Italy’s Lombardy region is packed with culture, cuisine, and natural beauty. Milan, the capital of the region, is renowned as a global fashion hub, but there is so much more to the city. Take a few days to explore the area and enjoy a trip to the luxurious Lake Como.
Things to Do
- Duomo di Milano: Milan’s Duomo is one of the most famous in the world for good reason. The church is massive, with incredibly impressive gothic architecture. You’ll need at least a couple hours to properly explore and admire the intricacies of the exterior as well as the artwork and design of the interior. Plan to buy your tickets in advance to secure a spot and avoid long wait times.
- Sforzesco Castle and Sempione Park: Not far from the Duomo you’ll find this large castle and park. While we didn’t go inside the castle, we did take some time to wander the grounds, and it really is a huge green space. If you visit in the summer like we did, you’re likely to find a festival of some sort taking place in the park. Regardless, it’s a great space for an afternoon walk or picnic on a nice day.
- Free Walking Tour: When visiting a city with the history and size of Milan, it is helpful to have a guide. We did a free walking tour with City Walkers to start our trip, and it was a really helpful introduction. The tour guide shared some interesting history about the city and also provided recommendations on where to spend time in the city. It also included a grand finale at a very interesting, politically-charged sculpture
- Monumental Cemetery: This cemetery screams affluence. The collection of tombs, monuments, and mausoleums is really incredible, and it’s no wonder many of the city’s most influential figures have been buried here. It’s worth taking 1-2 hours to walk around, admire the grounds, and pay your respects.
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: Perhaps the most famous “mall” in the world, the Galleria is the epitome of Milan’s fashion fame. Here you’ll find designer brand after designer brand. The mall is a destination in itself, so it’s worth a stop even if you don’t plan to buy anything. We happened to come across a dance group filming their routines there, taking advantage of the lux scenery.
- Sightseeing: Realistically, Milan has too many sights and neighborhoods to visit in a single free walking tour. Take some time to do independent exploring too. The Navigli neighborhood is renowned for its nightlife and canals, and there are some good dining options there too. Santa Maria delle Grazie and Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio – while no Duomo – are beautiful churches in their own right and worth a stop too.
Where to Eat & Drink
- Marghe: We loved this restaurant – the boar sausage and cacrioricotta pizza was probably the best pizza we had in Italy. The desserts are also incredible. We recommend getting both the decomposed Sicilian cannolo and the tiramisu with buffalo ricotta. While we managed to get a table outside without a reservation, we’d recommend calling ahead if possible to make sure you don’t have to wait long.
- Portobello Pizzeria Ristorante: While the pizza here wasn’t on the same level as Marghe’s, it was still really really good. We had no issues getting a table for lunch, and the prices were very reasonable.
- Le Striatelle di nonna Mafalda: If you decide to have dinner in the Navigli area, this restaurant is not a bad choice (there are probably better options though). We had the sunrise striatelle and the wild boar pappardelle. Both were good, just nothing special compared to many of our other meals in Italy.
- Nun Taste of Middle East: If you’re looking for a quick bite on a budget and are tired of pizza, Nun is a good fast food option. The kebab sandwiches are a great size for the price and very tasty.
- Terra Gelato: Just really tasty gelato in the Central Station area. We tried a few gelaterias in the city, and this one was our favorite. You’ll be tempted to stop by any time you’re heading to or from the train station.
- Camparino in Galleria: We had never had campari before. Turns out it is very bitter. Regardless of whether or not that is your taste, Camparino is known as one of the best bars in the world and is worth a stop. The terrace has fantastic views of the Duomo, and the appetizers are a nice touch.
- King’s Pub Burgerama: We stopped at King’s for pre-dinner drinks while in Navigli, and we were very pleasantly surprised. The cocktails here are really good! The bar is right on a canal too, so it is a nice place to relax.
Lake Como Day Trip
If you want to get out of the city for a day, Lake Como is a terrific option. The famous, idyllic lake nestled in the Alps is a short train ride from Milan and can easily be enjoyed as a day trip.
We recommend taking the train directly from Milan to Varenna, which is one of the nicer towns on the lake and is easily accessible via public transit. The ride takes just over an hour, and after a short walk from the Varenna station you’ll be right on the water.
If you’re only visiting Lake Como for a day, you’ll unfortunately have to be selective with the towns you visit. We chose to stick with Varenna and the famous Bellagio, given their renowned beauty and how easy it is to pair the two. In order to get to Bellagio from Varenna, you’ll need to take a 15 minute ferry ride. Although the line and wait for ferry tickets can be long (get there early if you have a particular time you want to depart), the overall experience is still a positive one. Any boat ride on Lake Como is going to include some incredible views.
As a round trip, we recommend going from Milan to Varenna to Bellagio, then back to Varenna for the train ride back to Milan. You could mix it up and take a train back from Como, but that town is a bit further from Bellagio by ferry. With the itinerary we recommended, we were able to get to Varenna around 9:30am (before the bigger crowds got in) and be back in Milan for dinner.
Below are some things to do while visiting Bellagio and Varenna:
- Bellagio Water Limousines (Bellagio): We spent a lot of time trying to find a reasonable boat tour of Lake Como. Options can get really pricey really quickly. Luckily we found Bellagio Water Limousines, which offers an affordable hour-long tour showing the highlights of the lake. The boat is nice and comfortably fits 10-12 people. We recommend getting a seat towards the back of the boat for the best photos and views. Note that the hour-long tour unfortunately does not go to the Clooney villa, which is too far from Bellagio.
- Villa Melzi D’Eril (Bellagio): This easily accessible villa just outside the heart of Bellagio is huge and beautifully maintained. If you have to pick one, we thought Villa Monestero in Varenna was better (more on that below), but you can still easily spend hours walking around the grounds of Villa Melzi D’Eril and admiring the views.
- Villa Monestero (Varenna): The gardens at Villa Monestro are really impressive. The winding path through the grounds of the villa seems to go on forever, and at each stop you’re treated to beautiful flowers set against even more beautiful lakeside scenery. There are plenty of benches along the path to just sit and admire the environment. It really is awe inspiring.
- Explore the Towns: Make sure you leave yourself some time to wander the old cobblestone streets of both Bellagio and Varenna. Bellagio in particular is famous for its shops and scenic walkways. The most famous walkway in the town is likely here. You can get a great photo looking back at the lake and down the hill. After you take your photo, we also recommend grabbing a bite at the nearby Trattoria San Giacomo. This restaurant has delicious pasta, appetizers, and service.
Other Tips & Tricks
- Where to Stay: Milan is huge. While most of the tourist attractions are in the city center, it is hard to find good, affordable accommodation there. Rather than shell out for a below average apartment, we stayed in the Buenos Aires neighborhood. Honestly, we loved it. There are great restaurants nearby, it isn’t far from the central train station, and it is close to a metro that takes you directly to the city center. Airbnb has great options here.
- Public Transportation: The metro system in Milan is great. We didn’t have any issues with pickpockets, but we still recommend being mindful with your bags. Certain stations can get crowded around rush hour. Aside from that, Milan is very pedestrian friendly and will encourage you to get your steps in as you explore.
Happy traveling!
Kitrina & Jordan