! Across the lake to the south are the mountains of Italy, as the border is right about here.

Below us we spot the boat which takes tourist around the lake, and is currently heading to Gandria.

PART IV: Gandria and the Olive Trail... The "Sentiero dell'Olive" ("Olive Trail") is a panoramic trail along the lakeshore between Gandria and Castagnola, unique in Switzerland for many reasons, not least the climate which permits for a large variety of Mediterranean-type flora and fauna.

When we reach the main road above the village of Gandria, we get a really nice look at the mountains on the east side of Lake Como. This part of Lake Lugano visible on this photo is in Italy, as the border is right here.

Looking down on the rooftops of the village of Brè. As we have walked the alleyways of this village many times, we didn't go have a look this time, but headed right to the western side of the village to the Olive Trail. (Most recently in September 2024 when we took friends here on a day of riding the boats on Lake Lugano --> photos HERE toward the end of the blog).

This is my favourite place in Brè: It's a private terrace, but hikers are allowed to walk through on their walk through the village! But you are not allowed to make yourself comfortable here.

View toward the mountains of Italy on the south side of the lake.

Many olive trees, thus the name of the trail "Olive Trail", or "Olive Grove Trail".

Heading out now along the Olive Trail, a 3-km panoramic trail along the lakeshore from Gandria to Castagnola. (We only walked the 1½-km section on the west side of the town).

An interesting path!

Lots of cacti and palm trees along the trail. The microclimate here is unique in Switzerland for the variety of plant and animal species.

This section of the lake is part of the federal inventory of landscapes and natural monuments of national importance.

As we round the corner, we can see the path following the lakeshore.

The road above wasn't built till 1936, and until then, Gandria was mostly accessible only by boat, or by this trail blasted into the hillside in 1772.

The rock here is tens of thousands of years old.

As the road above wasn't built till 1936, this footpath served as access to Gandria (besides by boat) since 1772.

Houses along the path

About half-way along is the "Elvezia al Lago" hotel restaurant, currently closed but very popular from May till December.

Details of the hotel

A bunch of cormorants enjoying the little dock off the edge of the lakeshore!

Lovely mild day for this easy walk.

Now a nice look back at the edge of Gandria Village, with the mountains of Lake Como in the background.

A camellia bush still in full bloom!

Now here is a parking spot at the "start" of the trail. Most of the people we encountered on the trail had parked here and walked to Gandria and back again. The sign describes the trail...

PART V: Walk up to St.Giorgio Church, and bus back to Lugano

Continuing along the main road now in Castagnola, we admire all the palm trees along the lake. There is a small park here which we could have detoured through.

Some gorgeous villas. These Ticino palm trees have been growing here for many years!

Fun Christmas decorations.

As we would have been about 20 minutes early for the nearest bus, we decided to head up a long series of stairs toward a church we had often seen higher up on the hill. This view again is to the hills in Italy on the other side of Lake Lugano.

We got to the church (San Giorgio) at 15:10. The nearest bus here was leaving at 15:25, but we later ended up walking down the hill again for a 15:35 bus. In any case, enough time to inspect the church....

The altar inside San Giorgio Church.

Beautiful stucco work, lovely paintings. (Main altar on the left).

More artwork in a side nook. These churches are like art museums!

The back part of the church where the entrance is.

A sign outside the church states construction dates of 1670-1680. In the church was also a small nativity scene. And that iron-work picture next to the main door is fantastic.

View from the terrace in front of the San Giorgio church.

More olive trees.

We had enough time to head down to the main road again to catch the 15:35 bus. This was like a park with several terraces, each with several olive trees and park benches. It was very pretty here.

The sun is just passing behind Monte San Salvatore at 3:30 p.m. as we wait for the bus to head back to Lugano.

Back at Lugano train station at 4 p.m. to catch the train for trip home, which is less than two hours from here. On the other side of the city at the base of Monte Brè, we can see the San Giorgio church which we had visited.