Swissminiatur

Swissminiatur opened in 1959 on the shore at Melide and lays out about a hundred and twenty models of Swiss buildings and landmarks at one to twenty-five - cathedrals, castles, town halls, the Chillon castle, the Federal Palace - arranged roughly by geography across a garden site of some fourteen thousand square metres. Around three and a half kilometres of model railway run through it with trains, cable cars and boats in motion, which is what holds children's attention. The planting is real and mature, with palms and cypresses giving the site a Ticino character that has nothing to do with the buildings represented. It is straightforwardly a family attraction and does not pretend otherwise.

Highlights

• About 120 models at 1:25 - the country's landmarks laid out by region.
• 3.5 kilometres of model railway - trains, cable cars and boats running.
• Mature real planting - palms and cypresses across the garden site.
• A 1959 attraction - among the older model parks in Europe.

When to go

Mid-March to early November. Half a day.

Practical notes

Closed all winter. It is aimed at families with young children; adults travelling alone often find an hour enough. Ticino summer heat on an open site is heavy. Prices are family-attraction level.

Nearby

Morcote is at the peninsula tip; Lugano is north.

Key facts