OUT of Milan

OUR RECOMMENDATIONS

We hope you enjoy exploring Northern Italy as much as we have.  Click on the name of a city for the link to the blogpost.  Most posts include recommendations for restaurants, accommodation and gelato.

Most of our trips are made by train.  Usually we book ahead through Trenitalia and leave Milan from Centrale Stazione.   Click HERE for a link to the TrenItalia train timetable website.  
*Remember to select Tutti treni for all trains, not just the fast train services.  

I've tried to indicate if we used a different station, or a different train company, or if we used a hire car.

DAY TRIPS (Usually less than 2 hours travel time)

BRESCIA - No blogpost.
There is a fantastic museum in Brescia that we recommend - Santa Giula. www.bresciamusei.com
We left the museum quite late and so missed many of the best places for lunch.

BERGAMO 

COMO 
Tren Nord timetable CLICK HERE
Ferry timetable CLICK HERE

LECCO
Another lovely town on Lake Como.  Catch a cable car up to Piani d'Erna.  

LENNO 
Train to Varenna. Ferry from Varenna to Lenno. Ferry timetable CLICK HERE
Travel time:  About an hour by train and 40 minutes on the ferry.  
Where we ate: Take a picnic to have lunch in the gardens of Villa Balbianello. Not many restaurants in Lenno.  

PAVIA 

TORINO  and a second trip to TORINO.

VARENNA

VIGEVANO 
Take the train from Milan's Porto Genova station. It will take less than 30 minutes.

OVERNIGHT VISITS (Usually more than 2 hours travel time)

BOLOGNA 
Travel Time: Just over 1 hour
Where we ate: Drogheria della rosa, via Cartoleria, 10 Bologna

BORMIO -  CLICK HERE & HERE & HERE
Train to Tirano.  Bus from Tirano to Bormio - Bus tickets can be purchased at the Tirano train station.
Travel Time: 2 hours & 30 minutes on the train and 30 minutes on the bus.
Where we stayed: Albergo San Lorenzo and this one bedroom apartment.

CERTOSA and the OLTREPO' di PAVESE  region
Train to Certosa is easy as it's on the line to Pavia. A car is needed for the OltrePo' region.  

CINQUE TERRE - MANAROLA
Train to Sestri Levante and change there for Manarola.  
Travel time: 3 hours & 20 minutes (There can be long delays in the afternoons.)

FLORENCE
Train to Firenze S M Novella
Travel Time: 1 hour & 40 mins
Where we ate: Il Desco, via Cavour, 55 rosso
Where we stayed: Hotel Europa, via Cavour, 14.  

FRANCIACORTA REGION & LARGO ISEO 
Travel by: Car
Travel Time: Less than an hour's drive
Where we stayed and ate: Solive argitourismo

GROSIO 
Train  to Tirano.  
Bus from Tirano to Grosio - Tickets can be purchased at the Tirano train station
Travel Time:  2 hours & 30 minutes on the train and 15 minutes on the bus
Where we stayed and ate: Hotel Sassella

MADESIMO
Free transfer during Dec/Jan from Milan airports to the ski town of Madesimo. Other times tickets are 40E one way.
Travel Time: 2-3hours depending on snow and traffic.
Where we stayed and ate: Albergo Soldanella

MANTOVA
Train to Mantova.
Slightly less than 2 hours by regional train. 

MENAGGIO 
Train from Cadorna (Milan) to Como Nord Lago station 
Ferry from Como to Menaggio Ferry Timetable
Travel Time: 1 hour by train & fast ferry 50 minutes
Where we stayed: Balcone Fiorito contact details HERE & Reviews here

NOVELLO and the PIEDMONT REGION
Hire a car.
Travel time about 1hour &45 minutes.

RAPALLO

ROMA
Fast train to Roma Termini
Travel Time: 2 hours & 55 minutes.
Where we ate: Target restaurant via Torino, 33 Roma 
Where we stayed: Hotel Commodore, via Torino 1 (very close to Roma Termini. Large rooms.)

SOUTHERN SARDINIA
Fly for less than 1 & half hours.  Hire a car.

STRESA
Train to Stresa.
Where we ate: We didn't find anywhere to recommend in Stresa.
Where we stayed: We didn't stay in these apartments but we will next time.  Stresa Apartments

TREVISO
Train to Venezia Mestre then change for Treviso.
Travel time: Just under 3 hours if the connections work.
Where we stayed:  Listed at the end of the blogpost. 

TUSCANY and UMBRIA
We hired a car for two weeks and stayed in Lucca, Spello and in the countryside near Radifocani in Tuscany.  A wonderful two weeks even though it was winter.  
Where we stayed:  Listed at the end of the blogpost.

VARESE 
Car or regional train from Centrale.
Travel Time: Less than an hour by car.
Where we stayed: Villa Porro Pirelli The best accommodation for a bargain price. Really fantastic.  

VENICE
Train from Centrale
Travel time: Two and a half hours to Santa Lucia station
Where we stayed: A basic but comfortable apartment close to the station.  We rented it through Homeaway Cannaregio apartments

VERONA 
Train from Centrale
Travel Time: Less than two hours
Where we stayed: Apartments Rose Court and Little Court

ZERMATT SWITZERLAND
Train from Centrale to Visp.  Change trains to Zermatt.
Travel time 3hours & 30 minutes.