Cidade Turismo
Italy
Milão and Lago de Como

Lombardia · Italy

Milão and Lago de Como

The capital of fashion and design, with the Duomo, the Última Ceia and the Navigli, about an hour by train from the villages and the boats of Lago de Como.

North

In the photo: Villa del Balbianello, Lago de Como

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Milão is the capital of Lombardy and Italy's business, fashion and design city. The center revolves around the Piazza del Duomo, where the marble Gothic cathedral, with terraces open to visitors, stands beside the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II and a short walk from the Teatro alla Scala.

The city preserves works that many people only know from books: the Última Ceia by Leonardo da Vinci, in the former refectory of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Pietà Rondanini by Michelangelo at the Castello Sforzesco, and the collection of the Pinacoteca di Brera. At night, activity concentrates along the Navigli canals and the streets of Brera at aperitivo time.

To the north, about 50 km away, begins Lago de Como. The town of Como sits at the southern tip of the lake, with its cathedral, a funicular to Brunate and a waterfront promenade to Villa Olmo. In the center of the lake, Bellagio occupies the point where the lake splits into two branches and serves as a base to visit by boat Varenna, Villa Carlotta and Villa del Balbianello.

Milão is worthwhile year-round; at the lake, the boat and villa garden season usually runs from March or April to October or early November.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Milão, Bellagio, Como.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Milão and Lago de Como is
MilãoBellagioComo

Contornos: ISTAT, limites administrativos 2026, CC BY 4.0. Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Milão and Lago de Como

✈ Aeroporto di Milano Malpensa (MXP) · 50 km to Milão

✈ Aeroporto di Milano Linate (LIN) · 8 km to Milão

Confirm before purchasing. Flights arrive at Milano Malpensa (MXP), linked to the center by the Malpensa Express. Trains from Milano Centrale go to Como in about 40 minutes to 1 hour and to Varenna, from where the ferry crosses to Bellagio.

Suggested arrival point: Milão

The local experience

Things to do in Milão and Lago de Como

Centro storico di Bellagio
Bellagio · Lombardia · Historic neighborhood

Centro storico di Bellagio

The village at the tip of the promontory where the Lago de Como splits, with stepped lanes, the Basilica di San Giacomo and the Punta Spartivento.

Duomo di Como
Como · Lombardia · Cathedral

Duomo di Como

Marble cathedral built between the 14th and 18th centuries, combining Gothic and Renaissance elements, with a dome by Filippo Juvarra and statues of the two Plinys on the façade.

Duomo di Milano
Milão · Lombardia · Cathedral

Duomo di Milano

The Gothic marble cathedral in the heart of Milão, with thousands of statues, huge stained-glass windows and roof terraces among the spires, offering views over the city.

Funicolare Como-Brunate
Como · Lombardia · Lookout

Funicolare Como-Brunate

1894 funicular that climbs in a few minutes from Como to Brunate, a village high on the hill with wide views of the lake and town, and a path to the Faro Voltiano.

See 19 more places in Milão and Lago de Como
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Milão · Lombardia · Architecture

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

19th-century glass-and-iron covered gallery that links the Piazza del Duomo to the Piazza della Scala, with shops, historic cafés and mosaics on the floor.

Giardini di Villa Melzi d'Eril
Bellagio · Lombardia · Garden

Giardini di Villa Melzi d'Eril

Lakeside gardens around the neoclassical villa of Francesco Melzi d'Eril, with a Japanese pond, sculptures, a chapel and a museum, open seasonally.

Teatro alla Scala
Milão · Lombardia · Museum

Teatro alla Scala

One of the world's most famous opera houses, opened in 1778. The Museo Teatrale presents the history of the house and, when possible, allows a peek into the auditorium from a box.

Villa Carlotta
Bellagio · Lombardia · Garden

Villa Carlotta

17th-century villa on the west shore of the lake, in Tremezzina, with a museum of Canova sculptures and Hayez paintings and a large botanical garden.

Villa Olmo
Como · Lombardia · Garden

Villa Olmo

Neoclassical villa on the lakeside, with a park open to the public, at the end of a waterside walk that starts from Como's centre.

Cenacolo Vinciano
Milão · Lombardia · Museum

Cenacolo Vinciano

The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci, painted on the refectory wall of the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Visits are in small groups and require advance reservation.

Tempio Voltiano
Como · Lombardia · Museum

Tempio Voltiano

Museum shaped like a neoclassical temple on the lakeside, dedicated to Alessandro Volta, born in Como and inventor of the electric battery.

Villa del Balbianello
Bellagio · Lombardia · Village

Villa del Balbianello

18th-century villa on the Punta di Lavedo in Lenno, with terraced gardens above the lake and the collection of explorer Guido Monzino. Visit by reservation only.

Castello Sforzesco
Milão · Lombardia · Castle

Castello Sforzesco

Brick castle of the Dukes Sforza, with open courtyards, municipal museums, the Sala delle Asse painted by Leonardo and the Pietà Rondanini, Michelangelo's last sculpture.

Varenna
Bellagio · Lombardia · Historic neighborhood

Varenna

Small village of colorful houses on the east shore of the lake, facing Bellagio, with a lakeside promenade, narrow streets and a direct train to Milan.

Pinacoteca di Brera
Milão · Lombardia · Museum

Pinacoteca di Brera

One of Italy's leading painting museums, in the Palazzo di Brera, with works by Mantegna, Raphael, Piero della Francesca, Caravaggio and Hayez.

Villa Monastero
Bellagio · Lombardia · House museum

Villa Monastero

Former convent converted into a lakeside villa in Varenna, with a house-museum and a botanical garden of nearly 2 km along the shore.

Brera
Milão · Lombardia · Historic neighborhood

Brera

Neighborhood of cobbled streets behind the Scala, with studios, galleries, design shops and sidewalk café tables around the Palazzo di Brera.

Navigli
Milão · Lombardia · Historic neighborhood

Navigli

Area of Milan’s old canals, with the Darsena, the Naviglio Grande and the Naviglio Pavese, full of bars, restaurants and waterside markets.

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio
Milão · Lombardia · Church

Basilica di Sant'Ambrogio

Romanesque basilica founded by Saint Ambrose, patron of Milan, with an arched atrium, the 9th-century golden altar and the saint's crypt.

Quadrilatero della Moda
Milão · Lombardia · Street

Quadrilatero della Moda

The quadrilateral of Milan’s designer streets, between Via Montenapoleone, Via della Spiga, Via Manzoni and Corso Venezia, with historic palaces and shop windows.

Cimitero Monumentale di Milano
Milão · Lombardia · Memorial

Cimitero Monumentale di Milano

19th-century cemetery that functions as an open-air museum, with tombs by well-known sculptors, the Famedio and graves of famous Milanese.

Fondazione Prada
Milão · Lombardia · Museum

Fondazione Prada

Contemporary art center housed in a former distillery in the south of Milan, featuring the Torre, the gold-covered Haunted House and the Bar Luce designed by Wes Anderson.

Bosco Verticale
Milão · Lombardia · Architecture

Bosco Verticale

Two residential towers covered with trees and plants in the Porta Nuova neighborhood, near Piazza Gae Aulenti and the UniCredit tower, Milan's modern side.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

April to June and September to October are the most balanced months: mild temperatures and lake villas open. July and August are hot and busy at the lake; in August some businesses in Milão close for holidays. From November to March, Milão remains active, but many lake villas are closed and boat services run with reduced schedules.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Allow at least 2 days for Milão and 2 to 3 days for the lake: one for Como and another for Bellagio, with a boat to Varenna, Villa Carlotta or Villa del Balbianello. With 4 days total you can see the main sights; with 5 or 6 days the pace is more relaxed.

Which city to stay in

In Milão, the Duomo and Brera area puts almost everything within walking distance; the surroundings of Milano Centrale and Porta Garibaldi are convenient for those catching an early train; the Navigli are the choice for nightlife. On the lake, Como is the most practical base, with a direct train to Milão. Bellagio and Varenna, in the lake's center, are closer to the villas and boats, but accommodation often books up early in high season.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Milão and Lago de Como

How many days should I book for Milão and Lago de Como?

Four days are the comfortable minimum: 2 in Milão, 1 in Como and 1 in Bellagio with a boat trip. With 5 or 6 days you can include Varenna, the villas on the western shore and a ride up to Brunate without rushing.

Do I need to rent a car?

No. Milão has a metro and trains to the lake, and on the lake travel between towns is by boat with Navigazione Laghi. The roads along the lake are narrow and town centers have restricted access for outside cars. In Milão, the center is within the Area C, which charges for car entry.

Can you do Lago de Como as a day trip from Milão?

Yes. Como is about 40 minutes to 1 hour by train from Milão, and one day is enough for the town and the funicular to Brunate. Bellagio can also be done in a day if you leave early—train to Varenna and ferry to the other shore—but the return can be tight in the late afternoon. Staying one night on the lake makes the visit more relaxed.

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