Lugano on a backpacker budget
Lugano costs a backpacker about €82 a day before a bed. Here is what that covers, where to sleep near the centre, and which overland corridors run through it.
Modelled estimates, not quotes. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
€82per day
€34dorm bed
€94twin room
€116day all-in
What to see
Lake promenade, Monte Brè.
Eating
Cross into Italy for lunch.
Beds near the centre
Distances are from the city centre point the planner uses.
| Ostello della gioventù Lugano | hostel | 2.3 km |
| Lugano Center GuestHouse | guest house | 0.8 km |
| Hotel International au Lac | hotel | 0.1 km |
| Hotel Nassa | hotel | 0.1 km |
| Lake View Apartment | guest house | 0.9 km |
Markets and cheap eats
| TicinoTour Market | market | 1.3 km |
| IL RIFUGIO SAGL | deli | 0.2 km |
| La Cucina di Alice | italian | 0.2 km |
Nearest hospital
Worth knowing before you need it.
| Ospedale Regionale di Lugano | emergency | 1.4 km |
Next stops on the network
MilanItaly · 63 km
ZermattSwitzerland · 93 km
InterlakenSwitzerland · 114 km
LucerneSwitzerland · 127 km
TurinItaly · 143 km
ZürichSwitzerland · 157 km
BernSwitzerland · 157 km
ChamonixFrance · 161 km
Common questions
How much does Lugano cost per day?
Budget about €82 a day for food and local transport, plus a bed. A dorm bunk runs around €34, a twin room about €94, and a small guesthouse room about €127. Two people sharing a twin usually beat two dorm beds here.
What is worth seeing in Lugano?
Lake promenade, Monte Brè.
Where do you eat cheaply in Lugano?
Cross into Italy for lunch.
Build a route that runs through Lugano, costed end to end.
Open the planner