Museum
Swiss Customs Museum
Chris j wood · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0Some booking links are affiliate links. If you book through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. We never let this influence which places we recommend.
The Swiss Customs Museum is located in the picturesque village of Gandria on the shores of Lake Lugano. Housed in a former customs house, the museum offers a fascinating look at the history of Swiss customs and the smuggling that occurred across the lake. Visitors can explore exhibits featuring original tools, documents, and interactive displays that illustrate how goods were illegally transported between Switzerland and Italy. The museum also covers the evolution of customs controls and the role of customs officers. The setting itself is charming, with the museum perched right on the water, making for a scenic visit.
Don't miss
- See original smuggling tools and hidden compartments used by smugglers
- Interactive exhibits on the history of customs controls
- Beautiful lakeside location in Gandria village
- Displays on the economic impact of smuggling
Tickets & tours
Ways to visit Swiss Customs Museum
You can visit Swiss Customs Museum on your own. A guide mainly adds context, what you are looking at and why it matters, and a tour can add transport or combine nearby sights into one day.
Cheapest way inLugano Region Guided Excursion from Lugano to Monte San Salvatore by funicular4.5★ · 32 travelers~3 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →
Most bookedMonte Brè Tour from Lugano by funicular4.7★ · 65 travelers~5 hoursFree cancellationFrom$25 per personSee dates →
Private & flexibleLugano Mountains, private tour from Lugano4.8★ · 32 travelers~8 hoursFree cancellationFrom$350 per personSee dates →More attractions in Lugano
