From what I’ve seen, Milan is always one of the cheapest places to fly to. This is ideal considering the options you have once you’re there! Of course, you can spend 4 days in Milan, or around Lake Como. Equally, if you’re like me and love to explore, this is the perfect 4-day itinerary for you to do both Milan and Lake Como for your holiday!
Firstly, the flights are important for this itinerary as there are 3 airports that are listed under Milan. So, you need to book a one way flight into Milan Malpensa and then a one way flight back from Bergamo. This will allow you to follow this itinerary in the easiest and most efficient way!
Duomo di Milano, Milan
Day 1 – Milan and Lake Como
When I did this trip, I wanted to land in Milan as early as possible. This is because I only planned to spend the day there. So, I caught the first flight out and got to Milan city centre around 12pm to start my itinerary. Once I landed, I caught a train to Milan Centrale station. There are a LOT of things to see and do in Milan, therefore, you want to walk out of the station to the electric bike rental. All you need to do is download the app through the QR code and follow the instructions. Honestly, these bikes are such good value. They only charge you for your actual ride time and they allow you to get around the city quickly.
The first stop for my Milan and Lake Como Holiday was an incredible sandwich shop called All’ Antico Vinaio. This is a shop famous for its huge sandwiches and I would highly recommend a visit! After this, get back on your bike and head to the attractions. The places I would encourage you to visit are, Castello Sforzesco, Parco Sempione, Arco Della Pace, Santa Maria delle Grazie and Duomo Di Milano. And you should do them in this order to make the most of your time!
Milan is a big city so it is surprising how long it can take to get around. Anyway, once you’ve finished exploring Milan, you need to head back to Milan Centrale and catch a train to Como. In Como, there are a few train stations so you need to see which one is closest to your accommodation. Also, Lake Como is where you will be spending all 3 nights so book your accommodation accordingly. The trains run regularly well into the evening, so you can eat dinner in Milan and catch a late train to Como.
If you want to find some other activities to do in Milan for your itinerary, you can book them here.
Varenna, Lake Como
Day 2 – Bellagio and Varenna
Bellagio
During this Milan and Lake Como Holiday, I spent 2 full days around Como. So, I spent the first day heading further up the lake to Bellagio and Varenna. I suggest doing the lake on the first day so that you can have a more relaxing 3rd day.
Anyway, my first stop was Bellagio. There were a few options to get to Bellagio (if you’re not renting a car). I decided to catch the bus as it takes you along the winding paths along the lakeside, which was absolutely beautiful. One thing to know about the buses, is that you buy tickets from shops. Look out for shops with white squares on their signs. Or, you can buy online a lot of the time. Alternatively, you can get a taxi but this would be VERY expensive. Other options you can choose are a boat, or a train.
Bellagio is an extremely beautiful lakeside town which should not be missed from your Milan and Como itinerary. You can easily get lost wandering through the picturesque streets, relaxing at the many lakeside cafes and indulging in refreshing gelato. My first stop was a beautiful promenade called Lungolago before strolling down the water front to Punta Spartvento for lunch. Other places to visit in Bellagio are Piazza della Chiesa, the church of San Giacomo and Villa Melzi.
Varenna
To be honest, you can easily fall in love with Bellagio and stay for the entire day. However, for my Lake Como itinerary I decided to take a ferry to one of the other towns. The easiest choice is Varenna. Coincidentally, the boat ride from Bellagio to Varenna is incredible. With the colourful buildings of Varenna perched on the lakeside, and the gorgeous back drop of towering snow topped mountains.
Once in Varenna, walk off the ferry, turn to the right, and follow the lake around. After about 10 minutes, you will come to a bustling hub of intriguing cafes and restaurants. This is an incredible spot to enjoy some lunch or a drink if you fancy. Next, you should walk up to the botanical garden at Villa Monastero. Here, there is also an art collection and house museum. If you have the time, you should also enjoy the Sentiero del Viandante walking trail.
Depending on your choice of transport, you will need to be wary of the time so that you can catch the relevant boat or bus. If you are renting a car then you have more time to relax around Bellagio and Varenna. If you don’t have a car, I suggest catching a ferry from Varenna back to Como as the journey across the lake is magnificent. Depending on the boat times you can either eat dinner at one of the places you’re visiting, or find somewhere when you get back to Como.
You can book boat trips and lake tours for your Milan and Como holiday here.
Lake Como
Day 3 Milan and Lake Como Holiday – Como
Exploring the city is an ideal third day for your Milan and Como holiday. There are so many cafes and food spots you can choose for breakfast and lunch in and around the city. So, get yourself a nice coffee and breakfast in the main square, Piazza Cavour. I suggest the coffee shop Bar Touring, which is situated just off the main square, by the cathedral. Once you have finished here, go into the cathedral, it’s free! It doesn’t take long to go around and it explains some history of Como. Now you’re fueled up, you can head to the lake. Firstly, visit the Tempio Voltiano, you can go inside or just admire the architecture and relax on the lakeside, this is where I ate lunch!
Then, I followed the lake around to the left, passed the boat club and followed the path that hugs the lake. You can take this at your own pace and find many beautiful spots to relax, soak in the incredible scenery, drink beverages and enjoy snacks. The three places I visited were Villa Olmo, Parco del Grumello and Chilometro della Conoscenza.
Once you have seen everything you wish to see, head back to Como and go for a drink or two at a bar called Hemingways. Here, you can also enjoy the famous Italian tradition of aperitivo. Aperitivo is an absolute must for any Milan and Lake Como itinerary. But, be aware that the snacks provided are definitely not going to replace a full meal so find somewhere to have dinner afterwards.
Bergamo, Italy
Day 4 – Bergamo
Unfortunately, your Milan and Lake Como holiday is coming to an end. So, for your final day, assuming you managed to book tickets for late in the evening, you’re going to head to Bergamo. Bergamo is around 2 hours by train from Como and is the perfect way to end your Lake Como itinerary. So, you need to get up bright and early and head to your nearest train station. You should be able to get to Bergamo by late morning and make the most of your time before heading home!
When you arrive, head to La Citta Alta (the old town). To be honest, I walked but it’s probably better to get a bus as it is about 45 minutes walking and half of it is up hill. However, I suggest just getting a bus to the bottom of the hill as it is a beautiful walk up. For lunch, you can either choose a cafe in the heart of La Citta Alta or, as I chose, take some snacks and sit at the perimeter wall and enjoy the view over the rest of Bergamo.
When in the centre of La Citta Alta, it’s easy to spend time getting lost around the winding streets. You should head to the Colleoni Chapel. This is in the heart of the old town and only €5 to enter. Inside is absolutely breathtaking and well worth the entry fee. There is also Accademia Carrara, Rocca di Bergamo, Piazza Vecchia and Duomo di Bergamo. If you want to see more of what there is to do in Bergamo, click here.
Depending on your flight time you can do the extras I’ve mentioned above. The airport is only around 20 minutes by bus from Bergamo so it’s easy to get to!
Villa Olmo, Como
Conclusion
So, if you’re looking for a diverse 4-day itinerary around the Milan and Lake Como area, make sure you bookmark this page and use it to plan your trip! The great thing about this itinerary is that it can be done so cheaply. You can see how I managed to do it for around £280 per person here. If you love the idea of a lakeside destination, make sure you check out my other blogs from Geneva and Annecy!
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