lombardy travel

Lombardy Travel Guide: 8 Experiences You Can’t Miss

September 14, 2023

Lombardy is an economic powerhouse. And its capital Milan often takes the crown from Rome when it comes to job prospects and quality of life. The industrial hinterlands may not offer much to the traveling aesthete, but head further out and you’ll find glittering lakes, pristine medieval towns, and world-class art. Not to mention breathtaking architecture and delicious gastronomy. This Lombardy travel guide will introduce you to the best things to see and do in and around Milan.

It has been said that Lombardy resembles Germany and France more than its adjacent Italian regions. Lombardy, in fact, was ruled by both the French and Austro-Hungarians. Its name derives from the Scandinavian-Germanic Lombard tribe that ousted the Romans. Today, elegant cities, excellent public transportation, and old-world glamour make Italy’s richest region intimidatingly beautiful and beguiling.

Despite Lake Como and Lake Garda’s huge international fame, much of Lombardy is relatively tourist-free. Many of the smaller towns, hiking trails, and spas are known only to locals. This makes for a delightfully authentic Italian experience.

Lombardy Travel Guide

1. Explore Milan, Italy’s Fashion Capital

Milan, Italy’s fashion capital, is a heady mix of modern-day energy, achingly beautiful art-deco, and neoclassical architecture. Here, life is lived as elegantly as possible. With the Renaissance Santa Maria Della Grazie, the Medieval Duomo, and the 19th-century shopping plaza, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan’s historical highlights are enough to keep visitors busy for a weekend or longer. Add to that the world-class art housed across Pinacoteca di Brera, Palazzo Reale, and the modern masterpieces in Mudec and the Fondazione Prada and you’ve got a cultural offering to rival Rome.

Discover how to spend 48 hours in Milan in our weekend guide. Be sure to finish each day with the city’s legendary aperitivo before dining at some of the country’s best restaurants.

2. Taste Lombard Cuisine

Northern Italian food is surprisingly diverse and worlds away from the pizza and pasta of southern Italy. Typical recipes include polenta, rice dishes, fresh cheese, and red meats. A great place to taste this traditional cuisine is at one of Milan’s heritage restaurants, founded at the end of the city’s art deco era.

The interior of Trattoria Milanese is decked out in dark wood, glowing chandeliers, and vintage bottles that line the walls. Delightfully intimate, the menu features Lombardy’s finest dishes. This includes Cotoletta alla Milanese (breaded veal cutlet), risotto with osso buco , and pasta and vegetables galore. Wash everything down with a full-bodied red from the shelves.

Relatively new to the canal district of Navigli, Nebbia is making waves across the city for its chic interiors and interesting twists on traditional Milanese cuisine. Head down for an early aperitivo on the water before settling in for the night. Regular specialties include duck liver brioche with caramelized onions, roasted pumpkin with goat’s cheese and sesame, and octopus with pork cheek and local greens.

3. Explore Italy’s Great Lakes

The charm of the Italian lakes has captivated travelers for centuries. Smooth, aquamarine water, pastel-colored villas, exquisite gardens with lemon trees, bright pink azaleas, and verdant lawns add to the sensory overload of the lakes. From the expansive Lago Maggiore, the majestic Como, or the glittering Garda, these bodies of water offer a refreshing respite from sweltering days in the towns. And, they match Lombardy’s cities for culture and gastronomy.

Lake Maggiore , Lake Como, and Lake Garda are easily accessible by train from Milan. Once on the lake, it’s easy to get around via boats and water taxis. Additionally, from any of the lakes, it’s possible to stop off in any number of pretty towns to admire medieval churches, and Belle Epoque facades, as well as taste local delicacies. Some favorite towns are:

Lake Como : Cernobbio and Bellagio
Lake Garda : Sirmione, Salò and Limone sul Garda
Lake Maggiore : Stresa and Laveno

For a meal with a view, look no further than Aurora Restaurant , just south of Bellagio. With a shady terrace overlooking tranquil waters and distant mountains, Aurora is the optimal location for a relaxing lunch or dinner. The kitchen specializes in freshly-caught lake fish, but their pasta and pizzas are also hard to beat.

4. Spend a Night on Lake Como

Grand Hotel Tremezzo is a glittering jewel on Lake Como’s eastern shores. Opened in 1910, this great dame has hosted sophisticated travelers for over a century. Today, the hotel remains a destination for Italy’s well-heeled and cultured. Many Milanese head north during the weekends to experience impeccable Italian hospitality and traditions.

From the hotel’s 100 windows, you can see across the water to the picturesque Bellagio, the expansive terrace, and the landscaped gardens. “The Grand” has three swimming pools, including one which floats atop the lake. Rent a boat and choose from five restaurants and bars offering the culinary delights of Chef Gualtiero Marchesi.

The hotel is located just next to Villa Carlotta , a lakeside villa with a spectacular botanical garden, winding trails, and parks. If you want to explore, hop on one of the numerous ferries and boats to visit other villages and towns located along the lake.

5. Visit the Medieval Towns of Cremona and Mantua

Lombardy may be full of glamour and pizazz, but much of its charm can also be found in the smaller towns and cities. If you’re looking for a quieter day trip, head southeast to Cremona. This honey-colored medieval town is full of beautiful boutiques, spacious galleries, and pretty restaurants. It is also now a world heritage site, thanks to the Stradivarius Violin Museum , which preserves the violins of Amati, Guarnieri, and Stradivari. Make sure to check out the website for the numerous recitals and concerts in the city throughout the year.

From Cremona, it’s a short drive to the city of Mantua—made famous by Romeo’s banishment here. As you arrive, the city’s domes and towers rise up from the landscape. Once inside the city’s historic center, head to Antica Osteria Leoncino Rosso to eat tortelli with pumpkin, a regional specialty. Stroll through the beautiful Palazzo Ducale to catch a glimpse of what life was like for the Gonzaga family, who ruled the city for over 400 years. The city has plenty of wide-open piazzas and lovely walks along the river, making it the perfect place to relax after a few days in a bigger city.

6. Hike in the Mountains

While Lombardy may often bring to mind the glitz and glamour of Milan and the lakes, some of the most authentic experiences can be found just a short train ride, or even a stroll, from the bustling centers. Hiking in Lombardy often means hiking in the trails of the breathtaking pre-alps. Visitors traversing the Alps can descend from the snowcapped peaks and discover pops of color where the land meets the water. From land to sky, you can see verdant foliage, shimmering lakes, and towering, snow-capped peaks.

A personal favorite is the Cadorna Line hike from Porta Ceresio, an hour on the train from Milan. The trail follows in the footsteps of the partisans who fought against the fascists in World War II. In addition, the trails around Lake Como and Lake Maggiore are equally spectacular, with lake views on one side and huts owned by local Alpini on the other.

7. Relax in a Spa in Bormio

While southern Italians head to the beach, northerners are famous for their love of the mountains. Whether it’s hiking in the Alpine meadows in the summer or skiing in the winter, the alps offer no end of outdoor activities for the energetic traveler. If you find yourself in need of some fresh air and recuperation, make like the Milanese and head to the spa.

Located in the very north of Lombardy, Bormio has been a wellness destination since the Roman era, when well-heeled generals and aristocrats first lauded the benefits of taking the waters. Today there are three main spas to choose from, all offering treatments such as massages and facials as well as infinity pools and terraces that overlook the rolling hills and mountains. Check out the QC Bagni Vecchi and QC Bagni Nuovi for a relaxing weekend at one of Italy’s leading spa hotel brands.

8. Explore Beautiful Bergamo

Often overlooked for its starrier neighbor Milan, we couldn’t leave Bergamo off of our Lombardy Travel Guide. La Città Dei Mille (The City of the Thousand), is divided into two parts. Explore the Città Alta (high city), a labyrinth of medieval alleyways all enclosed within the walkable Venetian wall. Charming baroque and medieval buildings look down over the vineyards below, while gentle mists rise in the autumn and winter, giving the city a gothic, hidden-away appearance. A footpath leads around the fortified walls of Cittá Alta to Porta San Giacomo, continue down this cobbled path to enjoy Cittá Bassa’s (low city) stunning palazzos.

Come for the architecture, but stay for the majestic duomo that’s located just off the main piazza. The gilded ceilings and towering sculptures are a testament to the Venetian wealth that splashed around the city during the 18th century. The cathedral is breathtaking and just a few steps from some of the best restaurants in town. After a morning of culture, make sure to stop at Da Franco or Trattoria Tre Torri for lunch of truffle risotto, wild boar pasta, or stuffed ravioli.

Post written by: Ashleigh Joanna Searle

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EUROPE , ITALY · May 6, 2021 Last Updated on March 14, 2024

ULTIMATE GUIDE TO ITALY’S LOMBARDY REGION

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Lombardy is the glitz and glamour of Italy – a combination of the fashion-forward Milanesi and the luxury lakeside villas of Como, sprinkled with a bit of countryside charm.

Being Italy’s most modern and industrialized region and an area of diverse topographical landscapes, Lombardy boasts many things to do for both the laidback and adventurous female traveler.

This is the only guide you’ll ever need to Lombardy to have a perfect trip!

Arriving In Lombardy

Lombardy has two major airports and several smaller airports so that you can be flexible with flight bookings. Milan Malpensa (MXP) is the largest airport, while Milan Linate (LIN) is the other main airport.

Both airports are similar and easily accessible on the outskirts of Milan.

Secret Tip: If you’re flying on a budget and from within Europe, Orio al Serio Airport in Bergamo is a hub for RyanAir flights! Consider flying into Bergamo for your cheapest option of arriving in Lombardy.

You can also take a train or drive to enter Lombardy, as it borders Switzerland to the north.

Transportation In Lombardy

The easiest way to travel and explore Lombardy is by renting a car . It will offer you the most flexibility to get around the region!

Luckily, Lombardy is well-connected by regional trains. You can pretty much get anywhere your heart desires by train, even in the remote towns of the Alps like Tirano.

Lombardy is a mid-range to an expensive area of Italy to visit. Notable places like Milan and Lake Como are more expensive than less notable areas like Bergamo and Lake Iseo.

Almost everywhere will take credit cards in Lombardy. As it’s the most industrious region of Italy, it’s hard to be somewhere that is so rural that they take only cash.

Lombardy boasts a huge range of types and prices of stays, from traditional agriturismo (farm stays) to villas to luxury hotels, so you can really customize your trip to your budget.

Food In Lombardy

You’ll find many places to eat pizza and pasta in Lombardy, but the regional cuisine of the north is actually quite different from what stereotypes exist about Italian food.

Polenta, risotto, stews, and meat are more commonly eaten here than in the Mediterranean south. The robust diet of Lombardy’s inhabitants is a reflection of their climate and geography.

Some of the dishes you should definitely try are:

Risotto alla Milanese
Casoncelli alla Bergamasca
Any kind of Polenta (with Fontina or Asiago Cheese is delish!)
Cotoletto alla Milanese

City Breaks In Lombardy

Lombardy is the economic powerhouse of Italy. Industry and modernization are more common in this region than in any other.

You’ll still find traditional small towns and historic city centers, but you’ll also get to see how Italy is blending its rich cultural traditions while innovating for the future.

From mountains to lakes to world-renowned cityscapes, Lombardy offers unique experiences everywhere you turn. There’s no better place to start a guide to Lombardy than the heart of the region, Milan.

Milan is the second-biggest city in all of Italy and one of the most famous in the world for its fashionable, fast-paced lifestyle.

The allure and grandeur of Milan live up to expectation and potentially even exceed it as you climb up the Metro steps into Piazza Duomo .

Emerging into view is the centerpiece of the city, a behemoth of white stone that you can barely fit into one glance.

To the left of the Duomo is the breathtaking Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II , a shopping gallery glittered in blinding gold tiles.

Climb up the steps at the front of the Galleria to Terrazza Aperol to have aperitivo with a unique perspective of the Duomo.

Visit Milan’s modern sector to see an un-Italian kind of site – skyscrapers. Milan is known for its being the financial capital of Italy.

The Borgo Verticale are stunning modern apartment buildings now famous for the vertical plants growing off the entire structure.

My favorite off-the-beaten-path spot that the Milanesi have kept a secret from tourists is the neighborhood of Navigli. It’s an eclectic, young, and lively neighborhood connected by canals.

Here are some of the best hole-in-the-wall restaurants and bars, including Taglio and Le Striatelle di Nonna Mafalda.

I believe anyone visiting Lombardy should see Milan once. However, you don’t need more than one day of your jam-packed Italy itinerary dedicated to this city!

There is so much more to experience in Lombardy, which is exactly what I’m shining the light on.

A highlight of Lombardy is its second-largest city, 40 minutes from Milan, the perfect distance for a day trip.

Bergamo is a hidden gem in Lombardy. When compared to Milan or Lake Como, Bergamo is barely touched by tourism.

However, I don’t expect it to last for long since the city has so much to offer!

Bergamo is a unique city made up of two main areas – Città Alta and Città Bassa.

Città Alta, the upper town, is situated on a hill fortified by 16th-century Venetian walls. These walls preserve this city’s history, dating back to the middle ages.

Città Alta is a fairytale hilltop of cobblestone streets, ornate cathedrals, and stunning views over the countryside.

The easiest way to reach Città Alta is to take the cable car, or Funicular, from Città Bassa. It only costs 1-2 euros.

You can even take a second funicular from Città Alta up to the highest spot on the hill at Castello San Vigilio . An old military fort, the Castello San Vigilio is the perfect place to walk around for an afternoon stroll or even have your own picnic.

For a change of pace, visit Città Bassa, where you can shop on the main promenade of Via XX Settembre, or enjoy a cocktail at Roof Garden Restaurant with a view of Città Alta.

Italy’s Lake Region

Many know Lombardy for modern Milan, but more are beginning to know it for its luxe lake retreats. Lombardy is Italy’s lake region, with several of its biggest lakes located within it, Lago Maggiore and Lago di Garda.

You can’t go to Lombardy without experiencing this side of its landscape. Each lake has incredible views and picturesque towns to boast, so you can’t go wrong in choosing (choose them all if you can!)

Ever since the Internet found out about where George Clooney vacations, Lake Como has become one of Italy’s most popular destinations for a good reason.

Lake Como is easy to reach from Milan and a stone’s throw away from Switzerland. Dotted along its banks are tiny towns in hues of orange and red. Angle your neck ever so slightly above, and you’ll see the towering mountains: you’re at the foot of the Alps.

You can access Lake Como in a variety of ways. If you’re driving, you can drive to nearly every town along its banks (although watch out for limited parking.)

You could also take the train to Lecco and a ferry boat around the lake to some of its prettiest towns, like Varenna and Bellagio.

My personal pick for the best town to visit on Lake Como is Varenna. Not only is there a convenient parking garage (ah, the things that we grow to love as travelers) but Varenna is a quiet escape on what has become a touristy destination.

I’m not saying there are no tourists in Varenna because there are. There are just fewer than other towns, like Bellagio.

Plus, if you visit in the fall or the shoulder season, you’ll certainly avoid any crowds.

Check out Villa Monastero and stroll along the boardwalk.

I tend to lean towards planning trips that are off-the-beaten-path, but I have to say, I am a sucker for gorgeous Bellagio .

It is very touristy in the summer months, but its charm and beauty are hardly tarnished when you look out to the views, walk along the boardwalk, or grab a gelato while waiting for the ferry.

You can easily ferry between Varenna and Bellagio and even pay for your car to be transported on the ferry with you.

If you love the path not taken, then you’ll love Lake Iseo. It has a hearty and authentic quality to its people and its surroundings.

The only vacationers you will find here are other Italians and maybe a few Germans. It doesn’t boast the same colorful brigade of houses as Lake Como, but it does come with a gem of its own.

Monte Isola

Said gem is Monte Isola, a large island in the middle of this small-ish lake.

You’ll be transported into an old Italian film upon stepping out of the transfer boat to Monte Isola.

A row of aged but charming houses-turned-restaurants, inns, and cafes take up the little space between the foot of Monte Isola’s hill and the soft lull of waves bouncing off the island’s edge.

Natives zoom by on their Vespas (because it’s too small for cars) while are others are arriving by boat, bringing what they’ve fished back home for dinner.

The amount of peace and serenity on this little lake island, combined with the genuine people and simple way of life, makes you want to start building your own casa beneath your feet.

When returning to the mainland’s shores at Sulzano, drive south on Via Battisti only 5 minutes to Darsena21 . Here you’ll have another magical experience of an elegant aperitivo on an old dock.

The views of mountains and the sounds of waves will have you never wanting to leave.

My favorite of all the lakes in Lombardy is Lake Garda. It’s the largest lake in Italy yet feels intimate and romantic. The mountains drape down the lake from north to south, and windsurfers and boaters alike make good use of its soothing, calm waters.

Interestingly, Lake Garda is part of three regions of Italy. The west half of the lake belongs to Lombardy, while the east half is part of Veneto. The very northern part of Lake Garda is in Trentino-Alto Adige.

There is an abundance of beautiful towns along Lombardy’s coast of Lake Garda. My favorite is Sirmione.

Sirmione has all the picturesque frames anyone with a camera desires to shoot in Italy.

The town is built upon a tiny peninsula at the south of Lake Garda. Its medieval Castello Scaligero and the turquoise blue moat has become Insta-famous and has drawn interest from around the world to this small historic center.

The castle is spectacularly located beside the town center, where despite the bustle of shopper and eaters, you can hear the lull of the lake less than 100 steps away.

I’m not just recommending Sirmione because of its Instagram popularity. There is more to experience in this sweet town than the photogenic Castello Scaligero.

Its unique location as a peninsula reaching out into Lake Garda means you get nearly 360-degree views from its highest points.

My favorite part is a walkway that circles nearly the entire peninsula where you can be right next to the lake.

Sirmione also has an archaeological site of ancient grottos, the Grotte di Catullo , at the peninsula’s tip for a small entrance fee.

On your walk to the grottos, make sure to walk through the park of olive trees basking in the sunlight and take in the view.

At the beginning of this guide to Lombardy, I mentioned the variety of topographical landscapes. The region is home to Italy’s largest fertile valley, the Po valley through flows which the largest river in Italy, Po.

A dissonance is created when the valley meets the largest chain of mountains in Europe, the Alps.

Lombardy has a unique beauty because of these diverse landscapes and appeals to all kinds of travelers for the variety of things you can do.

San Pellegrino Terme

A best-kept secret of locals in Lombardy are thermal baths. QC Terme is a brand of spa thermal bath hotels in Europe (and even one location in New York!)

San Pellegrino Terme is one of their most beautiful retreats, as it’s tucked away in the mountains of Val Brembana.

Its ornately decorated hotel and dreamy infinity pool give you all the luxury feel but can be customized to fit your budget. You can stay the night or go for the day – in either case; you’ll still be able to take in the breathtaking views and experience a relaxing retreat.

If relaxing at a spa isn’t for you, but outdoor adventures are, look no further than Livigno. Near to the border of Switzerland, Livigno is as far north as you can get in Lombardy.

This small town is well-known for its skiing and mountain trails, so it is best to visit in the winter. Pack your boots and coats!

Extra Tips for Visiting Italy’s Lombardy Region

Visit from the months of September to March to avoid the busy tourist season.
Rent a car to make the most of visiting Lombardy, but remember to factor in tolls, parking, and finding accommodation with parking in your budget.
Remember always to validate your tickets for public transportation in Italy to avoid a fine. There will be a small machine on a bus, in the train station, or boarding a cable car, where you’ll insert your ticket to be stamped.

After uncovering everything there is to know about Lombardy in this travel guide, the only thing left to do is pack your bags and discover this diverse and magical region of Italy for yourself.

Buon Viaggio!

We hope that this article has helped inspire you to visit Italy’s Lombardy Region. If you have any questions about the destination or have your own travel tips to share please leave these in the comments below.

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3 Other destinations
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Lombardy ( Lombardia in Italian and Lombard) is a northern region of Italy , and with 10 million people is the most populous one. Producing a fifth of Italy's GDP, it is also the mightiest economically. Geographically, Lombardy encompasses both Alps and Prealps in the north, and relatively flat plains in the south along the river Po and its tributaries. Between them there are many scenic lakes, and the alpine backdrop makes even the low-lying cities picturesque and the air rather fresh.

Lombardy is heavily industrialised, although most of the industry is actually not heavy, but rather mid-sized specialised machinery-building and other assembly and engineering firms, as well as consumer industries such as foodstuffs and apparel. The regional capital, Milan , is Italy's second-largest city and the foremost centre of commerce and a global fashion capital. Smaller cities also have considerable economic might, and have had so for many centuries, hence Lombardy is the region of Italy with the most UNESCO World Heritage sites - and simply, a lot of history and scenic views to explore and enjoy.

Regions [ edit ]

Cities [ edit ]

45.466944 9.19 1 Milan ( Milano , the capital of the metropolitan city of that name) – shares with Paris the title of fashion capital of the world, and is Italy 's second city
45.695 9.67 2 Bergamo – a fairytale pastel-coloured city perched atop a hillside, and the gate to Bergamo Alps
45.538889 10.220281 3 Brescia – a major industrial powerhouse since ancient Roman times, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site
45.81025 9.086139 4 Como – the city that gave the name to the popular lake
45.133333 10.024722 5 Cremona – home of Stradivarius violins, but also a wealth of ornate Romanesque architecture
45.85334 9.39048 6 Lecco – a charming litle city on Lake Como
45.156389 10.791111 7 Mantua (Italian: Mantova ) – the Ducal Palace has a cycle of frescoes by Mantegna that no art lover should miss
46.169719 9.87 8 Sondrio – the northernmost provincial capital situated amidst alpine mountain ranges
45.816667 8.833333 9 Varese – capital of the namesake province full of lakeside resorts

Other destinations [ edit ]

The magnificent lakes of Lake Como - take boat trips in the shadow of the Alps to the picturesque villages of Bellagio , Varenna and Tremezzo - Lake Maggiore , Lake Garda and Lake Lugano .
The tiny village of Erbusco , home of the award-winning wines of Franciacorta and L'Albereta , the country inn of Gualtiero Marchesi, one of Italy's premier chefs
45.8605 9.0972 1 Moltrasio
The peninsula of Sirmione , on the south shore of Lake Garda
The Caves of Catullo , an archaeological site of a former Roman villa situated on the tip of the Sirmione peninsula
The Sirmione Spa , the largest privately owned thermal treatment centre in Italy
46.0075 10.3475 2 Val Camonica : UNESCO heritage site, medieval towns, castles, holy art in churches, roman sanctuary and theatre/amphitheatre, ski sports.
44.9925 9.00917 3 Oltrepò Pavese : Wine region in the utmost southern part of Lombardy, 70km from Milan, part of the Pavia province, medieval towns, castles, panoramic views.
45.970833 8.970833 4 Campione d'Italia : an Italian exclave in nearby Switzerland, with looser tax laws, a large casino, and great views over Lake Lugano

Understand [ edit ]

The Longobardis occupied the peninsula in the 6th century, and this area has been named after them ever since.

Lombardy is a prosperous region with fertile soil and a temperate climate. As in Piedmont , the Po Valley is the site of much heavy industry. High mountains in the north, marking Italy's frontier with Switzerland , provide excellent skiing and climbing.

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

Three of Italy's four busiest airports are in Lombardy:

Milano Malpensa Airport is an intercontinental airport, and Italy's second aviation hub after Rome Fiumicino. It has multiple direct connections to Africa , Asia and North America , and across Europe , where it is served by full-service and low-fare carriers.
Milano Linate is Milan's city airport, served by business-oriented flights to European major commercial centres, and by a dense Italian domestic network.
Bergamo Orio al Serio Airport is served almost exclusively by low-fare carriers, taking advantage of its proximity to both Milan and the Alps.

Despite only Linate being in the city and province of Milan, all three airports are marketed as serving the city. One can easily get to other destinations in the province from them, without necessarily changing in Milan. There is also a small airport in Brescia. As of July 2018, it had no regular passenger flights.

By train [ edit ]

Road and train links connect the region with Switzerland. As Switzerland is not part of the EU, there is a possibility that you will be delayed by checks at the border, although these are infrequent and usually not rigorous. Remember your passport.

Get around [ edit ]

There is a relatively dense railway network connecting cities and towns in Lombardy, although the layout is intricate and getting from one place to another may not be straightforward. You should be able to reach your destination within 1 or 2 hours by train. Otherwise, buses and minibuses link important destinations, especially those popular with tourists. Hubs are usually in regional centres, as well as near major railway stations and airports; you can try to change there if there are no direct connections. Regional train network is entirely managed by Trenord .

Regione Lombardia offers a good travel planner that lets you query the whole public transportation system.

If you plan to travel a lot, it might be worth buying a io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia [dead link] pass ticket. Those tickets let you travel without limit on the entire public transport system in Lombardy, including regional trains, buses and city public transportation systems, but excluding some ferry boat lines. Although expensive, they can easily be a cheaper option than regular tickets if you travel long distances. Passes are sold at railway stations (at ticket box or automatic vending machines) and at ATM automatic vending machines. You can buy 1, 2, 3 or 7 day passes (€16, €27, €32.5, €43 respectively - February 2015).

The railway company Trenord offers some good travel packages, under the Trenord Free Time [dead link] name. The package usually includes a ticket to an attraction or a trip proposal and a train ticket to get to the destination. Most of them are really useful only if you depart from Milan. It's worth to take a look at the offers as they can also suggest you some new or lesser known itinerary that you may like.

As the Autostrada A4 runs across Lombardy, with the road system radiating from its junctions, you can get around by car as well. The A4 frequently gets congested though and traffic jams can be long and excruciating, especially around Milan. Be aware that Italians drive fast and make no allowances for foreigners, so be sure you are OK with keeping up with the traffic and occasional displays of impatience from other drivers.

Milan , Bergamo and Brescia have efficient and extensive public transportation systems.

See [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

Milan Fashion Weeks draw crowds of fashionistas to Milan every year.
La Scala in Milan is a mecca for opera aficionados.
You can enjoy water sports or more relaxed boating on the lakes.
The Alps offer opportunities for hiking or skiing.

Eat [ edit ]

Lombardy's most famous culinary inventions are minestrone soup and osso buco (literally "ox knuckles"). To the west of Milan lie miles of rice fields, where the rice for risotto alla milanese is grown. Other typical dishes of the area include salumi (cold cuts) and polenta.

As in many other areas of Northern Italy, the aperitivo (pre-meal drink with appetisers, for which a small supplement might be charged) is very popular.

Drink [ edit ]

The wineries in Franciacorta , around Erbusco , produce many excellent wines. The region has been elevated to the status of DOCG ( Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita ). Other remarkable zones for wine are Oltrepò Pavese (which is the zone around Pavia on the south banks of Po river) and the countrysides around Garda Lake.

Valtellina also produces excellent wines, famous for their strong taste and flavour.

As every big city in the world, Milan has also many high quality restaurants, wine bars and Enoteche (wine store) where you can find high class wines from all over the world.

Sleep [ edit ]

Large cities, like Milan , Bergamo or Brescia , are important business centres, so they have sizeable bases of business-oriented hotels. They are local hubs with connections to destinations within their provinces, and getting between them is also reasonably quick via a variety of means of transportation (trains, express buses or cars across the A4). Do note that accommodation in Milan is generally expensive, and prices skyrocket during major events or fairs, such as the Milan Fashion Week.

Destinations along the lines of the lakes, as well as those in the Alps, are popular with tourists, so you will find a variety of accommodation options there, from luxurious resort hotels to simple B&Bs.

Stay safe [ edit ]

While Milan features many of the usual tourist traps and con acts, as well as sizeable number of pickpockets due to the number of tourists there, other destinations are generally safe, and you can feel secure and welcome there. Do note, however, that in case you need to contact the police they can have very limited English skills and also may not be able to help foreigners much.

Go next [ edit ]

To the east is Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto , to the south is Emilia-Romagna and Piedmont is to the south and west. Switzerland lies to the north.

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16 of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy

If the combo of – historic towns and cities, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and lake & mountain views – sounds tempting to you, you’ll love this list of some of the best places to visit in Lombardy, Italy ( Italian: Lombardia ).

Each Italian region is a world in itself, and trying to sum up its essence in a few sentences is impossible, but hopefully, this post will give you an enticing glimpse into what awaits you in Lombardy.

* This post may contain affiliate links from which I earn a commission (for more info, read my disclosure ). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

* I try to keep the information on this blog as updated as possible, but I still recommend consulting the latest prices, opening hours, and other details on the official website of each site, hotel, and tour, as well as checking the updated public transport routes and timetables.

Lombardy Italy travel bucket list: 16 of the best places to visit in Lombardy Italy

Table of Contents

What Is Lombardy Known For? Why Is It Worth Visiting?

Northern Italy in its entirety is a traveler’s paradise, and Lombardy, its central region, is no exception.

Anyone can appreciate its big cities steeped in history and packed with landmarks, quintessential towns, beautiful villages waiting to be discovered, and sprawling landscapes of mountains, lakes, rolling hills, and valleys.

Culturally and gastronomically, it’s a heaven for art and architecture fanatics, wine lovers, and foodies who love their comfort food. It’s also an industrial hub and one of the richest regions in Italy.

Trust me, there are so many things to do in Lombardy that you will never be bored.

Best Places in Lombardy, Italy – Map

Renting a car is definitely one of the best ways to explore Lombardy, though it’s very much possible to plan an itinerary that only requires the use of public transportation.

Access the MyMaps interactive map of Lombardy here .

Tip: After accessing the map, you can also open it on your Google Maps app. Simply open your app, tap the ‘saved’ icon at the bottom, scroll down and tap the ‘maps’ icon, and choose the MyMaps map you want to see (you can do the same on your computer).

Some of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy

Lago d’iseo (lake iseo).

By Lynne from Wander Your Way

Lago d’Iseo is often considered the “romantic” lake in northern Italy because it’s much smaller than its neighbors, Lago di Como and Lago di Garda.

It’s roughly a 2-hour drive from Milan so you can visit this lake on a day trip from the capital city of Lombardy, but you’ll want to stay for a few nights as there are lots of things to do, and it is simply a wonderful spot to slow down.

There are small towns dotting the shores such as Iseo, Sulzano, Clusane, Sarnico, Lovere, and Pisogne. In the middle of the lake is the beautiful little island, Monte Isola, to which you’ll definitely want to take a ferry.

Cars are banned on this island, so it’s a fabulous place to get into nature and enjoy some peace and quiet. There are a few small villages in Monte Isola, trails to walk or bike on, and a few spots to actually stay the night.

The hike up to Sanctuaria della Madonna di Ceriola is also a must for those who are able to do so. The sanctuary is gorgeous, and the views are stunning.

Whatever you choose to do, Lago d’Iseo is a must for your time in Lombardy.

By Dhara from It’s Not About the Miles

Mantua (called Mantova in Italian and Mantua in Lombard) is a must-visit destination in Lombardy! Still locked into medieval times, Mantua offers a rich blend of history, great sights, and good food and drinks.

Touring the gorgeous Palazzo Ducale should be at the top of your itinerary for Mantua. Built in medieval times by the powerful ruling Gonzaga family as their residence, the complex features beautiful frescoes and decorated ceilings (especially famous is the Camera degli Sposi room).

Another must-visit palace in Mantua is Palazzo Te, where the frescoes in the Sala dei Giganti will take your breath away. Also do not miss the Basilica of Sant’Andrea, one of the best examples of Renaissance architecture in Northern Italy.

Mantua is known for its fabulous food, from tortelli di zucca (pumpkin pasta with nutmeg – yum!) to torta sbrisolona , a crumbly cake with almonds.

While Mantua makes for a wonderfully relaxed multi-day stay (it’s nowhere near as crowded as many other places in Italy!), it is also perfect for a one-day visit. In fact, it is one of the best day trips from Bologna you can do, or from Milan, by train.

Sirmione, Lake Garda

Known as ‘The Pearl of Lake Garda’, Sirmione is a gorgeous town situated on the southern shore of Italy’s biggest lake.

Offering an intriguing mix of historical landmarks, picturesque alleys, thermal baths, and even a couple of beaches, it’s a unique resort town you cannot miss in Lombardy.

Start by exploring Sirmione’s most famous sights, including the Roman ruins of the Archaeological Site of Grotte di Catullo, the medieval Church of San Pietro in Mavino, and the 13th-century Scaligera Castle (don’t skip out on climbing its highest tower to enjoy the most magnificent panoramic views).

Next, wander through the town’s enchanting streets, marveling at the bougainvillea-covered stone houses and devouring some delicious gelato.

You can also unwind in a thermal bath, soak up the sun on Jamaica Beach, and take a boat tour around the peninsula .

Visit Sirmione in late spring, early summer, or early fall to avoid the crowds and have the best weather.

Salò, Lake Garda

By Lisa from Following the Rivera

Located on the western side of Lake Garda is the town of Salò. In a town not as well-known as Sirmione and Bardolino, there’s plenty to fill a 1-day itinerary.

Given its location, it’ll come as no surprise that one of the best things to do in Salò is to walk the lungolago (promenade). Walk the entire length, taking in the scenery of the lake on one side and colorful buildings on the other.

Along the lungolago are several main points of interest. One notable landmark is the Palazzo della Magnifica Patria.

As its name suggests, it was once a former palace building, but today is home to Salò’s town hall. Recognizable by its grand portico, beneath it you’ll find a historic coat of arms and commemorative plaques.

Other sights to see include the town’s cathedral, the 15th-century Duomo di Salò, and the 13th-century clock tower (Torre dell’Orologio).

The plain exterior of the church gives nothing away to the mesmerizing scene that awaits inside. Located on the western side of the town, the clock tower was used to reinforce the walls from unwanted intruders.

A charming town on Lake Garda’s western coast, Salò is one that’s definitely worth seeing.

Desenzano Del Garda, Lake Garda

Within a 20-minute bus ride from Sirmione or a 25-minute train ride from Verona, you’ll get to the beautiful Desenzano del Garda, the largest town on Lake Garda and a popular holiday destination since Roman times.

Known for its nightlife, beaches, landmarks, and views, Desenzano del Garda offers more than enough things to do and see.

Explore its Roman remains at the Villa Romana, admire its 11th-century castle, visit the Duomo di Santa Maria Maddalena, and wander around Piazza Malvezzi, the old port, and the Venetian bridge.

You can also walk along the lungolago (promenade), roam the streets of the historic center, and visit the Archeological Museum.

Limone Sul Garda, Lake Garda

Located in the northwestern part of Lake Garda, Limone sul Garda is a picture-perfect lakeside town surrounded by incredible natural landscapes.

An ideal stop on an Italian lakes road trip , here you can have a leisurely stay, engage in outdoor activities, or get to know the town’s historical and cultural sides.

After roaming around Limone’s charming streets, visit the Fishermen’s Museum, Museum of Tourism, or the lovely Limonaia del Castèl, an 18th-century citrus garden with unique Lemon Houses and a small museum dedicated to citrus growing in the area.

To enjoy the views, walk or cycle along the shoreline, relax at Cola Beach, or take a hike in the surrounding area.

By Krisztina from She Wanders Abroad

If you’re looking for the most beautiful places in Lombardy, you can’t miss Como! Located at one of the southern branches of Lake Como, close to the Swiss border, Como is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Italy.

It’s actually one of the best places to stay in Lake Como , especially if you’re visiting for a shorter time, as Como is the easiest part of the lake to reach from Milan. You can hop on a train, and within 1 hour you’ll be in this beautiful lakeside town!

There are plenty of things to do in Como, including visiting the Como Cathedral, taking a cable car ride up to Brunate for panoramic views, strolling around the lakefront, and indulging in some delicious gelato.

You also can’t miss the Life Electric Monument, which is a really cool, unique piece of public art.

If you’re looking for even more things to do, you can take a short boat ride to one of the other lovely lakeside towns like Bellagio or Varenna.

If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even take a day trip to the Swiss city of Lugano, which is just a short train ride away. No matter what you decide to do, Como is sure to impress.

Varenna, Lake Como

Founded by fishermen in the 8th century, Varenna is, without a doubt, one of the best towns in Lombardy to visit at least once. Its colorful buildings, medieval alleys, and mountainous backdrop are all you need to have a joyful moment.

Lake Como is famous for its villas, many of which belonged to noble European families in the previous centuries and now function as hotels, museums, or event venues.

An unmissable one located in Varenna is the 18th-century Villa Monastero, which offers a visit to its house museum and majestic botanical garden.

If you’re up for something a bit more active, you can also walk up the hill to the historic Vezio Castle, and don’t forget to climb its tower to enjoy amazing panoramic views over the lake.

Colorful houses on the waterfront of Varenna

Bellagio, Lake Como

Considered ‘The pearl of Lake Como’, Bellagio is a picture-perfect town situated right at the junction of the lake’s three legs.

Its charm is best discovered on foot when you roam through its enchanting center and walk along the promenade. The narrow cobbled alleys house more than enough restaurants, gelato shops, cafes, and souvenir shops, which are a delight to explore.

Bellagio is also home to the imposing 19th-century Villa Melzi D’Eril and the 15th-century Villa Serbelloni, both of which offer a visit to their extravagant gardens. The latter requires an online reservation – note that you must book a guided tour.

In addition, Bellagio is a great base to explore the rest of Lake Como, with ferries getting to more than 20 lakeside towns.

Music, culture, and history buffs – this one is for you. Cremona might not be the first city that comes to mind when planning a trip to northern Italy. Yet, it’s impossible to ignore the birthplace and home of the legendary violin maker Antonio Stradivari.

Cremona kept the tradition of violin craftsmanship alive for centuries, so it’s no wonder it was listed by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage.

You can find many violin shops across the city, as well as pay a visit to the Violin Museum, perfect for learning about its history and marveling at Stradivarius instruments.

Located in the Po Valley near Lombardy’s border with Emilia-Romagna, this city has a lot more to offer.

From its impressive cathedral and charming historic center to the Archeological Museum and Ala Ponzone Civic Museum, Cremona proves that underrated cities are a force to be reckoned with.

By Megan from Megan & Aram

Bergamo is easily one of the most underrated destinations in Italy (and certainly in Lombardy). The Italian city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is a quiet escape from the busy streets of Milan (and is one of the best day trips).

Located at the foothills of the Alps, Bergamo’s most famous district is the Citta Alta (or Old City), perched up on a hill overlooking the newer part of the town.

In the Old City, you will see medieval towers and Venetian Walls, and people flock from all over the world to check them out (and watch their famous football team, Atalanta).

Inside the Citta Alta, you will find famous Lombardy tourist attractions such as the Santa Maria Maggiore Basilica, the Cappella Colleoni, and the Temple of S. Croce.

While there are plenty of sights to see, one of the best things to do in Bergamo is eating! The city is famous for casoncelli , a local pasta dish with pancetta, sage, and butter sauce. And, it is also renowned for its stracciatella (it is the home of it!) and polenta.

There are plenty of reasons to visit Bergamo, and it is one of the easiest cities to visit in Lombardy – with domestic and international flights arriving at its airport and train access from all major cities (often via Milan).

By Phil from JOURNICATION Travel Blog

One of the best cities in Lombardy you should not miss out on is Monza.

There are many things you can do here, like checking out some of its fascinating attractions. These could be Autodromo Nazionale Monza, Parco di Monza, Cappella di Teodolinda, and more.

And what about visiting the best museums in Monza? These include Museo e Tesoro del Duomo di Monza, Musei Civici Monza Casadegli Umiliati, Galleria Civica, Mulino Colombo, and others.

Checking out Monza Cathedral is another thing you must do. Every year, countless tourists visit this structure to get a firsthand view of its magnificent architecture. Although there are numerous religious buildings in Monza, this one seems to stand out.

Finally, there are some beautiful gardens in Monza that are worth exploring, like Roseto Niso Fumagalli and Giardini Della Villa Reale. Please ensure to find out their visiting time since they vary.

If you are looking for more hidden gems in Northern Italy , make sure you expand your route to South Tyrol to explore the best things to do in Bolzano (known as one of the best Italian winter destinations ).

By Mariana from Road Trip Euro Guide

Don’t be completely swept away by the northern lakes, because the vibrant city of Milan is one of the best destinations to visit in the Lombardy region of Italy – and here’s why!

From world-renowned museums and art galleries to fashionable shopping districts and delicious restaurants, Milan is literally the “IT City”.

History buffs will love exploring the city’s ancient ruins and grand churches, while fashionistas will enjoy browsing the chic boutiques and flagship stores – think runway fashion, trendsetters, and Dolce Gabanna.

Not only that, but Milan is home to some of the most iconic sights in the country, including the Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, La Scala opera house, Castello Sforzesco, and the UNESCO-listed church of Santa Maria delle Grazie (which houses Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper mural).

Foodies will be in heaven sampling the north Italian cuisine but also keep in mind that this is an international city at heart, with quite a few top-rated restaurants hidden away, so get on that reservation game and eat your way through Milan.

So while it’s not a hidden Gem in Italy , it is one of the best places to visit while in the Lombardy area.

4 days in Milan
Milan off the beaten path
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Milan or Turin

Situated near Lake Varese and Lake Maggiore, Varese is known as Garden City. That’s due to the abundance of luxurious villas it houses, each boasting its own marvelous park or garden. Of course, you have to visit at least a few of them.

Some of the most prominent ones are Villa Mirabello, Villa Mylius, Villa Panza, and Palazzo Estense, an 18th-century Baroque-style palace built for the Duke of Modena and Reggio -Francesco III d’Este.

Another great reason to visit Varese is to go up to the UNESCO-listed Sacro Monte di Varese, nestled in the Regional Park of Campo dei Fiori.

It is a 17th-century religious complex with a path dotted with 14 chapels called the Holy Road, a small village named Santa Maria del Monte, a sanctuary, and a couple of museums.

Apart from its religious and historical importance, its imposing location offers remarkable views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Steeped in history, the city of Brescia is an intriguing landmark-packed destination founded thousands of years ago.

It’s also a great base to explore this area in northern Italy as it is conveniently connected by public transport to Verona, Lake Garda, Lake Iseo, Milan, and Cremona (though sometimes, there’s nothing like a good old Italian road trip ).

The first thing you need to see in Brescia is the monumental area and the monastic complex of San Salvatore-Santa Giulia (aka the Santa Giulia Museum).

Along with six other groups of historic buildings in Italy, it is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site called Longobards in Italy: Places of Power .

While the monumental area includes the Capitolium (a Roman temple) and the Roman Theatre, the San Salvatore-Santa Giulia complex houses an impressive 8th-century monastery from the Lombard era, which is Brescia’s top sight.

Other must-see places in the city are Palazzo Martinengo, Piazza della Loggia, Old Cathedral, and the Castle of Brescia, though that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

Sitting on the Ticino River, the city of Pavia is an easy day trip from Milan by bus or train.

Throughout the years, it was a Roman military site, the capital city of the Lombard Kingdom, and the seat of the noble Visconti family when it ruled the Duchy of Milan, so it’s a perfect destination for history buffs.

Don’t miss the Cathedral of Pavia, Ponte Coperto (“Covered Bridge”), the Botanical Garden of the University of Pavia, and the 14th-century Visconti Castle, which nowadays also houses the civic museum.

Commissioned by Gian Galeazzo Visconti, the first Duke of Milan, the Certosa di Pavia (Pavia’s Carthusian monastery) is another must-visit landmark in the area, situated a short train ride away from the city center and dating back to the Middle Ages.

Known for its Gothic and Renaissance architecture and abundance of artistic details, every corner of the monastery is photogenic, from the fully-embellished front facade to the cloisters to the colorful frescoes.

*Still not sure what to do in Lombardy, Italy? Nature lovers might also like to visit Val Camonica or Parco Nazionale dello Stelvio, which spreads across both Lombardy and Trentino-Alto Adige.

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Lombardy Region Map and Travel Guide

Visit the lake region of italy and more.

Lombardy, or Lombardia in Italian, is one of those regions of Italy like Liguria whose existence is nearly unknown while its charms are enjoyed by many. The tourist might come to Lombardy for the vaunted lakes that spread across its center: Maggiore, Como, Iseo, and Garda. It is a rich and populous region. Italy's second city, Milan, lies within its borders.

Then there's the hidden Lombardia. The world's richest collection of prehistoric petroglyphs, over 140,000 artworks, are squeezed into a valley north of Lago d'Iseo near the town of Capo di Ponte (see the location on the map below). The collection of rock art in the Valcamonica was Italy's first UNESCO World heritage site, named way back in 1979.

Prefer the odd to the historic? Just a hop, skip and jump (or boat ride) from the city of Montova is one of the most interesting churches we've set eyes upon. There's a Crocodile hanging from the rafters , and that's just the start of it.

Map of Lombardy

Getting Your Bearings

Lombardy stretches from Switzerland in the north to Emilia Romagna on the south. The autostrada A4 runs east-west through the region. The high speed Torino to Trieste rail line parallels the autostrada. European long distance buses are also a possibility if your next destination is a big city out of the region.

It is 114 miles or 183 km from Brescia to Venice. Train times from Brescia to Venice average a little over 2 hours. The fastest train takes 1 hour and 22 minutes.

A Taste of Lombardy: UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Mantua & the Palazzo del Te

Federico II Gonzaga tapped Giulio Romano, a pupil of Rafael, to build a pleasure palace for him away from the din of central Mantua. The giants and grotesques of the Sala die Giganti will astound and amaze you. Check out: Mantua and the Erotic Art of the Palazzo del Te .

Just south of Mantua is the town called Sabbioneta , founded by Vespiano Gonzaga in the 16th century. It's listed as the perfect example of Renaissance urban planning. Shown is a guide pointing out the nuances of the Teatro all'antica designed by Vincenzo Scamozzi.

Duomo di Milano

Dramatic? Informative? Yes, climb (or take the elevator) to the top of Milan's cathedral for a gargoyle extravaganza; there are 135 of the drain demons. When the weather is good, you may wish to go at night and skip the lines with this Evening Rooftop tour from Viator.

Varese: The province With the Most UNESCO World Heritage Sites

Varese is a very compelling city to visit in Lombardy. It is surrounded by four diverse world heritage sites, the most well-known being the sacro monte , the sacred mountain just north of the city. It is considered one of the most important of the Sacri Monti of Lombardia and Piemonte.

Milan: The Capital of Lombardy and its Top Attractions

Milan-- Milano in Italian--was once shunned by tourists, who left the city after glancing at the Duomo and the Last Supper. Today Italy's second city has made its comeback and seems to be on everyone's list of top destinations. And the top 2 attractions haven't changed.

Duomo di Milano: The massive Gothic cathedral took nearly six centuries to complete, and if you walk around the outside perimeter you can see why; the carvings are detailed and quite amazing. But you shouldn't just walk the parimeter and then go inside, you should go to the top of the roof to observe the Duomo and its environment from above. Recommended tour from Walks of Italy: The Best Of Milan Tour With Last Supper Tickets & Milan Duomo Rooftop .
The Last Supper: Da Vinci's defining work is located in the refectory next to the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, a 15 minute walk from the Duomo. The work suffered abuse over centuries before being restored in 1999, at which time it lost the gaudy colors of previous restorations. The is a place where you might want tickets in advance, since the attraction is so very popular. It's closed on Mondays. Viator has a number of Last Supper tours you can purchase in advance.
National Museum of Science and Technology Leonardo da Vinci shows off five floors of interesting objects, including Leonardo da Vinci's original drawings. Get tickets .
La Scala: Without doubt one of Italy's top opera houses, Teatro alla Scala opened in 1778 and was renovated in 2004. If seeing an opera is the one thing you want to do in Milano before you move on, here's a link to the ticket office of La Scala .
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II: built in 1867, the Galleria is a huge glass-roofed shopping arcade lined with elegant shops, bars, and restaurants that links the squares of the Duomo and La Scala. For good luck, find the bull of Turin and stand on his testicles. He won't mind. Much.
Pinacoteca di Brera: Art lovers with enjoy wandering through Milan's top art museum, containing over 600 important works from the 14th through the 20th centuries including works by top artists such as Raphael, Piero della Francesca , and Bellini. As if that wasn't enough, the museum is housed in a 11th century convent.
Milano Centrale Train Station: Milano Centrale is one of the most important transportation hubs in Europe. The 24 platforms are spanned by a single dome; 600 trains per day depart from here. It opened to the public in 1864, but what you see today is mainly due to revisions in the stations design in 1931 by Mussolini. Free wifi and plenty of shops are available inside.

Milan Travel Weather Milan 48 Hour Sightseeing Pass Milan Hotels and Apartments Milan Hostels Eat at the home of a home chef in Milan

Milan Views

Teatro alla Scala

Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

Inside Sforza Castle

The most popular lake in Lombardy's lake region is undoubtedly Lake Come, Lago di Como . It's easy to get to Como from Milan. If you stay in the town of Como, you can visit the other towns via ferry. A more "romantic" destination is Bellagio , a short ferry ride from Como.

For detailed information on Como, see Martha's Italy: Lake Como Travel Guide .

For tranquility and beauty, we like Lake Iseo . Just to the north is the Ancient rock art of the Valcamonica.

Compare prices on Lake Como Hotels

If you'd like a small lake surrounded by history, a tranquil place nearly undiscovered by American tourists, you might want to check out Lake Iseo, lago di Iseo . Just north are the rock art sites of the beautiful Valcamonica. If you'd like to visit a mountain village rich in history, check out Pescarzo , especially during the late July festival called ImmaginArti. To the south is the Franciacorta wine region, which produces some of the world's best sparkling wine.

Compare prices on Lake Iseo Hotels

Towers and Violins: Cremona

If you are a music lover, and the name Stradivarius sends you heart aflutter, you will want to visit Cremona . It's full of violin makers to this day, and the new Museo del Violino , the violin museum, is quite impressive. But the fun doesn't end there! The main square is rimmed by an amazing collection of architectural gems. The Romanesque cathedral, baptistery, and Torrazzo (tower, the tallest in pre-modern Europe at 112.7 meters, and you can climb it for some fantastic views ) are all facing the administration center, the Comune--and, of course, a bar with free internet where you can sit and admire it all. Cremona also features some unique food . We recommend a meal at La Sosta .

Cremona Hotels Cremona Hostels

Duomo di Cremona at night

Travelers overlook Pavia, but the richness of its culture and history are to be found in the narrow streets and courtyards. The city not far from Milan contains one of Europe's oldest universities where you can visit a plethora of museums and a botanical garden. There's plenty of Romanesque around, plus a castle AND an Abbey.

Pavia Travel Guide

Eat Well in Lombardy

The provinces surrounding the cities of Mantova , Cremona , Brescia , and Bergamo have been named a European Region of Gastronomy in 2017 . From the sinus-clearing mostarda of Cremona to the pike in green sauce of Mantova, you'll find some interesting "Italian" food in the region.

Airports in Lombardy

Lombardy has three major airports, of which two are near Milan. Milano Malpensa is the large international airport. Closer to the city is the smaller and less confusing Milano Linate airport . Orio al Serio airport , also known as Il Caravaggio International Airport, is near Bergamo.

Lombardy Weather and Climate

Time to visit the lake region is the late spring into early fall. The depth of these lakes provides a cooling influence especially after the sun goes down, so there are nice evenings even during the warm days. For example, see the historic climate charts for Como to choose the best time to go to the Lake region.

Milan's climate charts show a different story. It can get hot in on summer days and it doesn't cool off at night, a reason many Milanese head for the lakes in the warm season.

The normal high temperatures in Lombardy aren't sweltering in any case. The region is just south of Switzerland in northern Italy, so you can be comfortable in summer outside of the major cities.

More Italy Travel Planning Resources

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12 Best Things To Do in Lombardy, Italy

Are you looking for the best things to do in Lombardy, Italy ? There are quite many, so stick around.

Located in the northeast of the country, it is one of the most popular and the most beautiful Italian regions – and certainly the wealthiest. Read on to find out the must-see attractions in Lombardy, as well as the best activities in the region.

Lombardy is a large region that ranges from the Alps to the plains, from cities of art to small medieval villages. Its capital, Milan, is the cultural and fashion epicenter of this boot-shaped country.

Lombardy, however, is much more than just Milan . Read on to find out more of the must-see attractions in Lombardy, Italy.

Table of Contents

Best Things To Do in Lombardy, Italy

If you’re planning a one-week trip to this northern Italian region, this guide to the best things to do in Lombardy should help you discover its beautiful scenery, history, culture, and delicious cuisine .

1. Discover Lombardy’s living history

If you don’t have time to visit museums or historic sites while in Lombardy, there are other ways to learn about the region’s history.

In Erba’s Castello di Casiglio and Como’s Castello di Carimate , guests can stay in rooms that date back to the 14th and 15th centuries, respectively. You may also enjoy dinner in Belle Epoque restaurants, like Ristorante Biffi in Milan, are open to the public.

In the city of Brescia, there’s a really old coffee shop that opened in 1850. Its name used to be Caffè Maffio. When it closed in 1980 and reopened a year later, the coffee shop changed its name to Zanardelli36.

This is one of the best places to visit in Lombardy if you want to discover living history. Here you will feel like you’ve been transported to an older era as you sip your morning coffee .

2. Visit the fantastic lakes of Lombardy

Lombardy is also known as the “lake region,” being home to more than fifteen. These lakes alone are enough reason for visiting the region!

All year-round, the Italian lakes are stunning. However, in the summer, when everything opens up for business, the lakes truly come to life.

Some of the most well-known lakes in the region are Lake Como, Lake Garda, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Iseo. Visiting these lakes is among the best activities in Lombardy.

Check out the best Lombardy lakes group tours here:

3. Snowsports and other mountain activities

In central Europe’s Alps region, Italy is separated from Switzerland, Austria, and Liechtenstein by the formidable mountains.

During the colder months, the mountains are a great place to enjoy cold-weather activities like skiing, snowshoeing, and snowboarding. The mountains are also a popular destination for hikers and those who simply want to reconnect with nature during the summer.

The following Lombardy mountains should be on your itinerary, whether you’re a beginner or an expert in winter sports and hiking:

• Alta Valtellina

Several of Lombardy’s best ski resorts are part of the Alta Valtellina ski area, which spans 250 miles of linked slopes and is accessible with just a single ski pass.

With its 115 kilometers of slopes, Livigno is one of the most popular ski resorts in Alta Valtellina.

The highest ski resorts for skiing in this area extend to the Stelvio Pass, which shares the border with Switzerland. It has an altitude of 3,450 meters.

• Mt. Pagano and Fortification of WWI

Upon reaching the peak, you will see the second-line fortification from World War. The defensive perimeter of the fortification is still clearly visible.

Mt. Pagano offers beautiful walks in Val Camonica .The breathtaking views allow you to get a good perspective of the Adamello and Mortirolo complex.

Click here to check out the best walks in Italy to trek and hike!

• Monte Pizzocolo

Climbing opportunities are available along the east ridge of this mountain hike on Lake Garda’s west bank.

Rated as moderate, the Monte Pizzocolo trail is mainly used for hiking and running, as well as bird-watching. It is located near Toscolano-Maderno in Lombardy.

The trail offers a perfect panoramic view of Lake Garda. You can also see the Adamello Group, the Appennines, and many other mountains in clear weather.

Here are the best snowsport and mountain activities group tours in Lombardy:

4. Ride the funicular to enjoy unparalleled views

A funicular ride is a must-do if you aren’t afraid of heights at all. It is one of the most enjoyable activities in Lombardy you shouldn’t miss when in the region.

From the charming village of Laveno-Mombello, take the Funivia del Lago Maggiore to the 1,062-meter summit of Mount Sasso del Ferro. Take the open-top cable car for a 20-minute ride if the weather is clear and sunny. The Alps and the Pre-Alps Mountains can be seen from this location.

Perhaps it’s a little overstated to refer to a funicular as a cable car. There’s enough room for two people to stand in it, yet this is what makes this ride so enjoyable!

Other Lombardy funiculars to try are the ones in Como-Brunate which offer stunning views of Lake Como, and the historic Vellone-Sacro Monte funicular which takes passengers to the sanctuary of 15 chapels dedicated to the Madonna.

Interested in funicular group tours in Lombardy? Check out these deals:

5. Explore the UNESCO Heritage sites in Lombardy

Lombardy is a veritable treasure trove for history buffs, with countless stories, structures, and artifacts to explore. The Kingdom of Lombardy once ruled this area, so this isn’t all that surprising.

The region got its name from the Germanic people known as the Lombards, who ruled the area from 568 to 774 CE. It’s a well-known historical site, and there’s a lot of interesting things to see and do.

Lombardy is Italy’s most UNESCO World Heritage Site-rich region, making for an ideal road trip rich in history, architecture, and mystique.

The historic cities of Mantua and Sabbioneta, the rock carvings of Valcamonica, the Rhaetian Railway in the Albula, and the village of Crespi d’Adda are some of the best places to visit in Lombardy, which should be part of your itinerary.

Book these unique Lombardy UNESCO sites group tours:

6. Admire Lombardy’s churches and cathedrals

Of course, no visit to Lombardy is complete without visiting its capital city and the Duomo is always in every itinerary in Milan. Checking out these churches are among the best things to do in Lombardy.

Here’s a quick list of the best churches and cathedrals you must visit in Lombardy, starting with Italy’s largest church.

• Duomo di Milano (Milan Cathedral)

The Duomo of Milan, the largest church in the Italian Republic, took almost 600 years to finish since its construction began in 1386.

The Duomo is the symbol of Milan and one of the most beautiful churches you’ll ever see. It is an absolute marvel of architecture that everyone wants to see in the Lombardy capital.

• Cathedral of Como

This church, also named the Cathedral of Santa Maria Assunta, is the main place of worship in the city of Como. It was built between the 14th and the 18th centuries.

Considered one of the most important religious buildings of northern Italy, the Cathedral of Como is easily recognizable from its teal roof. Its blue patterned ceiling and stained-glass windows are just as impressing, and so are the altar and the dome.

The Cathedral of Como is well worth a stop if you’re visiting the famous lake nearby.

• Duomo Vecchio – Brescia

The Duomo Nuovo (New Cathedral) and Duomo Vecchio (Old Cathedral) are Brescia’s two cathedrals located in one piazza.

The Old Cathedral is also called “La Rotonda” because of its circular layout, one of the most pertinent examples of Romanesque round church in Italy. This is one of the many interesting attractions that Brescia has to offer. When you visit, check out the red marble sarcophagus near the entrance!

7. Relax at Lombardy’s thermal spas

There are numerous thermal water springs across Lombardy, with a wide array of thermal baths to choose from. The most famous of these springs is in the Valtelline Valley, near Bormio.

Bagni Vecchi di Bormio is highly recommended for an unforgettable thermal bath experience. It is a spa center that offers over 30 spa treatments and varying types of baths. Bagni di Bormio is situated along the road that leads up to the Stelvio Pass.

Another nice destination for thermal baths is the Terme di Boario in the Camonica Valley. It boasts over 150 years in the business with about 5,000 massages done each year. The place is also well-known for the magnesium waters of Boario which are said to possess excellent therapeutic properties.

8. Try your hands at traditional paper making and other local crafts

There’s a small business in Toscolano Maderno that has been in operations since 1381. It’s Toscolano 1381 company. It has been making paper for the Venetian Republic in the traditional manner for centuries.

You can go there and learn about the process of papermaking, as well as purchase sheets of paper made by one of the artisans who work there. Creating your own is even an option! When you hold a piece of paper that you made with your own hands, it will be a proud moment. It is definitely one of the unique things to do in Lombardy.

Other crafts to learn while in Lombardy are perfume-making, oil painting, and pottery.

9. Sample Lombardy’s regional cuisine

Throughout the world, Italy – or “Eataly,” if I may say so – is known for its delectable cuisine and abundance of locally-sourced produce. Lombardy, of course, is no exception in this regard.

Any Lombardy restaurant serving a good cheese dish is far superior to any you’ll find outside of Italy, even if the pizza in the south of the country is a little better.

Traditional Lombardy foods to try include the lean and delicate bresaola (a Valtellina salami made with beef that has been salted and cured for one or two months), risotto alla Milanese (a risotto rice dish flavored saffron), and Bitto, which is cow’s milk cheese from the Orobie Alps’ mountain pastures and stables.

Sampling the local cuisine is one of the absolute best activities in Lombardy.

Do you love Lombard food? Then you should book the following unique food tasting and cooking group tours:

10. Go on an agriturismo and wine-tasting session

Lombardy is home to a handful of renowned wine styles which include the bright, cherry-smelling Valtellina and the high-quality sparkling wine of Franciacorta and Oltrepo Pavese Metodo Classico, which is one of Italy’s alternatives to champagne. You can sample these wines at an agriturismo.

An agriturismo is a small, typically family-run farm in Italy that provides food, lodging, or both for visitors. It is fast becoming among the must-experience attractions in Lombardy.

In Lombardy, an example of an agriturismo is Montelio, a 13th-century agriturismo in the town of Codevilla in the province of Pavia.

Before its conversion to a private winery in 1848, the building served as a Benedictine convent. In addition to their wines, you can sample local cheese, cured meats, and frittata when you stop by for a wine tasting at the estate.

Other must-visit agriturismos in Lombardy are Cavril Agriturismo in Sotto il Monte , Relais da Vittorio to the east of Bergamo, and L’Albereta near Erbusco in Brescia. These are definitely among the best places to visit in Lombardy.

11. Shop ’til you drop in Milan

Shopping in Milan is without a doubt one of the best activities in Lombardy. As one of the world’s fashion capitals and a wealthy city filled with beautiful people, it’s only natural that it is among the world’s best cities for shopping – along with London , Paris, and New York.

However, shopping in Milan is more than just designer boutiques – although, of course, you’ll find plenty of that as well. Think of the various major Italian fashion brands , such as Prada , Versace, Armani, Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni, Trussardi, and Moschino – all currently headquartered in this beautiful Northern Italian city. For more Italian brands that are best bought in Milan, check out this post .

For luxury shoppers, there’s Via Montenapoleone for you. It is Milan’s key shopping street, home to all mentioned designer brands and more others.

For souvenirs and mid-range to high-street brands, Corso Vittorio Emanuele II is the place for you.

For those looking for alternatives to the designer labels of the Via Montenapoleone, head to Corso di Porta Ticinese. This is a haven for denims and you’ll also find offbeat fashion brands that are much easier on the pocket .

Affordable brands can be bought at Corso Buenos Aires, said to be the longest shopping street in Europe.

12. Join in the festivals and events

Do you want to partake in the best activities in Lombardy? Well, then, plan your trip around any of Lombardy’s festivals .

Let’s pick a couple for you.

• Festa del Tartufo Nero a Bracca (Black Truffle Festival)

When : End of September to the beginning of October Where : Bracca, Province of Bergamo

If you’re visiting Bracca in late September, partake in the Black Truffle Festival. It is a week-long celebration honoring the celebration of the black truffle, a popular produce in the area.

The festival is characterized by lots of cooking and tasting of specialties offered by the participating restaurants.

This is a fun-filled event where you can visit an actual truffle ground and see demonstrations of truffle hunting with trained truffle dogs .

• Sagra del Casoncello (Festival of Casoncello)

When : Around 15 June Where : Castro, Province of Bergamo

The Sagra del Casoncello in Lombardy town of Castro attracts many visitors every year, around the middle of June. This is held in celebration of the famous fish that’s caught from Lake Iseo.

This festival is a typical Italian event in a sense that it involves a lot of eating. You will never run out of food here and all in typical Bergamo recipes. This is a perfect opportunity to sample the real casoncello, a raviolo typical of the province.

This gastronomic feast is not limited to casoncelli , though. You will also be able to partake in other culinary delights of Bergamo such as cheese , chips, and barbecue meat.

Looking for a place to stay in Lombardy? Check prices and see pictures here:

Lombardy Cities Map and Travel Guide

Lombardy, or Lombardia in Italian, is a large region in northern Italy where you'll find the metropolis of Milan, beautiful Renaissance cities like Pavia and Mantua, and the popular lakes district that includes Lakes Como and Iseo and parts of Lakes Maggiore and Garda as well as beautiful mountains and valleys, one of which has a fantastic collection of prehistoric rock art sites.

Milan's Malpensa Airport is one of Italy's major international airports so visitors arriving directly from the United States often land there. The smaller Linate Airport serves mainly flights arriving from other Italian and European cities.

Continue reading to see Lombardy's top cities or lakes and valleys to visit.

Milan and Lombardy's Cities and Towns

TripSavvy / Christopher Larson

From fashion giant Milan to the beautiful Renaissance city of Mantova, Lombardy has a lot to offer the tourist in a relatively small area. These are the top cities to visit in Lombardy:

Milan , Milano in Italian, is one of Italy's top cities to visit and also one of the most fashionable. Milan is a fast-paced city with a thriving cultural scene and is a great city for shopping. It also holds its share of artistic and historical sites, including the largest Gothic cathedral in the world and the famous Last Supper painting. Read more about Milan:

Where to Stay in Milan
Milan Transportation Map

Brescia is the second largest city in the Lombardy region but is often overlooked by tourists. Brescia has Roman remains, a castle, Renaissance squares, and an interesting medieval city center. The Santa Giulia City Museum is one of Italy's best small museums, and the annual Mille Miglia car race starts and finishes in Brescia.

Mantova , or Mantua, is a beautiful, historic city surrounded on three sides by lakes. Mantova was one of the greatest Renaissance Courts in Europe and its Renaissance architecture makes it part of the UNESCO Quadrilateral, a district of historic cities in northeastern Italy with World Heritage status. The historic Ducal Palace is like a miniature town with more than 500 rooms, some with beautiful frescoes. Palazzo Te is also known for its frescoes, including some erotic frescoes.

Cremona is home to the famous handmade Stradivarius violins and there's a museum of violins. Cremona's compact historic center is picturesque and easy to visit on foot and the tall cathedral bell tower houses the world's largest astronomical clock.

Pavia is a university city on the bank of the Ticino River with Romanesque and medieval architecture and a good historic center. Outside the city is the famous monastery, the Certosa di Pavia, which can be reached by bus.

Bergamo has two parts. The old city, Bergamo Alta , sits on a hill above Bergamo Bassa , the modern city. Bergamo Alta is a medieval walled hill town with old squares, beautiful monuments and buildings, and great views. There's also a small airport near Bergamo, used by some of the European budget airlines.

Lakes and Valleys of Lombardy

Lake Como is Italy's most popular lake. The lake is ringed by beautiful villas and romantic resort villages. Lake Como offers water sports, hiking, and nearby winter sports. See also Lake Como Map and Where to Stay on Lake Como.

Lake Maggiore stretches clear into Switzerland and offers year-round activities. The lake is popular with tourists and with Milanese who comes to Lago Maggiore on the weekends.

Lago d'Iseo is a smaller and less crowded lake and offers water sports, a nature reserve, and relaxation. Nearby are the unusual pyramids of earth, a rare natural phenomenon.

Lake Garda , Lago di Garda , is Italy's largest lake and while the western part is in Lombardy, parts of the lake are in 2 other regions (see Lake Garda Map ). The northern part of the lake is especially scenic. Nearby is Gardaland, a big amusement park.

Valleys of Lombardy

Lombardy has two beautiful valleys in the north of the region that offer great opportunities for hiking.

Val Camonica, the area north of Lago d'Iseo from Breno to Edolo, is known for its many prehistoric rock art sites, making it one of the world's best collections of prehistoric petroglyphs. The rock art of Val Camonica was Italy's first UNESCO World Heritage Site . Val Camonica also has some small medieval villages and castles and great hiking trails. A regional train runs up the valley from Brescia.

Valtellina is the northern part of Lombardy, stretching from Edolo to the western border of Lombardy through Sondrio. The Valtellina offers skiing and both summer and winters mountain sports.

The Lakes of Northern Italy

Brescia, Italy Travel Guide

Best Italian Lakes to Visit on Your Vacation

The 15 Best Destinations in Italy

Best Day Trips From Milan, Italy

The Top 23 Things to Do in Italy

Lake Como Guide: Planning Your Trip

The Best Small Cities to Visit in Italy

Northern Italy's UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Cities

Emilia Romagna Map and Guide

Mantua, Italy Travel Guide and Essentials

The Top Cities to Visit in Trentino Alto Adige, Italy

Get to Know Lake Garda in Italy

The Piemonte Region of Italy: Planning Your Trip

Visit Milan and Lombardy on a Budget

A Guide to Italy's Wine Regions

7-Day Lombardy Itinerary in Northern Italy (Road Trip or Train)

Home » Destinations » Europe » Italy » 7-Day Lombardy Itinerary in Northern Italy (Road Trip or Train)

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Updated: 9th August 2021

Of the countless times I’ve been lucky enough to visit Italy, this epic road trip with friends was one of the most unforgettable. What made it so great was that our 7-day trip in Lombardy was actually the second part of our adventure, having spent our first week in Puglia . If you have the time, this split is a great way to explore the country, as you’ll be able to experience both Northern Italy, but also the vastly different south of the country too.

During this one-week itinerary in Northern Italy – which I’ve updated a little bit based on my various visits to the region – you’ll visit Milan’s highlights, dazzling lakes, cultured cities and plenty more of the best places to visit in Lombardy .

For some, this one-week itinerary might be a bit too fast-paced. If so, you’ll ideally stretch it out into a ten-day trip (with more time on the lakes and in Milan) or cut out a stop or two to have more time in the regional capital. For those who want to maximise their vacation days and see as much as possible, you’ll find this journey fast enough to feast on many magical moments but slow enough to live the La Dolce Vita.

The cathedral of Bergamo at sunset, as seen from a high up viewing platform

Don’t have a car? I’ve tried to give the best public transport or tour options I can so you can try and do a similar itinerary as possible without driving.

In general, when travelling by train in Italy and Europe, the best value fares are those booked in advance. With a variety of high-speed and slower trains serving Italy, you can usually find the right journey at the right price. I’d suggest searching for routes and tickets before travelling to secure discounts or searching for bus connections on Omio.

Here is an overview of my suggested two-week itinerary in Lombardy; you can find full details, including route, accommodation, and tips on what to see below.

Day One: Milan Day Two: Milan Day Three: Lake Garda and Lugana Day Four: Mantua Day Five: Cremona Day Six: Lake Como Day Seven: Bergamo (or back to Milan) / Travel day

In this article...

Day One: Travel Day / Fly to Lombardy / Milan

Sleep in Milan

Day one is somewhat of a travel day and will depend on which flight you take to Italy and, likewise, which of the three airports you arrive in, Bergamo, Malpensa or Linate.

If you fly into Bergamo, you might want to see day seven of the road trip and consider visiting Bergamo before heading into Milan itself. I’ve put all the suggestions for Milan on the second day of this itinerary, so you can spread them out to suit your flight time best.

Where to stay in Milan

There are countless places to stay in Milan to suit all budgets and tastes, so I won’t make any personal recommendations as you have plenty to choose from, and I’ve stayed in so many places here, from great, to awful. I have made Milan a two-night stay on this itinerary though, so you can start off slow-paced.

Day Two: Milan

Total drive time: None | Sleep in Milan

It’s no surprise Milan, being the capital of the region and fashion capital of Italy, is the top thing to do in Lombardy . With so much to discover here, you’ll likely want to get an early start.

What to do in Milan

I’ve written about the many things to do in Milan before, as there is a lot of option here. Milan is a city that it took me a few visits to really uncover, as there are a lot of great spots around, so take a pick of your favourites:

The Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II are the best-known attractions, but go early morning if you can for photos. There are countless other churches worthy of your time in Milan, such as San Maurizio al Monastero Maggiore, which is one of my favourites.

In contrast, the newer district of Milan, Porta Nova, especially around the Vertical Forest apartment buildings, offers a totally different side of the city, with lots of shopping next to the green park.

The Brera district is one of my favourite parts for restaurants and people-watching; the University Library here is also a bit of a hidden gem. Then, head to the Castle of Milan, which a lot of people somehow miss, and from here, you can walk through the park to the Triennale and the Design Museum.

Milano Duomo with a lion statue in the foreground

End your day in Navigli, the canal district, to enjoy aperitivo hour, where food and snacks are included with the cocktail of your choice, and in many of the places here – it’s a large buffet affair.

There are a few things in Milan you’ll likely want to book ahead, such as the tickets for the rooftop of Milan Duomo – or perhaps even skip-the-line fast-track tick ets in peak months. You’ll find plenty of other tour tickets for sale on sights like GetYourGuide, but for other bits, such as the theatre tour, or even the Duomo if you don’t mind the queue, it’s usually a bit cheaper to buy there and then.

Prefer a tour?

There are lots of tours available in Milan to suit any taste, but a fun one that we did was the rickshaw tour of Milan, which gave us a bit of free choice with the driver, but also a chance to learn some facts and history at a quicker pace as we weren’t staying for a full-blown city visit.

Lake Garda seen from above high up on a hill looking out on a beach and islands

Day Three: Lake Garda and Lugana

Total drive time: 3 hours | Sleep in Lake Garda

After a whirlwind tour of Milan, it’s time to escape the busy city life and head to the peaceful shores of Lake Garda. One of the largest lakes in Italy, it actually spans three different regions, but for this Italy itinerary, I’m focusing just on the Lombardy part, which has plenty to offer.

What to do in Lake Garda

Manerba del Garda provides some amazing hiking and beach options, with the clear water lapping up against either practically hidden stone beaches or more sandy shores where watersports are available. For some of the best views, hike up to Rocca di Manerba. We used a local guide, Andrea at Millemonti , who helped us find some of the hidden beaches.

There are lots of beautiful towns and villages around the lake, but Desenzano del Garda is not only the easiest to get to but also adorable. Whether you stop here for lunch, decide to make it your base, or spend time exploring the castle and lazing on the nearby beaches, be sure to pass by.

Sirmione is likely the most famous spot on Lake Garda, thanks to the Scaligero Castle, a fortress on the peninsula with some wall remains in the water. There are also lots of lovely but quite expensive restaurants and resorts here, and at the far end of the land are the ruins of an old Roman villa.

Lugana in the distance behind the Sirmione peninsula

One other idea is to visit Lugana, a wine-producing region by the lake that stretches across both Lombardy and Veneto regions.

We went to Cascina Maddalena to learn more about the vineyard but also to have a local cooking class which was very garden-to-table, and then we all got to eat together family-style, literally with the family, and it was a lovely local experience for what can feel like a very touristed area.

Prefer public transport?

If you are coming to Lake Garda by public transport, it might change where you visit. Trains from Milan to Desenzano Del Garda-Sirmione station take around 1.5 hours, and from here, you have ferries and buses onwards to Sirmione, for example. That said, I found it easy in the summer, but in the off-season, the boats weren’t running, and the buses were less regular, so keep that in mind.

Brescia is the principal city here, so a train from Milan to Brescia will also provide other options, such as a bus from Brescia to Manerba del Garda .

The castle of Sirmione as seen from above with the island behind it

Where to stay on Lake Garda

I’ve made this another two-night stay, as I personally think Laka Garda is dreamy, and it’s somewhere you should relax. Sirmione is, of course, the star of the show, but accommodation is expensive here and books out fast. During this trip, we stayed in basic but welcoming apartments just outside Sirmione called Daisy Guesthouse.

On my previous visit, I stayed in Desenzano Del Garda at Hotel Benaco , which I loved, as there are excellent restaurants and gelato places nearby, and the hotel was nice and fairly priced.

A grand theatre, looking out from the stage to the stools and boxes in Mantua

Day Four: Mantua

Total drive time: 1.15 hours | Sleep in Mantua

Wow! What a city, and to be honest, I’m surprised this incredible place is somewhat off the beaten path in Italy as it’s a real treat.

What to do in Mantua

Home to the largest residential building in Europe, after the Vatican, Mantua is packed with art and architectural gems.

The city is surrounded by three artificial lakes, one coated in lilypads, and I enjoyed a sunset boat cruise through the lake looking back on the city, which was very serene.

We have to thank the Gonzaga rulers for most of the grand architecture in Mantua, whose Ducal Palace presents some 600 odd rooms. While only some are open to the public, they are an architectural feast with grand frescos and beautiful art; truly, this is the highlight of Mantua.

Impressive and worth a visit is the Palazzo Te (which has nothing to do with the drink), which also boasts some grand halls, and perhaps my favourite spot, the Teatro Bibiena, a true Italy hidden gem if ever there was one!

Lastly, be sure to try the local pasta speciality, Tortelli di Zucca , a pumpkin tortellini we sampled at Ristorante Tiratappi , which has a lovely outside deck (spray for mosquitos advised in warmer months) and was where Charles Dickens stayed in Mantua.

If you are looking for an expert on Mantua to help you discover the best of the city, then Lorenzo Bonoldi is the man you need and runs Visit Mantua tours .

If you get back to Brescia, you can hop a bus to Mantua, but the easiest option might be a train from Desanzo del Garda via Verona. If you’re planning to travel by train, I’d suggest learning at least the more famous Italian place names and their pronunciation – for example, Mantua is actually Mantova in Italian – to ensure no confusion when buying tickets or listening out for your stop.

Where to stay in Mantua

I loved where we stayed in Mantua, the hosts were so welcoming, and with just a few rooms in the accommodation but also lounge and dining space, it was super spacious. The rooms were also a good size, and you could see the history of the place through the frescos and wooden beams, so be sure to take a look at Le Casa del Pittore .

Day Five: Cremona – Como

Total drive time: 3 hours | Sleep in Lake Como

Cremona is a city known for its Violin heritage, being the birthplace of one of the most famed string instrument makers, Antonio Stradivari. While there is a museum here dedicated to Violins, I actually found visiting a small Violin Workshop a more exciting way to discover the musical culture of this underrated European city .

What to do in Cremona

Firstly, let’s cover one of the typical local dishes, Mostarda di Frutta, an interesting condiment of candied fruits in a spiced mustard dressing, actually much nicer than it sounds. The city is also renowned for its nougat .

Beyond the violins, there is some lovely architecture to enjoy, such as the cathedral and baptistery, and some fantastic views atop the clock tower, which stretch out into the neighbouring region of Emilia Romagna – this also could be a day trip from Bologna .

A direct train from Mantua to Cremona is under an hour. From Cremona to Como, you’ll need to take a train back through Milan and change there.

Looking up at the frescoes on the ceiling of Cremona Cathedral

Where to stay in Lake Como

I can personally vouch for the Hotel Metropole Suisse , which is quite upmarket option on the waterfront of Como town. For something more affordable, on my most recent summer visit, I stayed at Megaride Guest House . I’ve always stayed in Como proper, so I don’t have any personal recs of hotels around the lake.

Where to stay in Cremona

If you decide to stay the night in Cremona and are driving, the Agriturismo Cascina Farisengo , which is around 4kilometres out of Cremona, might be the perfect option as a restored country house centred around a grand courtyard.

Lake Como in Lombardy with the colourful village reflecting in the ocean

Day Six: Lake Como

Total drive time: None or 2-3 Hours | Sleep in Lake Como

After exploring the culture and cityscapes of Lombardy, it’s time to head back to the lakes.

What to do in Lake Como

Lake Como has plenty to offer, from relaxing water-side villages of colourful houses to mountain bike trails and hiking.

This is a pretty large lake, so there are plenty of different spots to visit. You should read my guide to a weekend in Lake Como for some more inspiration.

But, for some starting points, the main sized towns are Como and Lecco, both of which have a hub of shops and restaurants and excellent transport links out to other destinations. Then you have some other beautiful destinations such as the well-heeled Bellagio, Varenna (one of my favourites) and tiny hideaways such as Nesso.

To get between the different spots on the lake, there are plenty of ferry-style boats. In summer, services are more regular, though not all villages and towns link to each other as there are different routes. These ferries are great if you just want to go between, say, Como and Varenna. But, if you want to visit a few different places along the lake in quick succession, consider one of the many Lake Como boat tours available, and see if there’s a departure which visits the villages you’re keen to explore.

If you are happy to stick with four wheels and continue your road trip through Lombardy, you’ll also be able to access other places around the lake that aren’t as regularly visited by the ferries.

There is a network of boats going around Lake Como, obviously more in high season. There are also some buses and trains to the likes of Lecco and Varenna, so plan your route to best suit the options available I’d suggest.

The higher part of Bergamo as seen from afar at sunset, framed by a tree

Day Seven: Bergamo / Travel Day

Total drive time: Approx 2 hours (Depending on which airport)

And here we are, at the end of an epic Northern Italy itinerary in Lombardy, but there is time to fit in one last stop.

If you are flying from Bergamo, then this is a no-brainer. If you are flying onwards from Malpensa or Linate, you likely won’t want to detour to the city, but perhaps you will instead prefer to spend your last hours at Lake Maggiore, which is close to Malpensa instead.

What to do in Bergamo

The main draw of Bergamo is the Città Alta, the fortified part of the city which sits above the not quite as interesting modern part.

There are numerous viewpoints here; some reach by funicular, others at the top of buildings, with the architecture around the main square of particular note thanks to the cathedral and porticos surrounding it.

If you are heading straight back to Milan for a flight, then from Como, you can get trains into central Milan. Have a Google at the best transport options as it will depend on which airport you are flying from. To get from Como to Bergamo, it’s often suggested to take the train back to Milan, but there is a bus a few times a day that would cut out going back into Milan.

Where to stay in Bergamo

If you decide to stay the night in Bergamo, then there is a surprisingly high-quality hostel here with dorms and privates that I’ve stayed in before. Alternatively, staying in the Citta Alta is one of the smaller B&Bs or private apartment rentals. If you have an early morning flight though, you might want to stay nearer the airport or drop off the car before exploring Bergamo.

Car hire and driving in Italy: Ensure you have your international driving permit for Italy. Car hire costs will vary between seasons, but I suggest using a car-search platform to find the best value. You won’t be going too off the beaten path on this road trip, so there is no need to have a supercharged car.

Be aware when parking for restrictions, which can change from space to space and will be marked on signs. A lot of places allow free overnight parking, but you may need to move them. Also, parts of some Italian cities have restricted zones that you may not be able to go into, even if others have – this will usually be followed with a fine letter a month later. Most of the time, signs are just in Italian, though, so keep an eye out!

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Lombardy and the Lakes Travel Guide

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Wonderful Time in Italy We were covered from the moment we landed in Rome. The drivers were great, the connections were flawless, and it was well-planned a...

Lombardy, Italy’s richest region, often seems to have more in common with its northern European neighbours than with the rest of Italy. Given its history, this is hardly surprising: it was ruled for almost two centuries by the French and Austrians and takes its name from the northern Lombards, who ousted the Romans. As a border region, Lombardy has always been vulnerable to invasion, just as it has always profited by being a commercial crossroads. Emperors from Charlemagne to Napoleon came to Lombardy to be crowned king – and big business continues to take Lombardy’s capital, Milan, more seriously than Rome.

What to see in Lombardy and the Lakes

The lakes and their features, food and drink in lombardy and the lakes, southern lombardy, northern lombardy: lakes and mountains, franciacorta wineries.

Although the western shore of Lake Maggiore and the northern and eastern shores of Lake Garda fall outside Lombardy (in Piemonte, Trentino and Veneto respectively), here, we cover the Lakes region and its resorts.

Tailor-made travel itineraries for Italy, created by local experts

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Enchanting Italian Lakes

Experience the picturesque lakes of Northern Italy, including Lake Garda, Como, Lugano and Maggiore; explore the charming Borromean Islands – former favourites of Ernest Hemingway – and stroll the romantic streets of Verona and Milan. All of this, and much more, with this self-drive trip!

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From Venice to Florence: A Grand Tour of Northern Italy

From the atmospheric canals of Venice and the picturesque coastline of Cinque Terre, to the trendy designer boutiques of Milan and the Renaissance-infused streets of Florence, Northern Italy has plenty to offer. Experience it all with this comprehensive trip.

The region’s people, ranging from Milanese workaholics to cosseted provincial urbanites, hardly fit the popular image of Italians – and, in truth, they have little time for most of their compatriots. This has led to the rise of the Lega Nord over the last fifteen years, a political party nominally demanding independence from Rome, although working in the government there in coalition, and successfully exploiting the popular sentiment that northern taxes sustain the inefficient, workshy south.

Sadly all this economic success has taken its toll on the landscape: industry chokes the peripheries of towns, sprawls across the Po plain and even spreads its polluting tentacles into the Alpine valleys. Traffic, too, is bad, with many roads – autostradas and lakeside lanes alike – gridlocked at peak times. Nonetheless, Lombardy’s towns and cities retain medieval cores boasting world-class art and architecture, and the stunning scenery of the Italian Lakes – Orta, Maggiore, Como, Iseo and Garda – never fails to seduce.

Milan’s lowland neighbours – Cremona and Mantua – flourished during the Middle Ages and Renaissance and retain much character. To the north, Lombardy is quite different, the lakes and valleys sheltering fewer historic towns, the cities of Bergamo and Brescia excepted. Reaching into the high Alps, lakes Maggiore, Como, Garda and their lesser-celebrated siblings have long been popular tourist territory with both Italians and foreigners.

Although they share many things – dreamy vistas, quality local cooking and sheer romance, to name but a few – the Italian Lakes each have a very different character and it’s worth thinking about the type of holiday you’re looking for before you book.

Activity holidays

The mountainous regions behind all the Lakes provide great hiking and mountain-biking opportunities but the combined winds to its north and the presence of Monte Baldo make Lake Garda the destination for on- and off-water thrill seekers.

Incurable romantics

Watch the sun set behind Isola San Guilio on Lake Orta or from the Lake Como waterfront at Varenna or, alternatively, hole up in Gargnano on Lake Garda for a winter like D.H. Lawrence and his mistress did in 1912.

Visiting lakeside villas

Lake Como offers the best selection of romantic waterfront residences with dreamy gardens to visit, although belle époque villas and sumptuous palazzi are dotted around the shore lines of all the lakes.

Wine tasting

With Franciacorta and the various DOC regions to the south and southeast of Lake Garda – including Bardolino, Valpolicella and Lugana – you’re never far from somewhere to try a local vintage or two.

Botanic gardens

The microclimate of this corner of Lake Maggiore make the Isole Borromee and gardens in Verbania some of the most glorious gardens on the lakes, although competition is steep.

Travelling by public transport

A quick train ride from Milan , Varenna is at the heart of the most spectacular part of Lake Como from where an excellent boat service will ferry you around to explore further.

Holidaying with kids

With older children you can’t beat the activities available on and around Lake Garda – from windsurfing or castle climbing to the theme and water parks in the southeast of the lake. Younger children might enjoy better the shorter distances around the centre of Lake Como, the family-friendly resort of Cannobio on Lake Maggiore, or the dragon stories linked with Lake Orta.

Lombardy is distinctive in its variations in culinary habits. For example, the sophisticated recipes of the Milanese contrast sharply with the more rustic dishes of the Alpine foothills and lakes. The latter are sometimes known as piatti poveri (poor food): devised over centuries, these employ imagination and often time-consuming techniques to make up for the lack of expensive ingredients. Risotto alla Milanese , on the other hand, golden yellow with saffron, is Milan ’s most renowned culinary invention – and, it is said, only truly Milanese if cooked with the juices of roast veal flavoured with sage and rosemary. Ossobuco (shin of veal) is another Milanese favourite, as is panettone , the soft, eggy cake with sultanas eaten at Christmas time.

The short-grain rice used for risotto is grown in the paddy fields of the Ticino and Po valleys; other staples include green pasta and polenta . The latter – made from maize meal which is boiled and patiently stirred for around forty minutes, all the time watched with an eagle eye so it doesn’t go lumpy – is found all over northern Italy. It can be eaten straightaway, or else left to cool and then sliced and grilled and served as an accompaniment to meat.

From Cremona comes mostarda di frutta (pickled fruit with mustard), the traditional condiment to serve with bollito misto (boiled meats). Stuffed pastas come in various guises – for example, around the Po Valley tortelli alla zucca (ravioli filled with pumpkin) or around Bergamo and Brescia casoncei (ravioli stuffed with sausage meat). Veal is eaten hot or cold in dishes like vitello tonnato (thin slices of cold veal covered with tuna mayonnaise) and wild funghi (mushrooms) are everywhere in autumn.

Lombardy is also one of the largest cheese-making regions in the country. As well as Gorgonzola there are numerous other local cheeses: among the best known are Parmesan-like Grana Padano , smooth, creamy mascarpone (used in sweet dishes) and the tangy, soft taleggio .

Although Lombardy is not renowned internationally for its wines, supermarket shelves bulge with decent reds from the Oltrepò Pavese, and “Inferno” from the northern areas of Valtellina; while around Brescia, the Franciacorta area has earned plaudits for its excellent sparkling whites.

Strung across the broad plain of the River Po in southern Lombardy, a belt of well-preserved ancient towns offers a handful of spectacular masterpieces of art and architecture against the backdrop of comfortable provincial life.

Just outside the ancient town of Pavia, the fabulous Certosa monastery complex makes an attractive introduction to this part of Lombardy. To the east, Cremona, birthplace of the violin, has a neat, well-preserved centre that’s worth popping in to visit. Mantua, on the eastern edge of the region, is Lombardy’s most visually appealing city: the powerful Gonzaga family ruled for three hundred years from an extravagant ducal palace and later the Palazzo Te , on the outskirts of the city, which contains some of the finest (and most steamily erotic) fresco-painting of the entire Renaissance.

Certosa di Pavia

Among the rice fields around 40km south of Milan , one of the most extravagant monasteries in Europe, the Certosa di Pavia (Charterhouse of Pavia), was commissioned by the Duke of Milan, Galeazzo II Visconti in 1396 as the family mausoleum. Visconti intended the church here to resemble Milan’s late-Gothic cathedral and the same architects and craftsmen worked on the construction. It took a century to build; by the time it was finished tastes had changed (and the Viscontis had been replaced by the Sforzas). As a work of art the monastery is one of the most important testimonies to the transformation from late-Gothic to Renaissance and Mannerist styles, but it also affords a wonderful insight into the lives and beliefs of the Carthusian monks.

You can see the church unaccompanied, but to visit the rest of the monastery you need to join a guided tour of just under an hour (free but contributions welcomed), led by one of the monks released from the strict vow of silence. Tours run regularly – basically when enough people have gathered. They’re in Italian, but well worth doing – even if you don’t understand a word – as they allow you to visit the best parts of the monastery complex.

The monastery lies at the end of a tree-lined avenue, part of a former Visconti hunting range that stretched all the way from Pavia’s castello. Encircled by a high wall, the complex is entered through a central gateway bearing a motif that recurs throughout the monastery – “GRA-CAR” or “Gratiarum Carthusiae”, a reference to the fact that the Carthusian monastery is dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie, who appears in numerous works of art in the church. Beyond the gateway is a gracious courtyard, with the seventeenth-century Ducal Palace on the right-hand side and outbuildings along the left. Rising up before you is the fantastical facade of the church, festooned with inlaid marble, twisted columns, statues and friezes. Despite more than a century’s work by leading architects, the facade remains unfinished: the tympanum was never added, giving the church its stocky, truncated look.

The interior

Inside, the Gothic design of the church was a deliberate reference to Milan’s Duomo, but it has a lighter, more joyous feel, with its painted ceiling, and light streaming in through the one hundred windows high up in the walls. The elaborate seventeenth-century gates to the transept and highly decorated altar, at the far end, are opened when a tour is about to start.

The sculptural highlights of the church lie in the two wings of the transept. In the centre of the north transept lies the stone funerary monument of the greatest of the dukes of Milan, Ludovico il Moro, and his wife Beatrice d’Este, neither of whom is actually buried here. The exquisite detail of the statue is an important document of sixteenth-century fashions with its tasselled latticework dress and glam-rock platform shoes. The south transept contains the magnificent mausoleum of the founder of the monastery, Gian Galeazzo Visconti, by Cristoforo Romano, including a carving of Gian Galeazzo presenting a model of the Certosa to the Virgin. Both he and his wife, Isabella di Valois, are buried here.

The monastery

Opposite the mausoleum is the door to the delightful small cloister, with fine terracotta decoration and a geometric garden around a fountain where monks shared the communal part of their lives, meeting here to pace the courtyard during their weekly ration of talking time. In the adjacent refectory, the monks would eat together in silence on Sundays and holy days; the Bible was read throughout the meal from the pulpit (with a hidden entrance in the panelling). The dining room is divided by a blind wall, which allowed the monastery to feed lay workers and guest pilgrims without compromising the rules of their closed order. Further on, the great cloister is stunning for its size and tranquillity. It is surrounded on three sides by the monks’ houses, each consisting of two rooms, a chapel, a garden and a loggia, with a bedroom above. The hatches to the side of the entrances were designed to enable food to be passed through without any communication. The final call is the Certosa shop, stocked with honey, chocolate, souvenirs and the famous Chartreuse liqueur.

A cosy provincial town in the middle of the Po plain, Cremona is renowned for its violins. Ever since Andrea Amati established the first violin workshop here in 1566, followed by his son, grandson (Nicolò) and pupils Guarneri and – most famously – Antonio Stradivari (1644–1737), Cremona has been a focus for the instrument. Today the city is home to an internationally famous school of violin making, as well as the excellent Museo del Violino.

Cremona has some fine Renaissance and medieval buildings, and its cobbled streets make for some pleasant wandering, but it’s a modest sort of place: target it as a half-day trip from Bergamo or Milan, en route towards the rich pickings of Mantua.

Mantua (Mantova) and around

Aldous Huxley called it the most romantic city in the world. With a skyline of domes and towers rising above its three encircling lakes, Mantua (Mantova) is undeniably evocative. This was where Romeo heard of Juliet’s supposed death, and where Verdi set Rigoletto. Its history is one of equally operatic plots, most of them acted out by the Gonzaga, one of Renaissance Italy’s richest and most powerful families, who ruled the town for three centuries. Its cobbled squares retain a medieval aspect, and there are two splendid palaces: the Palazzo Ducale, containing Mantegna’s stunning fresco of the Gonzaga family and court, and Palazzo Te, whose frescoes by the flashy Mannerist Giulio Romano encompass steamy erotica and illusionistic fantasy. Mantua’s lakes, and the flat surrounding plain, offer numerous boat cruises and cycling routes.

The centre of Mantua is made up of four attractive squares, each connected to the next. Lively Piazza Mantegna is overlooked by the massive Basilica di Sant’Andrea. Beside it is the lovely Piazza delle Erbe, with fine arcades facing the medieval Rotonda church. To the north, through medieval passageways and across Piazza Broletto, the long, cobbled slope of Piazza Sordello is dominated by the Palazzo Ducale, the fortress and residence of the Gonzaga, packed with Renaissance art. Mantua’s other great palace stands in its own gardens 1.5km south of the historic centre – Palazzo Te, adorned with sensational frescoes.

Tumbling towers and shaking frescoes

In May 2012 earthquakes reaching 5.9 on the Richter scale shook this part of Italy. No one was killed in Mantua, unlike nearby Parma but ancient buildings and frescoes around town, including the Palazzo Ducale and the Palazzo Te, were badly damaged. When you visit there is a possibility that some rooms or even entire buildings will be closed for restoration; check ahead with the tourist office.

Exploring Mantua: bikes and boats

Several companies offer cruises on Mantua’s lakes – bulges in the course of the River Mincio – and on the river itself down to its confluence with the Po, ranging from one-hour jaunts up to full-day voyages as far as Ferrara and Venice. All run daily but must be booked in advance: usually a day ahead, but sometimes an hour or so will do.

Many of the boats accept bikes, so you can make a great day-trip – a morning on the boat, a picnic lunch at, say, Rivalta, then a gentle cycle-ride back in the afternoon. The tourist office has a good map detailing cycle routes, plus information on bus, boat and train combinations.

“One can’t describe the beauty of the Italian lakes, nor would one try if one could.” Henry James’s sentiment hasn’t stopped generations of writers producing reams of purple prose in the attempt. Yet, in truth, the Lakes just about deserve it: their beauty is extravagant, and it’s not surprising that the most romantic and melodramatic of Italy’s opera composers – Verdi, Rossini and Bellini – rented villas here in which to work. British and German Romantic poets also enthused about the Lakes, and in doing so planted them firmly in northern-European imaginations. The result is an influx every summer of tourists from cooler climes, come to savour the Italian dream and to take gulps at what Keats called “the beaker of the warm south”.

Garda is the largest lake, and one of the best centres in Europe for windsurfing and sailing. It is also visually stunning, especially in its mountainous northern stretches – yet Como matches (or, some say, betters) it, with forested slopes rising directly from the water’s edge. On both lakes, the luxuriance of the waterfront vegetation is equalled by the opulence of the local villas and palazzi; both also offer good hiking in the mountainous hinterland.

Further west, Maggiore is less popular yet just as beautiful, with several sedate fin-de-siècle resorts. There are, however, some good walks, and superb formal gardens adorning Isola Bella and other grand villas. Nearby, the picture-postcard charms of Orta San Giulio, the main village on Lake Orta – with its steepled offshore islet – ensure that it is a popular spot, yet this too can be a wonderfully romantic place to hole up.

The hilly terrain between the lakes is sliced up by mountain valleys – largely residential and industrial in their lower reaches though mostly untouched further up, hosting lots of modest ski resorts in winter (none worth making a special trip for). The nearby city of Brescia is a treat as a day-trip, while its neighbour Bergamo is a lovely place to stay, with an old walled hilltop quarter that ranks as one of the most alluring in Italy.

Between Iseo and Brescia , the hilly wine-producing district of Franciacorta got its name from the religious communities that lived here from the eleventh century onwards: they were exempt from tax and known as the Corti Franche, or free courts. This small area of Lombardy is best known for the Franciacorta DOCG (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita), Italy’s most refined sparkling wine: first made in the 1960s, it is produced according to Champagne methods. The area has more than a hundred vineyards, many of which are open for tours and tasting sessions, as well as some excellent Michelin-starred restaurants, plus more laidback trattorias where you can sample both the local wine and traditional regional dishes.

The secret of Franciacorta's sparkling wine lies in a second fermentation in the bottle which can last from eighteen to sixty months. Usually a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir or Blanc grapes, the sparkling wine comes in various types: Not Dosed/Pas Dosé (extremely dry), Extra Brut, Brut Satèn (a light silky-smooth mixture), Sec, Demisec and Rosé.

Some of the best known Franciacorta sparkling wine producers are Bellavista , Belucchi , Ca’del Bosco and Majolini but all of the vineyards – and there are over one hundred of them – have their own story and often lovely headquarters in ancient farmhouses or villas. Most guided tours end with a tasting and very competitive prices are offered in the cantina shops, where they can usually arrange shipping back home for you too. The Consortium Franciacorta has a list and can give advice on vineyards to visit or be guided by local suggestions from B&B owners. In mid-September on even years, the Festival Franciacorta sees wineries open for special tasting sessions and local restaurants offering themed seasonal menus.

The Strada del Vino Franciacorta

Tourist offices and hotels stock a map of the Strada del Vino Franciacorta , a route which winds for 80km through the area, passing visitable vineyards, hotels and restaurants. There are well-thought-out routes for cars, cyclists or walkers lasting for a couple of hours to a day or two. Contact details are given for wineries along the route, most of which offer tours and tastings; advance booking is preferred.

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One week in Lombardia Italy | Perfect North Italy itinerary

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Lombardia [or Lombardy], is a large, picturesque region in Northern Italy. The region is probably best known for its capital Milan and for Lake Como.

Whilst many visitors head to Milan for its shopping and culture, there is so much more to see in this charming area.

One week in Lombardia Italy is a perfect amount of time to discover lakes, mountains and historic cities full of elegant architecture.

One week in Lombardia Italy

Northern Italy itinerary

The Lombardia region has a diverse landscape, it stretches from the magnificent Alps to the lowlands of the Po Valley.

Lombardia contains vineyards, traditional Italian towns such as Monza and Mantova and the breathtaking Lake Como.

There is also a rather stunning mountain chain in the region that includes the Valtellina valley.

One week in Northern Italy is a perfect amount of time to discover this remarkable region in Italy.

You can pack lots of activities, sightseeing and foodie experiences when you visit Lombardia.

Disclaimer: This content was created from a trip with InLombardia

Lombardy Italy map TARGETS

In this seven day Lombarida Itinerary you can visit the following locations:

Many of these locations are a short distance apart, meaning you can visit multiple locations in a day if you want?

Day one Milan and Cremona

The best way to start your Lombardy itinerary is by arriving by plane, train or car into Milan.

Milan is the home of fashion and design and has some incredible shopping and sightseeing.

If you aim to arrive early, you can spend a morning exploring the centre of this fast-paced Italian metropolis.

Best things to see in Milan

If you are short of time in Milan I would stick to the area in and around the ‘Piazza del Duomo’, to see some of the main attractions in Milan.

Some of the best things to see in Milan include :

Duomo di Milano – the beautiful cathedral church of Milan
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – historic shopping centre and an icon of Milan
Castello Sforzesco – a 15th-century castle
La Scala Opera – one of the finest opera houses in the world.

If you want more time to explore Milan, you could always extend your Lombardia trip and have a weekend in Milan?

After a morning in Milan, head to to the Cremona , the capital of music. You can easily travel from Milan to Crema by car or train. The train between Milan and Cremona takes around 2 hours and 15 minutes.

Cremona is the undisputed home of the violin, the city has a rich history of violin making that dates back to over 400 years.

The violin craftsmanship of Cremona became part of the Unesco Intangible Cultural Heritage list in 2012.

Many exceptional luminaries including Nicolò Amati, Giuseppe Guarneri, and Antonio Stradivari have called Cremona home.

One day in Cremona

One day in Cremona will require you to make a list of the Cremona attractions that you want to see.

One of the best ways to see Cremona in 24 hours or less is to go on a walking tour of Cremona . This way you can see the main sights of Cremona and discover off-beat places too.

A guided tour of Cremona will allow you to see some of Cremona’s best sights and attractions.

Highlights include the Piazza del Comune, Cremona Cathedral, the Church of Sant’Abbondio and the Church of Santa Agata.

If you are a travel photography enthusiast, the best views of the Cremona Cathedral are from the upper floors of ‘ Comune Di Cremona’ [Cremona town hall].

Make sure to come here at dusk to get dreamy photos of the Cathedral, Piazza del Comune and the Torrazzo, [the cathedral bell tower].

Some of the best things to do in Cremona include

The Cremona Violin Museum – a modern museum with a fantastic collection of stringed instruments. See violins, violas and cellos crafted by renowned luthiers, including Antonio Stradivari.

Museo Civico Ala Ponzone – beautiful pieces in a well-presented 16th-century palace. The Gallery also has a range of exciting, temporary exhibitions.

The torrazzo – climb the 502 winding steps up 111m-tall tower for a fantastic view of Cremona.

Cremona violin making workshop

One of the most unique things to do in Cremona is visiting a violin makers workshop. There are around 150 violinmakers in Cremona today, making violins using the classic ‘Cremona method.’

A visit to these Cremona violin shops is like stepping back in time. Inhale the aroma of old wood and varnish as you walk through the door. Sit on a small stool and marvel at the old-fashioned craftsmen’s tools and musty jars of liquids.

Violin tours are offered in selected workshops in Cremona. You can book a tour and learn more about the handmaking of stringed instruments in Cremona.

Where to eat in Cremona

Cremona has a large variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Here are some of the best places to eat in Cremona:

Hosteria 700
Lacoccinella
Locanda Torriani
Il Violino

Where to stay in Cremona

I would recommend staying 2 nights in Cremona, as it is a great place to base yourself for a few days to explore the nearby areas.

You don’t want to be changing hotels every night during your week in Lombardia.

There is a range of hotels in Cremona, from budget options, guest houses and 4* hotels. Some of the best places to stay in Cremona include:

Hotel Astoria Cremona
Delle Arti Design Hotel
Garden Vittoria
Hotel Impero

Day 2 Cremona and Mantova

Spend the morning exploring the boutique shops and medieval centre of the town.

Cremona’s shopping streets lined with small shops selling locally made clothes, food produce and jewellery.

The window displays in these shops are beautifully decored and reflect the current season or holiday.

Cremona Violin museum

After shopping, why not squeeze a few hours of culture into your morning? Learn about the history and production of violins at Cremona’s Violin Museum .

This modern museum contains a number of historic and rare instruments crafted by Antonio Stradivari.

There are also a number of impressive interactive displays and exhibits which will draw you further into the world of violins.

After a morning in Cremona, head to the Italian renaissance city of Mantova, [Mantua]. It’s around an hour’s drive from Cremona to Mantova.

You could also take the Cremona to Mantova train, which takes around 50 minutes.

This small, UNESCO–listed city was founded in 2000 BC and has a long historical timeline.

Mantova is wildly underrated and definitely needs to be on your Lombardia itinerary.

The city is probably known for the stunning architectural legacy of the Renaissance Gonzaga rulers, who built the impressive Ducal Palace.

Things to do in Mantova

One of the best ways to see Mantova in 24 hours or less is to go on a walking tour of Mantova .

This way you can see the main sights of the historic centre and the main attractions of the city.

Highlights include the Ducal Palace, Piazza Broletto, Rotonda di San Lorenzo, Basilica di Sant’ Andrea and the canals.

Ducal Palace

The Ducal Palace was the Gonzagas’ royal residence and is a grand collection of buildings built between the 14th and 17th centuries.

Take a guided tour of the Ducal Palace and learn more about its history and splendid fresco-painted rooms.

There are over 500 rooms in the complex and the main buildings are connected b a series of galleries and corridors. You could spend hours exploring this incredible place, there is so much to see.

Make sure to also visit the gardens and inner courts to get some beautiful photographs of these regal spaces.

Bibiena Theatre

This majestic theatre was designed by Antonio Galli Bibiena in 1767. The Bibiena Theatre contains world-famous interior decoration and musical performances.

The theatre contains ornate, stucco balconies that are arranged around its curving wall.

You can visit the theatre during the day to marvel at its impressive design or better still, attend an evening performance to fully appreciate musical perfection.

Where to eat in Mantova

Mantova has a large variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Here are some of the best places to eat in Mantova:

Trattoria Cento Rampini
Osteria Da Giannino
Carlo Govi Ristorante
ristorante Il Cigno dei Martini

Day 3 Monza

Head from your hotel in Cremona to the city of Monza, which is northeast of Milan.

It’s around an hour and 20 minutes drive from Cremona to Monza. Or, you can get the train from Cremona to Monza in around 1 hour and 49 minutes.

Monza is probably best known for its racing track, though there are still things to see in this small city.

Monza race circuit

One of the best things to do in Monza is to visit the race circuit,[Autodromo Nazionale Monza].

The Monza circuit is a world-famous track that attracts scores of Grand Prix fans from all over the world.

Opening in 1922, it’s the fastest Formula 1 track. There are over 5,793 metres of pure racing excitement.

Attending a race here is one of the most special experiences for a formula one fan. Witness the speed and passion whilst surrounded by roaring fans and excitable commentators.

Monza circuit tour

If you can’t make a race you can go on a tour of Autodromo Nazionale Monza . Booking a guided tour means you can get a unique behind the scenes view of the circuit.

You can see the control room, visit the media centre and even get a selfie on the podium above the track.

My favourite part of the tour was experiencing a lap of the Monza Italian Grand Prix track in a minivan.

Ok, so it’s not a race car, but it’s still such a fantastic experience to be driven around the track. This way, you can see it from a driver’s point of view.

Monza historic centre

After a morning at the race track, make sure to spend an afternoon exploring Monza’s historic centre.

To see Monza’s main highlights, you could go on a guided Monza walking tour or book a fun, Monza Segway tour. This way, you can zip around the city in style with a tour guide on wheels.

Some of the best things to see in Monza include:

The Duomo , also known as the “Cathedral of San Giovanni Battista”. This magnificent Cathedral was built in 595 and then modified in the 13th and 14th century.
Parco di Monza (Monza Park), the largest enclosed park in Europe. the park was established in 1806 and is now part of Lambro Valley Natural Reserve.
The New Bridge (Ponte Nuovo), this is an ancient gateway to the city of Monza. It runs alongside a section of the manmade Lambretto canal.
Musei Civici di Monza this museum include the collections of the Pinacoteca Civica and has an exhibition of ‘In Linea con Leonardo’.

Where to eat in Monza

Monza has a large variety of restaurants and cafes to choose from. Here are some of the best places to eat in Monza:

Osteria del Cavolo
Ristorante Atmosfera
Il Feudo Dei Sapori
Il Gusto della vita Meda

Aim to spend at least 2 nights in the Lake Como area to get the most out of your time here. You can head to lake Como straight from Monza, the journey takes around an hour and 30 minutes.

Lake Como is a fancy resort area known for its dramatic scenery around its inverted ‘y-shaped’ lake.

The lake is located at the foot of the Alps and is one of the best known and most picturesque sceneries in the world. It is an incredible destination for a romantic escape of a weekend break in the lakes.

Search for hotels in Como on Booking.com

Things to do in Como

Lake Como covers a large area and features charming villages and towns that surround the lake.

If you are short of time at Lake Como, I would suggest basing yourself in the city of Como. It’s a fantastic central location on the lake that is rich with history and culture.

The best way to see all the Como highlights, such as Como cathedral and the historic Via degli artigiani, is to book a Como walking tour .

See the city’s main attractions and learn about the city’s Roman and Medieval past from your professional guide.

Como boat trip

If you only have one day in Como I would definitely suggest taking a boat trip on Lake Como .

The most important thing to know is that there are two types of Como boat tour, public and private.

What type of tour you choose will depend on your time, your budget and what you want to see.

The local public tours ( Navigazione Laghi ) have several boat routes that connect the most popular towns along Lake Como’s shore.

These boat trips are reasonably priced and are brilliant if you want to travel between destinations, such as Como to Cernobbio.

Private boat tours normally involve guided boat tours of the lake or Lake Como sailing experiences and are more expensive.

Villa Bernasconi

Villa Bernasconi is an innovative museum housed inside the most glorious Art Nouveau Architecture.

It is owned by the town of Cernobbio and is now a cultural centre in the town, hosting exhibitions and events.

The museum is rather unusual and features a series of interactive exhibits that explain the mansion’s history and the stories of people who lived there.

Museo della Seta

Museo della Seta [Educational Silk Museum], might not immediately strike you as a fascinating tourist spot.

However, the museum skillfully displays the cultural and entrepreneurial tradition of silk in Como.

This is in part thanks to the incredibly knowledgable staff who are able to explain more about the machines, looms and fabrics.

Where to eat in Como

Como has a large variety of upscale restaurants and quaint cafes to choose from. Here are some of the best places to eat in Como:

Osteria del Gallo
Ristorante inTeatro
Piazza Roma Ristorante
L’Ora della Pasta

Where to stay in Como

I would recommend staying 2 nights in Como, as it is a fantastic place to base yourself for a few days.

I would go directly from Monza to Como and stay at least two nights in a centrally located hotel.

There is a range of hotels in Como, from budget options, guest houses and upscale hotels. Some of the best places to stay in Como include:

Albergo Terminus
Hilton Lake Como
Hotel Villa Flori
Palace hotel

Day 5 Lecco, Bellano and Traona

Spend a morning discovering the lakeside town of Lecco, located on the southeastern shore of Lake Como.

Lecco is the lesser-known area of Lake Como and offers pleasant architecture against a mountainous backdrop.

The city is a great base for hiking and outdoor enthusiasts. There is a range of walking routes in the surrounding hills and mountains of Lecco.

Keen climbers will also find that there are several challenging climbs in the mountains.

If you have a short time in Lecco, I would recommend going on a walking tour of Lecco , or booking a unique Lecco Food Tour .

Osservatorio Alpinistico Lecchese

Climbing fans should head to the Osservatorio Alpinistico Lecchese in Lecco. This is an interactive and hands-on museum, exploring the history and traditions of mountaineering.

It’s a small exhibition but it’s packed full of facts about climbing and famous mountaineers.

You could spend a few hours here learning more about this exhilarating and challenging sport that is loved by many in Lecco.

After a few hours exploring Lecco, head on over to Bellano, which is only 25 minutes away from Lecco.

Bellano is one of the smaller and quiet town towns in Lake Como. Narrow alleys are lined with medieval houses, eighteenth-century arches and Baroque courtyards.

The town looks especially pretty in the winter when the snow is falling around the rustic buildings.

This gives the town a very rustic and historic feel. You will also find a 14th-century parish church of St Nazzario and Celsio here.

Orrido di Bellano

When visiting Bellano you have to make sure to see the Orrido di Bellano . It’s a narrow, natural gorge that features a waterfall, that is accessible to visitors by a suspension bridge.

The Orrido is a bit of an unusual tourist attraction, it does provide some great photos of the aqua bleu flowing waters of the Pioverna though. It looks so pretty in the winter when the snow starts to fall.

The best part is, the Orrido only costs €4 to enter, making it a bit of a budget attraction in Bellano.

Crotto di Biosio

Make sure to have a lunch stop at Crotto di Biosio . This cosy restaurant offers an exquisite panorama of Lake Como and the mountains.

All their meals are freshly made with local products that include charcuterie, alpine cheese and salads from their garden.

Typical dishes include lake fish, baked pork shin, Veal stew, ravioli and grilled sausage and local cheese.

From Bellano head to Traona for late afternoon/evening. This sleepy village is full of historic architecture, stone churches, vineyards and wineries.

In the winter the village looks gorgeous with a dusting of snow over the buildings and over the vineyards and mountains.

To get the best photos of Traona in winter, head to St Alexander church. The church is on the higher elevations of the town and from here, you can capture a fantastic panorama of dreamy snow-capped mountains.

Day 6 Valtellina and Morbegno

After spending a day exploring Lecco, Bellano and Traona, I would recommend you spend the next two night in Valtellina.

This picturesque valley is a great place to base yourself for 2 nights to explore this mountainous area.

Valtellina is a spectacular alpine valley, the area is also well known for snow sports and winemaking.

The area has been producing wine for over 2000 years. In the summer, visit some of the area’s wineries to taste and purchase delicious, cherry-scented wines. These local wines are made from the Nebbiolo grape variety.

Snowshoeing in Val Gerola

If you are visiting Lombardia in winter you can enjoy a range of snow sports including skiing and snowshoeing.

There are several trails in this area which are suitable for snowshoeing through peaceful, snow-white forests.

A classic path for snowshoeing in this area starts from Gerola Alta. the path then arrives at Fenile, touches Pescegallo and then continues up to the Salmurano refuge, on the ski slopes.

This snowshoe walk is also perfect for beginners and for families that are new to snowsports and trekking.

After a morning of snowshoeing, head to Morbegno, a quiet village in the low Valtellina Valley.

Wander the narrow streets and admire the quaint architecture, churches and boutique shops.

Several historical highlights include collegiate Church of San Giovanni Battista, San Pietro and Sant’Antonio and the Sanctuary of the Beata Vergine Assunta.

Make sure you also visit the regal Palazzo Malacrida when visiting Morbegno. This stately mansion is full of pastel frescoes and rococo-style architecture.

Morbegno Ciapponi

One of the best shops in Morbegno village is Ciapponi’s. This huge delicatessen has a vintage interior that features cheese and wine cellars.

You feel as if you have stepped back in the time as you wander around rustic displays of the best wines, cheeses, olive oil and cured meats that the region has to offer.

Where to eat in Valtellina

The Valtellina area has a variety of cosy restaurants and quaint bars spread out over the small towns. Here are some of the best places to eat in Valtellina

Vecchio Fiume
Agriturismo Le Case dei Baff
Trattoria Pizzo Tre Signori
Ristorante Torre della Sassella

Where to stay in Valtellina

I would really recommend spending two nights is Valtellina and basing yourself at Agriturismo Le Case dei Baff.

Stay in a homely farm building with mountain views, in the overwhelmingly green area of Ardenno, in the Valtellina valley.

The Le Case dei Baff looks exceptionally pretty in the winter months and offers guests mulled wine and cosy corners in which to unwind and relax.

The family-owned accommodation features a restaurant, gardens, and mountain view rooms with free wifi throughout. It is a brilliant place to stay in Valtellina.

Day 7 Valtellina and Milan

On your last morning in the Lombardia region, visit the innovative ‘Agriturismo La Fiorida’ farm in Valtellina.

La Fiorida is a unique farm business that was created Plinio Vanini thanks to his love of animals.

This is a multi-purpose site that features farm animals, cheese-making workshops, a shop, accommodation and 2 restaurants. One of which has been awarded a Michelin star.

Spend some time meeting the award-winning cows and adorable goats on this large farm.

La Fiorida Restaurant

After meeting animal friends and making some cheese make sure to have lunch on one of the restaurants in La Fiorida.

Enjoy fresh dishes that are created using high-quality products from the farm. Typical dishes include Pumpkin Ravioli, Wild boar, Gnocconi and Fillet of Val Masino trout.

Valtellina to Milan

End your Lombardia trip by heading back to Milan to get your train or flight home.

The journey from Valtellina to Milan takes around 2 hours by car or you can get a direct train from Sondrio to Milano Centrale.

Once you are in Milan you can head home or even extend your trip to other popular destinations in Italy including Venice and Rome . These cities are easily reached by train from Milan.

One week in Lombardy

Seven days is a perfect northern Italy itinerary, you can visit many small towns and attractions in a week without it feeling rushed.

Many of the historic towns and villages are only a short drive from each other, meaning you can visit several destinations in a day.

What do you think of my guide to one week in Lombardia Italy? Are you inspired to visit? Let me know in the comments below.

Planning your trip to Lombardia

Ready to book your trip to Lombardia? Use these awesome travel resources to get you started:

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Get the best travel tips with a travel guidebook
Book an Airbnb and have £25 towards your first booking
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One week in Lombardia Italy | Perfect North Italy itinerary One week in Lombardia Italy is a perfect amount of time to discover lakes, mountains and historic cities full of elegant architecture. The region contains vineyards, traditional Italian towns such as Monza and Mantova, Lake Como and a stunning mountain chain that includes the Valtellina valley. #Italy #traveltips #Lombardia #italytravel #europe #citybreak

Portia Jones has spent years traversing the globe and having many misadventures. She now works as a freelance travel journalist and is a Lonely Planet guidebook author and hosts the Travel Goals Podcast. She specialises in adventure travel, destination guides and city breaks. Her work has appeared in The Times, National Geographic, Wanderlust Magazine and the Independent. She can normally be found hiking, swimming outdoors in icy waters, or drinking coffee in bougie cafes.

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10 Reasons to Visit the Region of Lombardy in Italy – From Milan and Lake Como to Lombardy’s History, Nature, and Art

By Author Rossi Thomson

Posted on Last updated: 4th September 2022

Categories Lombardy

Here are ten reasons to visit Lombardy – the Italian region that has the worldwide famous city of Milan as its capital.

Known as lombardia in italian, you will find it right in the centre of the cuff of the boot of italy. from this top location, it plays a leading role in the country’s commerce, industry, and cultural life..

Plus, many of Italy’s most coveted destinations are on the territory of Lombardy. Lake Como is a case in point. Perennially popular, it attracts both travellers and Hollywood stars eager to experience the beauty of Italy.

Panoramic view of Bellagio - Lake Como, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy also includes a significant portion of the Italian Alps, some of the prettiest northern Italian lakes, as well as many historic towns and cities the names of which have become synonymous with art. Impressively, the region also has the highest concentration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in all of Italy.

With Switzerland to the north, and the Italian regions of Trentino-Alto Adige and Veneto to the east, Emilia-Romagna to the south, and Piedmont to the west, Lombardy is easy to reach from anywhere in Italy , Europe, and the world.

The region’s busy airports, high-speed railway network, and fast highways make a trip to Lombardy a quick and easy experience. It’s not surprising then that millions of visitors flock to this corner of Italy every year eager to see Milan and Lake Como for themselves. Many of them also use Milan’s international airports as a point of arrival for a wider-reaching Italian holiday.

Lombardy, however, is so much more than just its capital and famous lake. This is a place of millennial history, refined art, centuries-old music heritage, and delicious local food.

It’s a land where many of Italy’s most famous historic figures lived and worked. Among them are the Roman author and natural philosopher Pliny the Elder, the polymath Leonardo da Vinci, and the pioneer of electricity Alessandro Volta.

It’s also the most cosmopolitan Italian region which, at the same time, has many towns and villages with perfectly preserved medieval and Renaissance look and feel.

All this makes Lombardy a very exciting place to explore. No matter what you may be passionate about – history, art, sports, food, famous landmarks or traditional festivals and lively events – in Lombardy there are many ways to indulge and expand your interests.

Piazza della Loggia in Brescia - Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

I am a big fan of Lombardy in Italy myself. I love visiting and revisiting its cities , villages, mountains, and lakes, its hidden corners and worldwide known gems.

So, in this blog post today, I will give you the ten best reasons that make Lombardy a must-see destination in Italy. From its cities, history, music, and art to its stunning nature and centuries-old traditions and culture, it’s all covered. Plus, this easy to read travel guide is peppered from start to finish with practical travel tips that I personally tried and tested over my many visits to Lombardy.

I hope that you will enjoy reading it, looking at the photos I took of the Lombardian nature and sights, and that you will feel inspired to head to this beautiful Italian region as soon as possible. It’s the perfect place for a weekend trip a longer Italian holiday.

Find out why!

10 reasons to visit the region of lombardy in italy – from milan and lake como to lombardy’s history, nature, and art.

10 Reasons to Visit Lombardy Region in Italy - rossiwrites.com

1. Lombardy’s Capital Milan – Experience Italy’s Most Cosmopolitan City

Milan – or Milano in Italian – is one of the most famous cities in the world. A fashion capital and an important centre of industry and commerce, this is a large, exciting city that has its finger on the pulse of Italy and Europe.

At the same time, Milan is also a place with centuries-old history and a repository where some of the world’s most precious works of art are kept.

From the iconic Duomo di Milano – a stunning Gothic cathedral with a lace-like triangular facade – to the famous Teatro alla Scala , Lombardy’s capital has a string of beautiful must-see landmarks.

This is also the city where the famous painter, sculptor, and engineer Leonardo da Vinci spent 18 years of his life. Nowadays, some of his greatest masterpieces can be seen here.

The famous fresco The Last Supper doesn’t really need an introduction. In addition, in Milan, you can also see:

Leonardo’s Codex Atlanticus – a 12-volume set of his writings and drawings which nowadays is kept in the city’s Biblioteca Ambrosiana . This ancient library conserves precious historic books and has an important art gallery on-site. You can admire another of Leonardo’s works of art – Portrait of a Musician – here. Click to book your visit .
Leonardo’s Vineyard – this was a gift that the artist received from the Duke of Milan in 1498. Nowadays, the original rows and the original vine stock have been carefully restored and brought back to life once again. Click to book your tickets or guided tour .

In addition to all its striking landmarks and international creative buzz, Milan also has many hidden corners and little quirks. Seek them out as they reveal the authentic character of this sprawling and at a first glance rather grey city in all its multilayered charm.

From the historic trams rumbling through the city’s wide central boulevards to the Navigli district – crisscrossed by canals flanked by lively eateries – Milan must be seen and experienced at least once in a lifetime.

More Information:

For more about Milan have a look at point 11 here: 15 Must-See Cities and Towns in Lombardy, Italy (With Map, Photos, and Insider Tips)

2. Lombardy’s Lakes – Enjoy the Famous Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, and Lake Garda and Discover Many More Beautiful Northern Italian Lakes

View of Nesso on Lake Como, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy is blessed to have several of Northern Italy’s most well-known and beautiful lakes on its territory. Most importantly, Lago di Como . Italy’s most famous lake is one of the brightest gems in Lombardy’s crown.

An easy train ride or car drive away from Milan, Lake Como stretches up towards Switzerland. It looks like an upturned letter Y. The panorama of its three branches’ meeting point is best enjoyed from Bellagio.

This lakefront town is very picturesque! It’s not surprising really that the ancient Romans used to build their villas here.

Among them was Pliny the Younger – a famous Roman lawyer, magistrate, and author as well as the nephew of Pliny the Elder. He had not one but two villas at the spot of modern-day Bellagio. While one was up in the hill above the lake, the other was right next to the water, so he could fish through the window while he relaxed in bed.

Beautiful as it is, don’t limit yourself just to Lake Como during your visit to Lombardy.

In this northern Italian region, you can also spend wonderful moments on the shores of the worldwide known Lake Garda , Lake Maggiore, and the gaining wider appreciation Lake Iseo. Or you can discover many small yet striking lakes like Lake Idro and Lake Valvestino. The first is a thin and long lake where, they say, the mythical monster Idra lives. The other resembles a Norwegian fjord and makes up in beauty what it lacks in size.

If you are planning to visit Lombardy primarily to explore its capital Milan, then make sure that you put a day aside to see one of the region’s lakes, too. Easy to get to by public transport or by car, they give you a chance to experience Italy from a different point of view.

For example, at Lombardy’s lakes you can explore picturesque waterfront towns. Sirmione on Lake Garda and Varenna on Lake Como are my personal favourites. You can go for a hike in the hills and the mountains flanking the Lombardian lakes and take in heady panoramic views. Or you can simply top up your tan on one of the many lakefront beaches and take a ferry across the water so as to enjoy the views of lush hills, olive groves, and small villages as they glide past you.

If you would rather combine city sightseeing and a lake visit, however, then head straight to Mantua . This Lombardian city is surrounded by three lakes and it’s a beautiful place to explore.

Lake Como – The Beauty of Italy’s Most Famous Lake in 25 Photos
Lake Garda Map – Where is Lake Garda ad What to Do around Italy’s Largest Lake
For Sirmione have a look at point 1 here: 20 Best Towns to Visit around Laego di Garda – Italy’s Largest Lake (With Map and Insider Tips)
For Mantua have a look at point 9 here: 15 Must-See Cities and Towns in Lombardy, Italy (With Map, Photos, and Insider Tips)

3. Lombardy’s Excellent Transport Links – Arrive at Busy International Airports and Travel around by High-Speed Trains and Fast Highways

A central street seen from the rooftop of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II - Milan, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy is very well connected by air, rail, and road to all corners of Italy and Europe.

Three major airports operate in this northern Italian region. They are:

Milan Bergamo Airport (also known as Orio al Serio Airport)
Milan Linate Airport
Milan Malpensa Airport

Based on the number of passengers they deal with on a daily basis, all three are in the top 10 of the busiest Italian airports.

This means that you can easily reach Lombardy and Milan from anywhere in the world on a flight operated either by a low-cost company or a major airline. This way you can book just the right ticket for your budget and available travelling times and pick the most convenient airport for your destination in Lombardy and Italy.

Lombardy’s well-developed railway network is another top reason to come here. High-speed trains and fast regional trains operated both by the national railway company and a private enterprise guarantee you quick and easy access to a long list of must-see destinations and cities in Italy .

Here are some sample travelling times by high-speed train both within Lombardy and beyond:

Milan to Brescia – from 36 mins;
Milan to Turin – from 1 h;
Milan to Desenzano del Garda on Lake Garda – from 1 h 3 mins;
Milan to Bologna – from 1 h 4 mins;
Milan to Genoa – from 1 h 27 mins;
Milan to Florence – from 1 h 54 mins;
Milan to Venice – from 2 h 27 mins;
Milan to Rome – from 3 h 10 mins.

All this gives you so many options for exciting day trips and longer journeys during your stay in Lombardy and Italy.

Finally, exploring Lombardy by car is also very easy. A dense road network connects the region’s main cities like Milan and Brescia to the smaller towns and picturesque villages here.

Knowing that within an hour’s drive from anywhere in Lombardy you can be on the shores of a beautiful lake, in the folds of the mountains or exploring the art and history of a new place, is a great incentive to visit this northern Italian region.

If you are looking further afield, then travelling by car is also a quick way to get from Lombardy to anywhere in Italy. Several important highways run through the region leading to the country’s most beautiful and important destinations. Among them are:

Autostrada A4 (known also as La Serenissima after the moniker of the historic Republic of Venice) – it connects Turin first to Milan then Brescia and continues to Verona , Venice and Triest; and
Ausostrada A21 (known also as the Motorway of the Wines as it goes across several important wine-producing areas) – it connects Turin to Cremona and Brescia.
11 Major Airports in Northern Italy (With Map, Nearest Cities, and Public Transport Options)
Getting Around Lake Garda – 8 Best Ways to Travel Around Italy’s Largest Lake

4. Lombardy’s UNESCO World Heritage Sights – Explore the Highest Concentration in Italy of Cultural and Natural Landmarks with Universal Value to Humanity

The Capitolium Archaeological Area - Brescia, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy is the region with the highest number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Italy. There are 11 of them here.

Even more, this is the region with Italy’s first UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Rock Drawings in Valcamonica in Lombardy were inscribed by UNESCO in 1979. For comparison, the Historic Centre of Rome was listed in 1980.

If you like exploring cultural landmarks with a value that transcends local history and national borders, then Lombardy is a must-see. From the Church and the Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with The Last Supper fresco by Leonardo da Vinci in the heart of Milan to the Renaissance gem of Mantua and the ideal city of Sabbionetta , here you can immerse yourself into humanity’s highest levels of creativity from art to architecture.

In terms of natural sights, Monte San Giorgio is a great representative. This pyramid-shaped mountain stands right on the border of Italy and Switzerland. It is regarded as the best depository of marine fossils from the Triassic period (245-230 million years ago). At the time, the mountain was a tropical lagoon teeming with life.

The city of Brescia is my favourite destination in Lombardy in terms of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Come here to see Northern Italy’s largest and best-preserved Roman archaeological area . Next door to it stands the Santa Giulia Museum Complex with an area of 14,000 sq. m and over 12,000 artefacts.

The archaeological area and the museum are inscribed on UNESCO’s List of World Heritage Sites as part of the property ‘ Longobards in Italy. Places of the power (568-774 A.D.) ‘. Both deserve a visit during a day trip to or a longer stay in Brescia – an exciting city just over half an hour away by high-speed train from Milan.

Brescia, Italy – How to Visit and Best Things to Do in the Most Underrated Italian City (With Map and Practical Tips)
Official website of the UNESCO Sites in Lombardy, Italy

5. Lombardy’s Cities of Art – Discover Roman Ruins, Medieval Fortifications, and Renaissance Pearls

The old town hall Arengario in the historic centre - Monza, Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Beyond the buzz of Milan and the sights of Brescia , Lombardy is dotted with many smaller cities and larger towns that safeguard some of Italy’s best artistic achievements and historic places of interest.

Known collectively as Cities of Art (in Italian, Citta’ d’Arte ), they have so much to offer to the curious traveller – from art galleries densely packed with masterpieces to sturdy fortifications, splendid buildings, and tall bell towers offering heady views.

Take the funicular up to Bergamo’s Upper Town – or Citta’ Alta as it is known in Italian – for example, and you will find yourself in an urban nucleus where the Middle Ages meet the Renaissance. To make it even more dramatic, it’s all enveloped in massive Venetian walls. The narrow cobbled streets will then lead you up to a central square – Piazza Vecchia – that the famous Swiss-French architect Corbusier once declared to be “the most beautiful in the world”.

In the town of Como on the lower edge of Lake Como, you can start your exploration of the past from Roman ruins and then progress through the Middle Ages all the way to the present. The different historic periods here blend and fuse into one another, each taking inspiration from the previous ones and adding something new and inspired to the mix.

Hence, when you look at imposing buildings like the Como Cathedral, you can spot many elements pertaining to different eras and yet all of them create a harmonious whole.

Monza – another of the Lombardian Cities of Art – lives one foot in the past and one foot in the future. This lovely city – the third-largest in Lombardy – is famous both for its medieval and Neoclassical buildings and as the seat of the Italian Grand Prix.

Built in 1922, the Autodromo Nazionale di Monza is the world’s third-oldest purpose-built motor racing circuit. It has been hosting high-speed motor races for a century. Nowadays, it’s officially referred to as The Temple of Speed as the cars achieve top speeds of nearly 350 km/h.

From Pavia to Sondrio and from Mantua to Varese , there are many Cities of Art in Lombardy. Each one of them has something special and unique to offer to the traveller eager to experience the best of Italy. Head there and see it all for yourself!

15 Must-See Cities and Towns in Lombardy, Italy (With Map, Photos, and Insider Tips)

6. Lombardy’s Musical Heritage – Learn about Violinmaking in Cremona and Enjoy Opera in Brescia and Milan

Ceiling of the foyer of Teatro Grande - Brescia, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy plays an important role in Italy’s musical heritage. This northern Italian region has contributed greatly to the development of lyrical singing and the refining of musical instruments as we know them nowadays. As such, it’s dotted with important landmarks giving you a chance to gain a first-hand understanding of the history of music.

If music is in your heart, then make sure that you visit Cremona in Lombardy, Italy. Less than an hour and a half away from Milan, this small city preserves centuries-old violinmaking traditions. Some of the world’s greatest luthiers like Nicolo’ Amati and Antonio Stradivari worked here in the 16th and 17th centuries crafting violins, cellos, guitars, and harps that to this day set the standards for string instruments.

To this day, Cremona’s beautiful historic centre is dotted with the workshops of luthiers. And then a short walk away from the city’s splendid Cathedral stands the excellent Violin Museum . Don’t miss a visit! It has state-of-the-art displays and many priceless historic violins and other string instruments. You can book your tickets here .

In addition, make sure that you visit Lombardy’s historic opera houses. Two of the most famous of them all are:

Teatro alla Scala in Milan – you can either catch a world-class performance here or simply visit during the day to see the theatre’s lavish interiors and the excellent on-site museum for yourself. Alternatively, you can enjoy a guided tour of La Scala or see it from the comfort of your own home with this virtual tour . This is one of the world’s most famous opera houses where great Italian composers like Rossini, Donizetti, and Verdi have premiered many of their operas and where globally famous opera singers have given the performances of their lives.
Teatro Grande in Brescia – a spectacularly lavish theatre with a history that goes back to the 16th century. It’s housed in a purpose-built building from the start of the 19th century. The theatre was recognised as a national monument of Italy over 100 years ago. Its performance hall is horseshoe-shaped, 22 x 17 m in size, and has five rows of boxes.

Lombardy is also the birthplace of famous Italian composers. Gaetano Donizetti, for example, was born in Bergamo in 1797. Nowadays, the Donizetti Museum is one of the best things to see in this underrated northern Italian city.

The composer Claudio Monteverdi was born in the city of Cremona. His opera Orfeo is widely accepted to be ‘the first great opera’ ever.

Finally, Lombardy is where many renowned music festivals and competitions take place every year. Brescia, for example, organises a highly regarded piano competition under the name of Arturo Benedetti Michelangeli – one of the greatest pianists of the 20th century who was a native of the city.

7. Lombardy’s Great Outdoors – Get Active by Practicing All Sorts of Sports in This Beautiful Corner of Italy

Paddleboarding on Lake Garda - Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

It’s so very easy to get out and get active when you are in Lombardy.

This northern Italian region is dotted with lakes where you can swim, sail, paddleboard, and even practice kitesurfing. It also has a generous portion of the Italian Alps where hiking trails and ski slopes are in their hundreds. No matter the season, there is always something exciting to do here – from snowboarding and snowshoe walking in winter to canyoning and mountain biking in summer.

Lombardy’s great outdoors are a delight to discover and there is something for all abilities and ages to enjoy. From gentle walks and ski schools for absolute beginners to rock climbing and expert slopes.

Some of Lombardy’s most important ski resorts are in the provinces of Brescia , Bergamo, and Sondrio. From Pontedilegno-Tonale , Brembo Super Ski , and Valtorta-Piani di Bobbio to Piazzatorre , Bormio Ski , and Aprica , there are dozens of excellent ski destinations to choose from here.

In terms of walking and hiking, you will be spoilt for choice, no matter if you are travelling as a family with small kids, as a group of friends or with a significant other. Trails of different levels of difficulty crisscross Lombardy’s beautiful nature offering you splendid panoramic views, forest bathing, fairytale waterfalls, and the ability to fill in your lungs with fresh, clean air.

There is nothing like going for a hike on a beautiful day in the forests and hills of Lombardy. Then you can stop for a hearty lunch in one of the many mountain huts that serve freshly cooked traditional food prepared with zero km ingredients. It’s a wonderful way to clear off your mind and relax.

The local tourist offices in Lombardy usually have plenty of information about local hikes and outdoor explorations. These are especially numerous around the region’s lakes like Como, Iseo, and Garda.

Provided you bring in the right shoes and clothing to ensure your comfort and safety, it’s a great idea to add a hike or another type of activity to your list with things to do in Lombardy, Italy.

If you would rather rely on an expert local guide to show you hidden gems in the bosom of Lombardy’s nature, then you can simply book an organised hike or activity. Have a look at the options below for some must-see destinations:

8. Lombardy’s Rich Culinary Traditions – Savour Delicious Dishes and Enjoy Italy’s Best Sparkling Wines

Traditional polenta and osei cake - Bergamo Upper City, Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

As a land of centuries-old traditions, Lombardy has a rich cuisine based on the many and varied delicacies of the different provinces that comprise this northern Italian region.

From stuffed pasta and elaborate risottos to polenta used both in savoury dishes and sweet cakes, Lombardy is a delight to discover fork and spoon in hand.

Here are some traditional Lombardian dishes to enjoy during your visit:

risotto alla milanese – this is a classic Italian dish from the Lombardian capital Milan. It’s prepared with Arborio rice and it owes its yellow colour to the addition of saffron;
cotoletta alla milanese – another signature dish from Milan, this is a breaded veal chop wich traditionally is served with a portion of French fries or patatine fritte as they call them in Italian. By the way, the easiest way to discover Milan’s culinary secrets and delights is to join a small guided tour to take you to all the right places. This one is particularly good.
Bagoss – prized cheese that is only produced in the small village of Bagolino near the city of Brescia in Lombardy. It has a lovely dense and salty flavour with hints of walnuts and chestnuts. Having a thick slice of Bagoss in a soft bread roll feels like a feast in itself.
casonsei – large pasta shapes stuffed with a filling made of eggs, mature cheese (or ricotta), spinach or meat. Typical for Bergamo and Brescia , they are served generously drizzled with melted butter and decorated with sage leaves.
polenta taragna – typical for Bergamo and Brescia , this is polenta prepared with ground buckwheat and corn flour. It is then mixed with fresh cheeses and melted butter.
tortelli di zucca – typical for the Lombardian city of Mantua, these are pasta shapes stuffed with a delicious pumkin filling.

In addition, Lombardy enjoys a great tradition of sweets and desserts. Without a doubt, panettone is its most famous sweet creation. Served for Christmas in Italy , it’s also adored and devoured all around the world.

Other famous Lombardian sweets and cakes are:

Cremona’s nougat – locally known as torrone ;
Mantua’s sbrisolona cake – it’s similar to shortbread but it has a rougher crumb and it’s made with generous helpings of almond flour and chopped almonds; and
Bergamo’s splendid polenta e osei – this is a sweet polenta cake covered with marzipan and decorated with chocolate birds.

Finally, it is in Lombardy that you can visit one of Italy’s most famous wine-producing areas – Franciacorta. Its sparkling wines enjoy worldwide recognition. It’s widely accepted that Franciacorta sparkling wines surpass Veneto’s prosecco and are a serious rival to France’s champagne.

Franciacorta is in the province of Brescia and booking a guided tour is an easy way to explore the beautiful vineyards and the historical wineries that it’s dotted with. For example, you can visit a centuries-old cellar and do a tasting by pairing wines with delicious local specialities.

9. Lombardy’s Religious Landmarks – Seek Peace in Sacred Mountains and Some of Italy’s Most Splendid Duomos

Lombardy is one of the best destinations to explore in Italy if you have a particular interest in religious architecture and little-known historic events that have left their imprint on Europe from the Middle Ages onwards.

This northern Italian region is dotted with some of the world’s most impressive cathedrals, centuries-old monasteries, and picturesque sanctuaries. The most famous of them all is the Duomo di Milano . This is a must-see landmark in Lombardy’s capital. It can be explored from many different angles:

history – by visiting the Duomo’s archaeological area;
architecture – by learning about this Gothic masterpiece the construction of which lasted nearly six centuries;
religion – by seeing for yourself the interiors of the cathedral or attending a mass held in it; and even
stunning panoramas – by enjoying bird’s-eye views of Milan from the rooftop of its Duomo.

Depending on what you want to see and/or the time you have available, you can either book a ticket to see the Duomo, its rooftops and museum, a priority entry just to its rooftops by lift or stairs or a skip the line entry to the cathedral only.

There are several other impressive Duomos in Lombardy, Italy. Monza Cathedral deserves a special mention here for its black and white marble facade and the fully frescoed Royal Chapel of Teodolinda – the Queen of the Lombards from 590 to 627 AD.

In terms of monasteries and convents, don’t miss the Certosa di Pavia – a monumental religious complex with outstanding architecture and many priceless works of art.

One of my favourite sanctuaries in Lombardy is the Santuario di Montecastello . Built on a tiny piece of flat surface bordering the summit of a sharp peak, it overlooks Lake Garda from a tremendous height.

Everywhere you go in Lombardy, you will come across large and small churches guarding the memories and the traditions of the local communities. In many of them, you will discover unexpected masterpieces. A case in point is the small town of Clusone. A beautiful day trip from Bergamo, here you can see a late 15th-century fresco known as The Triumph and Dance of Death (also often referred to as The Macabre Dance ).

Finally, it is in Lombardy (and the neighbouring Italian region of Piedmont) that you can visit Italy’s Sacred Mountains or Sacri Monti . This is a group of nine calvaries – or devotional complexes built on the slopes of mountains – that date back to the late 16th/17th centuries. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, they blend beautifully with the surrounding nature and are skillfully decorated with frescoes and statues.

10. Lombardy’s Small Towns and Villages – Experience Beautiful Sights and Authentic Lombardian Traditions

The village seen from the gallery of the St. George's church - Bagolino, Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

It’s not all about large cities and worldwide famous landmarks in Lombardy though.

This Italian region is also peppered with small towns and villages in the bosom of lush mountains or on the shores of beautiful lakes. These are places where centennial architecture is preserved together with ancient traditions that culminate in town-wide heartfelt festivals.

A case in point is the small village of Bagolino . Its tall houses tumble down the slope of a hill overlooking a small alpine valley. The locals speak their own dialect and produce one of the most prized cheeses in Lombardy – Bagoss.

They also preserve a centuries-old Carnival tradition which has been classified as an ethnological discovery of immense importance.

The small fortified village of Castellaro Lagusello near Mantua in Lombardy seems plucked from a fairy tale. Surrounded by medieval defensive walls it stands on the shores of a tiny heart-shaped lake. It makes for a great visit to this corner of Italy offering a chance to not only learn about history but actually see it and experience it first hand.

The tiny village of Nesso clings to the steep slopes above Lake Como. Right in its heart, a tall waterfall – powerful and rumbling – hurtles down a vertiginous narrow gorge. At the bottom, its waters collect and now calm and clear flow together into the lake. Along the way, they pass underneath a small medieval bridge.

In summer, people jump from the bridge into the lake for a refreshing swim. A tall house stands right next to the bridge and seems to grow straight from the lake. Its facade is embraced by the luxuriant leaves of a huge Virginia creeper which turn bright red each autumn. It’s all so very beautiful and picturesque!

Then you have Monte Isola – Europe’s largest lake island. It stands tall and proud in the centre of Lombardy’s Lake Iseo. Eleven tiny fishing villages dot the island which is a car-free territory and has one bus line. It’s as idyllic and as far from the hustle and bustle of our modern world as you can get in Europe.

And yet, Monte Isola is only two hours away from Milan and an hour away from Brescia. Easy to explore even on a day trip, it brings you close to the authentic heart of Italy.

In Conclusion

View of the town of Bellagio on Lake Como - Lombardy, Italy - rossiwrites.com

Lombardy is a beautiful and exciting region in the north of Italy . With the cosmopolitan city of Milan as its capital, a large portion of the Italian Alps, and a number of the most famous northern Italian lakes on its territory, it’s a great place to visit.

No matter if you are after an exciting city break with lots of sightseeing and oodles of good food, a relaxing vacation in the bosom of nature, or a holiday that helps you reconnect with yourself and discover new interests, Lombardy delivers in so many different ways.

So, in this blog post today I shared with you the ten best reasons to visit Lombardy in Italy. From the region’s art and history to its lush nature, from its most well-known points of interest to its hidden gems, it’s all covered in an easy to reference format.

I hope that the information provided will pique your curiosity and will have you making travel plans for Lombardy in Italy even before you have finished reading.

I love visiting and revisiting Lombardy and I took every opportunity to do it during the six years that I spent living in Italy. It’s a region that has a lot to offer, it’s easy to get to and around, has delicious local cuisine, and so many sights and activities that you will want to return time and time again to experience it all.

Enjoy discovering Lombardy for yourself!

And have a wonderful time in this beautiful corner of italy.

Now, get ready quick for your visit to Lombardy, Italy!

Consult these guidebooks .
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Book train tickets , bus tickets or rent a car .
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More Helpful Italy Info for You

Northern Italy: Reasons to Visit , Best Cities , Major Airports Lombardy: Best Cities and Towns , Brescia Day Trips: Milan to Verona , Milan to Venice , Milan to Lake Garda , Venice to Milan , Verona to Milan Lake Garda: Best Towns , Map of Lake Garda , Theme Parks , Nearest Airports , Travel Options , Lake Garda with Kids , Beautiful Castles Lake Como: Things to See , Nesso

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Lombardy Travel Guide

The richest and most populous of Italy’s regions, Lombardy is home to Milan. Milan is not only the capital of Lombardy, but also Italy’s capital of fashion, finance, and media.

Known as Lombardia in Italian, Lombardy derives its name from the Longobards, a Germanic kingdom that ruled large stretches of the Italian peninsula beginning in the 5th century. Longobard sites , located in Lombardy and as far south as Puglia and Campania, were inscribed as a group UNESCO Heritage site in 2011.

Lombardy has a total of 10 UNESCO sites , one of which is the church and convent in Milan that houses The Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci .

Lombardy Map

Lombardy is bordered by the Italian regions of Piemonte, Emilia-Romagna , Veneto , and Trentino-Alto Adige. To Lombardy’s north is Switzerland. The wealthy Swiss cities of Lugano and St. Moritz are just over the border from Como and Sondrio.

Traveling to and Around Lombardy

Lombardy is well connected with public transportation and its highway network is very well maintained.

Milano Centrale is the largest train station in Lombardy and is a hub for high-speed trains and regional train travel in Italy. Milan is usually the first stop for rail travel from Europe to Italy .

Milan is the starting point for three main highways in Italy. The A1, which connects Milan with Bologna, Florence, Rome, and Naples, is the oldest highway in Europe. The A7 connects Milan to Venice. And the A8, the world’s first dual highway (opened in 1924), connect Milan with the Lombard town of Varese. Another important highway to pass through Milan is the A4, which originates in Turin and travels the width of northern Italy all the way to Trieste.

Milan has two international airports. Malpensa Airport is the largest and oldest airport in Milan and serves international travelers from all over the world. Linate Airport is Milan’s second airport and gets most of its traffic from smaller airlines within Europe.

Where to Go in Lombardy

Milan is the beacon of Italy. It attracts many bright, young Italians at Bocconi University as well as many others aspiring for careers in finance, fashion, and media. Milan is a youthful city, a fact that is evident in the Navigli canal district where lively bars and restaurants spill out onto the sidewalks.

Although Milan is shorthand for modern Italy, it is also an ancient city. It rests on the ruins of Mediolanum, which briefly served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire. One of the most important remnants from this time period is the Basilica of Saint Ambrose. Sant’Ambrogio is Milan’s patron saint and his remains lie in the crypt below the church.

Of course, Milan is most recognized for its other church. The Duomo of Milan is the largest church in Italy and the second largest church on the Italian peninsula after Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

Besides Milan, Lombardy has many notable cities and towns:

Mantua and Sabbioneta are two towns recognized by UNESCO as heritage sites because of their Renaissance-era centers.
Monza and Brescia are famous for car racing — Monza hosts the Formula One Italian Grand Prix, while Brescia hosts the Mille Miglia classic car race .
Bergamo is known as the Città Alta (high city) and is rich with art and views of the Alpi Bergamasche.
Cremona is famous for violins and violin making; Antonio Stradivari is a native son.

Lombardy’s Lakes

Many visitors to Lombardy come here for its refined lakeside towns. Beloved for ages, but especially during the Grand Tour of the 18th and 19th centuries, the Italian Lakes are where the wealthy come to relax and enjoy the mountain lake air and scenery.

Of Lake Como, Mark Twain said, “No other place than Lake Como can such a paradise of quiet rest be found.”

Lake Garda and Lake Maggiore are Lombardy’s largest lakes. Lake Como, where you will find the cities of Como and Bellaggio, is the region’s most famous. Smaller Lake Iseo is where artists Christo and Jeanne Claude amazed art lovers with their temporary installation Floating Piers in 2016.

UNESCO Heritage Sites in Lombardy

Lombardy boasts 10 UNESCO sites:

Church and Dominican Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie with “The Last Supper” by Leonardo da Vinci, Milan
Crespi d’Adda
Mantua (Mantova) and Sabbioneta
Monte San Giorgio
Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps (Shared with Piemonte, Trentino-Alto Adige)
Rhaetian Railway in the Albula / Bernina Landscapes
Rock Drawings in Valcamonica
Sacri Monti of Piedmont and Lombardy
San Salvatore-Santa Giulia in Brescia (Longobard Site)
Santa Maria Foris Portas, which includes the castrum with the Torba Tower and the church outside the walls, Castelseprio (Longobard Site)

Best Tours in Lombardy: Day Trips and Package Tours

Consider one of these tours or package deals to get the most out of your visit to Lombardy:

The Best Of Milan Tour With Last Supper Tickets & Milan Duomo Rooftop
Tour to Bernina Express and Swiss Alps with Hotel Pick Up . Escape to the Alps for the day to enjoy the UNESCO-recognized Bernina landscapes.
Bergamo Half-Day Tour from Milan .
Full-Day Lake Como Excursion . Context Travel ’s luxurious tour of Lake Como takes you to Bellagio, Varenna, and the historic district of Como.
Milan Franciacorta Wine Tasting and Shopping Tour

Italy Segreta

The italian culture magazine, lombardy in four road trips.

“The richness of this area’s historical traditions can be found, genuine and heartfelt, right in the provinces, lakeside and mountain villages.”

The history of Northern Italy passes through Lombardy, as does the history of the development and industrialization of our beautiful country. But Lombardy is also a fascinating region from a scenic point of view, where the imposing peaks of the Alps, bordering Switzerland, and the Pre-Alps which slope down towards the Po Valley, are crossed by rivers that give life to some of the largest and most important lakes of Italy. The richness of this area’s historical traditions, apparently hidden in the big business cities, can be found, genuine and heartfelt, right in the provinces, lakeside and mountain villages. And a great way to discover Lombardy are the numerous food and wine itineraries, real passe-partouts to delve into the different stories of the valleys, lakes, rivers and its many cities of art and lesser known villages.

These routes are perfect for a weekend, driving, cycling or walking slowly between provincial roads that flank rivers, vineyards and farmhouses, to discover unexpected sides of a region which offers so much more than the beautiful and world-famous Lake Como and the buzzing vibes of its largest city, Milan.

The itineraries also touch two cities which have been hit hard by the virus (Brescia and Bergamo). Last May, the two historically rival cities announced their intention to run together to compete for joint the title of Italian Capital of Culture for 2023 , as a sign of rebirth after the suffering caused by the pandemic. The extraordinary appointment comes as a sign of hope for the Italian towns most affected by the health emergency.

The itinerary kicks off in Brescia, baptized “the Lioness” by Italian poet Giosuè Carducci in 1877, to commemorate the ten days of revolt against the Austrian army (from March 23rd to April 1st 1849). The city is experiencing a moment of great revival thanks to the balance reached between the industrial vocation and the desire to establish itself as a city of art, history, entertainment and sport. It’s the second city of Lombardy, with almost 200 thousand inhabitants, capital of a province inhabited by more than one million people.

Unmissable stops in the historic center are the Tosio Martinengo Art Gallery which has been reopened after 9 years of major renovations with installations inspired by the great artist Anish Kapoor and which collects treasures of the Lombard renaissance and beyond. The historic center of Brescia also holds a strong ancient Roman heart, with the temple of the Capitolium erected by the Romans to pay homage to Brixia Fidelis who first converted to Roman law. Inside the temple, which can be visited today after years of closures, the copy of the winged victory, symbol of the city, recently moved inside the archaeological complex which is the most important in northern Italy. Must see are the Clock Towe r with the astronomical dial, the medieval district of Carmine , the basilica of San Salvatore, the Romanesque oratory of Santa Maria in Solario with its particular dome of stars and the Museum of Santa Giulia, a monastic complex which holds the Cross known as King Desiderius, which shines with two hundred and twelve precious stones, vitreous gems and cameos, a superb artefact datable between the 8 th and 9 th century AD.

For lunch, head to Il Fontanone , a timeless and intimate place that tastes like home and offers great classicals such as Casoncelli, a dish of ancient tradition, variant of ravioli, that is prepared throughout northern Italy. In dialect they are called “casonsèi”, the first documents that speak of casoncelli dates back to the fifteenth century and they are still prepared today as a traditional dish for Sunday lunch. The restaurant is very close to the square of the ancient Roman forum: in summer you can dine outside, and the atmosphere, thanks to the view of past centuries, is exceptional.

Before heading out of Brescia and for a touch of contemporaneity, Palazzo Monti in Piazza Tebaldo is a must see, brainchild of a young collector who has transformed his family palace into a research space for exhibitions and residency for young artists from all over the world.

THE FRANCIACORTA

Leaving Brescia behind and on the way to the vineyard-clad area of Franciacorta, take a small deviation for a pit stop at the unmissable Zani Foundation , a private art collection of unimaginable value which has only just recently opened to the public. A lush garden of over 2000 square meters surrounds an elegant modern building. Sculptures from various eras, basins and fountains alternate with the typical vegetation of the Lombard plain, in dialogue with species from distant countries such as the cedars of Lebanon, the sophora of Japan, the Chinese juniper, the selection of agaves and the spectacular series of macros bonsai. A house museum that hosts a collection of about 800 works, including paintings by Canaletto, Tiepolo, Guardi, Longhi, Boucher, sculptures by the Genoese Filippo Parodi and Della Porta.

Continuing on towards Gussago, stop to see the church of Santa Maria Assunta , which hosts three slabs of a Lombard sarcophagus in perfect condition. Then climb up on to the Barbisoni hill, to reach the monastery of the Santissima on foot. Located on a hill dominating the town of Gussago, the former Dominican complex of the Santissima has characterized the landscape of this strip of Franciacorta since the Middle Ages. The Olivetana abbey also deserves a stop, to stock up on honey and herbal liqueurs made by the monks, who also run a restoration workshop for ancient books.

You’re now in the heart of Franciacorta, land of Italian sparkling wines par excellence. Anyone who knows Franciacorta, a small area on the outskirts of Brescia, knows that things are taken seriously here. The vineyards, which draw the landscape, are above all a cultural heritage. A value, a quality expressed in a thousand shades not only in its DOCG sparkling wine, but also in the richness and care of the entire territory. Here, a house immersed in a chestnut wood is a dream born almost by chance. The story of Ca ‘del Bosco (literally meaning a house in the wood), a prestigious Erbusco winery renowned for its Franciacorta with its very fine perlage , dates back to the 70s, when a very young Maurizio Zanella, now president of the company, decides to transform the estate purchased by his parents – called ‘ca’ del bosc ‘in the Brescia dialect – into a cellar. Thanks to the passion and enthusiasm of Maurizio Zanella, Ca ‘del Bosco occupies a place of absolute prestige in the Italian wine scene and continues to receive important awards abroad as well, as demonstrated by the’ Best Italian Sparkling Wine 2019 ‘award won by Franciacorta Annamaria Clementi at the sixth edition of the Champagne and Sparkling Wine World Championships. In addition to being famous for its prestigious wines, Ca ‘del Bosco is renowned for its link with the world of art. The cellar houses extraordinary contemporary works commissioned over the years by Maurizio Zanella from internationally renowned artists.

The route continues along from Franciacorta to Lake d’Iseo . On the way, stop for coffee with a side of confetti at Bohem . The old and miniature train station of Paratico, a village in the province of Brescia, was made available to citizens through a tender. It had been out of use since 1966, first owned by the Ferrovie Nord and then by the Municipality, which, having no longer the economic possibility to manage the space, decided to sell it. It’s now home to an innovative and unique format: under the same roof of the former station a flower boutique, a confectionery and a cafeteria have breathed new life in what was an abandoned space. From there, you’re minutes away from the shores of Lake Iseo. On its banks, stop for the sunset and stroll among the gardens and flowers in the park of the Dancing Herbs . The gaze is lost on the expanse of plants with floating spikes, which dance to the same rhythm of the lake breeze. The lake is truly a small jewel between the mountains of Valle Camonica and the vineyards of Franciacorta, preserved from mass tourism until two years ago, when it was made known all over the world thanks to The Floating Piers, the temporary installation of the artist Christo. Thanks to this monumental land art work, the rebirth of the 16 villages overlooking these quiet banks began, which have been the background, since the 1950s, of a Dolce Vita in the sign of understatement. The protagonists are Riva motorboats, still produced in the Sarnico shipyards. The tour aboard one of the vintage models is a memorable experience, departing from the small village of Clusane , where the Bellini Nautica is based. In nearby Iseo, you can stroll between the elegant medieval historic center and the panoramic lakefront. The Antica Strada Valeriana winds up the hills, a mule track of Roman origin and once the only access road to Valcamonica; today it reaches Pisogne, a village with a large square open on to the lake, where you can take a walk along the water and stop to see the church of Santa Maria della Neve with frescoes by Romanino, which also enjoy surprising views of the surroundings. From Sulzano in a few minutes you can reach, by ferry, Monte Isola, the largest lake island in Italy and southern Europe. In its poignant villages you still travel on a naecc, old tapered boats, where the ancient tradition of fishing and sun-dried fish has been kept alive.

Lombardy in Four road trips - Franciacorta

From Lake Iseo it’s only a 30-minute drive to the medieval wonder that is the city of Bergamo. Located at the southern limit of the first hills of the Bergamo Prealps, at the mouth of the Seriana and Brembana valleys, Bergamo is situated in the territory between the Adda and Oglio rivers. Divided into lower Bergamo (de hota) and upper Bergamo(de hura), the latter is surrounded by a sixteenth-century Venetian wall (it is one of the few historic centers of Italy to be surrounded by walls, which have recently been nominated to become a UNESCO heritage site) that embrace the oldest part of the city. The Upper Town has an austere beauty: reachable on foot or by funicular, it welcomes a tangle of arcades, hidden courtyards and artisan shops on which stands the ancient Civic Tower which for 360 years has marked 10 pm with a hundred strokes, to remember when the city gates were closed. You’ll be most likely crossed by a sense of vertigo as you walk through the Piazza Vecchia , a Renaissance space with the fountain donated in 1780 by the Podestà Contarini in the center. Pass under the Palazzo della Ragione and find yourself in a metaphysical place where the Duomo, the Colleoni Chapel , the Baptistery and the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore all rise a few meters one from the other. “I was enchanted there: it was a strip of the most beautiful Italy, one of the many small surprises of enjoyment for which it is worth traveling” writes Herman Hesse about Bergamo.

The main artery that crosses the city is via Gombito, where the Antica Pasticceria Cavour deserves a stop, and which, after the Piazza Vecchia, continues and becomes Via Colleoni. If traveled to the end, you will reach the city walls, where the panoramic road that runs along via Torni and via Borgo Canale kicks off, which offers glimpses of the hills, the city walls and the lower town.

The latter has many souls: 1920s architecture by Marcello Piacentini, the eighteenth-century Donizetti Theater named after the illustrious composer from Bergamo, but also by the works of Botticelli, Raphael and Titian preserved inside the Carrara Academy, in a neoclassical style building. Don’t miss the Gamec Contemporary Art Museum and don’t leave Bergamo without a meal at Da Vittorio a Brusaporto, a 3 Michelin star stronghold of Italian cuisine. A lunch or dinner at this table, before being a gastronomic experience, is an experience for all the senses. Set among the gentle hills you’ll be welcomed into an elegant villa surrounded by a large park, an oasis of well-being and relaxation. The Cerea brothers, both Chefs, concoct a treasure trove of flavours celebrated since the sixties as an essential destination for every food-love.

Tosio Marintengo Art Gallery

Brixia Fidelis Temple

Clock Tower

Medieval district of Carmine

Basilica di San Salvatore

Oratory Santa Maria in Solario

Museum of Santa Giulia

Il Fontanone

Palazzo Monti

Zani Foundation

Church of Santa Maria Assunta

Monastery of La Santissima

Olivetana abbey

Lake d'Iseo

Antica Pasticceria Cavour

Ca 'del Bosco

Monte Isola

Piazza Vecchia

Colleoni Chapel

Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore

Donizetti Theater

Gamec Contemporary Art Museum

Da Vittorio

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Milan & Lakes

Lombardy Travel Destination Guide

Lombardy and the lakes: the urban region with lake scenery.

Lombardy is a northern region of Italy with Milan as its capital, one of the most urban metropolis cities in the world. The region of Lombardy spreads across the north of Italy and neighbors with the Liguria region on east and the Trentino-Alto Adige on the south, as well as Switzerland in the north.

The most popular tours to Lombardy include trips to Milan as well as tours to Lake Como , Lake Maggiore, Lake Lugano and Lake Iseo, all of which unique on its own and made in a luxurious appeal.

Tours to Milan, Italy – The Fashion Capital

The tours to Milan are a never ending story. Considered by many as the global hub of fashion and finance, Milan is equipped with a variety of luxurious shops and appealing restaurants. However, Milan is more than that. The art and history tours in Milan get another dimension from anywhere in Italy, as the city is built with high-end architecture in a consistent Gothic style.

The most famous historical building and a landmark of Milan is the Duomo, which is a the biggest Duomo (cathedral) in Italy and the world. Along with the Duomo, Milan is proud to have the amazing Santa Maria delle Grazie church and convent, which is the home of Leonardo da Vinci’s ‘The Last Supper’. Simply, tours to Milan never fail to give you the sense of art and culture in the most Italian way possible.

Tours in Milan are not only for the modern tourists. In fact, they were a practice for many emperors from Charlemagne to Napoleon – who came to Lombardy to be crowned king – therefore starting the big business capital spirit of Milan.

Private Tours to Lake Como

Lake Como is one of the most luxurious lakes in the world. With many celebrities sharing their resorts and villas in Lake Como, this lake is an upscale alpine resort coming with breathtaking scenery. Private Tours to Lake Como include seeing the amazing waters of the lake as well as brief of culture and architecture in the place.

Tours to the Lakes in Lombardy

Apart from the fact that Lombardy is filled with peripheries of towns, sprawls and roads, it never fails to deliver a spirit of nature, which involves the major lakes in Lombardy. Therefore, Lombardy is proud to have many lakes at command for every modern traveler wanting to see its breathtaking scenery:

In the end, there are other smaller cities like Bergamo and Brescia to take part in Lombardy. The tours to the Alps and the lake experiences, along with the fashion and business capital certainly make Lombardy one of the most complete regions, and definitely the richest region in Italy.

Tours to Bellagio and its Villas and Gardens

Bellagio is a commune in Italy set in the Province of Como known for the magnificent landscapes at the Lake Como. The popular tours to Bellagio include a visit on the cape of the land which divides the Lake Como in two as well as the other lake shores, hills and slopes such as the Pleistocene glaciations and the flows of Valtellina and Valchiavenna modeling the amazing landscape of Lake Como.

The villas and gardens in Bellagio, Lake Como are yet another magnificent experience that is included in the most popular private luxury tours.

Wine tours in Franciacorta

Being a small wine producing area in Lombardy, Franciacorta is also known for its image of Champagne. The tours to Franciacorta include sights on the Oglio River, the Mella River Valley and the suburbs of Brescia. Although it is not so much overrated and popular, the Franciacorta wine region is known as Italy’s best destination for the perfect sparkling wine and spumante (champagne), both made along the taste of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and Blanc. Therefore, wine tours in Franciacorta are considered an amazing experience for every wine lover.

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17 hidden gems to visit in Lombardy

In this article, I share a captivating list of Lombardy’s most enchanting hidden gems, which travelers often overlook.

A monastery carved into the rock, as seen from above

1 1. The vineyards of San Colombano al Lambro
2 2. Livigno, Lombardy’s “Little Tibet”
3 3. Nesso and its beautiful gorge
4 4. The Cistercian abbey of Morimondo
5 5. Soncino, the walled village
6.1 READ MORE: 5 reasons to visit Vigevano
7 7. The beautiful villas of Cassinetta di Lugagnano
8 8. Toscolano Maderno, the town of fishing and paper mills
9.1 READ MORE: A wine tasting tour of Oltrepò Pavese
10 10. Sabbioneta, the ideal city
11 11. Monte Isola, the island on Lake Iseo
12.1 READ MORE: The medieval hamlet of Cornello dei Tasso
13 13. The blacksmiths of Bienno
14 14. Sirmione, the pearl of Lake Garda
15.1 READ MORE: A day trip to Brescia
16 16. The monastery of Santa Caterina del Sasso
17.1 READ MORE: What to do in Lomellina
17.2 Pssst… Pin this article for future reference and get in touch if you have any questions about the hidden gems of Lombardy!

In this article, I share a list of the prettiest hidden gems to visit in Lombardy that travelers often miss.

From cultural attractions to quaint villages and rural idylls, there’s no shortage of charms in Lombardy. I recently wrote down all the places I want to explore or revisit in my region once we are allowed to travel again and came up with quite an extensive list . Here below you’ll find all those places that travelers often overlook but are well worth a visit.

1. The vineyards of San Colombano al Lambro

Did you know that there’s a wine district right in the province of Milan ? It’s called San Colombano al Lambro and is Milan’s only wine-producing region. The red and white wines bottled here are excellent and received the DOC mark in 1984. The village of San Colombano itself is charming and forms part of a special itinerary called “The Road of San Colombano Wine and the Food” . It connects Milan to Lodi, passing through beautiful hamlets brimming with history, art, and culinary delights. Check out this cool video on the wine of Milan .

Fun fact: the logo of the local Wine Consortium depicts a religious man holding a bunch of red grapes. Tradition has it that it an Irish missionary started to produce wine in San Colombano in the 6th century after converting the Barbarians to Christianity and the cultivation of vines!

2. Livigno, Lombardy’s “Little Tibet”

Hidden away in the Italian Alps, at 1816 meters above sea level, Livigno is a beautiful town surrounded by pristine forests and spectacular snow-capped mountains. In other words, it’s the kind of place to go to when you need a breath of fresh air and a full immersion in nature. It’s often nicknamed the “Little Tibet of Lombardy” because of its remoteness and the benefits that a trip there can produce on one’s mind and spirit.

Despite being a popular ski resort, it offers lots of things to do for non-skiers like me, from trekking excursions and water sports to crazy tax-free shopping (Livigno enjoys the status of a free area and is therefore exempt from VAT tax!). There’s also a popular wellness center in town called Aquagrande, with a number of swimming pools and spa areas for a little pampering.

3. Nesso and its beautiful gorge

Lake Como is dotted with tens of beautiful villages, but Nesso is truly unique. This sleepy village about twenty minutes’ drive from glamorous Bellagio is home to a striking natural gorge called Orrido di Nesso. There, you’ll find the waterfall flowing into the lake that Leonardo Da Vinci mentioned in one of his diaries.

The best views are from Ponte della Civera, a cute stone bridge accessible via some 300 steps downhill. All around the village are picturesque alleys to explore, including sections of the Strada Regia, an ancient road built by the Romans that connects Como to Bellagio.

4. The Cistercian abbey of Morimondo

A group of Cistercian monks founded Morimondo back in the 12th century and built a splendid Gothic-style monastery that continues to be an attractive landmark in the province of Milan. The village is only a handful of kilometers from Lombardy’s capital and represents a popular destination for a weekend escape to the countryside.

Morimondo seems to be frozen in time, with picturesque alleys, lovely cottages, and green fields . All around are various walking and cycling paths leading to the fields and the farms that dot the area. One of the favorite pastimes in this idyllic corner of Lombardy is laying on the grass with a local artisanal beer in hand while soaking up the sun.

5. Soncino, the walled village

Soncino is a beautiful village with grandiose defensive walls, sitting at the center of the Lombard plain. The main attraction here is the magnificent fortress built by the Sforza family in the 15th century, which is considered one of the finest examples of military architecture in Lombardy . Other interesting things to see in Soncino include the frescoed interiors of the Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie, the Azzanelli palace, and a museum dedicated to silk housed in a former spinning mill.

Soncino is also renowned for its past as a flourishing printing center thanks to a Jewish family who came from Germany in the 15th century. They printed the first Jewish Bible complete with accents and vowels, and traces of their precious contribution can still be seen at the local Printing Museum .

6. Vigevano and its Renaissance jewels

View of the splendid Piazza Ducale in Vigevano

The elegant town of Vigevano is one of those hidden gems that should be on the list of any traveler exploring Lombardy. It’s only a thirty-minute train ride from Milan, yet it feels like stepping into a different world. The historic center develops around what’s considered one of Italy’s most stunning piazzas , a real jewel of the Italian Renaissance lined with charming porticoes and home to bubbling cafés and shops. A staircase leads to the magnificent Sforza Castle from the piazza, one of Europe’s largest fortified complexes . Just to give you an idea, it’s about twice the size of Buckingham Palace.

Interestingly, Vigevano played a significant role in developing the shoemaking industry , as seen at the International Shoe Museum that displays a vast collection of shoes of all shapes and models, including some unique pieces worn by popes and celebrities.

8. Toscolano Maderno, the town of fishing and paper mills

Toscolano Maderno is a lovely town of ancient origins located on Lake Garda’s western shores, consisting of two distinct centers ideally divided by a river . Toscolano has been a major paper production center since the Middle Ages, while Maderno is more geared towards tourism, with a quaint little harbor and a particularly renowned lake cuisine.

One of the must-sees in Toscolano Maderno is the Paper Mill Valley (yep, just like the one in Amalfi ), with a series of delightful walking paths and a museum located in an old paper production complex. There are also some pretty beaches in town, including one specially designed for dogs called Bau Beach .

9. Zavattarello and the Oltrepò Pavese vineyards

The vineyards of Oltrepò Pavese, the wine district just south of Milan

Zavattarello is an interesting historic hamlet immersed in Oltrepò Pavese, a beautiful corner of Lombardy that combines two major Italian attractions: excellent wines and beautiful sceneries . A grandiose castle towers majestically over the village, offering stunning views of the surrounding countryside from its terraces. Also, a curious thing to see is the local cemetery with its unique octagonal shape.

A trip to Zavattarello can be easily combined with a visit to some local wineries and other pretty places like Fortunago, Varzi, and the mysterious – and quite isolated – Abbey of Sant’Alberto di Butrio to further explore this totally undiscovered side of the region.

11. Monte Isola, the island on Lake Iseo

Monte Isola is the largest lake island in Europe , located at the south end of Lake Iseo. It’s home to 11 adorable hamlets frozen in time, where cars are banished , and locals still use naecc , the traditional tapered boats. Life is very much centered around fishing, focusing on the artisanal production of ships and fishing nets and a particular way of conserving the lake sardines that won the island the title of Slow Food Presidium .

Monte Isola can be explored by foot or bike using a 15km trail around the island. The main village is Siviano, the departing point of ferries that connect the island to the mainland. At the top of the island (about 600 mt / 1,968 feet above sea level), there’s a sanctuary that offers stunning 360° views over the lake .

12. Cornello dei Tasso, the birthplace of the postal system

The hamlet of Cornello dei Tasso, the birthplace of the modern postal system

Cornello dei Tasso is a tiny medieval hamlet nestled on a rocky spur amidst Val Brembana, in the province of Bergamo. It can be accessed only by foot and is exceptionally well preserved, with charming cobbled streets and porticoed alleys. It’s here that the current postal service was born back in the 14th century , thanks to the entrepreneurial spirit of the local Tasso family. Their story is well retraced at the local museum, where a letter sent in 1840 using the first stamp ever issued in the world is displayed .

In the village, there’s a popular trattoria that attracts locals and visitors during the weekend and a little church with frescoed interiors worth visiting.

14. Sirmione, the pearl of Lake Garda

Sirmione is an attractive spa town with a scenic location on a small peninsula that juts onto Lake Garda . An impressive fortress that seems to be floating on the water welcomes visitors, who come here for the beautiful – and completely pedestrian – center, the excellent thermal baths, and the lovely beaches.

Not to miss are the remains of the ancient mansion of Catullus, one of the largest Roman villas in northern Italy , while in summer Jamaica Beach , right on the tip of the peninsula, is a famous stretch of coast with large slabs of rock lapped by crystal-clear waters.

15. Bagolino and its unique traditions

B agolino is a picturesque stone hamlet in the province of Brescia, particularly renowned for a type of local cheese called Bagoss that is produced only there . Its narrow streets and cobbled alleyways lead to little corners of authentic beauty. These include the parish Church of San Giorgio (often nicknamed the mountain cathedral), preserving precious artworks by Tintoretto and Titian.

Bagolino is home to exceptional Carnival celebrations that scientists have classified as one of Italy’s most important ethnological discoveries over the last 200 years! The museum ‘Habitar in sta terra’ is where to learn more about this and other local traditions and customs .

17. A road trip to Lomellina

The medieval castle of Valeggio as seen from an ancient, red-bricked window

Lomellina is a magical stretch of countryside, located in southwestern Lombardy, just about one hour’s drive from Milan. Here, rice paddies and old farmhouses share space with fascinating historical and artistic attractions; the abundance of castles earned it the nickname of “Lombardy’s Little Loire” .

Lomellina is also a great destination for foodies, offering a variety of dishes that make extensive use of locally grown ingredients, from Borlotti beans and white asparagus to rice, saffron, and Breme’s sweet red-skinned onion. This type of onion is so special that its seeds are conserved in the Global Seed Vault on the Svalbard islands.

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13 thoughts on “17 hidden gems to visit in lombardy”.

Wow these places are truely spectacular.i would love to visit sometime surely

Oh I could just stare at these pictures all day! I can’t wait until we can travel to Italy again…and especially to Lombardy.

I love all the old world charm, it looks stunning

Valentina, I absolutely love your list – I am always in search for authentic places to visit and I saved your post for my next trip to Italy. I have been a couple of times, and I LOVE Italy and your guide looks like a perfect itinerary for when I come back. Thank you!

I am glad to know more about this part of Italy thanks to you! So many beautiful places here!

As a bit of a cheese lover I’m interested in trying Bagoss. I’ve heard of it before through an Italian friend of mine, she said that during the curing process they add Saffron so that the cheese has a slight yellow tinge like straw. I don’t know if it affects the taste, but definitely the look. It’s an aged cheese that I think can be used like parmesan. Didn’t know it was only made in one place. Thanks for sharing your gorgeous photos of Lombardy. 🙂

hi I am overwhelmed by the sneak preview of these wonderful paces that you described. I have never even heard of these gems and I feel that they are a world themselves. Places that can be sited on foot, places tucked high up in the hills, wow these are the place that a traveller always yearns to visit. Kudos to you for such great post, definitely worth bookmarking

Lombardy was in our plan for this summer as we had missed visiting the place and also Florence the last time we were in Italy. But before we could get down to planning the minute details we had to call off the trip. In hindsight this post of yours would be a great help for me to plan for next year. I had heard Lombardy is beautiful and I can see why it is so. Must confess I have fallen in love. The view of Bagolino is amazing and once there would love to taste the local cheese Bagoss too.

The Ponte della Civera looks so quaint and beautiful. My boyfriend lives in the south of France so visiting Italy is so tempting since it’s a stones throw away. Lombardy looks so magical, especially the countryside look of Sabbioneta. For a nature nut like me, it’s the perfect retreat.

Wow I have never heard of Lombardy before but wow. All these hidden gems look like something out of a fury tale! The gorge at lake como is utterly beautiful. I definitely want to visit here! Wow

Lombardy is such beautiful Place of Italy. I haven’t been to Italy but the history of Italy is interesting. The towns of Sirmione looks beautiful. Bagolino and its local cheese Bagoss looks interesting, and Monte Isola lake looks beautiful. The trekking excursions in Livigno sounds quite adventurous. Itally has such amazing mix of places that one can easily fell in love.

Whenever I think Italy surely can’t get any better, it does. It’s such a beautiful country with so much to explore! Sirmione looks like such a sweet town – can just imagine sitting at a cafe there to drink some delicious coffee.

Wow! These are indeed hidden gems. Sirmione is charming and it looks straight a place straight from a romance novel. Hope I get the chance to visit someday. Thank you for sharing.

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To get around Lombardy, you can make use of the service “Io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia” (Travel anywhere in Lombardy), a single travel pass offered by the Regional Authority of Lombardy for all forms of local public transport, including:

• Urban and suburban buses • Trams and trolleybuses • Subways • Suburban and regional trains (also in 1st class, within the limits of validity of the railway fare) • Malpensa Express train (for journeys other than to Malpensa Airport) • Ferryboats on Lake Iseo • Public cable cars and funiculars

Tickets for the Io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia pass can be purchased at any time, also in advance, and are available with a validity of 1, 2, 3 or 7 consecutive days. The pass is valid from the moment it is stamped and, on the last day, can be used even after 24:00, until the end of service. The pass does not need to be used in conjunction with an identity card. Pass holders should write their name and surname on the 7-day pass only.

With the service io viaggio in famiglia (Family travel), children under the age of 14 travel free when accompanied by a family member.

Passes may be bought from railway ticket offices, magnetic-electronic ticket machines, and the ticket offices of the main transport companies. For more information, please visit the websites of the individual transport operators, under the headings ‘Io viaggio’, travel tickets or regional subsidised travel.

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The public navigation of the Lombardy lakes is a local public transport service, carried out by various companies and subject to a strong seasonality. You can plan the route, with timetables and maps, to reach the lakes and navigate them: Muoversi in Lombardia .

More information about timetables, tickets and fares for navigation are available on these websites:

LAKE MAGGIORE Web: www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng

LAGO DI COMO Web: www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng

LAGO DI LUGANO Web: www.lakelugano.ch/en

LAGO D'ISEO Web: www.navigazionelagoiseo.it/eng

LAGO DI GARDA Web: www.navigazionelaghi.it/eng

Lombardy’s car sharing services are available at the region’s airports and railway stations, as well as at all the main places of public interest, such as hospitals, city halls or airports. These car sharing services are provided by a number of operators.

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Lombardy’s bike sharing services are available at all the main places of public interest, such as hospitals, city halls or airports. These bike sharing services are provided by a number of operators. Some cities of Lombardy also offer dockless bike sharing services.

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Hello Members,

We have a kid so luggage will be on higher side and we'll have baby stroller also.

All suggestions are welcome. Thanks in advance.

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Have a look at www.autoeurope.com, then put in your travel dates for pricing at Milan airport.

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Lombardy Travel Guide: 8 Experiences You Can't Miss
Lombardy Travel Guide. 1. Explore Milan, Italy's Fashion Capital. Milan, Italy's fashion capital, is a heady mix of modern-day energy, achingly beautiful art-deco, and neoclassical architecture. Here, life is lived as elegantly as possible. With the Renaissance Santa Maria Della Grazie, the Medieval Duomo, and the 19th-century shopping ...
The Ultimate Guide To Italy's Lombardy Region
Transportation In Lombardy. The easiest way to travel and explore Lombardy is by renting a car. It will offer you the most flexibility to get around the region! Luckily, Lombardy is well-connected by regional trains. You can pretty much get anywhere your heart desires by train, even in the remote towns of the Alps like Tirano. ...
Welcome to in-Lombardia: The Official Tourism Information Site for
Planning a trip to Lombardy? Discover breathtaking attractions of our region, timeless scenery and upcoming events of such an enchanting gem in the North of Italy. Find all information on #inLombardia, the Official Tourism Website for Lombardy.
Lombardy
Lombardy. Lombardy ( Lombardia in Italian and Lombard) is a northern region of Italy, and with 10 million people is the most populous one. Producing a fifth of Italy's GDP, it is also the mightiest economically. Geographically, Lombardy encompasses both Alps and Prealps in the north, and relatively flat plains in the south along the river Po ...
16 of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy
Some of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy Lago D'Iseo (Lake Iseo) By Lynne from Wander Your Way. Lago d'Iseo is often considered the "romantic" lake in northern Italy because it's much smaller than its neighbors, Lago di Como and Lago di Garda.. It's roughly a 2-hour drive from Milan so you can visit this lake on a day trip from the capital city of Lombardy, but you'll ...
Lombardy Region Map and Travel Guide
Pavia Travel Guide. Eat Well in Lombardy. The provinces surrounding the cities of Mantova, Cremona, Brescia, and Bergamo have been named a European Region of Gastronomy in 2017. From the sinus-clearing mostarda of Cremona to the pike in green sauce of Mantova, you'll find some interesting "Italian" food in the region. Airports in Lombardy
Visit Lombardy, Italy: Travel Guide, Attractions & Places to Visit
Discover everything you need to know about visiting Lombardy on the official travel guide. Find out more at the Official Tourism Website to see the best Lombardy has to offer! Visit Lombardy, Italy: Travel Guide, Attractions & Places to Visit - in-Lombardia
12 Best Things To Do in Lombardy, Italy
6. Admire Lombardy's churches and cathedrals. Duomo di Milano. Of course, no visit to Lombardy is complete without visiting its capital city and the Duomo is always in every itinerary in Milan. Checking out these churches are among the best things to do in Lombardy.
THE 15 BEST Things to Do in Lombardy
2. Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. For sheer belle époque splendor, this extravagant 19th-century glass-topped, barrel-vaulted tunnel serves as a lively, noisy and colorful shopping mall, teeming with life and inviting you to people-watching from the tables that spill from the Galleria's many bars and restaurants. 3.
Lombardy: All You Must Know Before You Go (2024)
About Lombardy. Milan is the prime draw in Italy's most prosperous province. The Cathedral, La Scala opera house and Santa Maria delle Grazie, home of da Vinci's "Last Supper," are just some of the sights. Equally fascinating is the belle Epoque splendor of 19th-century Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II.
15 Must-See Cities and Towns in Lombardy, Italy (Map and Tips)
Map of 15 Cities and Towns in Lombardy, Italy You Will Love. First things first! Let's pinpoint on the map the exact locations of the 15 cities and towns in Lombardy, Italy that you will love visiting. In alphabetical order, they are Bagolino, Bellagio, Bergamo, Brescia, Como, Cremona, Desenzano del Garda, Limone sul Garda, Mantua, Menaggio ...
Lombardy Cities Map and Travel Guide
Lombardy Cities Map and Travel Guide. Lombardy, or Lombardia in Italian, is a large region in northern Italy where you'll find the metropolis of Milan, beautiful Renaissance cities like Pavia and Mantua, and the popular lakes district that includes Lakes Como and Iseo and parts of Lakes Maggiore and Garda as well as beautiful mountains and ...
7-Day Lombardy Itinerary in Northern Italy (Road Trip or Train)
Here is an overview of my suggested two-week itinerary in Lombardy; you can find full details, including route, accommodation, and tips on what to see below. Day One: Milan. Day Two: Milan. Day Three: Lake Garda and Lugana. Day Four: Mantua. Day Five: Cremona. Day Six: Lake Como.
Lombardy and the Lakes
Bergamo. Brescia. Lake Maggiore. Milan. Lake Como Travel Guide. Lake Garda, Italy. Although the western shore of Lake Maggiore and the northern and eastern shores of Lake Garda fall outside Lombardy (in Piemonte, Trentino and Veneto respectively), here, we cover the Lakes region and its resorts. 8 days / from 2622 USD.
One week in Lombardia Italy
Lombardia [or Lombardy], is a large, picturesque region in Northern Italy. The region is probably best known for its capital Milan and for Lake Como. Whilst many visitors head to Milan for its shopping and culture, there is so much more to see in this charming area. One week in Lombardia Italy is a perfect amount of time to discover lakes ...
10 Reasons to Visit Lombardy
1. Lombardy's Capital Milan - Experience Italy's Most Cosmopolitan City. The splendid Piazza del Duomo is the main square in Milan - the capital of the region of Lombardy in Italy. Milan - or Milano in Italian - is one of the most famous cities in the world. A fashion capital and an important centre of industry and commerce, this is ...
Lombardy Travel Guide
Lombardy is well connected with public transportation and its highway network is very well maintained. Milano Centrale is the largest train station in Lombardy and is a hub for high-speed trains and regional train travel in Italy. Milan is usually the first stop for rail travel from Europe to Italy. Milan is the starting point for three main ...
Lombardy in Four Road Trips
by IS Travel Team. Mar 21. Lombardy in Four Road Trips. "The richness of this area's historical traditions can be found, genuine and heartfelt, right in the provinces, lakeside and mountain villages.". The history of Northern Italy passes through Lombardy, as does the history of the development and industrialization of our beautiful country.
Lombardy Travel Destination Guide
Lombardy Travel Destination Guide Lombardy and The Lakes: The Urban Region with Lake Scenery. Lombardy is a northern region of Italy with Milan as its capital, one of the most urban metropolis cities in the world. The region of Lombardy spreads across the north of Italy and neighbors with the Liguria region on east and the Trentino-Alto Adige ...
Best Places to Visit in Lombardy
Frequently Asked Questions About Lombardy Lombardy is a beautiful region in the north of Italy, offering an array of experiences for travelers. From vibrant cities such as Milan and Bergamo to picturesque villages on Lake Como, Lombardy has something for everyone. The region is also home to stunning mountain ranges and valleys, including the Valtellina
17 hidden gems to visit in Lombardy
In this article, I share a captivating list of Lombardy's most enchanting hidden gems, which travelers often overlook. 1 1. The vineyards of San Colombano al Lambro. 2 2. Livigno, Lombardy's "Little Tibet". 3 3. Nesso and its beautiful gorge. 4 4. The Cistercian abbey of Morimondo.
Central Lombardy travel
Central Lombardy. The Italian Lakes, Italy, Europe. Medieval towns, gentle lakes hemmed in by steep hillsides, vast plains, prehistoric rock art and mighty mountains make this part of the Lombard region one of northern Italy's most underrated corners. You'd need a couple of weeks to cover the area well, so you need to make choices.
Getting around Lombardy
To get around Lombardy, you can make use of the service "Io viaggio ovunque in Lombardia" (Travel anywhere in Lombardy), a single travel pass offered by the Regional Authority of Lombardy for all forms of local public transport, including: • Urban and suburban buses. • Trams and trolleybuses. • Subways.
Rent car in Milan
1. Re: Rent car in Milan. For me, it's always easier to have the car, instead of transferring the luggage on the train. It's easy to pick up the car at Milan airport, and the Autostrada is right there. Have a look at www.autoeurope.com, then put in your travel dates for pricing at Milan airport.

Lombardy Travel Guide: 8 Experiences You Can’t Miss

Lombardy Travel Guide

1. Explore Milan, Italy’s Fashion Capital

2. Taste Lombard Cuisine

3. Explore Italy’s Great Lakes

4. Spend a Night on Lake Como

5. Visit the Medieval Towns of Cremona and Mantua

6. Hike in the Mountains

7. Relax in a Spa in Bormio

8. Explore Beautiful Bergamo

In this article:

Post written by: Ashleigh Joanna Searle

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16 of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy

What Is Lombardy Known For? Why Is It Worth Visiting?

Best Places in Lombardy, Italy – Map

Some of the Best Places to Visit in Lombardy, Italy

Sirmione, Lake Garda

Salò, Lake Garda

Desenzano Del Garda, Lake Garda

Limone Sul Garda, Lake Garda

Varenna, Lake Como

Bellagio, Lake Como

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Duomo di Milano

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12 Best Things To Do in Lombardy, Italy

Best Things To Do in Lombardy, Italy

1. Discover Lombardy’s living history

2. Visit the fantastic lakes of Lombardy

3. Snowsports and other mountain activities

• Alta Valtellina

• Mt. Pagano and Fortification of WWI