Key facts
Lombardy at a glance
Areas and places
Lombardy area by area
Each area has its own page, with its own character, plans and map.
Itineraries
Itineraries that pass through
Days and weekends already planned out, with how to get between each stop and who to book with.
Getaways from Milan
Plan the trip
Lombardy, step by step
Each choice narrows the next: the season shapes how best to travel, and how you travel decides where you stay and where you eat.
When to go
When to go to Lombardy
From April to June and in September and October: gardens in flower on the lakes, boats on full timetables and mild temperatures. July and August are humid and hot in Milan and crowded on the lakes. From November to March many villas close and boats cut their timetables, but the ski season begins in the Valtellina.
How you travel
Lombardy your way
The ways of travelling that suit Lombardy. We are writing a guide to each one: where to stay, how to get around and which services you will need.
Car-free
Nearby
Near Lombardy
The closest places, whichever country they are in.
Tips
Worth knowing first
- 1Book the Last Supper weeks ahead
You only get in with a reservation, in small groups and time slots of about fifteen minutes. Buy on the museum's official website.
- 2Sleep in Varenna or Menaggio, not in Como city
From the middle of the lake you have the three main villages a quarter of an hour away by boat.
- 3Land in Bergamo if you're heading to the eastern lakes
For Garda or Iseo, Bergamo is closer than Milan and has many flights from Spain.
- 4Go up to Bergamo's upper town at sunset
Take the funicular, walk round Piazza Vecchia and come down in the afternoon light. It's a good half-day plan.
The shore roads are narrow, with traffic jams and no parking. Arrive by train at Varenna and get around by boat.
Which part of Lombardy should you choose?
Lombardy is Italy's most populous region and one of its richest, and it shows: good trains, well-kept cities and high prices. For the traveller it comes down to three things: Milan, the lakes and the mountains of the north.
The lakes are the main reason for the trip. Lake Como is the lake of villas with gardens and the villages of Bellagio, Varenna and Menaggio, linked by boat; it's the most elegant and the most expensive. The western shore of Lake Garda, with Sirmione, Salò and Limone, is Lombard: more open, with pebble beaches, castles and a more family-friendly feel. Lake Iseo, between Bergamo and Brescia, is smaller and quieter, with the island of Monte Isola in the middle. The eastern shore of Lake Maggiore is also Lombard, although the Borromean Islands are on the Piedmontese side.
Milan deserves one or two days: the cathedral, with its terrace above the rooftops; the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele; the Navigli canals at sunset, and Leonardo's Last Supper in Santa Maria delle Grazie, which can only be visited by reservation and in short time slots. It's more a working city than a holiday one, and for most people that's enough.
The small cities are what surprise most. Bergamo has a walled upper town reached by funicular; Mantua and Sabbioneta are World Heritage Sites for their Renaissance palaces. To the north, the Valtellina climbs towards the Alps, with ski resorts such as Bormio and Livigno, and from Tirano the Bernina train leaves for Switzerland.
How do you get there from Spain?
By plane, to Milan, which has three airports. Malpensa and Bergamo receive direct flights from Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Seville, Málaga, Alicante, Palma and the Canary Islands, among others; Bergamo also has routes from Zaragoza, Castellón and Vitoria. Linate, the closest to the centre, has flights from Madrid and Barcelona.
From Malpensa, the Malpensa Express reaches Cadorna station in a little under forty minutes and Milano Centrale in about fifty. From Linate, metro line M4 drops you at San Babila, right in the centre, in a quarter of an hour. Bergamo airport is on the outskirts of the city of Bergamo, with buses to its station and to Milan. If you're heading straight for Garda or Iseo, Bergamo is closer than Milan.
How do you get around Lombardy?
Without a car, better than in almost any other region. Trenord regional trains link Milan with Como, Varenna, Bergamo, Brescia and Desenzano, and on the lakes you get around on the public Navigazione Laghi boats, which cover Como, Garda and Maggiore. For Mantua, take a train from Milan or from Verona.
By car, only for the mountains or to tour the south of Garda at your own pace. On the lakes the shore roads are narrow and jam in summer, and parking in Bellagio or Sirmione is expensive. Milan has a paid zone for driving into the centre: leave the car outside.
When should you go and what does it cost?
April, May, June, September and October. In spring the azaleas and camellias bloom in the villas of Lake Como; in autumn there are fewer people and the light is clear. July and August are hot and humid on the plain, and the lakes are full. In winter Milan runs as usual, but on the lakes many villas and hotels close.
It's an expensive region. Lake Como in summer is among the priciest destinations in Italy for sleeping; Bergamo, Brescia and Lake Iseo are considerably more affordable and close to everything.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How many days do I need for Lombardy?
Four or five: one for Milan, two or three for Lake Como and half a day for Bergamo. If you add Garda, a week.
Which lake should I choose, Como or Garda?
Como for villas, gardens and mountain scenery above the water. Garda for swimming, going with children and sport. Como is more expensive.
Can you tour it without a car?
Yes. Milan, Bergamo, Como, Varenna and Desenzano have trains, and the lakes can be toured by public boat.
How do I get from Malpensa airport to Milan?
On the Malpensa Express, which leaves every half hour for Cadorna and Milano Centrale. To Cadorna it takes a little under forty minutes.
Do I have to book Leonardo's Last Supper?
Yes, always. No tickets are sold at the ticket office without a reservation, and high-season slots sell out.
Can you ski in Lombardy?
Yes, in the Valtellina: Bormio and Livigno are the best-known resorts and were venues for the 2026 Winter Olympics.