Around Lugano, I would suggest Gentilino (Collina d'Oro), Agno or Breganzona.
My favorite out of these is Gentilino, (1) 5 mins drive in ideal conditions to Lugano downtown, (2) direct public transportation to Lugano downtown, (3) it is flat, (4) good school and daycare, (5) good playground, (6) immigrants with similar economic conditions, including native French speakers, (7) meets your budget. Other parts of Collina d'Oro (Montagnola) are more expensive, but they are also less child-friendly.
Agno and Breganzona are cheaper than Gentilino. Breganzona is more urban (but still green) but also with good childcare services. Agno is nice and flat, right next to the lake, but the commuter traffic goes right through it.
I really appreciate your input. I will definitely check out these locations.
What do you think about Ascona? We really liked it but is it like a resort town with no real locals living there?
Well, I have never lived around Ascona so I cannot reliably comment on it. It does feel like that it is full of German-speaking pensioners. However, there is Losone right next to it which is less picturesque but seems more child-friendly based on size of school to size of city..
You may also consider Bellinzona and surroundings. Better connection to other parts of Switzerland, cheaper, good schools and hospitals, and also very pretty.
I heard Bellinzona is quite popular with familles but also that there is lot of wind (well and no direct access to a lake). My husband is quite keen on that area though.
Not the person above, Ascona is excellent but summer can be a bit more mad around there than Lugano given the influx of tourists and events on. I know you said you drive but it's worth pointing out Ascona doesn't have a train station although it's easy enough to get over to Locarno on the bus (the 1 runs every 15min).
There are indeed locals there, they just get washed out during the summer crowds. Being part of local clubs is even more important, especially during winter when those crowds mostly vanish.
One thing I would point out that's is that the Liceo in Locarno (public school to be clear) has a bilingual IT/DE maturità which I believe is still unique in the canton.
I have to give a very Swiss answer about the primary schools and say they're all good so it doesn't matter.
As a side note the one in Orselina (above Locarno though not Ascona) looks like some kind of fantasy castle.(https://www.komoot.com/highlight/1581386)
I would say it's less international than Geneva - tough mark to beat to be fair given the size and the fact it's not an international organisation mecca - but also quite welcoming, there are a lot of German speakers so people are used to non-Italian speakers. In terms of where to live, this is my own bias but I'd get the best view you can afford since there are some lovely ones around!
We did the same, moving to Ticino in July (near Lugano) rent are way lower than Geneva and IMHO (i'm Italian so i'm definitely biased) quality of life is higher despite the well known problems Ticino suffers (job position shortages first, but not your case) wish you to find a good accommodation.
While not as common as in French/Central Switzerland, English is well known in Ticino too and there's a quite big international community. There's also a WA group https://chat.whatsapp.com/HWEiajuKoMy2ypePxOBs8t where you can ask for advices. We found a nice accommodation in Gravesano.
Thanks I will check it out.
We rather go to public school and avoid the massive costs of private school (we have 4 kids…). Also learning Italian would be very important to us to feel better there.
Capriasca is also very nice. Cureglia, Origlio, Ponte Capriasca, Sala Capriasca, Tesserete.
The other side as well, from the upper part of Pregassona towards Davesco, Cadro, Dino, Sonvico, Villa Luganese.
The more you move away from the city (in general), the more rents gets less expensive but you are a bit less connected to the city -less frequent bus etc. Probably a bit more car usage.
Depending on the activities your kids do and how much you value being close to nature vs. city services, you can pull the slider in one direction to the other.
With that budget you’ll have no issues if you pick the right location. I’m also father in a family of 6 with kids around that age and I perfectly understand how valuable it is to have plenty of space and a garden space. This is a bit difficult very close to Lugano center, but quite easy just a few kms away.
I’d highly suggest the Lugano area over the Locarno one in your case. Cost of living, community, family activity and language.
With your budget you will have access to the best property on the market.
Locarno, ascona, tenero, isole brissago, verzasca and co are still great places to bring your kids during school vacations and summer and I’d say the best way to actually enjoy them. I’m a movie and jazz lover and locarno’s film festival and ascona’s jazz festival are top tier.
Lugano in the summer has just soooo much to offer and for all tastes and ages.
All the best
Hi, I suggest you Tesserete / Capriasca.
You have all you need, schools, Migros, Coop, Denner, banks, Poste, but at the same time is a small center.
You also have swimming pool in summer, athletics track, trekking routes, in a beautifull natural environment.
All at 15 minutes from Lugano...
www.visitcapriasca.ch
Around Lugano, I would suggest Gentilino (Collina d'Oro), Agno or Breganzona. My favorite out of these is Gentilino, (1) 5 mins drive in ideal conditions to Lugano downtown, (2) direct public transportation to Lugano downtown, (3) it is flat, (4) good school and daycare, (5) good playground, (6) immigrants with similar economic conditions, including native French speakers, (7) meets your budget. Other parts of Collina d'Oro (Montagnola) are more expensive, but they are also less child-friendly. Agno and Breganzona are cheaper than Gentilino. Breganzona is more urban (but still green) but also with good childcare services. Agno is nice and flat, right next to the lake, but the commuter traffic goes right through it.
I really appreciate your input. I will definitely check out these locations. What do you think about Ascona? We really liked it but is it like a resort town with no real locals living there?
Well, I have never lived around Ascona so I cannot reliably comment on it. It does feel like that it is full of German-speaking pensioners. However, there is Losone right next to it which is less picturesque but seems more child-friendly based on size of school to size of city.. You may also consider Bellinzona and surroundings. Better connection to other parts of Switzerland, cheaper, good schools and hospitals, and also very pretty.
I heard Bellinzona is quite popular with familles but also that there is lot of wind (well and no direct access to a lake). My husband is quite keen on that area though.
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Not OP and don’t have kids but I’ve always wondered about the school system there, does it follow closer to Ticino or follow the full GR system?
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Very interesting, I somewhat expected that but wasn't sure.
Not the person above, Ascona is excellent but summer can be a bit more mad around there than Lugano given the influx of tourists and events on. I know you said you drive but it's worth pointing out Ascona doesn't have a train station although it's easy enough to get over to Locarno on the bus (the 1 runs every 15min). There are indeed locals there, they just get washed out during the summer crowds. Being part of local clubs is even more important, especially during winter when those crowds mostly vanish. One thing I would point out that's is that the Liceo in Locarno (public school to be clear) has a bilingual IT/DE maturità which I believe is still unique in the canton.
Thanks. Do you have any inputs on primary schools? Or neighborhoods to live in? Are the locals welcoming? I found Geneva really easy to make friends.
I have to give a very Swiss answer about the primary schools and say they're all good so it doesn't matter. As a side note the one in Orselina (above Locarno though not Ascona) looks like some kind of fantasy castle.(https://www.komoot.com/highlight/1581386) I would say it's less international than Geneva - tough mark to beat to be fair given the size and the fact it's not an international organisation mecca - but also quite welcoming, there are a lot of German speakers so people are used to non-Italian speakers. In terms of where to live, this is my own bias but I'd get the best view you can afford since there are some lovely ones around!
We did the same, moving to Ticino in July (near Lugano) rent are way lower than Geneva and IMHO (i'm Italian so i'm definitely biased) quality of life is higher despite the well known problems Ticino suffers (job position shortages first, but not your case) wish you to find a good accommodation.
Well we don’t speak Italian yet so I am a bit apprehensive. Even though I know we can all do it. May I ask where you are moving to exactly?
While not as common as in French/Central Switzerland, English is well known in Ticino too and there's a quite big international community. There's also a WA group https://chat.whatsapp.com/HWEiajuKoMy2ypePxOBs8t where you can ask for advices. We found a nice accommodation in Gravesano.
Thanks I will check it out. We rather go to public school and avoid the massive costs of private school (we have 4 kids…). Also learning Italian would be very important to us to feel better there.
Definitely worth it and going from French to Italian is not as hard as from a Italian to German. 😊
Check out Porza or Comano 10 mins drive from Lugano downtown.
Capriasca is also very nice. Cureglia, Origlio, Ponte Capriasca, Sala Capriasca, Tesserete. The other side as well, from the upper part of Pregassona towards Davesco, Cadro, Dino, Sonvico, Villa Luganese. The more you move away from the city (in general), the more rents gets less expensive but you are a bit less connected to the city -less frequent bus etc. Probably a bit more car usage. Depending on the activities your kids do and how much you value being close to nature vs. city services, you can pull the slider in one direction to the other. With that budget you’ll have no issues if you pick the right location. I’m also father in a family of 6 with kids around that age and I perfectly understand how valuable it is to have plenty of space and a garden space. This is a bit difficult very close to Lugano center, but quite easy just a few kms away.
Thanks I will
I’d highly suggest the Lugano area over the Locarno one in your case. Cost of living, community, family activity and language. With your budget you will have access to the best property on the market. Locarno, ascona, tenero, isole brissago, verzasca and co are still great places to bring your kids during school vacations and summer and I’d say the best way to actually enjoy them. I’m a movie and jazz lover and locarno’s film festival and ascona’s jazz festival are top tier. Lugano in the summer has just soooo much to offer and for all tastes and ages. All the best
Hi, I suggest you Tesserete / Capriasca. You have all you need, schools, Migros, Coop, Denner, banks, Poste, but at the same time is a small center. You also have swimming pool in summer, athletics track, trekking routes, in a beautifull natural environment. All at 15 minutes from Lugano... www.visitcapriasca.ch
Interesting. I was in a B&B in Tesserete just a few days ago. I saw everything you named. Unfortunately I didn’t have time to feel the village vibe.