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.
