Boating
Lake Lugano: which passage at Melide and Lavena?
Special passage rules apply at Melide and in the Lavena narrows. Plan these sections before departure: an open arch is not necessarily the correct route for a private boat.
Melide and Lavena
- At Melide bridge, concession-holding vessels use arch 3. Other boats use arches 1 on the Bissone side, 2 and 4. If boats arrive simultaneously at arch 1, the southbound boat has priority.
- In the Lavena narrows, a boat heading towards Ponte Tresa has priority on simultaneous arrival. The canton specifically warns of currents and narrow passages at both locations.
Waterskiing is not permitted everywhere
- Waterskiing, kitesurfing and similar devices are prohibited in Lugano bay between Capo San Martino and Villa Favorita and in Lake Ponte Tresa. Ticino’s regulation specifies particular allowances elsewhere. Open water alone is not sufficient.
Before crossing the border
- The canton publishes guidance on visitors, boat documents and recognition of equipment. Check it before entering Italian waters: the operator’s licence and the boat’s admission are separate matters.