Milan & Lake Como: A 4-Day Itinerary for an Italian Getaway

Milan offers culture, history, shopping and incredible food, while Lake Como is all about beautiful scenery, charming lakeside towns and slowing down enough to enjoy a long lunch or a drink with a view.

If you're considering combining the two, here's how I'd recommend spending your time - including a couple of things I learnt along the way!

Day 1: Exploring Milan

After dropping our bags at the hotel, we headed out to explore Milan. It's a fantastic city if you enjoy history, culture, architecture, shopping and food, with plenty to see without feeling like you have to stick to a strict sightseeing schedule.

One of the things I particularly enjoyed was using Milan's historic trams to get around. Lines 1 and 2 are known for their vintage trams, and they're a lovely way to see more of the city as you travel. Of course, the Duomo has to be on your list. It's incredibly impressive in person, and the surrounding Piazza del Duomo is a great starting point for exploring the city and nearby shopping areas.

And then there's the food... and when in Italy, eat pizza!

We found a restaurant (called the Crazy Pizza) where the chef was throwing the pizza dough, which made dinner an experience in itself. It perhaps could have happened a little more frequently considering the price, but it was brilliant fun!

My tip: Don't feel like you need to cram every Milan attraction into one day. Leave some time to wander, stop for coffee and enjoy the atmosphere - that's part of the fun.

Day 2: Como & Brunate

Getting from Milan to Como is easy and reasonably priced by train, making it a great option if you want to combine the two without hiring a car. Once you arrive in Como, spend some time exploring the town. There are beautiful streets to wander, boutique shops to browse and plenty of cafés and restaurants, including options right on the waterfront.

Then, head up to Brunate by funicular. The journey takes less than 10 minutes, and the views at the top are incredible! We timed our visit for sunset, and it was one of my favourite moments of the trip. From Brunate, you can look across the lake and over Como town below, making it a particularly lovely spot for couples or anyone celebrating something special. You don't need to pre-book the funicular, so you can keep your visit flexible. Once you've watched the sunset, simply take the funicular back down to Como and enjoy the lakefront as the town starts to light up.

My tip: If you're visiting Brunate around sunset, allow a little extra time in case there's a queue. And if you're considering a romantic getaway or even a proposal, I'd definitely put this one on the list!

Day 3: Bellagio

After breakfast, head to Como's waterfront and take a public boat across the lake to Bellagio, where the boat journey is part of the experience. The slower services take longer, but you'll get to enjoy some incredible views of the lake, mountains and surrounding villages along the way. If you're short on time, faster services are available.

One Lake Como travel tip I'd definitely share... we bought a day pass because we'd planned to hop between several towns. We were a little too ambitious! The boats aren't as frequent as we'd expected, and we quickly realised we wouldn't realistically have time to visit multiple towns and still make the last boat back to Como. So, check the timetable carefully before buying a day pass. If you're only planning to visit one town that day, a single journey may make more sense.

Anyway, back to Bellagio! This is often described as one of the most beautiful towns on Lake Como, and it's easy to see why. Think cobbled streets, colourful buildings, little shops and beautiful views around almost every corner. It's somewhere I'd recommend exploring without too much of a plan. Wander through the streets, stop for a coffee or gelato and find a spot for lunch overlooking the lake. We had bruschetta and pasta with a lake view - pretty much the perfect Italian lunch. There are also places where you can get down to the water for a swim if you fancy a refreshing dip.

My tip: Don't try to squeeze too much into your visit. Bellagio is somewhere to enjoy at a slower pace rather than race around ticking things off.

Day 4: Varenna

For our final full day, we headed across the lake to Varenna. The journey can take a little longer depending on which boat service you use, but the scenery makes it well worth it. If you'd rather spend less time travelling, look into the faster boat services or other public transport options, including trains.

Why Varenna is worth visiting... Varenna has a slightly different feel to Bellagio. It's smaller, quieter and incredibly picturesque, with colourful buildings, narrow streets and beautiful flowers along the waterfront. There are plenty of places to stop for lunch or a drink with an uninterrupted view across the lake, and it's another town where you can happily spend a few hours simply wandering and taking it all in.

For me, Varenna was one of those places that didn't need a long list of things to do - the setting really is the attraction.

After making our way back to Como, we spent the evening relaxing by the lake and watching the sunset - the perfect end to the perfect trip!

Would I recommend a Milan & Lake Como trip?

100% yes!

I think four days makes a great introduction to both destinations, although I'd happily have stayed longer. The two offer quite different experiences, which is exactly why they work so well together.

Milan is great for culture, history, architecture, shopping and food, while Lake Como gives you the chance to slow down, enjoy the scenery and explore beautiful lakeside towns.

Although we did see some young families during our trip, I'd particularly recommend this combination for couples looking for a romantic getaway, anyone celebrating a special occasion, or travellers who love beautiful scenery, great food and a relaxed atmosphere. Plus, if you're looking for somewhere special for a proposal, anniversary or honeymoon, Lake Como would be very hard to beat!

Planning your own trip to Milan and Lake Como?

There are lots of ways to put this trip together depending on how long you have, what time of year you're travelling and whether you'd prefer to stay in Milan, Como or split your time between the two.

If you're thinking about this itinerary (or something similar)  for yourself and would like help planning it, please get in touch. I'd love to help you create an itinerary that's right for you.