Switzerland Dash for Chocolate Stash

Lake Como is just a half hour’s drive from the border of Switzerland and so we decided to add another stamp to our passports and pop over there for the day. I usually visit Lugano every year as it’s one of the first towns on the other side and is where my dad used to work.

As you’d expect, the Italian side of Switzerland is similar to Italy in many ways. For example, they speak the same language, eat the same food, and even have an identical looking lake which could easily be mistaken for Lake Como itself.

However, there are differences too. Firstly, Switzerland are not part of the EU and therefore still use their own currency. Although many shops and restaurants will accept Euros, you’ll always receive your change in Swiss Francs. This usually means we end up with a load of coins which can’t be exchanged back into Euros and therefore, have to be spent in Switzerland.

It’s rather fortunate then, that there is always something worthwhile to spend it on: Swiss chocolate! We spent a good majority of our day in various chocolate shops, picking out our favourites to eat on the spot and packaging up presents to take back home (though there’s no guarantee they’ll make it that far.) One of the best chocolate spots is in a department store which dedicates an entire section to Lindt balls. I never knew there were so many flavours! We got rather carried away creating our own pick’n’mix bags and I ended up having to pay with my credit card anyway.

At midday we found an Italian run restaurant in the main square which served pasta dishes in various sizes. It seemed perfect as we were planning a large dinner and needed to leave room for all of our chocolates. Though we fully intended to order the smallest portion, when it came to it we completely forgot to specify size. Of course they didn’t ask and instead just defaulted to the biggest dish! Two mouthfuls in, however, I was secretly happy and finished every single bit.

Even just across the border, Switzerland is noticeably more expensive than Italy. That said, once we’d headed out of the main square we managed to find a number of bars and gelaterias which were far more affordable. Determined to spend the last of the change in my pocket, we sat down to a glass of red wine each which cost us only two Swiss Francs; an absolute bargain in any country. 

Lugano is a lovely town but for a true taste of Switzerland, you need to veture further in. Aside from the excessive (and often extortionately priced) chocolate shops, you could feel as though you were still in Como.