Milan & lake como

Only One Weekend in Italy? Here's How to Spend 48 Dreamy Hours in Milan & Lake Como

Milan may be world-famous as a fashion and design capital, but there’s so much more to this stylish city than shopping and well-dressed locals. Think historic museums, centuries-old architecture, vibrant art galleries, and an unforgettable food scene - all reasons why Milan deserves a top spot on your travel wishlist.

What many travellers don’t realise? Lake Como is just an hour away by train or car, making it totally possible to experience both of these iconic Italian destinations in one magical weekend.

Getting around milan

Train: Milano Centrale is the main railway station. You will travel from here to Lake Como.

Metro: 4 different metro lines that are operational every day from 6am until 12:30 am (midnight).

• Line M1 (red): This line is useful, especially for business travellers wanting to reach the Fiera Milano. The line also stops at the Duomo and San Babila.

• Line M2 (green): The M2 stops at Milano Centrale.

• Line M3 (yellow): The M3 is probably the most convenient line for tourists. It stops at the Duomo, in Via Montenapoleone (the most important commercial area in Milan) and Milano Centrale.

• Line M5 (purple): The M5 is integrated with the regional trains. Visitors will find the following stops interesting: Garibaldi station and Stadio Giuseppe Meazza.

Tram: The Milan tram network system consists of 18 lines that run until past midnight, and is one of the easiest and fastest ways to get around the city.

Bus: Over 80 bus lines. Night buses also run from midnight until 6am. The Terravision buses are the cheapest way to get from Bergamo Airport to Milan (Milano Centrale Railway Station – Piazza Luigi Savoia). The price of a single ticket is €10 or €18 if you purchase the return ticket. The Terravision buses run from 4am until 1am and depart every 20 – 30 minutes.

Taxi: Uber is available in Milan along with local taxis.

Milan & lake como itinerary - day 1

• Arrive in Milan! Drop your luggage at your hotel as it's time to explore. Top Tip: Book a hotel close to Milano Centrale.

• Head to Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. This glass-covered shopping arcade is the oldest in Milan. You'll find designer shops, restaurants, cafes, the best ice cream and also a hotel - Galleria Vik Milano.

• After taking a look around, go up to Terrazza Aperol Rooftop Bar for an Aperol Spritz or two overlooking the Cathedral.

• Time to visit Duomo di Milano Cathedral. You can purchase tickets in advance or on the day, and can opt for lift or stairs. For the Terrace only ticket, it will cost you €15.

• For more views of the Cathedral, have lunch at Signorvino.

• In the evening, head to Navigli for aperitivo and drinks. To get here, jump on the metro and exit at the 'Porta Genova' stop.

MILAN & LAKE COMO ITINERARY - DAY 2

• Get up early and walk across to the train station, grabbing breakfast for your journey.

• Take the train from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino. The train will take 1 hour, there are 17 trains daily and they run from 06:20 - 23:22. A return ticket will cost you less than €20. If you want to book your tickets in advance, you can buy them from the Tren Italia website.

• Arrive in Varenna.

• After Varenna, take the ferry to Bellagio. The ferry will take around 15 minutes. You can buy tickets on the day from the ticket office and will cost you less than €10 return.

• After Bellagio, return to Varenna and to pick up your train back to Milan. If you have more time, you can cruise over to Como on the hydrofoil and then take the train back to Milan.

aperitivo time

The definition of aperitivo (or aperitif) is that of an alcoholic beverage that is consumed prior to a meal with the intention of stimulating the appetite. Nowadays, aperitivo has turned into something more; it is not only one drink you’ll have, but also a variety of food which can range from small finger food to huge buffets!

You can enjoy aperitivo all over Italy, but in Milan, it’s a ritual and they do it best – between the hours of 6pm and 8pm (some places even 9pm), the whole city seems to be enjoying a spritz.

Regarding price, it can vary depending on where you are going, but in the vast majority of places you can buy one drink from 10-15€ and just eat what you want. However, some (fancier) places will only allow one plate per drink and you should buy another drink to keep eating.

You can find places offering aperitivo everywhere, but the real action occurs in the Navigli district - definitely recommend it here!

Hotels

Close to Milano Centrale:

• Excelsior Hotel Gallia

• NYX Hotel Milan

• Hotel Bristol

• The Westin Palace, Milan

• Hotel Principe Di Savoia - Dorchester Collection

• ME Milan Il Duca

• NH Milano Corso Buenos Aires

• Hyatt Centric Milan Centrale

• Hilton Milan

• INNSiDE by Meliá Milano Torre GalFa

• Duo Milan Porta Nuova, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel