The Gotthard route is the main axis. The Gotthard Base Tunnel, opened in 2016, is the longest railway tunnel in the world at 57 kilometres; it has cut the train journey from Zurich to Bellinzona to about ninety minutes and Zurich to Lugano to under two hours. Trains run frequently throughout the day on the SBB rail network.
By car, the Gotthard road tunnel (about 17 km) provides the main route from central Switzerland; in summer, long queues can build on the Swiss side. The San Bernardino Pass and tunnel offer an alternative from eastern Switzerland into Bellinzona.
Lugano Airport handles flights from London City, Zurich, Geneva, and a handful of Italian cities. For more options, Milan Malpensa is just under an hour from Lugano by road or rail connection, and serves as the main international gateway for southern Ticino. Milan Linate and Bergamo airports are also feasible options for travellers coming from within Europe.