4 Days in Milan and Lake Como: A Day-by-Day Itinerary

Get ready for one of Italy’s best short trips: two days of Gothic marble, Leonardo and aperitivo in Milan, then two days of villas, gardens and ferry hopping on Lake Como. The two halves fit together well because fast, frequent regional trains link Milan’s main station with the lake in about an hour.

This plan suits first-timers, couples and friends who like a steady but unhurried pace: two or three big sights a day, plenty of walking, and time to sit by the water. One night on the lake is built in, so you never have to rush for the last train. The only thing you really must plan weeks ahead is the Last Supper.

At a glance

Day	Area	Highlights
1	Centro Storico and Brera	Duomo and rooftop, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala, Brera evening
2	Western Milan and the Navigli	Last Supper, Sant’Ambrogio, Castello Sforzesco, Navigli canals at sunset
3	Varenna and Bellagio	Train to the lake, ferry across the central basin, Bellagio’s lanes, Villa Carlotta
4	Lenno and Como town	Villa del Balbianello, slow boat along the lake, Como’s old town, train back

A quick note on scheduling: the Last Supper museum is closed every Monday, so make sure Day 2 doesn’t fall on a Monday. If it does, just swap Day 1 and Day 2.

Day 1: The Duomo and Milan’s elegant heart

Morning

Get ready for a showstopper of a first morning. Start where Milan starts: Piazza del Duomo. The cathedral is the city’s showpiece. For most visitors the best part is the rooftop, where you walk among spires and statues with the whole city spread out below.

Book a timed ticket on the official Duomo ticket site (ticket.duomomilano.it) before you go. Pick a combined cathedral and rooftop option if you want both. Prices and ticket types change, so check the official site for what’s on offer. The Duomo also posts notices when ticket offices or the Duomo Museum close for a day, so check its news page before you head out.

Afternoon

Step straight from the piazza into the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, the glass-roofed 19th-century arcade right next to the cathedral. Walk through and you come out a few minutes later in Piazza della Scala, home of the famous opera house.

From La Scala, wander north for roughly 10 to 15 minutes into Brera, Milan’s most charming old quarter, with cobbled streets, small galleries and cafés. Art lovers can spend the afternoon at the Pinacoteca di Brera. Check the official site for opening hours, closing day and tickets before you go.

Evening

Stay in Brera for your first aperitivo, the Milanese ritual of an early-evening drink served with snacks, then have dinner in one of the side streets. Everything is within walking distance tonight.

Day 2: Leonardo, Sant’Ambrogio and the canals

Morning

This is the day for Leonardo, and it’s built around your Last Supper slot. Leonardo’s mural is in the Museo del Cenacolo Vinciano at Piazza Santa Maria delle Grazie 2, and getting in takes planning:

• Booking is compulsory for everyone, including babies and free tickets.
• Full price is EUR 15 (age 25 and over), EUR 2 for ages 18 to 24, and free under 18.
• You get 15 minutes in front of the painting. You must arrive 30 minutes before your booked time or you lose your entry.
• It’s open Tuesday to Sunday, 8:15 to 19:00 (last entry 18:45). It’s closed on Mondays, 1 January and 25 December.

Tickets are released in three-month blocks: in September for November to January, in December for February to April, in March for May to July, and in June for August to October. Extra tickets go on sale every Wednesday at 12:00 for the following week, only on the official online platform. Tickets carry the visitor’s name and can’t be changed or refunded. Each person can buy at most 5 per calendar year.

The nearest metro stops are Cadorna (M1 and M2) and Conciliazione (M1). You can also take tram 16 to the Santa Maria delle Grazie stop.

After your visit, walk about 10 minutes to the Basilica di Sant’Ambrogio, one of Milan’s oldest and most atmospheric churches, with a peaceful arcaded courtyard.

Afternoon

Head north to Castello Sforzesco, the huge brick castle of Milan’s Renaissance rulers, roughly 20 minutes on foot from Sant’Ambrogio. Wander the courtyards, then go out the back into Parco Sempione, the city’s big central park, for a slow walk and a rest on the grass. The castle’s museums have their own tickets and hours, so check the official site if you want to go inside.

Evening

As the sun drops, head south to the Navigli, the old canal district, for aperitivo by the water. You can walk (allow around half an hour from the castle area) or use ATM’s GiroMilano journey planner to find the best public transport route. The canal banks get lively on warm evenings, which makes them a fun place to end your time in Milan.

Day 3: To the lake: Varenna and Bellagio

Morning

Lake day! Pack an overnight bag and head to Milano Centrale. Trenord trains run direct to Varenna-Esino in about 64 minutes, roughly every hour. Buy your ticket before boarding on the Trenord website, app or station machines, and check the current fare there.

Varenna is a small, colourful village on the eastern shore. Wander its lakefront path and narrow lanes, then walk down to the ferry pier. Navigazione Laghi ferries shuttle around the central part of the lake between Varenna, Bellagio, Menaggio and Cadenabbia, so you can hop between villages without much waiting.

The easiest way to pay is NaviTap:

• Tap a contactless Visa or Mastercard (or Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay) on the validator when you board, and tap out when you get off.
• The system charges you the cheapest fare for your day, including a day ticket if that works out cheaper.
• One card can cover up to 5 people.
• You can’t use it for child fares or on the fast “SR” services.

Afternoon

Take the ferry across to Bellagio, the village on the point where the lake’s three branches meet. Spend a slow afternoon exploring its stepped lanes, lakeside promenade and gardens.

If you still have energy, ride the ferry over to Tremezzo for Villa Carlotta. Trenord describes it as a historic lakeside villa known for its botanical gardens and art museum. Check the villa’s official site for opening dates and tickets, because lake gardens keep seasonal hours.

Evening

Spend the night in Varenna or Bellagio. Check the last ferry times before dinner, as Navigazione Laghi changes its timetables with the seasons. Then enjoy the moment when the day-trippers leave and the lake goes quiet.

Day 4: Villa del Balbianello and Como town

Morning

Save your camera battery for today’s star: Villa del Balbianello, run by the Italian heritage trust FAI. It sits on a wooded headland near Lenno, with terraced gardens dropping to the water. Take a ferry to Lenno (check the timetable for the best connection from where you slept), then walk to the villa. The short route is about 1 km uphill, partly on gravel, and takes roughly 25 minutes. A longer 2.5 km trail takes about 45 minutes. Wear proper shoes. You can also take a private taxi boat from the Lido di Lenno. These boats aren’t run by FAI and need booking.

Booking is compulsory for all visits:

• Park only: EUR 15 for adults, EUR 11 for ages 6 to 18 and students up to 25.
• Villa and park: EUR 25 for adults, EUR 17 reduced. You can only see the villa interiors on a 50-minute guided tour in Italian or English, in groups of up to 16.

Opening is seasonal. In November the villa is open 10:00 to 17:00 (last park entry 16:00). In December and January it opens only on selected days, and the regular season starts again in March. Always confirm your date on the FAI booking page.

Afternoon

Board a slow boat south from Lenno towards Como. This stretch of the lake is lined with villas, little harbours and steep green hills, and the views from the deck are the highlight of the day. Check the timetable, since journey times depend on which service you catch.

In Como, stroll the compact old town, step into the cathedral and walk the lakefront promenade.

Evening

Catch the train back to Milan from Como San Giovanni. Trenord’s direct trains reach Milano Centrale in about 40 minutes. Check the last departure on the Trenord app before you sit down to dinner.

Getting there and getting around

Entry and visas. Italy is part of the Schengen area, and entry rules depend on your nationality and passport. Check the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs visa portal at vistoperitalia.esteri.it well before you book.

From Malpensa Airport (MXP). The Malpensa Express train costs EUR 15 per adult and EUR 7.50 for children aged 4 to 13. Under-3s travel free.

• From Milano Cadorna: every 30 minutes, about 37 minutes to Terminal 1 and 43 minutes to Terminal 2.
• From Milano Centrale: every 30 minutes, about 51 minutes to Terminal 1 and 57 minutes to Terminal 2.
• A 30-day return ticket is sold online only.

From Linate Airport (LIN). Metro line M4 runs from Linate into the centre in about 12 minutes, and a standard EUR 2.20 ATM ticket is valid. Change to M1 at San Babila for the Duomo area.

From Bergamo (BGY). Check the airport’s official site for current bus and rail links into Milan.

Getting around Milan. ATM runs the metro, trams and buses:

• Single ticket: EUR 2.20, valid for 90 minutes from first use, and you can exit and re-enter the metro on it.
• 24-hour ticket: EUR 7.60.
• 3-day ticket: EUR 15.50, valid until service ends on the third day (03:45 the next morning).
• Carnet of 10 tickets: EUR 19.50.

You can also tap a contactless card, phone or smartwatch at the metro gates and on board buses and trams. Contactless payment doesn’t work on Trenord trains.

Getting to the lake. Trenord trains go from Milano Centrale to Varenna-Esino (about 64 minutes) and to Como San Giovanni (about 40 minutes). Check the current fare on the Trenord website or app.

On the lake. Navigazione Laghi runs the public boats. If you buy your ticket on board instead of at the pier ticket office, you pay a EUR 1 surcharge per passenger (waived if the ticket office is closed). For adults, NaviTap contactless is the simplest option. For current fares, check the official Lake Como rates page.

Where to stay

Centrale and Porta Garibaldi (Milan). Best for easy logistics. Malpensa Express trains stop at both stations, and the trains to Varenna and Como leave from Centrale.

Brera and the Centro Storico (Milan). Best for atmosphere. You can walk to the Duomo, La Scala and Brera’s restaurants, and the cobbled lanes are lovely in the evening.

Varenna (Lake Como). A smart choice if you’re travelling by train. It has its own station on the line from Milano Centrale and a ferry pier for Bellagio and the western shore.

Bellagio or Como town (Lake Como). Bellagio is the central ferry hub and the most romantic base, but it has no train station. Como town is bigger and livelier, with more places to eat and direct trains to Milan.

Budget

Costs vary a lot by season, especially lake hotels, so here are the costs we could verify to build your budget around.

Item	Typical cost
Malpensa Express, one way (adult)	EUR 15
ATM single ticket (90 minutes)	EUR 2.20
ATM 24-hour ticket	EUR 7.60
ATM 3-day ticket	EUR 15.50
Last Supper (age 25+)	EUR 15
Villa del Balbianello, park only	EUR 15
Villa del Balbianello, villa and park	EUR 25
Duomo and rooftop	Check the official site
Train Milan to Varenna or Como	Check Trenord
Lake ferries	NaviTap, or check the official rates page

Not included: flights, accommodation, meals, drinks, the nightly city tourist tax and shopping. A return trip on the Malpensa Express, a 3-day ATM ticket, the Last Supper and the Balbianello villa and park add up to EUR 85.50 per adult. Add the Duomo, trains and ferries on top.

Practical tips

• Dress for churches. Dress modestly for the Duomo and other churches, and check the Duomo’s official site for current entry rules.
• Watch closing days. The Last Supper is closed on Mondays. Many Italian museums close one day a week, so check each official site.
• Seasons matter on the lake. Ferries switch between summer, autumn and winter timetables. The 2026 autumn timetable runs from 5 October to 1 November, and the winter timetable follows. Villa del Balbianello opens only on selected days in December and January.
• Money. Italy uses the euro. You can pay contactless on Milan’s metro, trams and buses, and on Navigazione Laghi boats through NaviTap.
• SIM and eSIM. An eSIM bought before you fly is the easiest option. Physical SIMs are sold at the airports and in town. Have your passport handy.
• Leave the car. The Last Supper museum is inside Area C, Milan’s zone where cars pay to enter. Trains and ferries cover this whole route, so you don’t need to drive.

Heads-up

A few friendly warnings so nothing spoils the fun:

• Buy Last Supper tickets only from official channels. Tickets carry the visitor’s name to stop ticket touting, and they can’t be changed or refunded once bought. Arrive 30 minutes early or you lose your entry.
• Don’t tap your bank card for the train. Contactless works on ATM metro and buses but not on Trenord trains, including the ones to the lake. Buy a proper Trenord ticket.
• Always tap out on the ferry. If you forget to tap out with NaviTap, you’re charged the full-day fare for the whole network. Staff may ask to see the card you used, and screenshots and printouts aren’t accepted.
• Boats can fill up. Each boat only takes passengers up to its maximum capacity, and timetables can change with traffic at the piers. Leave some slack, especially for your last boat of the day.
• The path to Balbianello is steep. The walk from Lenno is uphill and partly on gravel. FAI says it isn’t suitable for strollers or people with walking difficulties, so take a taxi boat if that applies to you.
• Strikes happen. Malpensa Express has a page on what to do in case of strike action. Check it, and Trenord’s notices, before your travel days.

FAQ

Is four days enough for Milan and Lake Como?

Yes, for the highlights. Two days covers Milan’s big sights at a relaxed pace. Two days on the lake is enough for Varenna, Bellagio, a villa and Como town without rushing.

Do I need to book the Last Supper in advance?

Yes. Booking is compulsory for everyone. Tickets are released in three-month blocks, and extra tickets go on sale every Wednesday at 12:00 for the following week on the official platform.

Can I visit Lake Como as a day trip from Milan?

Yes. Varenna is about 64 minutes from Milano Centrale and Como San Giovanni about 40 minutes, both on direct Trenord trains. Trenord lists the last train from Varenna at 21:35, but staying overnight makes the lake far more relaxing.

How do I pay for Lake Como ferries?

Buy a ticket at the pier ticket office, or use NaviTap: tap a contactless card or phone when you board and tap out when you leave. A paper ticket bought on board costs an extra EUR 1.

What’s the easiest way from Malpensa to central Milan?

Take the Malpensa Express train, the airport’s rail link. It costs EUR 15 per adult and runs every 30 minutes to both Cadorna and Centrale. Check the airport’s official site for bus options.

When is the best time to go?

Spring (April to June) and early autumn (September to October) are lovely for walking around Milan and visiting the lake gardens. In winter, ferries run on winter timetables and some villas open only on selected days.