Around Town
The public transportation system is well developed in and around Lugano. Due to the high cost of gasoline, insurance, and the lack of parking on and near campus, the University recommends that students take advantage of the efficient Swiss public transportation system and experience another aspect of European life rather than purchasing a car. A small number of students find it convenient to purchase a moped ('motorino') or a used car. Please contact student services staff in the Office of Student Life before attempting to pursue the purchase of a vehicle.
SBB Mobile, the "SBB App"
The Office of Student Life strongly recommends that students with smart phones download SBB Mobile, the app of the Swiss Federal Railways. SBB is acronym of the German name for the Swiss Federal Railways system. In French, the acronym is CFF, and in Italian, it is FFS. You will often see SBB CFF FFS together on trains and at train stations around Switzerland.
SBB Mobile (or as we often call it at Franklin, the SBB app) is a great way to view timetables for various modes of transportation throughout Switzerland, including trains, city buses, Autopostale buses, and even funicular trains and cable cars that go into the mountains. You can enter credit card information into the app and purchase and store your tickets for upcoming trips, and it is a great way to receive alerts about delays and other important information.
Buses and Bus Passes
If you plan to ride the blue and silver city buses (TPL) or the yellow Autopostale (PostBus) buses often, you can purchase a transportation pass, collectively called “Arcobaleno”. Each year, representatives from Arcobaleno come to campus to sell the annual pass at a discounted rate. The pass can also be bought at the train station, the central bus station, the main post office, and at the Manor store downtown.
The pass allows you to travel on buses and trains (and sometimes boats) within the zone for which you purchased the pass; Lugano city center and a large number of surrounding areas, including Sorengo, are included in Zone 10. See current prices for a monthly pass or an annual pass.
Yellow Autopostale buses run from Lugano to Sorengo, the comune of which Franklin Switzerland is a part, and to many other extra-urban destinations. The buses that service the areas closest to campus are the 435 and 436 Autopostale buses.
Riders are eligible for a half-price discount on various modes of transportation if they have the half-fare travelcard, loaded onto the national SwissPass card. This special card gives you half-price fares on trains, buses, and some other modes of transportation in Switzerland.
To get your travelcard, you need your passport and a standard passport photo. Passport photos may be purchased at one of the booths on the ground floor of the train station and at a few limited locations in the area.
Car Rentals
Students are advised to check with local rental locations for restrictions, age requirements, and any additional fees that may be associated with car rental (for example, car insurance or snow tires).
Mobility (subscription-based car sharing service)
Avis, Via Clemente Maraini 14
Tel. 058 268 32 36
avis.com
Europcar, Via Monte Boglia
Tel. 091 971 01 01
europcar.com
Hertz, Via San Gottardo 13
Tel. 091 912 40 60
hertz.com
SMART Rent, Via Giulio Vicari 14
Tel. 091 993 13 13
smartrent.ch
Beyond Lugano
Traveling from Switzerland to international destinations is fairly convenient. Many Franklin students travel on weekends and holidays and become quite skilled at planning trips. If you plan to travel extensively over the course of the year, you may want to consider rail passes which allow unlimited travel on most of Europe’s rail systems at a flat fee.