Switzerland in one day: Swiss Miniature Park Lugano
Switzerland in one day with kids ? This sounds rather mad but trust us, it’s truly feasible, plus very cute! It’s called SwissMiniatur and is a Swiss Miniature Park Lugano, an entertaining and intriguing gem in Melide more precisely, surrounded by Monte Generoso, Monte San Salvatore and Monte San Giorgio. And in fact we recommend simply 2 hours for this favourite treat Ticino with kids. Heidi’s lands have never been easier to be explored by little feet!
Switzerland in one day: SwissMiniatur Park Lugano – Ticino with kids
It took me over 20 years to visit Lugano, Geneva, St Moritz, Zurich and Constant lake to mention just a few, but Switzerland with kids in one day in Melide is easy and so very enjoyable!
Glacier and train rides through the mountains ? Done.
St Morritz cable car in motion? Done.
Geneva’s wonderful St Pierre’s cathedral?
Done. Busy Zurich airport? Done.
Matterhorn dazzling heights? Done.
Magical grotto for fantasy land creatures in the mountains? Done.
A train through all Switzerland, pretty trimmed countryside and filled with flowers, huge geographic diversity and historical heritage? Done.
The miniature park is the labour of love of a visionary man, years ahead of Legoland miniatures. It started with an ambitious project and modest 20 buildings, now over 120, all pretty cool and scaled at 1:25 and set in 14’000 m2 by Lugano lake and UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site. Pierre Vuigner, a Swiss municipal clerk and grocery store owner, started back in 1959 SwissMiniatur in Melide.
For a full summer day out, check also Melide lido next door. It has great little pools and slides for toddlers, groomed grassy areas (certainly under better management that the ones our kids like in Menagio); spotless lake plus fun inflatables; a great cafe restaurant where one can sip aperols and keep an eye on the kids from shade and with civilised grown up conversation. Make sure you take swimsuits with you, otherwise it will be all aspirational, just like us 😉
We drove from Lugano and it took us barely 15 minutes. You can also take the train and check out the combined offers.
Lugano lake – Ticino with kids
Swiss Miniature Park Lugano makes a perfect day out in Ticino with kids and our friends little ones constantly demand going back! We’ve been also treated by goodie bags from Swissminiatur shop, if you get as passionate as our little darlings, you can buy sunglasses, tshirts, softtoys, pens and so on! A Swiss institution for over the last 50 years, SwissMiniatur in Melide is a must see for little and grown up explorers in Lugano and around! For our dedicated article on Lugano with kids, head here, it’s a magic place!
PS: many thanks to SwissMiniatur for the invite and goodiebags; impressions, pics and overexcited kids ours and our friends.
24 comments on “Switzerland in one day: Swiss Miniature Park Lugano”
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This sounds like so much fun. My girls would love it. We have a model village close to us and I have to admit that I find it fascinating too #CulturedKids
Is that Bekonscot Model Village? Still on our list to explore in UK, hopefully soon now that the boys got the taste of model villages !
Can’t beat a miniature land! Excellent proximity to lake and inflatables. My boys loved going on those in Austria this summer. Fun post with all the real and mini pics! #culturedkids
Thank you and yes a great cultured & adventurous day out ! Have heard great stuff about Austria in the summer with kids!
Now, if only they could do London in a day, it would save me a lot of running around! #CULTUREDKIDS
Indeed Scarlett! 🙂
I’ve never been to Switzerland but it’s on my list 🙂 I visited a similar place in Austria, but it’s got miniatures from all over the world, so it was like seeing all the most famous monuments in an hour:) #culturedkids
Hope you get to go soon Tanja! SwissMiniatur is such a condensed beautiful way to get a taster of Switzerland!
This looks like a fun day out. I’ve only ever been to Zurich and must get back to explore more of Switzerland with my little one – can be pricey though! #CulturedKids
Indeed Lisa, bit pricey given the FX rates but so neat and pretty! Lugano is in close proximity to Italy, our friends prefer shopping in Italy & there are some great restaurants just by the border and 15 minutes drive from Lugano ! An article on Lugano with kids is in preparation with lots of local tips & tricks
Well done! What a fabulous place to visit! Beautiful lake view too! Thanks for hosting #culturedkids
Thank you! Hope to see you soon for our aperols and catch up properly ! X
Absolutely! Let’s do it! Xx
Took the kids for the first time to Switzerland this year. This looks like a lot of fun #CulturedKids
It was good Sima!
I love a miniature town, always brings a smile #CulturedKids
Nothing like some ludic cultured fun Catherine!
I LOVE miniature villages and this looks stunning. Your photos are fab and the lido sounds like an ideal counterpart to a family day out #culturedkids
Thank you so much, hope you are keeping well! xo
That sounds so wonderful. I live a miniature land , and of Switzerland that s amazing. I would definitely would love to go there. I loved the Mini Europe in Brussels. Thanks for sharing this and hosting #culturedkids.
Thanks Usha! We are still to go to the Mini Europe with kiddies! My other half had a business trip the other week in Brussels but we decided not to join as it was too cold and grey. Next summer ! 🙂 x
My kids love a mini village, so this would be perfect!!! Thanks for the intro! #culturedkids
My pleasure 🙂 x
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