Below is a bird’s eye view of how to break down your Lombardy trip, with a Milan base, for maximum variety and fun! It is tweaked based on what I learned on my own 8 day trip in April 2023. To see the itinerary in greater detail with timing tips, how to get from location to location, reviews, and the roadblocks I had to overcome while on this trip so you can learn from my mistakes, check out my other post, My 8 days in Lombardy.
Day 1 – Milan Arrival
- Arrive in Milan and purchase a 7-day Trenord ticket for transportation
- Take the Malpensa Express train to the city
- If landing in the the morning, store luggage at Milano Centrale and explore Milan until check-in
- Milan Cathedral (Duomo)
- Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
- Pizza at Da Zero
- Gelato at Terra Gelato
Day 2 – Como
- Como
- Basilica di San Fedele & Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta.
- Take the Funicolare Como-Brunate
- Explore Brunate + have lunch
- Bus from Como or hike down the Strada Regia trail to get to Blevio and explore the tight neighborhoods
- Bellagio via bus (Optional, there is a second chance to do this on day 4)
- Basilica st. Giacomo
- Punta Spartivento
Day 3 – Bergamo and Thermal Baths
- Bergamo/Citta Alta.
- Bergamo Cathedral
- Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
- Lunch Mimi’s or Il Fornaio
- Daily gelato at Gelateria Domus.
- San Lorenzo Bastion
- San Pellegrino
- QC Therme San Pellegrino, including aperitivo hour. (Mind the bus times to get back home! Or spend the night there)
Day 4 – Milan and Lake Como
- Milan
- Sforzesco Castle
- Sempione Park
- Santa Maria delle Grazie
- Holds the original Last Supper Da’Vinci painting; BOOK 3 MONTHS AHEAD AT LEAST
- Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio
- Chinatown
- Train to Varenna
- Trail of Lovers
- Ferry to Bellagio
- Basilica st. Giacomo
- Punta Spartivento
- La Lanterna Bellagio (Temporarily closed as of Oct. 2023)
Day 5 – Exploring Mantua
- Mantua
- Basilica di Sant’Andrea
- Ducale Palazzo
- Morning markets
- Osteria dell’Occa
- Te Palace
- Return to Milan
- Gelateria Paganelli
Day 6 – Swiss Adventure in Lugano and Locarno
- Lugano, Switzerland
- Take a bus to Castagnola and walk the Olive Trail.
- Bus to Cassarate and take the funicolare up to Monte Bre
- Osteria Funicolare
- Punto Panoramico
- Rest in Parco Ciani back in Cassarate
- Piazza della Riforma
- Cathedral of Saint Lawrence
- L’achetto
- Locarno
- Termali Salina and Spa
Day 7 – Brescia and Milan
- Brescia
- Piazza Paolo VI
- Piazza della Loggia
- Pizza at La Pinseria.
- Capitolium o Tempio Capitolino
- Church of Charity
- Chiesa di San Cristo
- Milan
- Dinner at Il Brutto Anatroccolo or Osteria Milanese.
- Stroll along Milan’s canals
- Gelato at Gelateria La Romana
Day 8 – QC Terme Milano and Departure
- Check out of accommodations
- QC TermeMilano
- They hold luggage!
Hope you make use of this list! We made such lovely memories and was so mesmerized by the beautiful region.
Happy Travels,
– 🗺🐭
