Leave Lake Como for now, get to Como train station and get to Milan, stop by the hotel and then tour the city to see the most important sights: Duomo, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Santa Maria delle Grazie with its masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci, Sforza Castle and Parco Sempione. Moreover, end the day with dinner in Brera.
Transfer from Lake Como to the City of Milan, through Como train station
First, let’s talk about the transfer from the small town of Menaggio to the vibrant city of Milan. Therefore, after breakfast check out of the accommodation before 10.30 am. Then take C10 bus from Menaggio bus station in front of Grand Hotel Menaggio to Como S. Giovanni (Busbahnhof), Como train station – it takes an hour.
From the bus station in the city of Como walk to Como San Giovanni Train Station. Como San Giovanni (Stazione di Como San Giovanni) is the main train station in the city of Como, in northern Italy. It’s close to Lake Como and sits just a short walk (about 10–15 minutes downhill) from the lakefront and city center. The walk down from the train station to the lake offers great views, and the Funicular to Brunate (for panoramic views over Lake Como) is about 15–20 minutes away on foot.
Regional trains from Como San Giovanni station run to Milan Centrale or Porta Garibaldi (about 40–60 minutes), Chiasso in Switzerland (around 10 minutes), and Lecco via scenic routes around the lake, while international trains operated by SBB connect to Zurich, Basel, and Lucerne.
From Como station there take the S11 2nd class train to Milan. It costs 4,8 euros a ticket – buy tickets from https://www.trenord.it. In an hour you will get to Milano Porta Garibaldi.
Accommodation in Milan
Once in Milan, out of the train station go right and take tram no. 10 from Garibaldi M2 M5 for 4 stops to Via Procaccini prima di Via Messina and then walk to the hotel. Turn left at the intersection on Via Messina and at the next intersection there is Leonardo Hotel Milan City Center on the left. Check in at the hotel starts at 2 pm; the city of Milan charges an additional city tax of 5.00 € per person per night. This mean 30 euros for the 3 nights that we booked. This Milan city tax will be added to the hotel bill upon check-out.
Leonardo Hotel Milan City Center is located between Corso Sempione and Porta Garibaldi, placing it in a lively area of Milan. Transport links from the hotel: ~300 m to a metro station; ~1.0 km to the Garibaldi train station; and ~3.0 km to Milan Central Station. The hotel’s location gives you a comfortable base: close enough to major attractions and transport, but not necessarily in the very busiest heart of Milan, offering a balance of access + somewhat calmer streets.
Getting Around the City of Milan
Before or after you get to the hotel you have to buy the Milan transportation card for 3 days. It costs 19,5 euros. The card needs to be activated before using it. To do so you have to go at one of the pick up points in Milan: Zani Viaggi Visitor Center at Milan Central station or Zani Viaggi Visitor Center at Cairoli square 18.
From Leonardo Hotel Milan City Center go left on Via Aristotile Fioravanti, at the first intersection go left on Via Giovanni Battista Niccolini. Then, at the big intersection go right, cross the street and go right again.
Take the subway from Monumentale to Duomo: 5 stops with line 5 in the direction of Bignami, change at Zara and then take line 3 towards San Donato for 6 stops to Duomo – 20 minutes. Finally get out of the metro station in Piazza Duomo and see the famous Duomo di Milano.
Or in order to go activate the transportation card, from Monumentale take line line 5 for 1 stop to Garibaldi FS and from there take line 2 to Lanza for 2 stops. Out of the subway walk towards south on Fuoro Buonaparte street, cross the street to the right, to get to Cairoli to activate the Milan transportation card at Milan Visitor Center – Zani Viaggi just across the street from Ristorante Cusani. Then take the subway line 1 from Cairoli to Duomo, 2 stops.
Exploring the Heart of the City of Milan
Duomo di Milano
Visit the Duomo di Milano. The entry is free for cardholders of Abbonamento Musei Lombardia, choosing between Duomo Museum – Culture Pass – Duomo Pass Stairs – Duomo Pass Lift ). Opening times every day: 9 am -7 pm, last ticket: 6 pm, last entry: 6.10 pm. This is one of the largest cathedrals in the world, an iconic building that is definitely a must-visit when you’re in Milan. Enjoy the great view of the city from the top. The visit can last an hour. Make sure you book the tickets in advance like a day or two before and also plan to arrive about 15-20 minutes earlier than your designated time.
Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II
Afterwards, as you get out of the Dome, on the right enter the famous Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II – a mall housed in a glass-covered 19th-century arcade where you can find luxury fashion brands and upscale dining. This is the second must visit location in Milan. Moreover, it’s beautiful on a sunny day when natural light enters through the glass roof.
Across the piazza, to the left of the Dome there is the 18th century Royal Palace of Milan – you can see it from the outside, or visit its beautiful interior for 10 euros with Abbonamento Musei Lombardia. Open Tuesday – Sunday between 9.30-19.30 (Thursday open between 9.30-22.30), closed on Monday.
Piazza Mercanti and Lunch with a View of the Duomo
Leave Piazza Duomo through the north west exit, on Piazza dei Mercanti alley, see Palazzo Giureconsulti on the right. Then continue forward and at the first intersection go left through the arched way. See Casa dei Panigarola on the right and Palazzo della Ragione on the left. From the medieval public square, Piazza Mercanti, get back to Piazza Duomo, turn right and on the corner you will find Vista Duomo – Restaurant & Lounge Bar. It offers a nice view of the Duomo. Also, it is listed on The Fork app, with a 30% discount. Stop there for lunch or later for dinner. Nearby there is a McDonalds also offering a view of the Duomo.
Pinacoteca Ambrosiana
After the McDonalds continue south and at the first intersection turn right on Via Orefici, then at the second intersection turn left on Via Cesare Cantu, arrive in Piazza Pio XI where it’s the Ambrosian Library. Visit it for the price of 15 euros, but the pinacoteca has free entry with Abbonamento Musei Lombardia. It is closed on Monday, but open Tuesday to Friday between 14.00-18.00, and Saturday and Sunday between 10.00-18.00.
Teatro alla Scala and Piazza della Scala
Afterwards, get back to Piazza Duomo, pass through Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II. At the other end there is Piazza della Scala with Leonardo da Vinci-Statue in the middle, see Palazzo Marino – Milan’s city hall on the right, and across the square on the left there isTeatro alla Scala. Teatro alla Scala is an impressive 18th-century theater, famous for Italian opera and ballets, with a museum and also a music library. Visiting price for the museum is 9.75 euros, free with Abbonamento Musei Lombardi. Opening times are: Tuesday – Sunday between 11:00-13.30 (last entry at 13.00) and between 14.30-19:00 (last entry at 18:30). For info and bookings visit their websites https://www.museoscala.org/ and http://www.teatroallascala.org/en/index.html.
This is one of the most well known opera houses in the world. The acoustics of the theater is one of the best. This theater has the biggest stage in Italy. If possible, visit the bar and the mirror hall, see the decadent chairs that truly make you step into time.
Art and History in the City of Milan
Milan and Leonardo da Vinci are deeply intertwined in history — the city served as one of the most important and productive settings of the work and life of Leonardo da Vinci. It was during his nearly 20-year stay in Milan that he produced some of his most celebrated achievements. Visitors can explore the Leonardo da Vinci Museum of Science and Technology, the Cenacolo Vinciano at Santa Maria delle Grazie, and walk through the Navigli canals, which he helped design and improve.
Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci
Back to Piazza Duomo, take the subway line 1 for 3 stops and change at Cadorna and take line 2 for 1 stop to S. Ambrogio subway station; go North on Via Giosue Carducci, at the first intersection turn left on Via San Vittore; see the nice Castello Cova building on the right, continue on Via San Vittore, go left on the first tiny alley and get to Museo Nazionale della Scienza e della Tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci. it is a former monastery housing a science museum with scale models of Da Vinci’s submarines & planes. Closed on Monday, open Tuesday – Friday 9:30 am – 5 pm, Saturday – Sunday 9:30 am – 6:30 pm. Price: 10 euros, free entry with Abbonamento Musei Lombardi, booking recommended. There’s a range of areas such as food, space, recycling, mining, materials and aircraft.
Santa Maria delle Grazie and The Last Supper (Il Cenacolo)
Back to Via San Vittore go left and at the second intersection on the right go right on Via Bernardino Zenale. At the end of the street you will reach Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie and you can visit Santa Maria delle Grazie church.
Santa Maria delle Grazie is a terracotta Renaissance church with Gothic interior, home to Leonardo da Vinci’s The Last Supper. Entry price is 15 euros. Closed on Monday, open Tuesday to Saturday from 8.15 am to 7 pm (last entry 6.45 pm), Sunday open from 2 to 7 pm (last entry 6.45 pm). It is forbidden to enter with any large bags or liquids, and there are lockers provided. You can take photos but no flash. Also visit the rotunda in the back.
When you arrive to the Basilica, there is a ticket office to the left, past a couple of locked gates. Follow the signs and look for the open door. Give them your reservation and they will give you tickets for your allotted time slot. You can only pick up your tickets within twenty minutes of your time slot. The “last supper” of the great artist Leonardo de Vinci is displaying inside the church. But you need to book 2 weeks in advance to see the painting.
Sforzesco Castle and Parco Sempione
From Piazza di Santa Maria delle Grazie go left towards East, on Corso Magenta. At the first intersection turn left on Via Caradosso, continue forward an reach a roundabout where it’s Piazza Virgilio. Continue on the second entrance to the right, Via Giovanni Bocca. After the first intersection reach Cadorna subway stop. Go North East on Via Marco Minghetti. At the intersection do not cross the street and go right on Piazza Castello. Arrive in front of Sforzesco Castle; there is Piazza Castello Fountain. Photo opportunity: take a picture of the fountain with the castle in the background.
Visit Sforzesco Castle – MUSEI DEL CASTELLO SFORZESCO. The price is 5 euros, free entry with Abbonamento Musei Lombardia. Closed on Monday, open Tuesday – Sunday from 10 am – 5.30 pm (last ticket at 4.30 pm). It is a Medieval – Renaissance fortress with historical museums and art by da Vinci and Michelangelo. In the summer they have solar panel powered phone charging stations.
Then visit Sempione Park. The park has a tower, an aquarium, a theater and a municipal library. The entry to the park is free, open daily 7 am – 7.30 pm. In the middle of the lake there is a pond and a bridge – Bridge of the Little Mermaids. And to the left, towards West there is Branca Tower – steel tower built for 1933 Triennale. Has stairs and an elevator that climbs to 109 m for panoramic city views. For availability and to book a tour check their website: http://museobranca.it/torre-branca-2/. At the North exit of the park there is Arcodella Pace.
Evening in the City of Milan
Back in Piazza Castello, take a picture with the ATMosfera restaurant before 8 pm when the tram-restaurant starts its itinerary. To have dinner on the tram it costs 80 euros per person and the journey takes 2 hours and a half.
Dinner Options in Brera
Clotilde Brera – on The Fork but no discount, 20 euros a course. Lanza subway stop near. It is a nice place you can book for dinner.
Boa Boa – on The Fork, 20% discount, 3 – 15 euros a course. Lanza subway stop near.
La filetteria italiana garibaldi – on The Fork, 50% discount, 12 – 30 euros a course. Lanza subway stop nearby.
Pizzacoteca di brera – on The Fork, 20% discount, 12 euros a course. Lanza subway stop nearby.
Stendhal Milano – on The Fork but no discount, 12 – 30 euros a course. Lanza subway stop nearby.
Sette Cucina Urbana – on The Fork, 20% discount, 18 – 25 euros a course. Montenapoleone subway stop is nearby.
Don Carlos – on The Fork, 20% discount, 30 euros a course. Montenapoleone subway stop is just across the street.
Il cairoli bar & restaurant by una cucina / Ristorante cusani – on The Fork, 50% discount, 12 – 30 euros a course. Cairoli subway stop is just across the street.
Afterwards, take the subway or tram to the accommodation.
Read On
Make sure to explore Destination Italy: Lake Como, City of Milan and Bergamo – Day 5 for the next chapter of our Italian journey — from hidden corners to breathtaking views, there’s so much more to discover. You can find all our posts about Milan on this page. Also, for more inspiration and practical travel tips, don’t miss our maps and travel guides, and visit our Italy Travel Hub and Italy Bucket List — your go-to resources for exploring Italy in depth. Want to discover more? Don’t miss our posts on Venice!
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