> IF YOU GO ...

A newcomer in the aptly named Paradiso neighborhood and a pioneer in the Lugano’s nascent design hotel category, the 18-room Hotel the View (theviewlugano.com) maximizes its hillside perch with sweeping views of the lake and the city from virtually every spot in the hotel. Enhancements include a spa and indoor pool. Rooms from 1,350 Swiss francs.

A charming four-star historic grand hotel property, Hotel International Au Lac Lugano (hotel-international.ch) has 80 rooms with antique furnishings, a lively bar and a surprisingly spacious garden with an outdoor pool located right in the heart of Lugano. Doubles from $260.