Buongiorno!

Before moving to Milan, I had never been to the city. I know! why would you ever move to a city you’ve never been to and even worse, hardly knowing the language! Except for a beginner’s course in Italian and reading endless blogs about Milan, I really didn’t know what I was getting myself into. But as soon as I arrived in Milan, I fell in love with it. A few weeks after moving, we went into lockdown and you all know how that went… Silver lining? Not having a job gave me the time to explore some of the most beautiful places in Italy and that’s what I would like to share with you.

In no particular order, here are some of my favourite day trips from Milan.

Como

Como is a beautiful city to explore, no matter what time of year it is. With its vibrant cafe culture, gorgeous villas, stunning views of Lake Como and impressive Gothic Cathedral; there’s something for everyone.

The best thing to do whilst in Como is to take the traghetto (ferry) and do a tour of the lake. You can buy a ticket to Cernobbio for example and just remain on the boat so you can enjoy the views and the lake. If you do happen to stop in Cernobbio and fancy some lunch, Osteria del Beuc is a great place to eat. Try to get a table outside by the lake, it’s great, especially in summer.

Getting there – You can get the Trenord from Milano Centrale Railway Station to Como San Giovanni Train Station. It’s a 39-minute train journey going through Monza, Seregno and Como Camerlata. You want to take the train towards Chiasso.

Check out my post called a hidden gem in Como for a beautiful little café and antique jewellery shop.

A few more places around Lake Como that I absolutely love are Bellagio, Menaggio, Tremezzo and Varenna which are further up but if you’re in Como will be easy to reach.

Piani dei Resinelli – Belvedere Parco Valentino

This place is just breathtaking, it feels like time slows down and the peace you feel is just incredible.

The best way to reach this place is by car, there’s free parking on Via Escursionisti
(full address, Via Escursionisti 23821 Abbadia Lariana  Loc. Piani Resinelli). From the car park, it’s a half-hour walk up to the belvedere. It’s a very easy walk.

A great place to eat whilst here is Dal Tusett, we ordered the tasting menu at 30€ per person, it was so much food! and absolutely delicious.

Bergamo

Bergamo is another beautiful city you should visit if you have time. It’s under an hour away from Milan and can be easily reached by train or car. I previously wrote about Bergamo Alta which is the old part of the city, have a look at the below post for more details on what to do.

Monza

This post wouldn’t be complete without mentioning my beloved Monza! I moved to Monza a year ago and love it. If you love Formula 1 then you will have heard of this city. It’s only 14 minutes on the train from Milano centrale which is great for a day out, especially with kids.

In Monza, you’ll find one of the largest enclosed parks in Europe and the stunning Villa Reale with its beautiful rose garden. The Duomo in the centre of town is a must, its interiors are spectacular.

For food, there are so many choices. Via Bergamo is a great little street which during the warmer months and especially in summer has an amazing atmosphere. I’ll be uploading another post all about Monza and where to eat soon.

Brescia

A 40-minute train journey from Milano Centrale; Brescia, is situated at the foot of the Alps and not far from lakes Garda and Iseo. A beautiful and colourful city filled with hidden gems, amazing UNESCO World Heritage and archaeological sites.

Have a wander around Via dei musei and visit the Capitolium, Tempio Capitolino and Roman theater. Once you’ve finished there, head over to the Duomo Nuovo and visit the Rotonda which is the old cathedral, it has the most interesting shape and interior. Next, head over to Piazza della Loggia with its beautiful Venetian influences.

There are so many places to visit but I don’t want to make this post too long, so I’ll do a series of posts and maybe divide them by distance? Or type of trip? Let me know.

If you reached the end of this post, thank you for sticking with me! I hope you enjoyed it and found it useful. Have an incredible day!

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